"Sister, it's terrible, a tiny pig demon has run right into the store!"
Zhu Hao darted past the entrance, his golden body a blur. The young shop assistant, her voice strained with terror and disbelief, chased after him, shouting a warning to the upper floors of the exquisite Jinxiufang silk shop.
Swish, swish, swish!
Before Zhu Hao could reach the opulent main staircase, a sudden barrage of tiny, golden needles trailing thin red threads shot out from the shadows above, aimed directly at him.
"Wow! Dongfang Bubai in the house!" Zhu Hao let out a strange, delighted cry. He executed a perfect, spherical roll, his round body displaying astonishing agility. He zipped and dodged left and right, easily avoiding the initial flurry of deadly needles and their attached red lines. "You'll need more than a few embroidery tools to catch Lord Pig!"
"Interesting!" A woman's low, charming voice, like the soft chime of jade bells, drifted down from the second floor.
The next moment, the attack escalated. Countless more golden needles, now trailing thick golden threads instead of red, shot out. These weren't haphazard shots; they were controlled by a master. The threads twisted and turned mid-air, weaving themselves into a magnificent, shimmering golden net that began to descend and envelop Zhu Hao.
"Oh, Miss, are you proposing a game of spiritual bondage so early in the day? Prepare yourself to witness Master Pig's Wind-Thunder Sky Wings!"
With a flash of righteous indignation, Zhu Hao's spiritual power surged. Eight golden wings, crackling with the violent energy of wind and thunder, burst from his back.
Swish, swish, swish!
The sound was a terrifying, compressed thunderclap. Zhu Hao transformed into a rapid succession of golden afterimages. His wings sliced through the air with the power of the primal elements, and the descending golden net—a masterpiece of embroidery-based spiritual cultivation—was instantly shredded, scattered into thousands of harmless, fluttering threads.
"So fast!"
A sharp exclamation of surprise finally escaped the woman hiding above. Zhu Hao, satisfied with his dramatic demonstration, then made his move. His golden figure simply vanished.
The pupils of the gorgeous woman—Jin Ping'er—who wore rich red embroidered clothes and possessed a mature, devastatingly charming aura, instantly constricted. She was a master of the Demonic Path, boasting a formidable cultivation in the Upper Clarity Realm, yet she couldn't track Zhu Hao's movements clearly. The realization of his overwhelming speed struck her with genuine terror.
"Fast? In fact, Lord Pig can always be faster," a childish voice whispered right next to her ear.
The woman's delicate body stiffened, a silent gasp catching in her throat. She felt a sudden weight, a wonderfully soft, furry presence resting comfortably in her arms. She slowly looked down. Of course, it was Zhu Hao.
"Beautiful lady, to assault Lord Pig the moment I arrive is hardly proper hospitality," Zhu Hao said, flashing a grin from his fat face. He raised his head, looking up at her exquisite features with brazen admiration.
"Lord Pig is absolutely correct. My name is Jin Ping'er. I sincerely apologize for the inexcusable offense just now. I pray Lord Pig will be magnanimous and overlook my terrible manners!"
Jin Ping'er's body was rigid, paralyzed not by the pig's weight, but by his power. She plastered on a radiant, sweet smile—a performance that made her face appear like a hundred blooming flowers, overflowing with charm and breathtaking beauty.
"Ah, so you are Miss Ping'er. When you smile like that, you are truly magnificent!" Zhu Hao complimented sincerely.
"Lord Pig, you flatter me far too much. I am but a weak, insignificant woman, utterly undeserving of such high praise from a respected figure like yourself," Jin Ping'er replied, maintaining the dazzling smile.
Internally, however, her mind was racing in frantic cycles. Who is this? What is he? With her years of experience traveling the world and navigating the brutal politics of the Demonic Path, she had never once encountered or heard a rumor about a spiritual beast with this level of power and this bizarre, entitled personality.
"I wonder what profound guidance Lord Pig has for me by gracing my humble abode with his divine presence?" Jin Ping'er asked tentatively, careful to sound subservient. She was convinced he must be the spiritual guardian of some hidden, powerful Grand Elder.
"Guidance? I have no guidance," Zhu Hao yawned, stretching his chubby body and settling into her arms more comfortably, clearly intending to take a nap right then and there. "Can a Grandmaster not simply visit Miss Ping'er to admire her beauty?"
"So soft, so smooth, and so remarkably plush!" a delighted thought involuntarily flashed through Jin Ping'er's mind as she tentatively moved her little hands to gently rub his back. She was stunned by the texture of his fur.
Experience +20
Jin Ping'er rubbed Zhu Hao, her beautiful eyes lost in deep contemplation. Who is he? He doesn't seem to be sent by anyone specific, and he acts with such casual arrogance... could he possibly be a genuine wild spirit beast of unmatched power?
She reasoned that if he had a malicious agenda, he wouldn't waste time with flirtation; he would simply act.
"Ping'er," Zhu Hao said, as if seeing the doubt in her heart, "do you know the name Zhu Ye?" He never intended to hide his true identity as the founder of the Qingyun Sect.
"Forgive my appalling ignorance, but may I ask your honored name, Master Zhu, and your precise origins?" Jin Ping'er's eyes widened, sensing a crucial clue.
"Qing Yunzi is merely Master Zhu's youngest brother," Zhu Hao stated proudly. "Xiao Xuanzi—that's Daoxuan, the current Head of Qingyun—must still call Master Zhu 'Grandmaster Uncle'. Now, do you understand who Master Zhu is?"
The effect was instantaneous and profound.
Jin Ping'er's pupils shrank to pinpricks, and her hand, which had been gently stroking his back, froze mid-air. She finally understood.
"You... you are the ancient spiritual beast who was there when Patriarch Qingyun founded the Qingyun Sect... Lord Pig!" Jin Ping'er whispered in utter horror.
"What do you mean 'followed'?" Zhu Hao protested, waving his tiny paws in vigorous dissatisfaction. "Qing Yunzi was Lord Pig's younger brother!"
He sighed internally. The system's identity implantation is truly amazing! His identity was clearly known throughout the world—not just by the righteous Qingyun disciples, but also by the major sects of the Demonic Path.
Jin Ping'er, the renowned, highly capable disciple of the Hehuan Sect (one of the Demonic Path's great pillars), was now operating a legitimate business front in Yudu City.
"Yes, yes, I made a grave error!" Jin Ping'er quickly apologized, her smile now genuine—a mix of panic and awe. She did not doubt his words for a second. Why would anyone fabricate such an ancient, powerful identity? Furthermore, Zhu Hao's physical appearance matched the ancient legends of Qing Yunzi's golden beast.
"What sacred instructions do you have for entering this humble location? Do you intend to... slay demons and monsters?" Jin Ping'er asked, instantly adopting a look of profound sorrow. Her beautiful eyes seemed ready to well up with tears, presenting a picture of utter, fragile helplessness.
"This exaggerated expression! This perfectly coordinated movement! This impeccable, tearful tone! An Oscar-worthy performance!"
Zhu Hao scrambled up from her arms and onto her shoulder. He patted his chest dramatically with a tiny paw and, with a sweeping gesture, wiped away a mock tear. "Do you truly think I am here on some banal mission of demon-slaying? Rest assured! From this day forth, I will protect you! If anyone dares to bully Jin Ping'er, you tell Lord Pig, and I will personally beat them into oblivion!"
"Oh, thank you, Lord Pig!" Jin Ping'er exclaimed. Whether she truly believed the commitment or not, his power alone made the promise an invaluable asset. She was ecstatic. She instinctively hugged Zhu Hao to her chest and planted a soft, grateful kiss on his forehead.
Experience +100
"More experience points!" Zhu Hao's little fat face beamed with genuine, greedy happiness. It won't be long until Lord Pig hits Level Five! Then I can finally tame the Immortal Execution Sword! I'll take that big sword out and swing it around. Anyone who dares defy me will be beaten with the greatest blade in the world!
He looked at the visibly trembling Jin Ping'er and couldn't help but admire her acting prowess. Her display of excited gratitude, while likely exaggerated, looked completely real.
Beside them, Ding Ling, the girl who had sounded the initial alarm, stood silently, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and curiosity. She had instantly transitioned from wanting to flee the 'pig demon' to wanting to hug the 'Grandmaster Uncle's Spirit Beast.' All the surrounding female disciples were likewise enamored, shaking slightly with excitement at the sight of the harmless, adorable creature.
"Ping'er, Master Zhu is actually here on a highly important business trip. I require silk scarves and young women's undergarments," Zhu Hao stated, seeing the sun setting and realizing he needed to get back. "Bring Master Zhu five hundred pieces of each, please, in as wide a variety of styles as your inventory allows!"
Jin Ping'er smiled sweetly, her composure instantly returning. She was not only relieved he wasn't there for destruction, but she recognized the sheer scale of the order—a single customer buying a thousand pieces of high-end silk goods.
"Lord Pig is too generous! You jest about paying for such trifles. These are merely worthless little tokens that I gift to you, free of charge. I hope you will not object to such a small offering!" Jin Ping'er declared, immediately dismissing the idea of payment.
She neither hesitated nor questioned why a powerful spiritual beast would need such a massive quantity of women's apparel. Zhu Hao was deeply satisfied. This woman was capable, shrewd, and smart enough to know when to invest heavily in appeasement.
"Ding Ling, go and assist Grandpa Pig with his preparations!" Jin Ping'er instructed the girl who was standing nearby.
"Yes, Sister!" Ding Ling responded and hurried off downstairs to gather the massive inventory.
"In that case, Master Pig must give you a gift in return!" Zhu Hao announced.
"Do you happen to have any writing brushes or ink nearby?"
"We do!"
Jin Ping'er was intrigued. She ordered the necessary tools brought immediately. What is Zhu Hao going to give her? Is he going to paint a portrait? Please, don't let it be a painting of a pig.
Soon, the pens, ink, paper, and inkstone were prepared. The embroiderers and shop assistants of Jinxiufang gathered around curiously, eager to witness what the furry golden creature, introduced as the peer of the Qingyun Patriarch, was about to do.
"Oh!"
Zhu Hao jumped onto the prepared surface. He gripped the brush with his little paws and began to paint. His chubby figure was surprisingly graceful, moving back and forth over the paper like ink lightning. The brush flowed with speed and elegance, leaving vivid black trails on the white paper.
"Wow, Lord Pig is an artist!"
"Lord Pig can paint! How incredibly talented!"
"I absolutely must take Lord Pig home!"
Exclamations and high-pitched squeals erupted from the surrounding women. Their eyes were wide, filled with stars, their bodies shaking with over-the-top excitement.
Soon, a complex, strangely shaped design began to emerge on the paper—a vivid, detailed sketch of a piece of women's apparel that none of them had ever seen before. The design featured two distinct, rounded cups connected by a thin band, with straps that branched off over the shoulders.
"What... what is this intricate drawing?"
"Is this a new style of eyepatch?"
"Is the eyepatch designed to cover... two eyes at once? Could it be a heavily enlarged, decorative eyepatch?"
The women were awestruck by Zhu Hao's artistic skill, yet utterly baffled by the final product. It resembled an eye mask, but it was far too large and structurally complex. They had no context for the revolutionary, undergarment design that the pig Grandmaster had just invented.