Chapter 358 – Scary Anda
As usual, Victor simply stared at Leyvi with his typical expression, grumbling inwardly about tall people and their endless advantages.
But before the argument could escalate further, a calm yet chilling voice cut through the air.
"Senior Lapin, what demonic beast did you say it was again? Which demonic beast almost killed my husband?"
It was Anda.
Her tone was soft and level, but the subtle quiver in her voice carried a dangerous weight. Everyone's attention shifted to her immediately.
Anda stood there clutching her panda plushie, her expression perfectly composed. But her pupils seemed to flicker with an intense, burning fury. Slowly, the grip on the panda plush tightened, making its button eyes bulge unnaturally.
The temperature around them began to rise. Waves of heat distorted the air as tongues of flame started appearing spontaneously, popping into existence like blooming flowers of fire. The atmosphere grew heavy.
What? Creating fire without Qi—Fire Concept! Dastan thought, stunned. He hadn't expected Leyvi's wife to wield the Fire Concept. Both husband and wife are abnormal.
"Uhh… it was a jaguar," Lapin replied cautiously, his chuckle this time a little weaker.
Anda's eyes flared. "Hmph! From now on, all jaguars will be the enemies of our Leyan Family! I'll kill any jaguar I see after this! When we return, I'll organize a hunting party to wipe out every last jaguar in the Cloud Continent! And after that, we'll hunt all animals that even resemble a jaguar. Not a single one will be spared!"
The declaration sent a chill down Dastan's spine despite the rising temperature around them. Her fury was palpable, and even the mistletoe ruffled nervously in the breeze.
How could Anda not be furious? Her beloved husband had nearly lost his life to one of those creatures. In her mind, they all deserved extinction.
"Alright, alright. Calm down now. That's not going to happen, okay? Anda, it's getting a little too hot in here," Leyvi said gently as he reached out, ruffling her hair with a teasing grin. "Call back your fire. We don't want to end up with a roasted squirrel, do we? And take a look at the panda in your hands. Poor little guy's about to lose an eye from how tight you're squeezing him."
He spoke with the calmness of someone used to these outbursts, his tone warm yet laced with amusement. This wasn't the first time Anda had reacted like this, so Leyvi had anticipated her extreme response. He'd only almost died, yet she was already planning something so drastic. If he actually died, forget the colossal tree destroying the world—Anda would do it first.
Jaguars all over this world and mine… you better thank me later. I just saved your lives.
Tantan, sitting on Dastan's shoulder, glared at Leyvi, her tail puffed up in irritation. Who's a roasted squirrel? This princess will make you into a roasted human, just you wait!
Hearing Leyvi's voice, Anda visibly softened. The fury in her eyes dimmed like cooling embers, and the flames around them vanished almost instantly. The stifling heat dissipated as though it had never been there, leaving only a faint scent of smoke lingering in the air.
Anda smiled softly and said, "Everyone, forgive me for what just happened. I lost my temper a bit."
A bit? That was a bit? Everyone silently exchanged glances, their thoughts perfectly aligned. What would happen if she lost it a lot? They all silently promised themselves never to provoke the panda lady in the future.
Leyvi chuckled at their uneasy expressions. "See, Anda? You scared everyone. A panda isn't supposed to be scary, you know." He grinned teasingly at her.
"Well… I can be the exception." Anda replied without missing a beat, her smile as sweet as ever.
The others froze, momentarily speechless. Did she really just consider herself a panda?
While Leyvi was still busy calming his wife, Dastan's eyes gleamed with ambition. The crown prince cleared his throat and leaned slightly forward, his tone suddenly polite and respectful.
"Ahem… Senior Lapin, when you cross over to our world later, would you consider joining our Howling Kingdom? My grandfather is the current king and a Dao Manifestation Realm powerhouse. We would be honored to have someone like you as an ally. Of course, the kingdom will provide you with countless benefits in return."
Dastan's mind raced with possibilities. A King Level Demonic Beast who was friendly and unaffiliated was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If he managed to bring Lapin into the Howling Kingdom, their power and influence would soar overnight. And with Lapin's cooperative personality, this alliance could change the entire balance of power.
"Kekeke! Human Dastan, was it? I already heard a thing or two from someone else from your continent, so I know how impressive the Twelve Great Kingdoms are. However, I will have to decline your invitation for now. I am leaving this world behind so I can finally be free. I want to walk on the ground again without worrying about a colossal tree trying to kill me. Maybe in the future, when I have finished enjoying my freedom and when you yourself have become the king, I could consider it. If you want to recruit me then, you will need to rely on your own ability. Kekeke."
Lapin's words carried a lighthearted tone, but his answer left a small opening, a hint of possibility for the future.
What he did not say was that even as Lilian's secret bodyguard, he was not tied down. His abilities allowed him to protect her from afar, and all the protective measures were already put in place. Unless something was powerful enough to bypass all the protective measures he left on her and kill her instantly, Lilian would survive no matter what. This freedom meant Lapin could roam wherever he pleased.
"Daa hahaha! Don't worry, Senior Lapin! When this junior becomes king, this junior will personally come to recruit you again, and I'll bring an offer that even a King Level Demonic Beast cannot refuse!" Dastan's voice boomed with confidence.
He had been disappointed at first when he heard the rejection, his enthusiasm faltering for a moment. But as soon as Lapin's last words registered, his eyes lit up with renewed determination. If he succeeded in recruiting Lapin as king, the glory would belong entirely to him. His mood soared again as quickly as it had fallen.
Meanwhile, Leyvi, who had been watching Anda to make sure she was no longer fuming about jaguars, finally spoke up. "Senior Lapin, when would you like me to leave my spiritual imprint? I can do it right now if you want."
"Oh, there's no need to rush. I am confident your spiritual imprint will endure inside my sea of consciousness, so we can take our time. Kekeke!" Lapin replied, his voice as relaxed as ever.
"Is that so? Hahaha, that's fine. I can do it anytime," Leyvi said, unbothered. They weren't returning soon, so it made sense that Lapin wasn't in a hurry.
After all, as a strong creature, having someone who is far weaker than him implanting a spiritual imprint in his sea of consciousness could feel insulting.
"Senior Lapin… are you saying that when you asked for my spiritual imprint back then… you already knew it would fail? Hmm?" Anda's tone dripped with menace, her eyes narrowing slightly as an ominous air seemed to gather around her.
"Cough, cough, cough!" Lapin, who had been lounging lazily on his sky island, nibbling carrot tops, suddenly choked and sat upright in alarm.
"Human Anda… cough… it's not like that! You can't compare now with back then! At that time, I truly didn't know whether it would succeed or not. I had no point of reference. Now it's different! I've already experienced your spiritual imprint, and I use that as my benchmark for measuring others' mental strength. I swear!" Lapin explained in a rush, his words tumbling over each other as though he feared Anda's anger might descend upon him at any moment.
But instead of exploding, Anda's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "I know. I was just teasing you, Senior Lapin. You don't have to be so flustered. Hehe."
Lapin froze, utterly speechless. Of all things, he had actually been trolled by Anda. Worse yet, he realized with some dismay that he had been genuinely afraid she might get angry with him.
Kekeke! How did this happen? When did I, a majestic Celestial Cloud Rabbit, start fearing a little panda lady's wrath? He sighed inwardly, chewing his carrot tops in defeat.
Dastan stared at Anda for a long moment. This panda woman had actually made a King Level Demonic Beast flustered, as though he were afraid of upsetting her. The thought sent a chill down his spine. She might be far more terrifying than he had imagined. Quietly, he made a mental note to watch his attitude carefully whenever she was around.
He also glanced at Tantan and whispered a reminder for her to stay on the panda lady's good side. Tantan nodded immediately, her tail flicking nervously. Her instincts had warned her from the very beginning—this panda woman was not to be trifled with.
Tantan now started to consider whether to treat Leyvi a little bit better so that she would not accidentally anger the panda human.