Of course, such emotional bonds are not limited to romantic love.
However, Eunuch Hai had been accustomed to flattery for years and lacked Shen Wenqing's discerning eye.
Therefore, he failed to grasp the depth of Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan, leading him to utterly disregard them.
"Hmph! As expected of someone from the backwaters, utterly lacking in upbringing! Very well, since it's confirmed it's you two, kneel and receive the imperial decree!"
Eunuch Hai's face was filled with disdain, stopping just short of writing "I look down on you" on his forehead.
Especially the phrase "utterly lacking in upbringing," which was an insult to both of their parents.
But how could he know that Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan were inherently proud and fiercely protective of their own?
Insulting them was unacceptable; insulting their kin was even worse!
Although Zi Linling had never met her parents in this life, she could feel the deep affection between the original host and her parents.
Now that the original host's soul had merged with hers, any insult towards the original host's parents was, in essence, an insult to her own.
Furthermore, her parents from her past life were still alive, and even across the vast expanse of time and space, their familial bond remained unshakable.
Thus, Hai Sixian had touched her deepest, most sensitive point.
A dragon's inverse scale, if touched, incites its fury.
When the ghost-handed poison doctor raged, even Yama himself would tremble.
And Ye Lingyuan, as royalty of a nation, had he ever endured such humiliation?
Moreover, he held immense respect for his deceased mother and father; how could he tolerate others insulting them?
On top of that, he doted on his Lin'er, never uttering a harsh word, showering her with care. Why should she be subjected to an eunuch's insults?
Therefore, Ye Lingyuan was enraged.
When the King of Hell rages, corpses litter the battlefield.
Consequently, Hai Sixian's fate was sealed.
Neither Zi Linling's nor Ye Lingyuan's wrath was something he could withstand.
Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan acted simultaneously, and with lightning speed, Hai Sixian was sent flying, his bones shattering inch by inch.
Concurrently, he felt his internal organs being gnawed by myriad ants, as if being devoured by countless insects.
This excruciating pain, both internal and external, made Hai Sixian wish for unconsciousness more than anything.
But would the ghost-handed poison doctor, Zi Linling, grant him such a wish?
Certainly not.
With a flick of her wrist, gleaming silver needles pierced Hai Sixian's body, stimulating him to "enjoy" this "wonderful" treatment with full awareness.
"Ahhh ahhh ahhh ahhh..."
Everything happened in a flash.
By the time the onlookers reacted, only Hai Sixian's agonizing screams echoed in the inn.
"Upbringing? You, an eunuch, dare speak of upbringing with me? Don't think that just because the Emperor of the Azure Dragon Empire backs you, everyone has to humor you!"
"If you push me too far, I'll deal with that emperor as well! Don't doubt my capabilities; destroying the Azure Dragon Empire would be as simple as administering a single poison pill!"
"Oh, and I detest effeminate men. Yet, that foolish emperor sent a eunuch like you to ruin my mood. Is he deliberately provoking me?"
"Furthermore, Ye Lingyuan is a person of immense prestige. How can a eunuch like you, who is sterile, insult him?"
...
The pain was so intense that Hai Sixian could only wail, unable to utter a single extra word. He could only endure Zi Linling's relentless, multifaceted verbal abuse.
As for resentment, did he have the time for it?
He meticulously savored every clear, excruciating sensation.
Every minute, every second, Hai Sixian endured as if it were an eternity.
He finally understood that the two individuals before him were not to be trifled with.
Alas, it was too late.
Hai Sixian was filled with regret, having brought this predicament upon himself for a moment of verbal satisfaction.
However, under such excruciating pain, even begging for mercy became a luxury.
"Please... please... you... you... let... me... go..."
By the time Hai Sixian managed to utter these words, he had bitten off a piece of his own tongue and shattered his own teeth.
"Oh, can't take it anymore? I haven't had my fill yet!"
Zi Linling remained unfazed, her expression cold as she sat in Ye Lingyuan's arms, idly playing with the hair behind his ear.
Since crushing Hai Sixian's bones with his pressure, Ye Lingyuan had been gazing tenderly at Zi Linling in his embrace, occasionally taking liberties.
Had it not been for Zi Linling's desire to play with Hai Sixian, he would have been reduced to a pile of minced meat like a lucky dog.
Therefore, he feigned deafness to Hai Sixian's pleas, continuing to seek opportunities to caress Zi Linling.
The six servants and one dog, still in their dog-eating-dirt postures, were filled with terror.
They finally understood how fortunate they were to be left in such a position!
Shen Wenqing's mouth twitched incessantly, and he silently mourned for Hai Sixian hundreds of times in his heart.
A moment later, Hai Sixian's screams subsided, and he curled up on the ground, his body convulsing as if he had epilepsy.
A little longer, and he finally lay motionless on the ground, like a dying pig with more breath leaving than entering.
Zi Linling complained, "Alas, he couldn't endure for long, could he?"
Ye Lingyuan chuckled, "What's wrong? Lin'er hasn't had her fill?"
Zi Linling nodded, "Indeed! Seeing how foul his mouth was, I thought his body would be just as foul. But he's almost dead before I've had my fill."
Ye Lingyuan affectionately stroked her head, "Don't you have the Tree of Life? Can't you revive him and continue playing?"
Zi Linling's eyes lit up, "Right! If I don't let him suffer a thousand deaths and come back to life, he'll never know how many eyes the King of Ma has!"
As she spoke, she was about to get up, eager to try, but Ye Lingyuan stopped her.
Ye Lingyuan raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with danger, "Who is the King of Ma? Does he have many eyes?"
Zi Linling rubbed her forehead. How could she have forgotten this king of jealousy?
She smiled and fawningly explained, "Actually, I don't know who the King of Ma is. I just know he has three eyes."
"Oh? Really?" Ye Lingyuan raised an eyebrow again.
"Really, really, truer than real gold and silver!" Zi Linling quickly placated him, almost ready to swear an oath.
The two bantered back and forth, seemingly forgetting the six servants and one dog not far away, forgetting Shen Wenqing beside them, and even more so, forgetting the near-dead Hai Sixian.
Shen Wenqing finally spoke with a hint of pity, "Patriarch Zi, Your Highness the King of Hell, Hai Sixian is after all a favored official of Emperor Dongfang Wan. If something were to happen to him here, it would be troublesome!"
Zi Linling, whose mood had been dampened by Ye Lingyuan's teasing, now that Shen Wenqing had spoken, didn't mind doing him a favor.
"Fine! Since Patriarch Shen has spoken, I shall grant Patriarch Shen this face!"