Watching the two Silver Moon Demon Apes fight fiercely, flesh and blood flying everywhere, a look of distress crossed Wen Ziqi's eyes.
Over the past few days, she had been raising these two Silver Moon Demon Apes and had grown attached to them.
Seeing them suddenly locked in a death battle, Wen Ziqi felt as though she were watching two of her own children fighting for their lives. Her heart ached in ways she couldn't put into words.
Jiang Chen let out a soft sigh. He honestly didn't know how someone with Wen Ziqi's temperament could ever choose the path of martial cultivation.
On the road of martial arts, whether for human cultivators or beast clans alike, the rise of any genius was built upon mountains of bones.
Reaching the pinnacle of martial arts meant that killing and bloodshed were simply unavoidable.
And yet Wen Ziqi couldn't bear to watch two Silver Moon Demon Apes fight to the death. Her martial heart was truly fragile beyond measure.
But then again, kindness and gentleness — seen from another angle — were perhaps Wen Ziqi's greatest strengths.
"Young Master, do one of these Silver Moon Demon Apes really have to be killed?" Wen Ziqi asked softly, biting her lip.
"The survival instinct of Silver Moon Demon Apes dictates that only one can live. Moreover, the flesh and blood of the other will be devoured by the survivor. Consuming the bloodline of one's own kind is one path for the Silver Moon Demon Ape's bloodline to evolve."
"But..." Wen Ziqi's eyes grew misty. "But I really can't bear it. Young Master, could I beg you to raise them separately?"
Her voice was barely a whisper, like a shy child making an unreasonable request of an adult. She hung her head, almost unable to look Jiang Chen in the eye.
"Young Master, I'm willing to put in twice the effort — no, four times the effort — to raise them," Wen Ziqi promised.
Jiang Chen sighed gently. "Ziqi, your personality really isn't suited for martial cultivation. How about this — I'll give you one of the Silver Moon Demon Apes to keep. I'll raise the other one myself."
"Young Master, I can raise both of them separately at the same time," Wen Ziqi said anxiously.
Jiang Chen smiled. "Don't worry, I'm not blaming you. Actually, it suits me better to raise one by hand personally. You take the other one. Given enough time, perhaps it can become your contracted beast — and protect you!"
Jiang Chen wasn't joking. With Wen Ziqi's personality, who knew how many dangers she'd face in the future. A fierce Silver Moon Demon Ape to guard her would be just right.
When Wen Ziqi heard Jiang Chen say this and realized he wasn't blaming her, she finally relaxed.
Jiang Chen was about to speak when he suddenly heard footsteps in the corridor outside.
"Young Master, Miss Consort Dan from the Grand Tutor's Villa is here to visit." With those words, Xue Tong led Consort Dan inside.
Only a select few like Consort Dan enjoyed such special treatment. For anyone else, Xue Tong would never have brought them in without first announcing them.
Consort Dan saw only Jiang Chen and Wen Ziqi, and Wen Ziqi looked quite bashful, with traces of misty tears still lingering at the corners of her eyes.
"Hee hee, it seems I've come at an awkward time?" Consort Dan's smile carried a hint of teasing.
No matter how outstanding a woman's talents or how peerless her beauty, she was still a woman at the end of the day.
And being a woman meant she'd inevitably have those little feminine suspicions.
Consort Dan, seeing this scene, immediately assumed Jiang Chen had been flirting with this shy young maidservant and had even made the poor girl cry.
"Consort Dan, such words coming from your mouth seem a bit beneath your dignity," Jiang Chen said with a smile, not particularly bothered by her teasing.
This woman was quirky and mischievous — if you actually took her words seriously, you'd only torture yourself.
Consort Dan said with a grin, "Little sister, did Jiang Chen bully you? Tell big sister, and I'll teach him a lesson for you."
Wen Ziqi's already reddened cheeks flushed even deeper. She waved her hands frantically. "No, no! Miss Consort Dan, please don't misunderstand my Young Master. He... he would never bully me."
"My, my, Jiang Chen, I have to say — I'm a little jealous. Not only are the female attendants you keep one more beautiful than the next, they're also one more loyal than the next. Even when you've clearly bullied them, they still cover for you and protect their master. How on earth did you train them?"
As Consort Dan spoke, she glanced over toward the Silver Moon Demon Apes' den.
Suddenly, she let out an exclamation. Her beautiful eyes were completely captivated, and she couldn't help but let out a gasp of wonder, her slender hand rising to cover her mouth.
"Jiang Chen, your Silver Moon Demon Apes have already started fighting each other? How did they awaken?" Consort Dan immediately abandoned all thought of teasing Jiang Chen, her attention wholly absorbed by the Silver Moon Demon Apes.
"How did they awaken? You'll have to ask them," Jiang Chen said with a laugh, pointing at the two Silver Moon Demon Apes.
Consort Dan was, as expected, a true fanatic about spirit beasts. Completely disregarding any semblance of ladylike composure, she rolled up her sleeves and moved to grab one of the Silver Moon Demon Apes for a closer look.
"Don't touch them! Your body carries the scent of their companion. When they're in this half-awakened state, they can't tell the difference at all — they'll treat you as a target!"