C13 Empress's Sense of Shame Was Shattered!

After racking up an impressive 25-game winning streak, Wu Zhi was finally escorted out of the casino with the utmost respect.

He had made a fortune, and under normal circumstances, the casino would never have allowed him to walk away with the winnings.

However, after Big Black let out a disdainful snort that left the casino's enforcers bleeding from every orifice, no one dared to stand in Wu Zhi's way.

Ultimately, they had no choice but to plead tearfully for Wu Zhi to stop his winning rampage before they could respectfully send off this formidable player.

"Big Black, now that we're flush with cash, we should hit the town and live it up! You have no idea how much fun there is to be had in the city... Wait, hold on!"

Suddenly, Wu Zhi's eyes darted around and landed on a familiar figure.

It was Zhuang Banxue, her face set in an icy expression.

She didn't utter a word, but she stood there, giving Wu Zhi a frosty stare that clearly conveyed her anger.

It was obvious that Zhuang Banxue was livid. Once a spirit beast and its owner are bound by a contract, they share both glory and adversity.

Zhuang Banxue, ever ambitious and focused on her business, was always preoccupied with her cultivation, aspiring to reclaim the path of the Empress.

But this panda had other ideas.

Somehow, it had slipped away to the back mountain last night and had gotten roaring drunk with Big Black.

And today, freshly awakened, it had come straight here to gamble and indulge in a life of luxury and excess!

Such a profligate lifestyle was hardly fitting for the spirit beast of Empress Zhuang Banxue.

Before she could voice her disapproval, Scarface and his gang stepped up to confront her.

They glared at Zhuang Banxue with menacing looks and barked at her.

"Who's this little girl? Scram!"

"Can't you see you're in the way of our Big Black and Brother Wu?"

Zhuang Banxue, who had never even flinched in the face of Prince Ann, was certainly not intimidated by these bullies.

She was about to give them a piece of her mind with a cold snort when Wu Zhi, in a surprising move, leapt down from Big Black and landed in front of her. He stood by her side, and with a plump paw, he gently pulled her into an embrace.

Then, he extended his other claw and pointed at Scarface and Big Black with a world-weary air.

He had the look of a thug flaunting his might.

"Zhuang Banxue, come here, let me introduce you."

"These are my underlings. Their names... never mind, their names aren't important. They're just underlings, and it's normal for me not to remember them!"

"But this one is special!"

"This is Big Black!"

"He's your, what do you call it, the royal family's Guardian Spirit Beast!"

"He's practically half your ancestor!"

"How about that? In just half a day, I've managed to rally such power. Impressive, right?"

Zhuang Banxue was initially seething with anger.

But Wu Zhi's act, as if he were a big brother dictating the lay of the land, nearly made her burst into laughter.

She could hardly believe that the endearingly clumsy panda had such a starkly contrasting side.

Yet, as the Empress, she knew she couldn't let herself laugh out loud; it would undermine her authority later on. So, she straightened her face, adopting an indifferent demeanor, and said, "I came to find you because I have an important matter to discuss..."

Regrettably, she was cut off mid-sentence when Wu Zhi casually slapped her on the back, nearly knocking Zhuang Banxue, who hadn't even reached Foundation Establishment, to the ground.

"What's this about important matters?"

"When you're in the city, you've got to have some fun!"

"And what could be so important at your young age, anyway?"

"Great timing, I was about to take my crew out for some entertainment. Since you're here, I'll reluctantly include you."

"Let's go, let's go!"

At his command,

Scarface and the rest, along with Big Black, sprang into action.

Scarface hoisted Big Black up.

Big Black bowed his head, allowing Wu Zhi to mount him, then grabbed Zhuang Banxue by the collar of her garment and flung her onto his back to sit beside Wu Zhi.

As Zhuang Banxue sat in stunned silence,

The voices of Scarface and his men boomed out like a mighty bell.

"Ancestor Big Black, display your valor!"

"Wu Zhi the Immortal, his magic knows no bounds!"

This time around, Scarface and his crew shouted with commanding presence.

Gone was their previous timidity.

They had seen the formidable power of Old Ancestor Big Black and Wu Zhi's luck in gambling.

They were thoroughly convinced!

Utterly impressed!

So now, their shouts were filled with a hint of pride!

Their cries caught the attention of everyone on the street, drawing a crowd of onlookers.

Zhuang Banxue, completely taken aback by the spectacle, felt an overwhelming urge to hide her face!

How utterly humiliating!

As the Empress in her past life, she shone like the sun wherever she went, revered as a supreme being by all.

She had never faced such embarrassment!

Her instinct was to leap from this mortifying human-powered carriage and vanish into the throng of people.

But as she prepared to escape, Wu Zhi's meaty paw landed firmly on her hand.

"What are you doing?"

Zhuang Banxue inhaled deeply, battling the wave of humiliation inside her, and spat out, "Let go, I want to get down!"

"Get down? Why? Isn't this nice?" Big Black, perched beneath her, grumbled in confusion, "Being the center of attention is quite an honor!"

Zhuang Banxue nearly shattered her teeth from clenching them so hard.

"Honor?! Where is the honor in this??!"

You, Big Black, secluded in the wilderness for centuries, surely you're confused about the meaning of the word?!

Big Black was even more perplexed.

But just then, Wu Zhi slapped his stout thigh, an epiphany striking him. "Losing face... now I get it!"

"Big Black, look at us. We can't possibly overlook Zhuang Banxue!"

"Listen to this..."

"What are our little brothers shouting?"

"They're only cheering for the two of us!"

"Think about it. They're carrying all three of us, but only the names of two are being called... What does that mean for the one left out?"

"It's nothing short of blatant neglect and disrespect!"

Zhuang Banxue was taken aback.

My dear panda...

Was something off with her thought process?!

Yet, Big Black emphatically nodded in agreement.

"Wow! That's our Big Brother for you!"

"Always thinking things through!"

"I, Big Black, just don't have the brains to come up with stuff like that!"

"Absolutely, big brother. We've really overlooked this young lady!"

Wu Zhi quickly agreed, "Exactly, so we need to make amends!"

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Banxue felt a sudden surge of foreboding.

No.

I don't feel that way at all!

I'm not!

I didn't!

Stop talking nonsense!

Wu Zhi gestured with his hand.

"Little brothers, let's give our Banxue some praise too!"

"Sure thing!"

Scarface, quick-witted as ever, his eyes twinkling, immediately came up with something to say.

He gathered all his energy and let out a thunderous roar!

"Fairy Banxue, with your stunning celestial grace!"

Following the lead of their boss, Scarface's underlings also began to shout.

"Fairy Banxue, with your stunning celestial grace!"

"Fairy Banxue, with your stunning celestial grace!"

...

Zhuang Banxue quietly slipped away from Wu Zhi's grasp, but she didn't flee. Instead, she covered her face.

Her eyes were a mix of bewilderment and daze.

The Lee Dynasty seemed to be no place to live anymore.

She would leave the Lee Dynasty in a few days.

No.

It wasn't just the Lee Dynasty.

She couldn't stay in the Firmament Realm any longer.

It was time to find a new place to live.

...

And so, Zhuang Banxue lost the will to resist.

Just like that, Wu Zhi, along with Zhuang Banxue, Big Black, and the crew of scar-faced men, started to indulge in the city's pleasures of eating, drinking, and merry-making.

At noon, they took over the finest restaurant in the Imperial City, the Hongbin Restaurant, and sampled a variety of exquisite dishes.

There was no helping it; they were simply flush with cash!

At that moment, Zhuang Banxue had regained some composure and was ready to confront Wu Zhi, but he brushed her off, insisting they needed to be well-fed before discussing serious matters.

Left with no choice, Zhuang Banxue bit back her initial protest.

As for the so-called delicacies of the mortal world, Zhuang Banxue could hardly muster any interest. Having once been an Empress, she had long since savored all these pleasures.

She had been eating without much enthusiasm.

Unexpectedly, halfway through the meal, Wu Zhi echoed her lackluster sentiment.

"Is this really your finest dish?"

"Is this all there is?"

Wu Zhi, reborn from a nation of food lovers, had exceedingly high culinary standards!

Eventually, he couldn't take it anymore.

He rolled up his... oh no, it was his fur he rolled up, and took matters into his own hands!

Drawing on his cooking skills from his past life as a bachelor, he quickly whipped up a dish.

Though it was just a simple home-cooked meal, it was revolutionary for this world!

Big Black's eyes sparkled at the mere scent.

Scarface and his companions exclaimed they had never tasted such a feast.

Even Zhuang Banxue, accustomed to the finer things in life, was visibly shaken after a few bites!

As Wu Zhi continued to serve dish after dish,

Even the Empress, Zhuang Banxue,

Was utterly captivated by the explosive flavors that tantalized her taste buds!

Her gaze towards Wu Zhi shifted.

"As for the matter of the Foundation Establishment Protector..."

"Perhaps we could discuss it after enjoying ourselves today, and address it tonight upon our return to the palace..."

"It wouldn't be out of the question!"