Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

Zhu Xiaoxiao felt countless gazes upon him—curious, envious, jealous, and even hostile—making him feel extremely uncomfortable. Especially Grand Tutor Shangguan Yanran, who sat gracefully beside the Empress, dressed in magnificent palace attire and wearing a phoenix crown.

Her skin was as white as snow, her features exquisite, and every gesture exuded the charm of a mature woman and the authority of someone long accustomed to a position of power. However, the look in her eyes as she gazed at Zhu Xiaoxiao was icy cold, like a poisoned blade, making him extremely uncomfortable.

He could clearly feel the intense hostility emanating from the Grand Tutor, which made him feel like he was being choked by an invisible hand, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

After a few glasses of fruit wine, Zhu Xiaoxiao felt dizzy and lightheaded. He knew that this was the side effect of the "Restore My Beauty Pill" starting to appear.

He had a bad feeling about this, and quickly took a deep breath, trying to control his emotions, warning himself that he absolutely could not transform at this moment. "Calm down, Zhu Xiaoxiao, calm down! You can't mess up at this crucial moment!" he silently chanted to himself.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and the dancers moved gracefully, their movements dazzling Zhu Xiaoxiao.

While enjoying the song and dance, he secretly glanced at the female officials around him. They were all dressed in beautiful clothes and were charming and attractive, which made him restless.

Suddenly, the Empress put down the jade cup in her hand. The crisp sound was particularly clear in the noisy hall, and everyone's eyes were instantly focused on her.

Her gaze shifted to Zhu Xiaoxiao, her lips parted slightly, and her voice was clear, cold, and authoritative: "Advisor Xiao, I have heard that you are extremely knowledgeable, knowing everything from astronomy to geography. I wonder if you could enlighten me and my ministers?"

Zhu Xiaoxiao knew that the Empress was testing him. He took a deep breath to calm his nervousness, quickly stood up, and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty flatters me. I only know a little bit and dare not show off my limited knowledge in front of Your Majesty and the other officials."

He tried his best to remain humble, but he was extremely nervous inside. He knew that this might be the biggest test of his trip, and if he was not careful, he would lose everything.

“Advisor Xiao, there’s no need for modesty,” the Empress smiled, a hint of allure in her eyes, her tone carrying a subtle probing, “I’ve heard that you are very knowledgeable about the customs and cultures of various countries. May I ask which country you come from? And who are your family members?”

Zhu Xiaoxiao's heart tightened. He knew that the Empress was testing his origins. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He tried to remain calm and said, "Your subject... Your subject comes from an overseas immortal island. There is only... only my master in my family."

His voice trembled slightly, his eyes flickered, and he dared not look directly into the Empress's bright eyes, which seemed to see through everything. He knew he had to remain calm, or he would easily give himself away.

"Oh? An overseas immortal island?" The Empress's tone carried a hint of doubt. She narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze sharp. "Where is this immortal island? I've never heard of it before."

Zhu Xiaoxiao felt his heart beating faster and faster, and the energy within his body began to fluctuate. He knew he was about to transform. He desperately tried to control his emotions, but the changes in his body became increasingly obvious.

His cheeks began to burn, and his nose started to grow longer. He knew he was about to lose control of his transformation. He gripped the nine-bead bracelet tightly, hoping to use its power to control the energy within him, and prayed incessantly, "Please don't transform! Please don't transform!"

At this critical moment, he had a flash of inspiration and used the "emotional perception" ability of the nine-bead bracelet to sense the Empress's true thoughts.

He realized that the Empress didn't truly suspect his identity, but merely wanted to test his reaction to see if he would reveal any flaws. At the same time, he also sensed a barely perceptible loneliness and longing hidden deep within the Empress's heart, and a hint of…desire?

He had an idea in mind and quickly said, "Your Majesty, my immortal island is filled with countless rare treasures, but the most precious of all is a treasure called 'Tears of True Love'."

It can purify the soul and dispel evil; it is a rare treasure in this world, and only those who truly love each other can create such a treasure.

As he spoke, he secretly crushed an energy bead from a teardrop necklace, releasing a faint fragrance. This fragrance could calm people's emotions and also allow the Empress to feel his sincerity.

At the same time, the fragrance also contained a faint, exotic scent that could arouse desire; it was a special spice he had brought from another world.

The Empress was indeed drawn to the fragrance. Her eyes became hazy, her breathing quickened slightly, two blushes rose on her cheeks, and her tone softened: "Oh? 'Tears of True Love'? That's quite rare."

"I wonder if Advisor Xiao would allow me to see her?" She leaned forward slightly, her neckline slightly open, revealing her sexy collarbone. Zhu Xiaoxiao felt a dryness in her mouth and quickly lowered her head, no longer daring to look directly at the Empress.

Zhu Xiaoxiao was secretly delighted, knowing he had successfully averted the crisis and subtly aroused the Empress's desire. He quickly said, "Of course I am willing, but these 'Tears of Sincerity' only appear under specific conditions. Once I find the right opportunity, I will certainly present them to Your Majesty."

He deliberately emphasized the words "specific conditions," raised his head, and boldly swept his gaze across the Empress's face, finally lingering on her slightly parted red lips, leaving the Empress with endless fantasies.

A shy blush appeared on the Empress's face. She nodded gently and said, "Alright, I'll wait."

Her eyes seemed to hold a hint of expectation and...longing? This stirred a surge of excitement in Zhu Xiaoxiao's heart; he felt he was one step closer to completing his mission.

Zhu Xiaoxiao quickly kowtowed to express his gratitude for the emperor's grace, secretly relieved. He knew he was safe for the time being, and at the same time, he planted a small seed for his next plan.

After the party, Zhu Xiaoxiao returned to his residence. He slumped into a chair, feeling utterly weak. He knew that although his performance had been brilliant, he had been walking a tightrope. One wrong step and he would be doomed.

He closed his eyes, recalling the scene at the banquet just now, the empress's dreamy eyes and shy blush, as well as the faint fragrance emanating from her body, which stirred a flutter in his heart.

"Hmph, not bad, you idiot, you actually managed to fool everyone." The voice of the Ringwraith Little White came from the Moonlight Ring, interrupting his reverie. "But do you think you can fool everyone like that? The Grand Tutor isn't so easily given up. Also, are you sure the method you just used was correct? Be careful not to play with fire and get burned!"

Zhu Xiaoxiao took a deep breath. He knew that the Ringwraith Xiaobai was right. Although the Grand Tutor's conspiracy had failed temporarily, she had not given up, and she would definitely make a comeback.

Moreover, in order to escape, he used suggestive perfume on the Empress, which temporarily won her favor, but it may also bring unforeseen consequences.

“I understand,” Zhu Xiaoxiao said with a determined look in her eyes, “but no matter what, I must survive in this world and complete my mission!”