"Ha... ha... ha... Finally... saved."

Gasping raggedly, covered in claw marks and dust, Prince Zhu Bajie truly lived up to his name.

He’d never endured treatment like this.

But thankfully—he’d survived.

*Survive great peril, earn great fortune.* Seemed this pig’s luck wasn’t so terrible after all!

Relieved, Prince Zhu Bajie tried to stand, ready to kick Fenrir twice and vent his pent-up rage.

But the moment he hauled himself up by his trousers, Cang Xiaoxi stood before him.

"Hey. Hand over the ring on your finger. Now."

"Huh?!"

Cang Xiaoxi’s blunt demand left the prince utterly bewildered.

—*Why give up my last treasure? Absurd! Just because you saved me, you think you can disrespect the prince?!*

"What joke is this?! You lowly commoner—why should the prince’s belongings be given to you—*CRACK!!!*"

A sharp skull-splitting sound echoed.

Poor Prince Zhu Bajie hadn’t finished speaking—no chance to protest—when earth slabs erupted front and back, clamping him tight. The "meatball" was flattened into a "meat patty."

"You... insolent... wretch... what... are you... doing... Release... the prince... Do you... wish to die..."

The distorted mouth of the "meat patty" opened and closed, words muffled yet barely intelligible. Cang Xiaoxi ignored him completely.

Frowning slightly, he shot the snobbish, pig-like prince a cold glance.

"Get this straight: I’m not *asking*. I’m reclaiming my reward. Keep babbling, and I’ll toss you back into Erha’s cage. That little dog seems fond of snacks like you."

"Mmph! No... no... I’ll give it! I’ll give it!"

At the threat of Fenrir, Prince Zhu Bajie soiled himself again.

Fumbling with chubby fingers, he slipped off the Spatial Ring. Even the last shred of "manly romance" was gone.

"Huh~ So *this* is the isekai-standard Spatial Ring? Never thought it’d actually exist."

Cang Xiaoxi had worried about carrying his spoils—but now, the solution arrived neatly.

Satisfied, he released the prince.

Watching the dazed, shell-shocked man, Cang Xiaoxi gave no reprieve. He turned sharply.

"Reward received. Go back where you came from."

He’d only met this pig by chance. Zero interest.

Once his due was secured, nothing remained to discuss—especially with Fenrir still restless.

Yet humans, once they tempt fate, never stop halfway.

A universal truth.

No sooner had Cang Xiaoxi walked away than the prince muttered curses behind his back.

"Damn brat! Humiliating me?! Wait till I rally troops—you’ll suffer!"

"Oh? *Suffer*? Pray tell—*how*?"

"!"

Cang Xiaoxi glanced back, eyes slightly narrowed, aura pressing down like ice.

Feeling that overwhelming pressure—far beyond his reach—the prince seethed with regret. *Why won’t this mouth shut?!*

A child who crushed monsters in one move? No. A monster. A terror lurking in the ruins’ abyss.

"N-no-no! You misunderstood! I meant *that* monster! Hahaha..."

Tears and snot streaming, he stammered desperately.

Cang Xiaoxi felt a wave of disgust. *How wretched must one be to end up like this?*

He shook his head inwardly.

Leaving him be seemed fine—but recalling Luo Shun and others who’d targeted him unprovoked, plus this prince’s selfishness... releasing him meant future trouble. A nationwide bounty? Unacceptable. He still planned to enter human lands.

*Need to plant deep fear.*

*Release Erha for a little chaos?*

A sly smirk curled Cang Xiaoxi’s lips.

"Say... you haven’t considered putting a bounty on me after returning home, have you?"

"!"

Too easy to read.

One bluff sent the prince into violent tremors.

"Heh. So it’s true." Cang Xiaoxi’s eyes narrowed. Dead serious. "Your Highness—ever heard *nip trouble in the bud*?"

"Y-you wouldn’t..."

"Exactly as you fear." Crimson sparks crackled around his hands—*Coiling Lightning*. Symbols of annihilation.

Facing the boy’s unwavering resolve, the prince’s face drained of color.

*Roasted suckling pig incoming—!*

His wits finally kicked in.

"I—I came to *save* you! You and my thirteenth sister—she’s the one! I’m her brother! You can’t—!"

"Huh?! What nonsense? Never heard of her."

"Eh?!"

The prince froze. *Chosen as her child bridegroom?! How could he forget?!*

"The thirteenth princess of Delkas Empire! You just met her!"

*Stunningly beautiful. The empire’s "Little Sun." A dream for countless men!*

No reason to forget... yet Cang Xiaoxi’s expression held no lie.

Mistaken identity? Black hair, six or seven years old, immense power—*all matched*. Then why?

"That all?" Cang Xiaoxi prompted.

Electricity crackled, ready to strike.

"N-no! She said she’d be your wife! *I’m her brother!*"

"Eh?! *Her* brother?"

Heaven rewards persistence. Cang Xiaoxi’s expression shifted.

"Yes! Very close! She sent me!"

"Is... that so?" He retracted the magic slowly, muttering, "A close brother? But different races... complicated family drama?"

Soap opera plots flashed in his mind.

Glancing from the pig-faced man to Jikuhir’s adorable image, his lips twitched.

*What genetic mutation produced this?*

He sighed, pinching his nose—genuinely pitying this world’s broken genetics.

The prince misread it as guilt.

Puffed up instantly.

"No worries! As your future imperial brother-in-law, just return the ring and hunt extra monster materials. We’ll forget this!"

He stood, grimy hand reaching to pat Cang Xiaoxi’s shoulder—

—but froze under a sharp glare.

"Who are *you* calling ‘brother,’ you fat pig?!"

"F-f-f-fat... pig?!"

Vein throbbing on his forehead. *Insulted before? Fine. But NOW?!*

*Must be Lisdel’s fault! Told him I’m powerless!*

Convinced he wouldn’t be killed, he opened his mouth to taunt again—

—but a new voice cut through.

"Xi-er~! Brought water and snacks... WHOA! Fenrir?! How’s it moving again?!"

The little girl, skipping merrily moments ago, nearly tripped at the sight of Fenrir trapped in stone. Her eyes widened at the devastation, mouth agape.

"You mean Erha? Not sure how it broke the ice," Cang Xiaoxi said. "I’ll explain later. First—come claim your ‘older brother.’ He’s here to pick you up."

"Older brother? I don’t have one," Jikuhir tilted her head.

Following his gaze, she spotted the trembling, terrified prince on the ground.

Anger flashed across her face.

"*You!*"