I followed the Golden Rooster Star Lord all the way, constantly ruminating in my mind. I always felt something was off, as if I were trapped in a web of schemes, one trap after another. As someone who had only lived for twenty years, I was no match for them.
Lost in thought, I unconsciously found myself walking into the main hall with him.
"Your Majesty the Heavenly Emperor, I've brought the person you wanted," the Golden Rooster Star Lord announced at the entrance of the main hall, sending his voice into the inner chamber.
As his words faded, the main - hall doors slowly slid open to both sides. The interior of the hall was pitch - black, like ink that seemed to stain the area outside as well.
In the blink of an eye, the Golden Rooster Star Lord had vanished, leaving me alone in this pitch - black place where I couldn't even see my own hand in front of my face.
This kind of darkness was different from the normal night. It felt as if I were in the endless purgatory, with no chance of redemption.
My heart skipped a beat. Something was definitely wrong. My intuition told me this place was not safe.
Just as I had realized this and was about to turn around and leave, it was already too late.
A loud "bang" echoed in my ears. In the previously pitch - black main hall, it was as if a huge spotlight had been turned on above my head, shining down on me.
I was like a prisoner trapped in a large circular cage of light.
I panicked. When I stepped back, my foot landed on the edge of the light circle. I immediately felt a tingling sensation on the sole of my foot, and an electric current shot through my body, knocking me to the center of the light circle. I fell to the ground, my whole body numb and in pain.
Thankfully, apart from the numbness and pain, I wasn't injured. I got up from the ground and took a deep breath.
"Is this fun? Hiding in the shadows is not what a Heavenly Emperor should do," I roared angrily into the darkness ahead.
"Bang..." Another loud noise. A huge circle of light appeared in the previously pitch - black area in front of me. Behind the writing desk in the middle of the circle sat a handsome middle - aged man.
Actually, before I saw him, I was extremely nervous and scared to death. But when I finally saw him, the fear in my heart gradually faded away.
Even though he was the Heavenly Emperor, so what? In my mind, all living beings were equal. I had witnessed what he had done to Gu Yuan. Why should I be afraid of such a person?
"Heavenly Emperor, since it was you who guided me here, what's the meaning of confining me here?" I said to the Heavenly Emperor directly, enduring the pain without showing any sign of unease.
"Hahaha... When did you figure it out?"
"Just now. When I was in danger at the Southern Heavenly Gate, the Golden Rooster Star Lord said that the Dragon Scale had descended to the mortal world to experience calamities. That's when I knew," I replied.
"Ah, I see. You're a bit slow - witted. I thought Yuan'er would be able to notice, but it seems he's both blind in his eyes and in his heart."
This old guy! How could he talk about his own son like this? If I didn't need to negotiate with him, I would surely call him an old brute.
Even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cubs. He had a grudge against Lady Xi, but he shouldn't have taken it out on his son.
"Your Majesty the Heavenly Emperor, I didn't come here to chat with you. Tell me, how can Gu Yuan regain his eyesight? And let Lady Xi descend to the mortal world," I demanded.
"I've already told you. The Snake Scale. As long as Yuan'er hands over the Snake Scale, I'll help him regain his eyesight."
"So you used the identity of the Dragon Scale to descend to the mortal world twice, all for the purpose of persuading Crown Prince Yuan to hand over the Snake Scale?"
"Sigh, my son is just so stubborn. No matter what I say, he refuses to tell me where the Snake Scale is. So I found you. You're a smart person. You should know what to do."
After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment and then continued, "Hand over the Snake Scale."
"I can give you the Snake Scale, but you need to give me the medicine to restore Gu Yuan's eyesight first, and let me take Lady Xi away."
Hearing my words, the Heavenly Emperor showed a faint smile on his face. That smile was cold, a coldness that showed his disregard for Lady Xi and her daughter.
He gently turned his palm, and a bottle shaped like the Jade - Cleanse Bottle appeared in his palm. There was a thin willow branch inserted in it.
"This is the Jade - Cleanse Bottle in the hands of the Bodhi of the Southern Sea. The water in this bottle can purify all things, including the white film covering Yuan'er's eyes. Take it," he said.
I never expected this guy to agree so readily. This made me a bit incredulous. Would this bottle of water really work?
"How can I trust you?" I no longer had any faith in his so - called gentlemanly conduct.
"I'm the Heavenly Emperor. Would I lie to you?"
"Hehe... If the Heavenly Emperor doesn't lie, how did Lady Xi get deceived by you?"
"You..." The Heavenly Emperor was enraged upon hearing my words. He slapped the writing desk hard with one hand, and the electric current in the light circle started to dance wildly.
At this moment, I finally saw clearly that I was trapped in something like a huge birdcage. But what trapped me wasn't iron bars, but electric currents surging everywhere.
"Your Majesty the Heavenly Emperor, I'm just a weak woman. Isn't it overkill to use this to trap me?"
I wasn't going to indulge him at all. If I could anger him to death with my words, I would just send him on his way.
In the end, the Heavenly Emperor decided not to "quarrel" with me. With a wave of his long sleeve, the light circle in front of me disappeared.
All the lights came on, illuminating the main hall brightly.
I looked around at the unfamiliar environment. But I could clearly see the woman in the corner.
It was Lady Xi. At this moment, Lady Xi was being supported by Nanny Liu. She looked rather thin, but thankfully, her complexion was okay.
"How can I trust you then? How can you prove that the Snake Scale is with you?" The Heavenly Emperor was no fool. He wouldn't believe everything I said.
"Do you still remember the Nuwa Stone you gave me?" I said calmly.
The Heavenly Emperor didn't answer, waiting for me to continue.
I took out the Nuwa Stone from the pocket on my waist. The Nuwa Stone shone brightly in my palm. It was extremely beautiful.
Seeing this, the Heavenly Emperor was greatly shocked. He looked like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world before, with his eyes almost popping out as he stared at the Nuwa Stone.
"Is the Snake Scale on you?" he asked anxiously.
"The Snake Scale isn't on me. I am the Snake Scale. Apart from myself, no one else knows this, not even Gu Yuan knows my true identity."
Lady Xi, sitting beside, was also extremely surprised. She never thought that she had always thought I had stolen the Snake Scale, but in fact, I was the Snake Scale.
"You're actually the Snake Scale I've guarded for a thousand years?"
"Otherwise, did you really think I was just a sachet?" I squinted at Lady Xi. I had never had any good feelings towards her.
"I thought you were just an ancient divine object that could heal wounds. I never expected you to be... No wonder you could absorb my spiritual power... I'm so stupid... Why did you come here? We agreed that you would stay with Yuan'er... Why did you come here? You traitor..."