Chapter 158

Chapter 158: Paying Respects to Her Highness the Princess (4000 words, combined edition)

“Alright, you’ve done enough. Hand over this little girl to us.”

The two headquarter envoys of the Black God Sect said to Qi Hui.

“You can rest assured. This time, you’re absolutely going to be a great contributor. If everything goes as planned, because of this little girl, you will become an envoy at the headquarters. Then we can work together.”

“Thank you, honored envoys.” Qi Hui bowed.

“Do your best; we have high hopes for you.” The two envoys took Shen’s hand.

“Awooo?”

Shen turned her head to look at Qi Hui, her eyes filled with confusion, not knowing where she was being taken or why Qi Hui wasn’t following.

Qi Hui ignored Shen’s gaze: “Please take your time leaving.”

Shen didn’t understand what had happened. Her small hand was tightly held by two strangers who dragged her away.

Shen was dragged while constantly looking back at Qi Hui.

“Awooo!”

When the two envoys of the Black God Sect had walked ten meters with Shen, she sensed something was wrong, turned her head, and bit down on one of the envoy’s hands.

“Hisss!”

The envoy let go in pain as Shen ran towards Qi Hui with her short legs.

“Don’t appreciate favors when offered!”

The envoy drew a whip and lashed it harshly across Shen’s body.

“Awooo…”

Shen curled up on the ground, hugging herself tightly as the whip kept falling.

From a distance, Qi Hui furrowed his brows deeply.

Just as the envoy’s whip was about to fall again, Qi Hui grabbed the envoy’s wrist tightly.

The headquarter envoy looked at Qi Hui: “What do you mean? Don’t tell me you’ve grown attached to this little thing?”

Qi Hui smiled: “Not quite, but esteemed envoys, she is very precious. If she gets hurt, it won’t be good.”

The envoy shook off Qi Hui’s hand: “It’s none of your business! This dog needs a few beatings to settle down. Don’t worry, we won’t kill her—your contribution is safe.”

Saying that, the envoy raised the whip again and struck Shen.

The envoy whipped Shen repeatedly as she rolled around on the ground screaming.

Whip after whip.

Shen was lashed until her skin split open.

Shen tried to resist, spitting out a jet of black flame toward the envoy, but being only a few years old, her flame was easily deflected, resulting in even more severe punishment.

As the envoy grew angrier and picked up a rock to smash Shen’s head, his hand froze mid-air.

Then, he felt his vision spin before his head fell from his neck, his eyes staring at the ground.

“Qi Hui! You…” The other envoy was shocked.

Before he could finish his sentence, Qi Hui lunged forward and struck him, turning him into a bloody mist.

“Awooo?”

Shen cautiously lowered her hand from her head, looking at Qi Hui with fearful eyes.

“Let’s go, back home.”

Qi Hui pulled Shen up, dusting off the dirt on her clothes.

Shen looked left and right.

“Hmm.” Shen nodded, holding Qi Hui’s large hand and walking toward the mountain cave.

Qi Hui staged an accident for the two envoys, claiming he found their bodies in the wild and reported it to the headquarters, vowing to investigate the murderers.

The headquarters didn’t pay much attention to the death of the two envoys.

For sects like the Black God Sect, which everyone despises, being killed by righteous factions is far too common.

Even if inspectors came later, Qi Hui always hid Shen well.

“Remember,” in the courtyard, Qi Hui calmly looked at the little girl, “Don’t think I won’t harm you just because I saved you this time. When I feel selling you would bring great profit, I won’t hesitate. Understand?”

Shen tilted her head and nodded vaguely.

“If I die one day…”

Qi Hui’s eyes deepened.

“…you must leave here with your mother, as far as possible.

You must remember,

In this world, no one is reliable.

Except for your parents, anyone can betray you.

You can only rely on yourself.”

In Xu Ming’s sight, a little girl opened her mouth and continuously bit the big black dog.

This girl had vertical pupils, reminding Xu Ming of the eyes of Western dragons from his past life on Blue Ocean Star.

Her forehead bore two black horns, contrasting sharply with her pale skin.

The girl appeared young, no older than six or seven.

Compared to her porcelain-doll-like cute appearance, her fierce eyes resembled those of monster beasts.

The big black dog was also startled by the sudden bite from the little girl.

Primarily because the black dog was bitten in pain.

After all, he was a great beast at the Jade Pudding Realm level; even Xu Ming’s full-force punches only felt like tickling.

But this little girl actually made him feel pain.

This indicated that this little girl was indeed extraordinary.

The big black dog lifted the girl by the collar of her shirt with his paw.

The girl flailed her limbs, trying to bite the black dog.

“Are you human, beast, or monster?”

The black dog curiously looked at the girl, smelling both human and monster scents.

“Awooo!”

The girl opened her mouth and roared.

“Whatever, take her back. Let the chancellor examine her properly.” Despite not knowing what species the girl belonged to, keeping her alive was always the right choice.

“Eh?”

Just as the black dog wanted to tie the girl with a rope, he paused, realizing her arm, which he’d been holding, had been cleanly severed.

A dog leg and the girl simultaneously dropped to the ground.

“Go! Take her away!”

Qi Hui, having successfully ambushed, expelled a gust of wind, blowing her to Xu Ming’s side.

Xu Ming immediately caught the girl.

“We can’t run anyway, so why bother?”

Bifang thought they had played enough and flew toward Xu Ming.

“Master, please take care of my daughter.”

Zhao Qiongman handed a bracelet to Xu Ming and slapped him onto a rock.

The bracelet glowed, releasing runes that formed a magic array on the rock.

The rock disintegrated, revealing a hidden magic array beneath.

During her previous escape attempt, Zhao Qiongman had set up two arrays.

The first attempt failed and was destroyed.

The second array was intended for her husband’s return, planning to leave together with their child.

Unfortunately, her husband wouldn’t return.

Fortunately, her daughter could escape using this array.

Bifang and the black dog sensed danger and rushed toward Xu Ming.

Zhao Qiongman and the flying corpse blocked Bifang’s path, while Qi Hui desperately held onto the black dog despite numerous blood-soaked wounds on his body.

“Awooo…”

“Awooo…”

The girl in Xu Ming’s arms struggled, wanting to rush forward as the array’s light enveloped them.

Bifang’s flames covered Zhao Qiongman and the flying corpse.

Visibly, their bodies began cracking and turning to ash.

“Awooo…” The girl extended her tiny arms, reaching forward.

“Child… live well, child…” Zhao Qiongman looked back at her child with a gentle smile before instantly turning to ashes alongside the flying corpse.

“Awooo…” Tears streamed down the girl’s eyes.

“Live on…”

Qi Hui, crushed under the black dog’s foot, watched as the array activated, a smirk forming on his lips.

“Boom!”

A deafening explosion echoed as Qi Hui detonated his golden core.

Before the blast reached them, a light enveloped the girl and Xu Ming, activating the array.

A moment later, Xu Ming opened his eyes, finding himself on the mountainside.

Without hesitation, Xu Ming clutched the girl and flew toward Qingyang Jun city.

However, before flying a hundred meters, Xu Ming’s intuition warned him of danger. He sidestepped just in time for a fireball to crash where he had been.

Another fireball aimed at his back, which Xu Ming couldn’t evade. Turning around, he threw a punch.

The fireball exploded upon contact with Xu Ming’s fist.

The massive force sent Xu Ming plummeting from the sky.

Landing smoothly, Xu Ming found himself surrounded by Bifang and the black dog.

The black dog brushed dirt off his coat: “Phew, phew, almost let you get away.”

Bifang pouted: “This guy seems stubborn. Don’t waste time talking. Break his legs and take him.”

“Agreed.” The black dog nodded, stepping closer to Xu Ming.

Once Xu Ming was captured, he would definitely die in the Ten Thousand Nations Country. It was just a matter of how and when.

Even the black dog thought it was a pity to lose such a genius.

But, it was better for the genius to perish now. Otherwise, once he grew stronger, it would pose a tremendous threat to the demon race.

Xu Ming clenched his fists, contemplating any remaining chances for escape.

The answer was none.

Xu Ming was exhausted, unable to throw another punch, especially against two Jade Pudding Realm opponents.

All he could do was surrender and wait for opportunities once captured.

“Goose!”

A familiar goose cry suddenly rang out.

Recognizing the sound, Xu Ming felt uneasy.

Sure enough, Xu Ming saw a Heavenly Black Goose swoop down and peck at the black dog’s head, flapping its wings violently.

“Stupid goose! Get out of here!”

Xu Ming panicked, fearing the black dog would swipe and kill the goose.

Indeed, the black dog attempted to strike the goose annoyingly flapping near his head.

But Bifang intervened first, kicking the black dog far away: “Dog, are you looking for death?”

The black dog was kicked aside as Bifang’s single foot bounced and stomped on the dog’s body.

The Heavenly Black Goose quickly flew to Xu Ming’s side.

Just then, when the dog swiped at it, the goose feared the worst, nearly losing its life.

After getting beaten by Bifang, the black dog rose, eyeing the Heavenly Black Goose beside Xu Ming with fear.

If he had acted earlier, it would have been disastrous.

Xu Ming was puzzled.

The black dog and Bifang regarded Xiao Bai with respect, their earlier arrogance vanished.

What followed baffled Xu Ming even more.

“Subject—Miaohuo.”

“Subject—Dead Dog.”

“Greetings, Your Highness the Princess!”

Xu Ming and the Big White Goose: “???”

Xu Ming looked at the Big White Goose, who in turn looked at Shen.

“Goose-goose-goose? (Is this little girl the princess? Where did you abduct her from?)”

The Big White Goose asked, “Did you kidnap the princess, causing them to hunt you?”

“They’re talking about you!” Xu Ming irritably tapped the Big White Goose’s head. “No, what kind of princess are you?”

“Human race! Do not disrespect Her Highness!”

The black dog, seeing his princess’ head being tapped by a human, felt more aggrieved than if his own head were hit.

“Your Highness, we’ve searched for you tirelessly.”

Bifang transformed into a human form—not a one-legged creature but a normal woman—and bowed respectfully to the Big White Goose.

“Goose-goose-goose! (I am not your princess! You’ve mistaken me!)”

The Heavenly Black Goose placed her hands on her hips and retorted.

“It cannot be. We surely haven’t made a mistake.”

The black dog also transformed into human form, dark as coal, “After taking this, Your Highness will break the seal, recover your memories, and return with us.”

“Goose! (No way!)”

The Big White Goose firmly refused, “Goose-goose-goose-goose! (Move aside. I’m very powerful, and you dare not harm us!)”

“The princess has been deceived by humans. Humans are no good,” Bifang said.

“Goose-goose-goose! (You’re the ones who aren’t good!)”

The Big White Goose protected Xu Ming behind her.

Bifang and the black dog exchanged glances. The black dog turned around, bowing deeply: “Since that’s the case, Your Highness, forgive my rudeness.”

“Goose!”

Thinking they were about to attack, the Big White Goose shouted and prepared to cast wind blades. However, just as it opened its mouth, the black dog produced a transparent pill from his pocket and flicked it into the Big White Goose’s mouth.

[Recommend a friend’s book: “Reborn in Kindergarten, the System Made Me Take the College Entrance Exam?”

The protagonist, reborn in kindergarten, unexpectedly awakens a 18-year-old erratic system, thus starting the process of completing system tasks under the intertwined timelines of kindergarten and system high school.]

Recommend a friend’s book – Reborn in Kindergarten, the System Made Me Take the College Entrance Exam?