Still Trying to Take It

Next time?

You still want a next time?

Queenie Zhu shot Grace a sideways glance, then turned and said, "Grandmother, Grace's Antler Serpent is really odd. It has a tuft of fur on its head, and just like she said, it actually bit right through my sword! My sword is incredibly tough—an upper-grade spirit weapon that can slice through hair!"

Grace glanced at Queenie Zhu. What was she up to now?

Queenie Zhu kept talking to Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu: "Grandmother, during matches, the Empress sometimes lets us bring our spirit pets into battle. The one I raised died, so I want to borrow Grace's Antler Serpent. What do you think?"

During duels, it's sometimes allowed to bring spirit pets into the fight. This has basically become an unwritten rule.

At times like this, Spirit Practitioners without pets are at a disadvantage.

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu nodded, thinking it made sense. She looked at Grace and said, "Summon your spirit pet. Let me have a look."

Grace finally understood—Queenie Zhu's real reason for coming here was to complain and get this!

Looks like she didn't get it on the street, so now she wants to keep trying?

Grace glanced at Queenie Zhu, catching the challenge in her eyes.

"Grandmother, my Antler Serpent is timid. It won't even let Pan'er or Xi'er get close, so I doubt it'll go with her," Grace protested.

"Just bring it here and let me see," Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu said, leaving no room for argument.

So Grace had no choice but to pull the Antler Serpent out of her pocket and place it on the table beside Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu.

"Hm? It's so tiny?" Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu was surprised.

"Grandmother, don't be fooled by its size," Queenie Zhu said, her eyes lighting up. "It really did bite through my sword!"

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu pondered for a moment, then suddenly produced a dagger and swung it at the Antler Serpent's head.

It was sudden—and fast!

Grace didn't even have time to save it.

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu is a sixth-rank cultivator!

But then—"Ding!" A crisp sound rang out.

The dagger in Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu's hand broke again.

The Antler Serpent spat out a few bits of metal with a "pffft."

"No doubt about it! This Antler Serpent has incredible attack power!" Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu exclaimed, delighted as she looked at the broken dagger.

"Exactly!" Queenie Zhu chimed in. "So, let me borrow it! I'll give it back to Grace after the match."

"That's right, that's right!" Mrs. Liu, who hadn't believed it before, now saw it with her own eyes and agreed the Antler Serpent was no ordinary beast. "Lend it to Queenie for the match—she'll have a real advantage. And if Queenie marries into the General's household, it'll be a huge honor for our family, right?"

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu nodded and turned to Grace: "Grace, Queenie doesn't have a spirit pet. We've been looking for one for her, and this Antler Serpent is perfect. It may look weak, but it's actually powerful—great for catching opponents off guard. Just lend it to Queenie for now, okay?"

Grace took a deep breath and stood up, her face cold: "Grandmother, no!"

If the Antler Serpent didn't have such strong teeth, it'd be dead by now.

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu's face darkened. "Grace, I told your father just the other day how mature you've become. But now, it seems you still don't understand what's important! What use do you have for it besides playing around? Queenie is different—if she marries into the General's family, it's crucial for us!"

"Grandmother, it's not that I don't care about the big picture," Grace said. "The Antler Serpent was hunted by humans before, so it's really timid and doesn't like strangers. I'm afraid if it gets scared, it might hurt Queenie..."