Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Having said that, Kui Mulang immediately set up a cloud and flew towards the outside. Next, he would face the matter at hand.

As Kui Mulang ascended to the sky, Treasure Elephant Country seemed to regain its calm, the Demon was defeated, the Princess returned, and everything appeared to have returned to its original trajectory.

The Tang Monk and his companions continued on their journey to the West, but was that truly the case?

For many years, Treasure Elephant Country had enjoyed good weather and peace, without any invasions by demons or malevolent spirits. The people naturally relished the tranquility, but never wondered why, in such a hostile environment, not a single demon could be found.

Bai Huaxiu looked up at the sky within the palace of Treasure Elephant Country; the night was exceptionally beautiful. The pitch-black heavens were void of clouds, and every star shone brilliantly.

Bai Huaxiu gazed infatuatedly at the shining Kui Xing, while memories of the past flickered through her mind.

"My daughter, what on earth are you thinking? The Left Chancellor's son is a renowned talent of our Treasure Elephant Country and he does not disdain your previous marriage, willing to take you as his wife. Why do you treat him with such an attitude? It's too disrespectful to the Left Chancellor," lamented a chubby middle-aged man in a Ceremonial Robe.

"Father, why do you speak like this? Surely, you're not unaware of the Left Chancellor's son's character. The reason why you want to marry me off is probably to curry favour with the Left Chancellor," Bai Huaxiu mocked.

"How can you speak to your father like this? The whole nation knows that you have once given yourself to a Demon, who else would dare marry you? The King is also doing this for your own good! Besides, I have raised you to adulthood, with Brocade Clothes and jade meals provided for you since childhood. Now it's time for you to repay your debt," the King finally revealed his true face at this moment. The warmth on his face disappeared without a trace, and his eyes were filled with schemes.

"Today, you must marry, whether you want to or not!"

"My husband is no mere Demon; he is a Star Lord of the heavens. Now he has only been summoned back by the Heavenly Court. Moreover, during these years, my husband has protected Treasure Elephant Country from the invasions of Demons. I've already repaid my debt to you for your care, as for that good-for-nothing, whoever wants to marry him can do so. I will not," Bai Huaxiu's exquisitely beautiful face was filled with determination.

The King looked at his own daughter, feeling for the first time that she was so unfamiliar. He knew that this daughter was no longer the weak woman to be manipulated at will. The dignity and presence she displayed at this moment were enough to instill fear in him, a ruler of a nation.

"Although my husband has returned to the Heavenly Court, do not forget, Father, that my husband has friends everywhere. If the Left Chancellor's son dares to marry me today, he will be dead tomorrow," Bai Huaxiu said coldly.

In fact, this was merely an empty threat from Bai Huaxiu. Although Kui Mulang indeed had many friends, he had none within Treasure Elephant Country; otherwise, he would not have needed to seek help from Bajie and others.

The reason for her claim was simply to avoid trouble and prevent her father from always thinking of using her as a political pawn.

The present her simply wished to calmly wait for the return of her child and husband. As for the human world's scheming and struggles, she did not wish to concern herself with it at all.

Meanwhile, the son of the Left Chancellor, whom the King and Bai Huaxiu spoke of, was reveling with wine in his room, surrounded by flirtatious women with revealing attire, enveloping him in conviviality and joy.

Suddenly, a loud bang resounded as the door was kicked open by a person. An imposing middle-aged man, with the walk of a dragon and the pace of a tiger, stepped in. He had a strikingly square face with wolf-like eyes and a hook nose that gave him a somewhat ominous air.

The servants and maids around immediately knelt on the ground at the sight of this man, not daring to lift their heads even once, for he was the Left Chancellor of Treasure Elephant Country, the most powerful man under the King.

"You good-for-nothing, still here seeking pleasure, have you handled the task I gave you?" As soon as the Prime Minister walked in, he laid into his son without preamble.

"Father, I have tried," the young man said with a pained expression. "The Princess is impervious to both hard and soft approaches, like she's immune to oil and salt. What can I do?"

"You're truly hopeless. All this talk about you being a charmer, boasting that no woman you fancy can escape the palm of your hand, yet you can't even handle a Bai Huaxiu, no better than a demon." The more the Prime Minister spoke, the angrier he became until he lifted his foot and kicked his son in the chest, sending him sprawling on the ground.

"Help the young master to rest." The Prime Minister turned and left, his cold voice coming from outside. Only then did the people kneeling on the ground dare to get up and hurried to help the young master who had fallen to the floor.

The Prime Minister's son pushed away the servants helping him, his gaze icy as he watched his father's retreating figure. He spat a mouthful of bloody saliva onto the ground and staggered back to his room to rest.

After teaching his worthless son a lesson, the Prime Minister went to the main hall of his residence, where a man in green clothes had already been waiting.

This man was short, wearing a tall green hat, with a blank expression on his face as if he were a wooden doll.

"Prime Minister, have you found out anything?" asked the man, his voice raspy and nauseating to hear.

The Prime Minister frowned slightly at the sight of the repulsive-looking man before him, a hint of disgust flickering in his eyes that he quickly concealed. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire

"What about the items you've prepared?" the Prime Minister asked softly.

The man clapped his hands gently, and several short figures emerged from the shadows, carrying large chests and placing them on the floor with a thud, indicating their heavy weight.

After setting down the chests, these people slowly receded back into the shadows, as if they'd never appeared at all.

Despite his dislike for this somewhat eerie man, the Prime Minister had to admit that his subordinates were truly extraordinary, unlike those of any ordinary force.

The man walked to the side of one chest and gently opened the lid. Blinding gold light instantly illuminated the hall, dazzling the Prime Minister's eyes, for the chest was brimming with gold, shimmering beautifully.

"Excellent, with this, there's nothing I can't do. Even that position is within my reach," he murmured obsessively as he caressed the gold.

The man, however, blocked the Prime Minister's hand, his tone cold as he said, "You haven't told me the news yet."

"Rest assured, I, as the current Prime Minister, wouldn't go back on my word. I made inquiries yesterday; the Princess's husband did not show up and has likely been eliminated by the Mage on his western journey," the Prime Minister said offhandedly, his focus entirely on the chest full of gold in front of him.

What he didn't see was the eerie smile that formed on the man's wooden face as he finished his sentence. The man's eyes were firmly fixed on the Prime Minister, showing a greedy gleam.