"Yes, I have something I need you to do," the Queen Bee nodded, moving aside to reveal two young Poison Spirit Bees. "I need you to take them out of the Cangshan Secret Realm."
Chu Lingwei looked up at the Queen Bee, then at the two young Poison Spirit Bees. Their spiritual power was weak, only at the second tier.
"They are not suitable for staying in the Cangshan Secret Realm," the Queen Bee looked at her two offspring, a motherly tenderness in her eyes. "If you take them out, they will be yours."
As the Queen Bee finished speaking, two storage bags landed in Chu Lingwei's hands.
Without looking, Chu Lingwei knew they contained something of immense value.
"Senior, I just need to take them out?" Taking two younglings out of the Cangshan Secret Realm seemed too simple. Chu Lingwei asked again.
"Yes, but you must help them grow to the seventh tier."
Chu Lingwei: "..." She knew it couldn't be that easy.
"Does Senior mean I don't need to form a contract with them?"
"Yes. You are to take them out of the Cangshan Secret Realm, but you cannot claim them as your own. If they do not wish it, you cannot force them into a contract."
The Queen Bee's voice grew serious, and a wave of pressure descended, forcing Chu Lingwei to the ground.
With her face pressed to the dirt, Chu Lingwei almost cursed. These powerful beings were so irritating, always using their abilities to intimidate others.
"Alright."
"Swear on your dao companion," the Queen Bee trusted no one.
"Yes, I, Chu Lingwei, swear that if they do not wish to form a contract with me, I will absolutely not force them. If I go against this, may my spiritual cultivation path come to an end."
Chu Lingwei was annoyed. She had been worried about these two poisonous bees clinging to her.
Seeing Chu Lingwei's quick oath, the Queen Bee did not press her further. "Once you help them reach the seventh tier, you may let them go. Their lives and deaths will then be of no concern to you."
"Alright," Chu Lingwei agreed readily. So, this Queen Bee wanted to find a nanny for her two children. It wasn't a difficult task.
But she needed to clarify things first.
"Senior, I have a question."
"Speak."
The Queen Bee, preparing to bid farewell to her offspring, showed displeasure at Chu Lingwei's interruption.
"Senior, you just said that if they do not wish it, I cannot force them into a contract."
"Yes."
"Then, if they find someone they wish to contract with after leaving, and voluntarily form a contract with another, that should not be considered a violation of my oath, right?"
This was a likely scenario. The Xuan Tian Continent was teeming with cultivators.
Almost every cultivator had a few spirit beasts.
The Queen Bee frowned at this question. Her original intention was not for them to contract with cultivators, but if such a thing happened, she couldn't possibly stop it.
"If it is their willing choice, then let them go. If it is not their willing choice, you must break the contract and restore their freedom."
The Queen Bee looked at her two younglings, hoping the female cultivator before her would keep her word.
"Alright."
Chu Lingwei agreed. This was within reason, and she could fulfill it.
After this, the Queen Bee remained silent, watching her two offspring. The younglings, who had been still, began to squirm.
The Queen Bee was likely imparting her final instructions to them.
Chu Lingwei stared at the Queen Bee, a sense of confusion. She remembered her third senior brother mentioning that bee-type spirit beasts were generally propagated by the Queen Bee.
She had assumed all the Poison Spirit Bees outside were offspring of this Queen Bee. She hadn't expected her to have her own younglings, which was strange.
Sensing Chu Lingwei's thoughts, the Queen Bee gave her a disdainful look. This young girl had too many ideas.
Feeling a warning gaze, Chu Lingwei immediately stopped speculating.
A quarter of an hour later, the Queen Bee, suppressing her reluctance, handed her two children to Chu Lingwei.
Chu Lingwei quickly hugged the struggling younglings, awaiting the Queen Bee's instructions.
"Remember, you must take them out of the Cangshan Secret Realm." The Queen Bee's oppressive aura once again surged towards Chu Lingwei. However, with the two younglings in Chu Lingwei's embrace, the pressure was merely a fleeting gesture.
"Yes."
One must bow to the circumstances.
Chu Lingwei did not feel the Queen Bee's actions were excessive. Entrusting her children to her and wishing them no harm, threatening and warning were natural.
"Also, if you ever return to the Cangshan Secret Realm in your lifetime, you cannot bring them with you," the Queen Bee closed her eyes, unable to bear seeing the longing in her children's eyes.
"Does Senior mean they are not to return to the Cangshan Secret Realm?" Chu Lingwei asked, surprised. Did she not wish to see her children again, or did she know her own end was near?
"Yes. If they are willing to follow you in the future, you cannot bring them into the Cangshan Secret Realm, and certainly cannot return here yourself." The Queen Bee opened her eyes again, her gaze clear.
"Yes."
Chu Lingwei believed she would have no opportunity to enter the Cangshan Secret Realm again. As for them finding new masters and entering here, it would be of no concern to her.
"Close your eyes."
The Queen Bee was quite satisfied with Chu Lingwei. Since her arrival, she had shown neither greed nor fear.
Chu Lingwei obediently closed her eyes. Suddenly, a bright light enveloped her, and when she opened her eyes again, she was standing within a teleportation array.
"Mother."
"Mother, I don't want to leave."
Suddenly, in her mind, she could hear two soft voices, laced with tears.
Chu Lingwei looked down at the two younglings crying and struggling in her arms. These voices must belong to them.
"Don't be sad. Your mother asked you to leave here for a reason she couldn't avoid," Chu Lingwei sighed, trying to comfort them. The Queen Bee's lifespan was nearing its end; she wouldn't be able to protect these two for long.
"I want Mother. I don't want to leave." The younglings' cries intensified.
Chu Lingwei listened to their weeping and offered no further comfort. They needed to vent their emotions.
At this moment, a brilliant light flashed ahead.
Chu Lingwei's eyes brightened. Several cultivators stood not far away. Chu Lingwei's appearance did not attract their attention.
Among the crowd, Chu Lingwei spotted her second senior brother, Nangong Luo, dressed in red.
Chu Lingwei put the two younglings into her spirit beast pouch and removed her barrier.
"Little Junior Sister," Nangong Luo sensed his junior sister's presence and his face lit up with joy. He instantly appeared before her. "Where did you run off to? You scared me to death."
"I'm sorry, Senior Brother, for making you worry," Chu Lingwei gave a flattering smile. In truth, she had done it on purpose.
"You must never do this again," Nangong Luo understood his junior sister's playful intentions and said.