Chapter 44: Xiao Mo versus Wu Xiaohui
The battle around Wen Ran grew even more intense, but his focus remained on the four fighters. Meanwhile, another confrontation was escalating elsewhere. Xiao Mo, who had been fighting valiantly, now bore several cut wounds on her small frame, blood staining her otherwise pristine white fur. Despite her agility, the man she fought, Wu Xiaohui, was no easy opponent. His face was a bloody mess, swollen from her relentless strikes, but his anger only grew with every punch.
"You shitty rabbit, just you wait! I'll skin you alive and feed you to the dogs!" Wu Xiaohui raged, his entire body suddenly glowing with a golden light. The energy radiating from him was overwhelming, pushing Xiao Mo back, her small body almost crushed under the pressure.
For her, this energy felt oppressive, suffocating even. She could feel her legs growing heavy, as if the very air around her had become a weight she couldn't bear. With a final surge of energy, Wu Xiaohui launched his next attack, locking her in place.
Panic surged within Xiao Mo. She couldn't move. Something was wrong; she couldn't move even one bit. Something had changed in her opponent's aura. The secret technique of the Wu Clan, one used only by the elite, was now binding her in place. An ugly grin shone on Wu Xiaohui's lips; he loved to feel in control.
Wu Xiaohui's anger fueled the technique, and the moment he activated it, Xiao Mo realized she was trapped. His status as the son of the clan head granted him access to these forbidden techniques, and as a Spirit Flow cultivator, he held a tremendous advantage in this battle. His power surged through him like a tidal wave, and Xiao Mo, despite her strength, could do nothing but writhe helplessly under his control.
She was caught, helpless and panicking.
"Die, you stupid animal!" Wu Xiaohui roared, his blade descending inches from Xiao Mo. Just as the sword was about to strike, a golden brilliance tore through the air, crashing into his weapon. The impact was so forceful that it bent his sword, the iron warping under the pressure. For a brief moment, Wu Xiaohui felt as though his arms had betrayed him, the force so overwhelming that he lost his grip on the sword entirely.
The sound of the blade clattering to the ground echoed in the still air, and Wu Xiaohui staggered back, his eyes wide in disbelief.
From the distance, a young girl stood, her golden hair flowing in the wind, as if she were untouched by the chaos around her. Her expression was blank, her eyes slightly unfocused, as if she were lost in thought, her gaze distant and unfathomable.
And then, the voice that emerged from her mouth was not entirely her own—it carried an undeniable command.
"Leave now, and I will spare your life. If you keep pushing the matter, I will not spare even your father."
The coldness in her voice sent a chill through Wu Xiaohui. He trembled, his heart skipping a beat. Why was he so afraid? There was no visible aura of power emanating from her, no immediate sign of threat. Yet, the killing intent that laced her words was enough to make his legs go weak, his mind panicking.
Before he even realized it, his body was already retreating, running as fast as he could without a second thought. He didn't look back at the rabbit or the group. The fear was too intense to process, and he found himself fleeing without hesitation, bursting through the broken wall in his desperate escape, leaving everyone behind.
His heart pounded in his chest, the only thought in his mind being the terrifying presence of the girl with the golden hair.
The golden aura around the young girl suddenly dissipated, and with it, she collapsed to her knees. Her body trembled as if the power that had surged through her was now draining away at once.
Xiao Mo, who had been momentarily paralyzed in fear, suddenly snapped out of it, the instinct to protect herself kicking in. She rushed toward the girl, her white paws brushing against her hand. However, the girl didn't respond—her expression blank, her eyes distant, her focus clearly elsewhere.
Fang Jinyao grasped her chest, her breath shallow as if the very air had turned heavy. A wave of dizziness overtook her, and her mind was once again shrouded in visions—the same confusing, blurry images she had seen earlier. The scene played out before her eyes, but this time, the faces remained unclear, their features distorted and hazy.
Frustration and confusion clawed at her, making her question her own sanity. Was this real? Was she losing her mind? She couldn't make sense of the visions, couldn't piece together the faces—yet they felt so familiar.
The sensation of losing control gnawed at her, and she clutched her chest tighter, trying to steady her racing heart. The weight of it all was becoming too much to bear, and doubt crept in: Am I truly sane?
"Wen Ran…" Fang Jinyao murmured weakly, her gaze drifting toward the direction of the fight. She barely had enough strength to stay conscious as she collapsed to the ground, her body giving out. The golden brilliance of the flames around her began to grow more intense, and soon it spread to the building, catching fire. The heat was unbearable, but Xiao Mo, still somewhat dazed, managed to catch a whiff of the smoke.
The rabbit desperately struggled to move Fang Jinyao out of the building, but her strength was nowhere near enough. It was a struggle, but the instinct to protect her master drove her forward. Slowly, inch by inch, she dragged the unconscious girl out of the building. Just before the roof caved in, Xiao Mo collapsed beside her, panting with exhaustion.
With a heavy sigh, the rabbit looked at her owner. She cursed him inwardly for the chaos he caused, but admired him at the same time, unable to hide the respect she felt for him, despite the danger he constantly put them in.