Even the giant python, once revered as a divine creature by the tribe, could not escape judgment; even its Snake Gall was extracted.
"Thank you!" Wu Bao’Er’s gratitude came from the heart.
Zhao Ya smiled, "You’re welcome, and to be honest, my elimination of the Python God Sect wasn’t solely for you."
"I know, but regardless of the reason, the Python God Sect is no more, and my vengeance has been achieved; this fact won’t change," Wu Bao’Er said earnestly.
She then respectfully handed the package in her hand back to Zhao Ya.
"My lord, I won’t say any more flattering words. In the future, I am at your command, without any objections."
As she spoke, Wu Bao’Er’s face was full of seriousness.
If before Wu Bao’Er sought allegiance with Zhao Ya mostly because she had nowhere else to go,
now it was clear that her loyalty had been fully secured.
Zhao Ya took the package, glancing deliberately at a certain part of the forest, then smiled faintly.
"Very well, I will remember your words."
After speaking, Zhao Ya did not linger, turning around and leaving directly.
Wu Bao’Er stood where she was, watching Zhao Ya depart until he was completely out of sight, then turned towards the distant forest and shouted.
"Alright, he’s out of sight; are you still too afraid to come out?"
After a moment, the forest started to shake, and Liu Ming emerged with a bitter expression.
"I suspect he already noticed me long ago."
Wu Bao’Er wasn’t surprised at all, "No need to suspect, it’s certain. With your current strength, you wouldn’t be able to hide from him even if you buried yourself in the ground!"
Liu Ming’s complexion changed instantly.
"Then what should I do? Should I hide elsewhere for now?"
"Enough, he clearly knows you’re here and hasn’t said anything, so he’s obviously permitting it. Why are you still hiding?" Wu Bao’Er said with a look of exasperation.
Despite this, Liu Ming still felt a lingering fear.
For no other reason.
He was just too scared of Zhao Ya.
During that great battle, he narrowly escaped because he acted quickly, but it left him with a severe psychological shadow.
Especially Zhao Ya’s feat of wiping out Jingping Saint and all the forces of the Separation Tower utterly shocked him.
After all, just a single Chief Executioner from the Separation Tower was enough to make him suffer, leaving him with no escape.
Not to mention the feat of sweeping across the Wilderness Jungle single-handedly, subduing the Separation Tower, and defeating Jingping Saint, one of the most outstanding figures of the Beyond the World in decades.
And yet such an extraordinary person also met their end at Zhao Ya’s hands.
How could Liu Ming not be alarmed?
So even though he knew Wu Bao’Er was in the Azure Dragon Temple, he dared not seek refuge.
Because he couldn’t be sure of Zhao Ya’s perception of him.
After all, he was different from Wu Bao’Er; she was a woman, quite beautiful, with significant strength herself.
That was in itself a huge advantage.
He was just an average middle-aged man, with preferences quite different from normal people.
If Zhao Ya thought of him as a "nuisance" and decided to eliminate him, wouldn’t that be an unjust death?
So during that time, he stayed outside, only sneaking to the back of the mountain to see Wu Bao’Er a few times after hearing Zhao Ya was out on some affairs and not in the temple.
By some chance, he planned to say goodbye to Wu Bao’Er today, only to run into Zhao Ya.
There was no way he could leave now, so in a panic, Liu Ming just tumbled into the forest to hide.
From a distance, he watched Zhao Ya converse with Wu Bao’Er in front of the cottage, feeling both fearful and vexed.
Fearful that once discovered by Zhao Ya, his life would likely end here.
And vexed because despite not liking women at all and sharing only a pure friendship with Wu Bao’Er, he now felt like he was caught in an illicit affair.
Especially when Zhao Ya glanced in his direction, Liu Ming felt as if all the blood in his body froze.
Fortunately, Zhao Ya only glanced without noticing anything, then left.
Now hearing Wu Bao’Er’s words, Liu Ming realized he had already been exposed long ago, but Zhao Ya simply chose to ignore him.
Liu Ming sighed, feeling that he had indeed overreacted.
Why would someone of Zhao Ya’s stature care about his existence?
However, this also set his mind at ease.
"So why did he come to see you?" Liu Ming asked.
"Nothing much, just to tell me that during his recent travels, he avenged me," Wu Bao’Er said plainly.
"Oh, then... wait, what did you say?"
Liu Ming initially didn’t pay much attention until after a moment, the reality dawned on him.
"I said, my lord went to the Mechanical Sect and passed through the Wilderness Jungle on the way, avenging me!" Wu Bao’Er said earnestly.
"The Python God Sect... is no more?" Liu Ming said in shock.
Wu Bao’Er nodded seriously, "No more, even the giant python’s Snake Gall was taken out by my lord."
"Hiss!"
Liu Ming drew in a cold breath, his shock was beyond words.
It wasn’t that he doubted Zhao Ya’s strength, for even a figure like Jingping Saint was no match for Zhao Ya, let alone a Python God Sect hiding in the Wilderness Jungle.
But as someone who understood the inside story, Liu Ming knew all too well how terrifying that giant python was.
Especially in the vast mountains, it was virtually invincible.
Even if you were stronger, it could just drill into the mountain, and no matter your abilities, you wouldn’t be able to extract it.
Yet this troublesome being was effortlessly slain by Zhao Ya, even having its Snake Gall removed.
This shock to Liu Ming was no less than when Jingping Saint was killed.
"Why are you so surprised? Given my lord’s abilities, a mere serpent is nothing, wasn’t it easy to kill it?" Wu Bao’Er said.
Watching Wu Bao’Er’s face full of pride and happiness, Liu Ming suddenly realized something but didn’t voice it, only nodding.
"You’re right, I’m making a mountain out of a molehill. So, what’s your plan now?"
"What plan? My lord avenged my life-and-death enemy; naturally, I’ll work for him. You should stop wandering and just join the Azure Dragon Temple. With his leadership, I believe the temple will regain its glory!" Wu Bao’Er stated matter-of-factly.
Liu Ming sighed internally, knowing his earlier suspicions were likely correct, then shook his head.
"That’s not necessary for me. Before, I worried that you might struggle to find your footing here in the Azure Dragon Temple, but seeing that you’re safe and well-regarded by my lord puts me at ease."
"After all this, I’ve come to understand that I’ve been lucky to survive this far, but one can’t rely on luck forever, so I should find a place to live out the rest of my life."
"You’re leaving?" Wu Bao’Er paused, then asked.
"Yes!"
Wu Bao’Er was silent for a moment, finally nodding, "Then I wish you good luck and hope you find the love of your life."
Liu Ming chuckled, "Someone like me stopped hoping for such things long ago. But you, sometimes you need to be braver!"
Leaving behind those words, Liu Ming departed.
Watching his figure disappear on the mountain path, Wu Bao’Er repeatedly mouthed those words, her eyes gradually brightening.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ya had no idea what had transpired. He had certainly noticed Liu Ming hiding in the woods but paid him no attention.
Upon returning, he had many affairs to handle.
Soon, under his persistent efforts, the entire Azure Dragon Temple entered a fast track of cultivation.
Not only the disciples but even the elders were driven to rigorously train under Zhao Ya’s oversight and encouragement.
Four months later, the Mechanical Sect even delivered the weapons Zhao Ya had ordered ahead of schedule, further strengthening the Azure Dragon Temple.
And just like that, a year passed in the blink of an eye.
One day, Zhao Ya sat meditation in the Zen Hall, took a deep breath, and began his breakthrough towards the Primordial Sea stage.