Chapter 63: Trouble Brewing

Just as he finished speaking, the ground suddenly shuddered beneath their feet.

In an instant, the sky above the entire forest grew thick with ominous clouds, thunder and lightning raging across the heavens. A gust of wind, sharp and metallic with the tang of blood, swept toward them, stinging their faces like needles.

What made Si Han’s heart tremble most, however, was the crushing force that accompanied this wind—a presence so overwhelming it made one feel the urge to kneel. Such a suffocating aura! The creature that was about to emerge could only be of the royal rank.

Si Han’s expression changed. My goodness, could this truly be a royal-ranked beast?

A deafening roar shattered the sky, shaking the earth to its core.

Deep within the forest, chaos erupted; the air was pierced by countless screams of terror.

Ji Tianxin wrinkled her nose, and when she caught the scent drifting on the wind, her brow furrowed slightly. Is it that one?

She lifted her foot, intending to step into the woods, when suddenly a black blur burst out from the darkness.

“What is that?!” Si Han held his breath.

The black shape shot toward them like a bolt of lightning, stopping just before them. Only then did Si Han see clearly—it was a ball of black fur, resembling a dog.

Before he could react, the little girl at his side had already kicked the furry black creature and sent it flying.

Kicked… she kicked it away! That might have been the very treasure these people were seeking!

Ji Tianxin cast a glance at the furry black creature, then drew back her foot and turned to leave without another word.

The black ball, still baring its teeth, caught sight of Ji Tianxin’s retreating back and suddenly shuddered. Its eyes lit up, and after yelping twice, it bounded after her.

But at that moment, the earth shook violently once more.

A crimson gleam flared in the little beast’s eyes as it looked behind.

At once, factions from all sides surged out of the woods.

“There it is!”

“I see it! That’s the one! Catch it!”

“Hmph, our Jin clan saw it first!”

“Bah! When it comes to treasures, there’s no such thing as first come, first served—it’s every man for himself!”

In a matter of moments, hundreds of figures had gathered in a dense throng before Ji Tianxin.

The black ball of fur suddenly leaped and landed squarely on Ji Tianxin’s shoulder, crouching there and glaring menacingly at its pursuers.

Ji Tianxin said coolly, “Get off.”

The little beast’s fierce demeanor vanished in an instant, replaced by a pitiful gaze as it clung softly to her shoulder with both paws, letting out a series of plaintive, whimpering cries.

Si Han thought to himself… This girl has gotten herself into trouble. And big trouble, at that.

He had only come to watch the show; he’d never intended to get involved. Yet now, he found he couldn’t bring himself to leave the girl behind.

When the members of the various factions arrived, this was the scene that greeted them: a little black beast, docile as could be, perched on the shoulder of a young girl, with a handsome youth standing quietly by her side.

The tableau was unexpectedly harmonious.

Especially the little girl—she was so beautiful, she seemed like a spirit who had wandered into this world.

And the youth beside her, his features so delicate that he outshone even the fairest of maidens.

But none of them had time to admire the pair. All eyes, burning with greed, were fixed on the black creature on Ji Tianxin’s shoulder.

The factions each staked out their ground, tense and ready, eyes locked on Ji Tianxin.

“Teacher, look.”

At the back of the crowd, the group from before had also arrived.