Chapter 61: Xiao Hui in Danger

“Well said. I’ll start with the maid by his side!” Nie Huixiang’s face twisted into a sinister grin as his gaze fixed on Xiaohui. Since Wu Tian hadn’t yet arrived, he figured he might as well amuse himself with Wu Tian’s servant girl first. “Wu Tian’s maid, heh… Come here and keep me company. If you please me well enough, maybe—just maybe—I’ll let Wu Tian off the hook!”

Xiaohui instantly understood from the wicked glint in Nie Huixiang’s eyes. “Don’t come any closer! This is the territory of the Qitian Sect. If you try anything, the sect will never let you off!”

“I’m still the young master of the Nie family! Don’t be afraid, girl—I’ll take good care of you.” As he spoke, Nie Huixiang strode toward Xiaohui, impatient and eager, when suddenly a flash of gold streaked by.

With a heavy thud, before Nie Huixiang could react, his body was sent flying backward.

“Aaagh!” he howled in pain, barely caught by the bodyguards behind him. “Damn it! What the hell was that? Who dares block my way?!”

Everyone turned to see a small golden wolf standing protectively in front of Xiaohui, baring its teeth and glaring fiercely at Nie Huixiang.

“Awoo!” Little Gold let out a series of threatening howls—a clear warning to Nie Huixiang.

“Damn beast!” Nie Huixiang clutched his aching chest. That blow had nearly knocked the breath out of him. “A filthy animal dares block my path? Courting death!”

“Young master, be careful. This little wolf is no ordinary creature,” one of the bodyguards cautioned, holding Nie Huixiang steady.

“What kind of wolf is this? A Swiftwind Wolf? No, those are white. An Earthspike Wolf? No, those are gray. Damn it, can anyone tell me what kind of wolf this is, with its golden pelt?” Nie Huixiang frowned at the small golden wolf and questioned his guards.

“I do not know, young master.”

“Damn it! Whatever it is, all of you—take it down. Slaughter the beast!” Nie Huixiang roared, pointing at Little Gold.

“Yes, young master!”

At that moment, Little Gold howled at Xiaohui.

Having spent every day with Little Gold, Xiaohui understood immediately. She shook her head. “Little Gold, if I run, what will happen to you?”

“Awoo…” Little Gold whimpered softly.

“But… but… alright, thank you, Little Gold. I’ll run to find the young master and bring him to rescue you!” Though worried, Xiaohui knew the situation was dire. If she didn’t escape, neither she nor Little Gold would have a chance.

“Attack! Kill that beast!”

Instantly, Nie Huixiang’s guards drew their blades and lunged at Little Gold. But Little Gold, who had reached the strength of an eighth-level martial master and was a divine beast, easily evaded their attacks. With a single leap, Little Gold slashed a guard’s face, leaving a bloody claw mark.

“Damn you! I’ll kill you!” The guard, enraged, called his companions to attack together.

“What are you doing, causing trouble on Qitian Sect grounds?” Just then, several disciples of the Qitian Sect arrived and attempted to intervene.

“So what if I cause trouble? I’m here for Wu Tian, not your sect—stay out of this!” Nie Huixiang, now blinded by fury, cared nothing for whose territory he was on.

“Insolence! Since you insist, don’t blame us for being ruthless!”

“Hmph! Throw these fools aside!” Nie Huixiang’s face hardened as he ordered his guards to deal with the disciples.

The bodyguards he brought were all martial spirits—far beyond the disciples’ abilities. Within a few moves, the disciples were beaten down and tossed aside like refuse.

“You… the Nie family has gone too far! Our Qitian Sect will never let this go!” the disciples shouted in fury, but they were already incapacitated, unable to fight back.

“Annoying pests!” Nie Huixiang muttered, kicking one disciple in the head.

With a sickening thud, the disciple’s skull struck the wall, blood splattering as he slumped lifelessly to the ground.

“Seriously? Dead already?” Nie Huixiang nudged the body with his foot. No response.

“You… you killed my senior brother! The Nie family is too arrogant, murdering within our sect’s domain!” another disciple shouted, pointing at Nie Huixiang.

“Tch. Just a lowly disciple—so what if he’s dead? If you keep yapping, you’ll join him!” Nie Huixiang glared at him.

The disciple fell silent under Nie Huixiang’s gaze. Now free from interference, Nie Huixiang refocused on Xiaohui and Little Gold, unaware that one disciple had witnessed the murder and hurried off to report to the sect leader and elders.

Meanwhile, Little Gold darted among the bodyguards, who were all at least first-level martial spirits. Though a divine beast, Little Gold had yet to reach full strength and, facing several skilled enemies, could do nothing but dodge desperately.

Suddenly, Nie Huixiang’s expression shifted as he scanned the area. “Wait—where’s the maid? Where did she go? Qianqian, did you see where she went?”

“I—I wasn’t paying attention. Our people are everywhere—she must be inside the house,” Song Qianqian replied, only now realizing Xiaohui was missing.

“Damn it! How can a person just disappear? Search the house!” Nie Huixiang and a few guards stormed inside, but aside from some crude furniture, the place was empty. “Hell! Where did she go? She vanished right under our noses—what are you standing around for? Find her!”

“Young master, I see her—over there!” Just then, a guard spotted Xiaohui already dozens of meters from the cottage.

“Damn! My invisibility technique is still clumsy—it only lasts a few seconds!” Xiaohui muttered anxiously as she reappeared, then quickly used her lightness skill to flee.

“Damn it! She escaped right under my nose—after her! Don’t let her get away! And as for you lot—useless! Can’t even handle a beast. I’m losing my mind!”

At his command, the bodyguards raced after Xiaohui. Despite her agility technique, her cultivation was still shallow, and they quickly overtook her. The lead guard struck her from behind.

With a heavy thud, Xiaohui collapsed, coughing up blood. Injured inside, she had no strength left to run.

“Go on, run! Try running again! Did you think you could escape me?” Nie Huixiang sneered as he stood over her.

But before he could finish, a flash of gold streaked by, and Xiaohui vanished from the ground. Little Gold had grown in size, swept her onto his back, and was carrying her away at full speed.

“Damn it! She escaped again! After them! If you can’t even deal with a single beast, you’re all useless—I’m going mad!”