Chapter 213 Law Enforcement Elder Guards the World (27)

The woman dared not meet the gaze of Prince Shen. With a bitter expression, she said, “My lord, I am going to defy your orders today. As long as you live, you may do as you wish with me. I swear to the heavens that I sever all ties with Shen Zhuo. From this day on, I am no longer his mother, and Shen Zhuo is no longer my son.”

She looked at Bai Tang with desperation. “I’ve done as you asked. You must return the lord to me now.”

Bai Tang spoke softly, “A’Zhuo.”

Shen Zhuo let out a cryptic, light laugh. “From now on, Shen Zhuo has no father or mother, only enemies.”

At this moment, he felt the connection to these two people had been irrevocably severed.

Bai Tang then threw Prince Shen forcefully to the ground and, with a flick of her wrist, cast a spell that bound everyone in Prince Shen’s Mansion in place.

The deed was not complete; she would not release them until it was finished.

“You wretch!” Prince Shen cursed at the woman, his anger palpable. He wished nothing more than to beat her to death.

Bai Tang noted this reaction and turned to Shen Zhuo. “Little disciple, come with me.”

“Understood, Master,” Shen Zhuo replied.

He approached, his expression unreadable.

Shen Zhuo was barely eight years old, so Bai Tang didn’t hold back. She grabbed his hand and led him out of the place, casually pulling aside a servant. “Where is Shen Zhuzhu, the second young lady of Prince Shen’s Mansion? If you don’t tell me, I’ll tear this place apart.”

Shen Zhuo spoke suddenly, “Master, I know where she is.”

“Then lead me there, A’Zhuo,” Bai Tang said, letting Shen Zhuo guide her without further inquiry.

Shen Zhuzhu’s room was quite luxurious. Bai Tang noted the absence of Shen Nianyun and Shen Congbin, surmising that they must have been sent to another sect by Prince Shen. They would likely have joined him if they had been present when she returned in Shen Zhuo’s guise.

Hearing the door open, Shen Zhuzhu initially thought it was a maid. Her gaze immediately fixed on Shen Zhuo, and terror overtook her face.

Oh no, the blackened big BOSS!

It’s over; she, in this vegetative state, is doomed to die! 

Damn the original owner for torturing this blackened big BOSS and leaving her to take on this identity!

A tear of despair slipped down Shen Zhuzhu’s face.

System 168 cowered, not daring to speak.

Shen Zhuzhu was so frightened of Shen Zhuo that she overlooked Bai Tang, who was holding Shen Zhuo’s hand.

Until Bai Tang spoke, “Shen Zhuzhu, what are you afraid of?”

What was she afraid of? Can she not be afraid? After being tormented by evil spirits once, Shen Zhuzhu feared Shen Zhuo to the core.

Wait, what?

That was a woman’s voice?

Shen Zhuzhu finally noticed Bai Tang. Forgive her for having overlooked such a beautiful woman just now due to fear.

The woman, clad in green with her black hair casually tied up, had striking features and an ethereal presence.

Yes, this was the true appearance of a woman who cultivated immortality.

Bai Tang made a hand seal on one hand, and led Shen Zhuo to sit down.

“Shen Zhuzhu, try to speak and sit up.”

“There’s no need to waste spiritual energy on such a hypocrite,” Shen Zhuo said, glaring at Shen Zhuzhu.

Shen Zhuzhu: “…”

Doesn’t anyone know who the real hypocrite is?

Wait, what did this woman just say? Speak, sit up?

Shen Zhuzhu’s eyes darted as she remembered a phrase, “Odd changes, even remains.”

Bai Tang chuckled lightly and replied, “Symbols reveal quadrants.”

This knowledge came from the memories of the little girl from the post-apocalyptic world.

Shen Zhuzhu didn’t even realize she had sat up. With tears welling in her eyes, she looked at Bai Tang and continued, “The Heavenly King covers the Earthly Tiger¹.”

Bai Tang responded, “The Pagoda suppresses the River Demon.”

Shen Zhuzhu added, “Imperial jade wine².”

Bai Tang replied, “180 per cup³.”

Shen Zhuo’s expression darkened as he scrutinized both Bai Tang and Shen Zhuzhu with suspicion.

Shen Zhuzhu’s eyes widened with excitement. “Fellow countryman, are you from another world too?”

Bai Tang ruthlessly replied, “Sorry, I’m not from your world, nor am I a time traveler.”

“Ah?” Shen Zhuzhu was puzzled. How could they have matched on all these phrases and not be fellow countrymen?

——
TL/N:

1. 🡲天王盖地虎 (tiān wáng gài dì hǔ) is a famous line from Chinese popular culture, specifically from the martial arts novel series Water Margin (水浒传), also known as Outlaws of the Marsh. It is part of a secret code or password used by members of the rebel group, the Liangshan heroes, to recognize one another.
   🡲The full exchange goes like this:
   Person 1: 天王盖地虎 (The Heavenly King covers the Earthly Tiger)
   Person 2: 宝塔镇河妖 (The Pagoda suppresses the River Demon)
   🡲These phrases are nonsensical in literal translation but are used as a playful or coded way of identifying fellow members in literature. Today, it’s often used humorously in casual conversation to convey a sense of camaraderie or as a cultural reference to the classic novel. ↩︎
2. 🡲宫廷玉液酒 (gōngtíng yù yè jiǔ) refers to a “royal court jade liquor” or “imperial jade wine”. This phrase is often used to describe a type of high-quality, prestigious alcoholic beverage, typically reserved for royalty or the elite in ancient China.
   🡲In popular culture, it is frequently used in humorous or exaggerated contexts to describe a luxurious or fancy drink, even if it’s not truly royal. For example, in Chinese skits or comedy shows, it’s sometimes paired with 天王盖地虎 (The Heavenly King covers the Earthly Tiger) as part of a playful exchange. ↩︎
3. 🡲一百八一杯 (yī bǎi bā yī bēi) means “180 per cup” or “180 yuan for a cup”. It refers to the price of a single cup of something, usually a drink like alcohol, costing 180 yuan.
   🡲In popular culture, especially in comedy sketches or humorous dialogue, this phrase is often used after mentioning 宫廷玉液酒 (imperial jade wine) to exaggerate the luxuriousness or high price of the drink, making it sound fancy and out of reach for the average person. It’s part of the joke, playing up the lavishness of an imaginary or real drink. ↩︎