Chapter 290: Making Nan Mu Bai Furious
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Nan Mu Bai stood frozen in shock, his eyes wide as if they might pop out of his head. In front of him, the Guardian of the Southern Kingdom—a creature famous for its terrifying power—sat quietly, munching on some vegetarian snacks with clear disinterest. And right beside it was little Lu Chao Chao, her tiny face scrunched up with curiosity.
“Yucky teethies!” Chao Chao said, her nose wrinkled. “You clean them when?” she asked in her innocent, baby-like voice.
She waved at a palace maid who stood nearby, her face pale with worry. “Big pets need cleanies too! Get a stick for brushing!” she instructed confidently.
Turning back to the great beast, she explained, “This stick is for cleaning your teethies. You got nine heads, so make sure none of them miss out! I’m watching!”
Puffing out her little chest, Chao Chao continued, “Hold the stick with your tail and brush each head, one by one. I know this stuff!”
Madam Xu stood nearby, her mouth opening and closing like a fish, unable to find the words for what she was witnessing. The others around her were equally stunned. The mighty Guardian Beast, usually known for its fearsome presence, now clumsily gripped a small twig in its tail, looking like it wanted to disappear from embarrassment.
Chao Chao pointed to another maid. “Bring water! Big Snakey needs to rinse after brushing!” she ordered.
The palace maids were too frightened to move, so the sixth prince, eager to help, ran off to fetch some water himself.
A group of officials and envoys from the Southern Kingdom stared in disbelief. The nine-headed hydra, a revered and ancient creature, awkwardly brushed its teeth with a stick. Its fangs flashed with each bite on the twig, making the scene both bizarre and strangely funny.
Nan Mu Bai clutched his chest, struggling to process what he was seeing. “Brushing… its teeth?” he muttered, almost in disbelief. “Is this a joke?”
For generations, the Southern royal family had honored this beast as their ancestor. They never imagined they would see it reduced to such a ridiculous state.
Ming Lang watched in amazement. He had never imagined the Guardian Beast like this.
“Hey, little prince,” he teased, “how scary is your beast now? You’ve been using its scary reputation to frighten people, haven’t you?”
The king of North Zhao chuckled, a sly smile on his face. “Even though you’re a prince from the Southern Kingdom, you owe the people of North Zhao an explanation.”
Nan Mu Bai’s breathing grew heavy with frustration, but Lord Ming quickly spoke up, “Your Majesty of North Zhao, do not worry. We will calm the people’s fears and provide a full explanation.”
Nan Mu Bai gritted his teeth, trying to keep his anger in check.
But the king looked pleased. For too long, North Zhao had been under the shadow of the Southern Kingdom. Now, thanks to Chao Chao, he saw a chance to regain some dignity.
The Guardian Beast of the Southern Kingdom, here in North Zhao, brushing its teeth and eating vegetables—it was indeed a sight to see!
Chao Chao turned to Nan Mu Bai with a playful pout on her lips. “How is it scary? Where’s the fierce part? Look, its teeth are all shiny and clean now!”
“And it’s happily munching on veggies!” she giggled.
Nan Mu Bai’s face tightened, and he remained silent, clearly upset.
“Sunshine, Sunshine, can I touch it? I’ve never touched a big beast before,” the sixth prince asked eagerly, his eyes shining with excitement.
“It’s a divine beast,” Nan Mu Bai snapped, clinging to his pride. “This special creature has been blessed by the heavens for thousands of years. You can’t just touch it! Only special people in the Southern Kingdom are allowed near it!”
“Why can’t he touch it? He could even ride it!” Chao Chao argued, her cheeks puffed out in stubbornness.
Nan Mu Bai rolled his eyes and huffed dismissively.
The sixth prince’s eyes filled with tears, his hopes sinking.
Chao Chao took his hand and pulled him forward. “I say you can touch it, so you can! He’s fibbing! Come on, Sixth Brother, let’s go!”
The ministers leaned forward, eager to see what would happen next.
Just then, from outside the palace doors, Scholar Li Zi Xi’s voice boomed, “Brushing your teeth is fine, but please don’t spit the rinse water in my bowl!”
Li Zi Xi pushed back his chair with a loud clatter, his voice full of irritation. “You beast! I haven’t even tasted this wine yet!”
The beast paused its tooth-brushing and looked down at Lu Chao Chao with nervous eyes. [Did she recognize me??!!]
Its scales bristled, and Nan Mu Bai’s eyes lit up with a flicker of hope. [It’s mad! It’s mad!!]
[Bite her! Bite her! Bite her!!]
[How dare she disrespect our Southern Kingdom’s divine beast! Bite her!]
Chao Chao beamed, her voice cheerful and innocent. “Can I call you Fragrant Fragrance? I had a little snake once. Not as big as you, but kinda the same…”
The beast seemed to calm down a bit.
“Fragrant Fragrance, my Sixth Brother has never touched a divine beast before. Can he touch you?” Chao Chao asked, her big eyes shining with hope as she looked at the serpent.
The serpent, still awkwardly holding the twig in its tail, looked from the sixth prince back to Chao Chao.
Nan Mu Bai watched, a smug grin creeping onto his face. [She’s pushing her luck! This serpent is so fierce that even the royals of the Southern Kingdom must be careful around it.]
But then, something unexpected happened…
The beast paused and, to everyone’s astonishment, gently lowered its grand head.
The sixth prince’s hands trembled with excitement. “Really? Really, I can?”
“Fragrant Fragrance says yes! Go ahead, Sixth Brother, touch it!”
With a mixture of fear and excitement, the sixth prince reached out and patted the top of the serpent’s head. “Wow, it’s so cold and smooth! Father, I touched the Southern Kingdom’s Guardian Beast!”
Nan Mu Bai was utterly stunned.
[Why?! Why does he get to touch it?!]
He was so frustrated, he almost stomped his feet.
“Can I touch the other heads too?” the sixth prince asked, his voice filled with eagerness.
What happened next left everyone speechless.
The mighty Guardian Beast of the Southern Kingdom gracefully lowered its heads, one by one, letting the sixth prince touch each of them.
The officials and envoys from the Southern Kingdom were so shocked they nearly fainted.
“Fragrant Fragrance is so tall! Riding on its head would be way more fun than riding Chasing Wind. Wanna try?” Chao Chao suggested, her voice bright with mischief.
The sixth prince’s face lit up with pure joy. He grabbed Chao Chao’s hand, his voice shaking with excitement. “Really? Really, Chao Chao Sister?!”
“Yep! Pick a head and climb on!” Chao Chao said, guiding him like a little leader.
Nan Mu Bai jumped to his feet, his movement so sudden he almost knocked over the table. “No!” he yelled.
Everyone turned to look at him as he tried to control his anger. “A divine beast cannot be ridden!”
“Not everyone gets to ride a divine beast!”
“In the Southern Kingdom, only my father and I can command the divine beast! Princess Sunshine, just because the divine beast shows you a little kindness doesn’t mean you can treat it like a horse!”
Secretly, Nan Mu Bai knew he could only ride the Guardian Beast by secretly mixing divine power into its food to calm it down, and even then, only when it was in a good mood!
Fragrant Fragrance is a symbol of the highest honor in the Southern Kingdom!
Is it really okay to let a commoner ride on its head?!
Chao Chao glanced at him sideways. “I’m not riding on your head, so why are you mad?”
“Fragrant Fragrance, do you agree?” Chao Chao asked, her voice steady and calm.
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
The serpent, used to her gentle commands and sensing her potential displeasure, quickly nodded all nine of its heads obediently.
Nan Mu Bai’s face went pale as he felt his dignity slipping away.
“Nine heads mean nine rides. Anyone else wanna try?” Chao Chao called out to the excited crowd.
At this, the whole assembly erupted into cheers.
Ride the Southern Kingdom’s Guardian Beast? Yes, yes, yes!!
Who could have imagined such a scene?!
The king was so overjoyed he almost fainted. Who knew such a wonderful thing could happen?!