Chapter 139: Chapter 133: The Red Skeleton Widow [Subscription Requested]_1
His eyes were frightfully intense.
Even Fairy Chang E was startled, taking two steps back in alarm as she became cautious.
However, in that instant, her pride flared, and anger filled her heart.
A mere demoted general dared to glare at her? Who am I? I am the number one beauty of the Heavenly Realm, the oft-praised Star Lord Chang E, Master of Guanghan Palace. Many divine beings have seen me and were mesmerized to the point of paralysis. Countless heroes have prostrated themselves under my pomegranate skirt, only to be disregarded by me. To descend from my esteemed position to this place was already giving him much face. Sha Chen’s failure to worship me was discourteous, and to dare glare at me, his eyes even harboring murderous intent, is outrageous. Despicable. Truly despicable!
Fairy Chang E’s usually aloof face now showed anger and humiliation, but deep in her eyes flashed a hint of panic and terror.
This was the Flowing Sand River. After a single exchange of blows, neither had the upper hand.
Yet, Fairy Chang E had already exerted her full strength, and she could not gauge Sha Chen’s ability. This was because, just then, Sha Chen had not used his mana but solely relied on the physical strength of his Witch Clan body. Pure physical power had repelled Fairy Chang E. This was the source of her shock and panic: the depth of her abilities had been exposed while Sha Chen’s remained unfathomed. The difference in their abilities was clear.
Sha Chen said, "Fairy, don’t force me."
His face was stern and had become very serious.
Fairy Chang E furrowed her brows and said, "Do you really intend to kill me? A mere demoted general like you wants to kill me?"
Sha Chen replied, "I don’t wish to kill anyone, nor do I want to make enemies. I just want to cultivate peacefully and live out my days here.
"Nevertheless, there are always those who seek to trouble me, even to the point of taking my life. Against such people, although I may feel helpless, I will not sit idly by waiting for death."
He fixed his gaze on Fairy Chang E, reaching out to grab the Giant Que Sword, and with his other hand, he seized the Undefined Flying Rings.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
At the same time, he manifested three heads and six arms, embodying the Law of Heaven and Earth.
Sha Chen, like a peerless god of slaughter, held the Giant Que Sword in one hand, the Undefined Flying Rings in another, the Dragon Binding Rope in a third, the Nine-dragon Divine Fire Cover in a fourth, Samadhi True Fire in a fifth, and Mysterious Heavenly Water in the sixth.
The Wings of Wind and Thunder spread out behind him, making him resemble an unsurpassed demon god.
He looked down upon Fairy Chang E, his gaze bursting forth with a brilliant light. He pushed his Illusion-Breaking Divine Eye and Downwind Ear to their limits, revealing his mana level in the process.
Peak of Greater Primordial Golden Immortal.
Just half a step away from being a Daluo Golden Immortal.
On seeing this, Fairy Chang E gasped in shock.
Sha Chen is terrifyingly powerful! He possesses the peak cultivation of a Greater Primordial Golden Immortal, no longer below me. However, just over a hundred years ago, he clearly had only the cultivation of a True Immortal. In recent years, rumors of his swift increase in strength have spread far and wide, even causing the Jade Emperor’s court discussions, with ministers unable to devise a strategy against him. But I didn’t believe Sha Chen had any reason to be arrogant. The Great General for Folding the Curtain is still the Great General for Folding the Curtain; how much could he amount to!? An improvement in strength, at most, would make him a Golden Immortal, and peaking at that level would probably be his greatest fortune. Nevertheless, I never expected Sha Chen to be at the peak of Greater Primordial Golden Immortal, with a cultivation that reached the heavens and pierced the earth, not at all inferior to mine! And that’s only his cultivation, not the entirety of his battle power. I know Sha Chen’s physical body is also terrifyingly powerful—strong, hard, and immensely forceful. And that isn’t all. The Magical Tools in Sha Chen’s possession are all famously powerful, each one enough to astonish anyone. Moreover, his mastery of Samadhi True Fire and Mysterious Heavenly Water, and his perfect combination of the two, is incredible. Unbelievable!
Fairy Chang E was dumbfounded; at the same time, she was afraid.
She was truly afraid.
If this had happened outside, I might not have been so fearful because if I couldn’t win, I could always flee. There are so many gods in the sky, with Day and Night Roaming Gods patrolling everywhere. It would not be easy for anyone to attempt to kill me, and even if they could, they would need to consider the consequences if the Heavenly Court found out. Sha Chen, wanting to know the content of the court discussion, surely doesn’t want to make an enemy of the Heavenly Court. Even if I caused him trouble, I wouldn’t need to worry about being attacked by Sha Chen outside. But here... my life and death are not in my hands.
Fairy Chang E deeply regretted her carelessness. I rashly entered the Flowing Sand River, thinking I could manipulate Sha Chen, only to find myself caught in his grip.
At this moment, she was also afraid. Because I know, when cornered, even the most honest man might kill. Even a cornered rabbit will bite. What more for a demoted general; if truly driven to desperation, he may well lash out. Before making a move, what he might do depends on how ruthless Sha Chen can be.
Fairy Chang E clenched her teeth and pursed her lips, her cold face flashing with panic and hesitation.
In the end, she smiled.
"General, why must you trouble a weak woman like me so? I only asked a few questions, and if you won’t answer, so be it."
"I had too much to drink earlier and was rash. Please don’t take it to heart, General. The Sky Shaking Bow is not worth worrying over."
She surrendered. I have no choice but to relent. After all, my confidence comes from my own strength and my status in the Heavenly Court. If I encounter a desperado who doesn’t fear my Heavenly Court status and whose strength surpasses mine, then I have no choice but to relent. Sha Chen is exactly this kind of desperate character, clinging to life and fearing death, always on alert in the face of danger. Anything that poses a threat to his life must be erased. I have every reason to believe that Sha Chen is a desperado who might completely disregard my status. Right now, Sha Chen is thinking about killing me.
Furthermore, Chang E was certain that Sha Chen had the ability to do so. Although I’m no pushover myself, I don’t have the confidence that I could escape with my life from the hands of a fully-prepared Sha Chen within the closed confines of the Flowing Sand River Cave. Because of this, I backed down. I was the first to show weakness. However, I inevitably feel some indignation in my heart; after all, I am lofty and esteemed, while Sha Chen is nothing but a criminal general who dared to threaten me.
Sha Chen frowned slightly and reined in his desire to kill.
In fact, the last thing I want to do is kill someone. Killing a demon is one thing, but killing Fairy Chang E would be a huge problem.
Since Chang E showed weakness, he decided to take the easy way out as well. All the murderous aura dissipated as he withdrew his three heads and six arms and the Law of Heaven and Earth, returning to his original form with a smile and clasping his fist in greeting.
He invited Chang E to sit down again and then said with a smile, "Fairy, you had too much to drink, and so did I. I almost offended you, Fairy, which is a sin. I shall punish myself with three cups."
He poured three cups of wine and drank them all in one go.
Fairy Chang E chuckled, yet her heart was shocked. I didn’t expect that he, despite his rough manner, is so astute in his thinking. He can be both humble and flexible, measured in his approach, with such profound scheming. He’s a man with deep schemes; his boorish facade serves as his best disguise. His earlier caution might also have been feigned, simply because he keeps a low profile and doesn’t want to cause trouble—purely pretense, rather than genuine fear of death. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to draw a weapon against me, Fairy Chang E, and even consider killing me after a disagreement. And when I conceded, he was able to immediately stop and switch to a smiling face, as if nothing had happened before. Such deep scheming is indeed profound. The people of the world have probably underestimated Sha Chen. Including me.
However, she was truly mistaken. Sha Chen was not profoundly scheming but purely cautious—shamelessly so. Just surviving here, simply out of fear of death. When compared to life, what does a little face matter? Besides, it’s Chang E losing face, not me. Donghuang Taiyi, Di Jun, the twelve Ancestral Witches, Zulong, Yuanfeng, Shi Qilin—these beings of great renown from ancient times. They were arrogant and imperious, commanding respect on all sides, but are they still alive now? Living is the true victory. Countless heroes have risen and fallen, but only the present truly matters.
The tense and threatening atmosphere within the cave had dissipated. Knowing that she could not win, Chang E abandoned her hard stance and instead became as gentle as water. Her attitude was no longer as aloof, just slightly awkward in her gentleness.
As for Sha Chen, he was even more at ease. As long as I’m not threatened, I can drink and eat meat with you, raising glasses in merriment. If you threaten me, though, you’ll get the knife.
Sha Chen said, "Fairy, might you inform me of the content of the Heavenly Court’s deliberation?"
Fairy Chang E pursed her lips. How could I compromise so easily? Moreover, since I can’t defeat Sha Chen, the content of the deliberation is my last trump card; I absolutely cannot reveal it easily.
She smiled and said, "General, I was impulsive before, but this humble one would still like to take a glance at the Sky Shaking Bow. I won’t try to snatch it, please rest assured, General."
Worried that Sha Chen would disagree, she repeated her assurances.
Nevertheless, Sha Chen also knew that the appearance of the Sky Shaking Bow was what had distracted Chang E, and whether he could obtain information from her depended on it. The Sky Shaking Bow was crucial. Therefore, he would not casually allow Chang E to inspect the Sky Shaking Bow.
He replied, "Fairy, don’t joke. The Sky Shaking Bow is a divine object from beyond the heavens, and it has chosen me. That much, you acknowledge, right, Fairy?"
Chang E’s eyes showed complex emotions. Previously, I was completely sure that Sha Chen was deceiving me. But it turned out to be true. The Magical Tool had truly chosen Sha Chen of its own volition. But... how could he be worthy of the Sky Shaking Bow’s selection!?
Fairy Chang E took a deep breath and said, "I just want to have a look. Please indulge this request, General."
She lowered her stance greatly, no longer lofty, superior, or imperious. The aloof goddess also has moments of yielding. If this were seen by others outside, their jaws would undoubtedly drop.
But Sha Chen simply said, "Please tell me about the Heavenly Court’s deliberation, Fairy."
Chang E fell silent. Sha Chen also became silent.
The two stared intently at each other, and the atmosphere gradually became heavy again.
Finally, Fairy Chang E gave in again and said, "I will tell you some of the content, General, and you let me take a few looks at the Sky Shaking Bow. After I leave the Flowing Sand River, I will tell you the outcome of the deliberation. How about that?"
He might imprison me. She feared this, so she used the deliberation’s outcome to threaten him.
Sha Chen thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright."
Then he looked at Chang E, waiting for her to speak.
However, Chang E said, "Let me see the Sky Shaking Bow first."
Sha Chen just chuckled and said, "Fairy, enjoy the food and wine. My humble abode can still provide you with simple fare for a thousand, even ten thousand years."
Chang E cursed inwardly. Sha Chen is hinting that if we continue this stalemate, he could imprison me for a thousand or ten thousand years! I don’t want that!
She bit her lip, not wanting to easily give in. Then, she suddenly smiled seductively, her shoulder strap sliding down to expose her fragrant shoulder and a hint of her bosom.
A pool of autumn water shimmered in her eyes, and her cheeks flushed like rosy clouds. With crimson lips, a complexion like white jade, a figure like a swaying willow, and a charming smile, she exuded allure. Bright eyes and white teeth, a hidden fragrance wafting over. If it were any other man, confronted with Chang E’s sudden seductiveness, his heart would surely melt, his bones would go soft, and his sword would grow hard.
Only Sha Chen remained silent, unfazed.
"A painted skeleton, a living widow, trying to disturb my Dao heart?"