Xiao Yexuan felt uncomfortable seeing Tang Shenwang wanting the Heartbroken Red to gain power and rebel against him.
He still wanted everyone around him to be like Ah Yin, completely devoted to him.
Xiao Yexuan immediately thought about how to punish this audacious little Tang Shenwang.
However, he quickly remembered the story of the Heartbroken Red, and his lips curled into a smile.
He had thought of a better game to punish Tang Shenwang.
Next, Xiao Yexuan placed his hand on Tang Shenwang's head, a warm smile on his face. He asked, "Little San San, do you like this flower?"
"I do! I like it very much, big brother. Can you give the flower to me? Big brother~~"
Tang Shenwang heard the gentleness in Xiao Yexuan's voice and was immediately delighted. If Xiao Yexuan was happy, he wouldn't object to her.
"Alright! I'll give you the Heartbroken Red, but you have to pick it successfully! And, you have to think of me."
A smile played on Xiao Yexuan's lips. This Tang Shenwang, she had to deeply love him to obtain the Heartbroken Red.
"You... what did you say!" Tang Shenwang widened her eyes. How could she possibly fall in love with Xiao Yexuan? And deeply in love? That was impossible!
"When you pick it, you must be thinking of your beloved. With sincerity and devotion, let a drop of your blood fall on the petals. If you have any doubts, even if you cough up blood and die, you won't be able to pick the flower. Little San San, don't you like big brother? Then you can't take this Heartbroken Red."
"And, this Heartbroken Red, you must be thinking of your beloved to take it. Little San San, only if you love me can you take it. Otherwise, I can't help you."
Xiao Yexuan reminded her.
At this moment, Tang Shenwang also remembered the story of the Heartbroken Red.
It is said that, long ago, a young man fell in love with a flower fairy.
They lived a beautiful life.
But alas, their happiness was short-lived. The gods learned of their relationship and were furious, decreeing that immortals and mortals could not be together.
An order was given to return the flower fairy to the divine realm. The young man, heartbroken by the loss of his beloved, spent his days sighing and lamenting, his spirits crushed. He neglected his flowers, and his garden became a ruin, the walls crumbling.
One day, a white-haired old man came to him and revealed that the white peony in his garden, the one he cherished most, was the reincarnation of his beloved.
The old man told him that if he destroyed the flower, the fairy would lose her immortal form and his wife would descend to the mortal realm, allowing them to live happily together once more.
However, he must not abandon his flowers.
The young man suddenly understood. He deeply regretted his neglect of the other flowers and began to care for them again.
Although he loved his wife dearly, he couldn't bring himself to destroy the peony. Instead, he cherished it even more. He also didn't want his wife to become a mortal, enduring the cycle of life and death.
The young man treated the flower as his wife, weeping over it day and night until his heart broke, and he died of lovesickness. Before he died, he spilled his blood on the petals.
Before he died, a mouthful of blood sprayed onto the petals, and the peony instantly transformed from a flower into a grass. The pure white petals were stained with the red threads formed from the young man's blood, hence the name Heartbroken Red.
This was a touching story. In Tang Shenwang's eyes, only this kind of love truly counted as love.
She had once sacrificed so much for Xiao Wu, and had always been by Xiao Wu's side.
They had grown up together. Xiao Wu was also someone she had to protect.
Because, without Xiao Wu, where would she have gotten her hundred-thousand-year soul rings and soul bones?
Even Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Great Ape wouldn't have sacrificed themselves for her.
Tang Shenwang loved her Xiao Wu very, very much.
Now, let herself love Xiao Yexuan?
Dream on. What could Xiao Yexuan possibly offer her?
"Little San San, try it. Drip your blood on it. If you admit you love me, I'll give you this Heartbroken Red."
Xiao Yexuan saw that Tang Shenwang was still hesitating and quickly reminded her.
Tang Shenwang realized what was happening. There was no way she would dare. This was destined to fail.
However, Tang Shenwang really, really wanted this Heartbroken Red.
"Big Brother... I... I don't want this Heartbroken Red anymore," Tang Shenwang firmly refused.
She planned to ask for other Celestial Treasures. The other Celestial Treasures didn't have this ridiculous requirement.
But, Xiao Yexuan's expression immediately changed, and he said:
"Little San San, in this Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, the only medicinal herb I'm giving you is this Heartbroken Red. I will only give you the other medicinal herbs after you obtain this Heartbroken Red."
"This…" Tang Shenwang's expression immediately showed a look of difficulty. She had truly been too careless, having been away for so long, she had forgotten so much.
Xiao Yexuan added, "Little San San, didn't you just say you liked big brother the most? Come on, drip your blood to claim it, let me see if you really love me, or if it's fake! If you successfully get Heartbroken Red to recognize you as its owner, I'll not only give it to you, but also let you choose two more Celestial Treasures!"
Tang Shenwang's pupils brightened. This was a good thing, if she succeeded, she could get three Celestial Treasures.
She remembered that she needed a lot of medicinal herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
As long as Xiao Yexuan agreed, she could become stronger very quickly.
Tang Shenwang was moved, thinking about how she could make herself fall in love with Xiao Yexuan first, and then get Heartbroken Red.
However, before Tang Shenwang could finish thinking, Xiao Yexuan's cold voice fell again, causing Tang Shenwang's heart to tremble! "Little San San, if you don't succeed, it means you don't love me, which means everything you said before was a lie! Then I won't be polite, I'll make you receive the greatest punishment!"
"This... big brother, no, don't punish me! I'm telling the truth, I didn't lie to you! Big brother, you have to believe me!"
Tang Shenwang panicked instantly. She had deceived Xiao Yexuan, and now she would have to face his punishment. Xiao Yexuan's punishments were excruciating.
Tang Shenwang didn't want to be punished again.
"Whether you've lied to me, I'll know once I try. Don't disappoint me!"
Xiao Yexuan huffed, his words laced with a warning. He already knew the outcome; this was destined to fail.
Tang Shenwang's heart pounded with anxiety. She was going to be punished again.
She hesitated to attempt the master-recognition process.
However, Xiao Yexuan's icy gaze bore down on her, and Tang Shenwang, terrified, bit her finger, attempting to make Heartbroken Red recognize her as its master.
Tang Shenwang thought of Xiao Yexuan, shouting her love for him. However, when her blood dripped onto Heartbroken Red, it didn't trigger the recognition process.
Tang Shenwang's expression became even more flustered.
Xiao Yexuan had anticipated this, and then said: "Little San San, you really don't love me, huh? But, I'm not worried. From now on, you'll try to acknowledge me as your master once a day. Only when you truly succeed will you earn my approval!"
"And if you fail, there will be a punishment, oh! Now...hehehe"
Even though Xiao Yexuan was a little displeased, he still let out a lecherous laugh, then picked up Tang Shenwang, and installed her onto Xiao Yexuan's body!
Right on Tang San's back, he rode Tang San around the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, playing games with Tang Shenwang.
Xiao Yexuan even whipped Tang San, making him trot a bit more roughly.
That way… the little Tang Shenwang in his arms would have more fun~!
(End of this chapter)