Peerless Bodyguard of a Stunning Beauty

When the assistant heard that Zhao Rong had indeed bought the Samadhi Fire from Bai Suzhen, he gave Zhao Rong a thumbs-up, finding the world to be a truly wondrous place. ”Zhao Rong, if you’re saying this fire was bought from Bai Suzhen, then I believe it can definitely burn underwater. When I watched ’Legend of the White Snake’ as a kid, I saw the Samadhi Fire burn a monster to death while submerged!”

As soon as Zhao Rong took the Samadhi Fire from the iron box, he swung it in a circle, letting it absorb oxygen. The flame immediately swelled and erupted into a raging inferno.

Pulling the assistant back, Zhao Rong warned, ”Step back! The Samadhi Fire is about to unleash its power. Be careful, or it’ll burn you to ashes!”

At that moment, the old turtle, who had been cowering in his shell, stuck his head out. Peeking at the fire burning before Zhao Rong, he exclaimed joyfully, ”Good heavens! I never expected you two humans to actually get your hands on a fire that can burn underwater. You’ve really forced this old turtle to see you in a new light!”

When the one hundred water cockroaches saw the blazing fire, they began to taunt Zhao Rong. ”That old turtle is the biggest blowhard in this lake. If you listen to him and try to burn us, we’ll just split and replicate. More water cockroaches will surround you and bite you to death!”

Hearing their words, the assistant, who had just been sure of their victory, panicked and turned to Zhao Rong. ”Zhao Rong, what do we do? If the Samadhi Fire can’t kill them and they just keep splitting and replicating, are our lives in grave danger?”

Before the assistant could finish, Zhao Rong commanded the Samadhi Fire with his voice, ”Samadhi Fire, what are you waiting for? Go! Burn all one hundred of those water cockroaches to cinders!”

After giving the order, he turned to his assistant. ”Don’t be fooled by these cunning water cockroaches. Fire is one of nature’s most powerful elements. I refuse to believe this swarm can withstand being burned, especially by the Samadhi Fire!”

Before Zhao Rong even finished speaking, the Samadhi Fire lunged toward the hundred cockroaches. It burned with a furious roar, instantly incinerating the once-arrogant and domineering creatures. They were reduced to nothing but a cloud of ash that dispersed in the water.

When the assistant saw the Samadhi Fire turn the water cockroaches to dust under Zhao Rong’s voice command, his face lit up with joy and amazement. He looked at Zhao Rong and asked, ”Zhao Rong, that’s incredible! Can the Samadhi Fire really understand you and follow your commands?”

Zhao Rong smiled at the assistant’s astonishment. ”Actually, the Paradise Shopping Cart sells many kinds of fire that can burn underwater. However, only this Samadhi Fire comes with artificial voice intelligence. That’s why I can command it to fight using my voice.”

Hearing that the Samadhi Fire was equipped with a voice-command function, the assistant was dumbfounded. He decided to try it himself. ”Samadhi True Fire, shrink now and return to the iron box.”

At his command, the raging blaze immediately shrank into a small flame and returned to the iron box.

Watching the magical scene unfold, the assistant jumped for joy and danced in the water. ”Zhao Rong, this Samadhi Fire is absolutely incredible! As long as we have this, not only can we eliminate the water cockroaches, but when those strange fish show up later, we can use this fire to burn them to death too!”

Zhao Rong casually put the lid on the box, then stored it in the Magic Ring on his hand. He looked at the spot where the cockroaches had been and laughed. ”Those water cockroaches were so stubborn, talking tough and saying they weren’t afraid of fire. Look at them now. Burned to a crisp.”

Just then, the old turtle crawled up from the lakebed and extended his limbs from his shell. He gave Zhao Rong a thumbs-up. ”You’re incredible, young man! You’re the first to completely wipe out all the water cockroaches in this oasis lake since the murderous sandstorm formed. From now on, there won’t be a single one left in this water.”

Seeing the old turtle, the assistant stepped forward and scoffed, ”You really are a show-off, old turtle. Before we were in any danger, you boasted about how powerful and invincible you were, claiming even the strange fish and water cockroaches had to show you deference. But when we were facing death, you became a coward, hiding in your shell at the bottom of the lake, too scared to come out. Now that we’ve killed the enemy and it’s safe, you crawl out to boast again? People like you are no better than traitors, turncoats, and collaborators!”

Listening to the assistant’s ridicule, the old turtle lowered his head in shame and apologized. ”My deepest apologies, young men. This old turtle was wrong. From now on, I’ll be an honest turtle. I won’t be a show-off anymore.”

The assistant didn’t accept the apology. He pointed ahead and said, ”An apology is unnecessary. I’ve already seen what kind of turtle you are. So just lead the way. I have nothing more to say to you.”

The dejected turtle, having been thoroughly told off by the assistant, gloomily led the way.

Zhao Rong, following behind, decided to forgive the old turtle. After all, the creature has been in this lake for eight hundred years, lonely and isolated. It’s no wonder his personality became twisted and his nature turned ugly. He took a step forward, patted the old turtle’s shell, and said, ”Old turtle, admitting your mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue. As long as you stop showing off and don’t flee from battle, that’s enough. We don’t expect you to fight our enemies with us or charge into the fray. I only ask that you don’t betray us, don’t run from a fight, and don’t fear the enemy. That’s all.”

Hearing Zhao Rong’s words, the old turtle immediately puffed up with promise. ”You two young men just watch! From now on, I’ll prove myself. Not only will I not flee or fear the enemy, but I’ll even charge at the head of the pack!”

However, before the old turtle could finish his sentence, two strange fish suddenly appeared not far ahead. They opened their huge, cavernous mouths, revealing rows of sharp teeth, and lunged toward Zhao Rong and his companions.