The Demonic Beast had left the courtyard where Su Weiwei and Wuchen stayed in utter chaos, so Uncle Kun had no choice but to arrange another place—the Tianshui Pavilion—for the two of them.
After having someone prepare spiritual food for Su Weiwei, Wuchen said to her, "Be a good girl, eat some spiritual food first to recover your physical strength. I have some business to attend to, but I'll come back later to keep you company."
Su Weiwei nodded. "Go ahead! After I finish eating, I'll go back into the Space to cultivate. The Spiritual Energy inside is much denser, and the time flow is several times slower than outside. Call out for me when you get back, and I'll bring you into the Space."
"Alright, good baby, eat well." Wuchen pecked Su Weiwei on her little lips, making her blush deeply. Beiyi and Beiers hastily lowered their heads, muttering inwardly that the Northern Wasteland King was head over heels for Miss Su. It seemed there would be a grand wedding in the Northern Wasteland very soon.
In the living room, Wuchen looked down from above at Uncle Kun, who was kneeling on the floor. "Speak! How did the Demonic Beast manage to get into the Villa? I remember reinforcing the Villa's defensive array before I left."
Cold sweat broke out on Uncle Kun's forehead. "I'm sorry, my King, this is my dereliction of duty!"
"The reason!" Wuchen said coldly. "I don't want to hear any nonsense!"
Uncle Kun trembled as he replied, "My King, someone replaced the spiritual crystals of the defensive array with inferior ones, resulting in insufficient Spiritual Power supply, which allowed the Demonic Beast to seize the opportunity."
Wuchen's gaze turned frosty. "Who has the audacity to do such a thing?" Uncle Kun hesitated for a moment. "It might be... the Third Elder. He has always been dissatisfied with you, my King, for growing close to Miss Su, and he had voiced his opposition before."
Wuchen clenched his fists, a trace of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. "How bold of him, to dare ruin my plans." He turned to Beiyi and Beier and said, "Go bring the Third Elder to see me."
Beiyi and Beier acknowledged the order and left. At that moment, Su Weiwei walked over from the Tianshui Pavilion. "Brother Wuchen, what's wrong? There was such a huge commotion."
Wuchen said gently, "It's nothing, my good girl. Go back to your room to rest, and I'll come find you once I'm done." Su Weiwei gave him a worried look, but obediently returned to her room.
Before long, Beiyi and Beier escorted the Third Elder in. The Third Elder's face was pale, and his legs were weak. Wuchen looked at him coldly. "Speak, why did you replace the spiritual crystals?" The Third Elder dropped to his knees with a thud. "My King, I... I was afraid that Miss Su might be a spy and would bring disaster to the Northern Wasteland, so I..."
Before he could finish, Wuchen interrupted him. "Absurd! I know very well what kind of person Su Weiwei is. You are openly defying my orders—how should you be punished?"
"This subordinate accepts his punishment and will go to the Blackwater Pool right now to wall-face and reflect on my mistakes!" Knowing he was in the wrong, the Third Elder quickly confessed and took responsibility.
"Reflect on your mistakes?" Wuchen sneered. "If I hadn't been there, Su Weiwei might have been torn to pieces by the Demonic Beast. Do you think you can escape responsibility with a mere period of wall-facing and reflection? Keep dreaming!"
"Uncle Kun, strip the Third Elder of his position and banish him from the Villa. He is no longer a people of my Northern Wasteland." Wuchen thought that if he hadn't rushed back, he might never have seen Su Weiwei again, and the panic in his heart was replaced by a surge of fury.
"My King, please calm your anger!" Uncle Kun hurriedly pleaded on his behalf. "The Elder was only thinking of the Northern Wasteland. His heart remains loyal to the Northern Wasteland after all."
"That's right, my King! Don't drive me away! I am entirely loyal to the Northern Wasteland, and I am utterly devoted to you, my King!" Hearing that he was going to be cast out of the Villa, the Third Elder panicked, hurriedly crawling on his knees toward the Northern Wasteland King to beg for mercy.
Wuchen flicked his sleeve, and a wave of Spiritual Power sent the Third Elder flying several yards away. The Third Elder tumbled a few times and kowtowed continuously. "My King, I was wrong! From now on, I will surely respect Miss Su like our Queen and never doubt her again."
Seeing Wuchen's icy, enraged expression, Uncle Kun knew the Third Elder had touched the King's reverse scale. He quietly ran over to the Tianshui Pavilion to find Su Weiwei. "Miss Su, please plead with the King for him! Although the Elder was reckless and listened to someone's instigation, he is a loyal and upright man at heart. Surely you wouldn't want the King to lose a formidable general?"
Hearing Uncle Kun's words, Su Weiwei hesitated slightly. She knew Wuchen was this furious because of her, but the Third Elder had also been acting for the sake of the Northern Wasteland—he had simply used the wrong method.
Su Weiwei walked out of the Tianshui Pavilion and saw the Third Elder still on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy. Her heart softened. She walked up to Wuchen, tugged at his sleeve, and said softly, "Brother Wuchen, let it go. The Third Elder was just momentarily muddle-headed. Spare him this once."
Wuchen looked at Su Weiwei, and the anger in his eyes gradually subsided. He sighed and said, "Since Weiwei is pleading for you, I will spare you this once. But let this be an exception; if there is a next time, I will show no mercy."
Hearing this, the Third Elder was overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you, my King! Thank you, Miss Su! From now on, this subordinate will remain loyal to the King and Miss Su, and will serve you with utter devotion." Uncle Kun also breathed a sigh of relief and cast a grateful look toward Su Weiwei.
Wuchen took Su Weiwei's hand and said gently, "Good girl, let's go back to our room." Su Weiwei smiled and nodded, returning to the Tianshui Pavilion with Wuchen. Meanwhile, the Third Elder secretly swore to himself on the spot that he would diligently assist the King and Miss Su in the future and protect the Northern Wasteland.
Su Weiwei still did not realize that her gentleness and kindness had won over the Third Elder's heart entirely.