The sight of Robin appearing out of thin air before Brenda was enough to make her stare blankly, her entire face instantly turning ashen.

Robin was indeed floating in the air like a phantom, his cold gaze cutting straight into the deepest recesses of Brenda's heart like a bone-chilling gale.

"What—what do you want?" Brenda managed to ask, her voice trembling. This was the first time in her life she had ever felt such raw terror.

She harbored not the slightest doubt that Robin could crush her as easily as crushing an ant; this suffocating pressure nearly stole her breath!

"Protect the Palace Mistress!" Just then, someone shouted, instantly snapping the stunned guards back to reality. Without a second thought for the absurdity of the situation, they lunged, swords swinging toward Robin.

In their extreme fear, they cared nothing for whether Robin was armed or not; their sole instinct was to eliminate these two devil-like entities immediately. They simply could not bear this intrusion any longer!

However, their posturing with swords before Robin was the height of arrogance. Consequently, without any suspense, every single one of them was flung backward, a series of crashes echoing as they smashed into countless flowerbeds and decorative foliage!

In the blink of an eye, Brenda, the Palace Mistress, was left completely alone, a "bare commander." Apart from a few mages guarding the outermost perimeter, not a single guard remained standing! This turn of events left Brenda even more dumbfounded.

What in the hell is this monstrosity?

Her proudly boasted guards were so utterly fragile. Good heavens, was she even human? Where in the seven hells had that little slut Paggy found such a perversely powerful anomaly? (Little did she know, this super-abnormality was Paggy’s own creation, merely refined later by Zhong Shenxiu!)

Brenda was now beyond speech. She deeply understood the foolishness of her actions tonight. Since they dared to return, they certainly wouldn't be easily dealt with. It was laughable that she’d even contemplated capturing them; now, she had no idea what fate awaited her in their hands!

At that moment, another gasp escaped her lips. The reason? Her own body was suddenly airborne—no, launched—directly toward Zhong Shenxiu.

Yet, unlike the guards, she didn't crash into anything. Instead, as she reached Zhong Shenxiu, she stopped inexplicably, as if caught by an invisible cushion of air.

Even after her feet touched the ground, Brenda couldn't stop screaming, displaying none of the dignity befitting a Palace Mistress!

Robin drifted back, glanced at Brenda, and then, without any preamble, delivered a precise blow to her lower abdomen, the force perfectly calibrated to keep her from being thrown across the room.

Even so, the pain caused Brenda to collapse onto the ground, large beads of sweat instantly coating her face!

Then, Robin, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, his voice chillingly cold: "Be quiet."

Fearing another strike from Robin, Brenda hastily nodded in compliance.

"The game is over now. Time for business!" Zhong Shenxiu suddenly flashed a wicked grin that made Brenda’s skin crawl.

Brenda remained seated, motionless. Though the physical pain had subsided, her terror intensified. How she wished she had never encountered these two little devils; then, she wouldn't be in such a pathetic state. But it was too late for wishes. Ever since her son provoked Zhong Shenxiu, this outcome had been inevitable!

"Hey, time to get up!" Zhong Shenxiu said with a smile, clearly eager to begin.

He had just used his mental waves to meticulously scan the area and had indeed discovered several rare treasures, one location in particular exciting him greatly.

Brenda might not have heard, or perhaps she was too stunned to react, as she remained completely still.

Zhong Shenxiu walked over, his evil smile growing wider. He said nothing, merely making a small gesture. The result was an abrupt yelp from Brenda as she shot up from the floor, frantically shaking her clothes as if something had crawled inside.

"What—what is it, ah!" Brenda jumped and shook, a truly comical sight.

"Don't worry," Zhong Shenxiu’s calm voice drifted over, seemingly having a soothing effect. Brenda indeed stopped shaking.

Brenda could feel something slick and cool against her back beneath her robes, but nothing else felt unusual.

However, Zhong Shenxiu’s next sentence nearly shattered her composure, his tone still unhurried: "It’s just a little snake."

A snake? After a brief pause of disbelief, Brenda resumed shaking her clothes frantically, her expression close to tears.

She was deathly afraid of snakes (perhaps a common trait in women); seeing one always gave her goosebumps. She never imagined she would have such an intimate encounter with one today!

She now fully realized that this seemingly smiling little boy was far more demonic than the girl.

"Ah! Qu—quickly! It—it went down!" Brenda couldn't help but cry out again, and—because of her violent shaking—the little snake inside her clothes inevitably slid downward.

Seemingly satisfied with the timing, Zhong Shenxiu flicked his fingers into the air, instantly sealing Brenda's pressure points.

A moment later, a small snake, entirely emerald green with faint purple eyes, slithered out from the sleeve of Brenda’s robe. This was the very creature Zhong Shenxiu had named "Little Qing" back in the ancient tomb, usually dormant on his wrist, but now proving useful.

The little snake then gracefully coiled up onto Brenda’s face, rubbing against her a few times before flying back into Zhong Shenxiu's hand.

Brenda’s skin crawled; the sensation of the snake's tongue licking her face a few times nearly made her faint.

Though "Little Qing" was beautiful, to Brenda it was a terrifying entity. The thought that this thing had just explored the inside of her clothing made her want to tear her skin off and scrub herself clean, but for now, she couldn't even move a muscle.

Zhong Shenxiu flicked his fingers again, releasing the seal on her pressure points, and then asked with mischievous curiosity, "You're afraid of snakes?"

Brenda stared at him, heart still pounding. She didn't know how to answer. She feared that if she admitted the truth, Zhong Shenxiu might just send the little snake on another tour of her body!

Zhong Shenxiu chuckled inwardly. No answer is fine; the heat isn't high enough yet. She’ll cooperate soon enough.

Zhong Shenxiu was a master at tormenting people. He neither beat nor cursed them, yet could bring them to utter submission—a skill one simply had to respect!

Thus, Zhong Shenxiu signaled Robin with his eyes, and a strange gleam flashed in Robin's eyes.

With a mere wave of Robin’s small hand, a scene unfolded that would haunt Brenda’s dreams for years to come: countless snakes, thousands if not tens of thousands, rained down from the sky, completely burying Brenda within their writhing mass.

Upon seeing this sight, Brenda’s pupils dilated violently, as if they might burst. Then, her vision went black, and she fainted dead away!

Alas, the shock must have been too great. I wonder if she’ll have any lasting psychological effects!

A brief, small burst of ice magic later, Brenda slowly regained consciousness. However, the sight of the mass of various snakes coiled on the ground nearly made her pass out again.

For her, this was worse than any nightmare; she would have preferred staying unconscious to avoid seeing those terrifying and disgusting creatures!

"Oh, you’re awake!" Zhong Shenxiu’s voice reached her, and he repeated his question, "Are you afraid of snakes?" But Brenda was completely paralyzed, unable to answer. She didn't dare breathe heavily, terrified that these snakes might decide to settle on her, and if they all followed the first little snake’s example, she might as well wish for death!

As the saying goes, what you fear most is what you get! Those snakes, initially still, seemed to receive an unspoken command and all began slithering toward her.

Like an involuntary reflex, Brenda scrambled to her feet, wishing desperately she had wings to fly up to the heavens.

"I am! I’m so afraid of snakes! Make them go away!" Brenda finally answered Zhong Shenxiu, though the words were barely coherent as she neared a breakdown.

Strangely enough, as soon as she spoke, the snakes stopped moving. Looking at Zhong Shenxiu, he adopted an expression that clearly conveyed, If you’d just said so sooner, none of this would have happened. Indeed, he lived up to his reputation as the "Genius Ghost" once revered and feared throughout the cultivation world; he showed no "morality" when it came to pranks!

Then, Robin recalled the snakes back into the storage bracelet. Brenda, utterly subdued, became exceedingly cooperative, answering every question with absolute candor, never holding anything back.

The few surviving mages in the distance stood frozen long after Zhong Shenxiu and the two others had gone. The spectacle they had just witnessed was indelibly imprinted upon their minds.

Shock and terror were insufficient words to describe their current state!

Heavens above, Earth below—how could anyone be so unbelievably powerful?

Meanwhile, Eshaw knew his mother was executing the plan to capture Zhong Shenxiu tonight. He dared not watch, instead staying by his sister Caroline's side.

It was late now, and he had no idea what the final outcome of the capture operation was, pacing anxiously in the room.

Caroline, looking like a mummy, watched her brother without a word.

Then, a long announcement echoed from outside: "The Palace Mistress arrives!"

Eshaw’s heart leaped with joy upon hearing his mother was here.

Since Mother was here, it meant that little demon had been captured!

With that thought, Eshaw happily strode toward the door to greet her, but as he reached the threshold, he froze dead in his tracks. (To be continued)