Chapter 244: Chapter 244: How About We Work Together to Leave This Place?

Sunxiao and Jin Ling both sensed an unusual presence and turned to look at the figure in the woods.

"It’s you, the Wing Clan’s Phoenix Beast."

Fenglin didn’t get too close. His gaze swept over them before finally landing on Qiao Xixi.

"Your black panther beast husband is in our hands. If you don’t want him to die, take your black panther cub and come with me now."

The moment Fenglin’s words fell, he felt a powerful killing intent wash over him. He turned just in time to see a massive, crimson snake’s tail whipping toward him.

Fenglin hadn’t expected Sunxiao to attack while he held a hostage. He dodged quickly, his heart pounding in alarm.

"Aren’t you afraid we’ll kill him?!"

Sunxiao sneered, "You’d better be able to do what you say!"

The colossal python opened its cavernous maw and lunged straight for Fenglin. Its movements were incredibly fast, and though Fenglin dodged swiftly, Sunxiao still managed to bite off a mouthful of his feathers.

Seeing that Fenglin wanted to run, Feiyan also joined the fray.

Fenglin never imagined they would disregard Sangze’s life and actually go for the kill.

Seeing himself at a disadvantage, Fenglin was already thinking of retreating and looking for a chance to escape.

But just then, Qiao Xixi suddenly spoke. "Don’t run just yet."

As Qiao Xixi’s voice fell, Sunxiao and Feiyan stopped their attack.

Fenglin looked at Qiao Xixi curiously. "You’re going to come with me?"

Qiao Xixi nodded. "I’ll go with you."

"Xixi," Jin Ling said in a low, grave voice.

Qiao Xixi took his hand reassuringly. "Listen to me for now." After speaking, she looked at Fenglin. "Only I will go with you. Sangqi is not an option."

Sangqi stepped forward and grabbed Qiao Xixi’s hand. "Mother, I want to go save Father."

Qiao Xixi shook her head. "Be good. Your father will be fine."

Fenglin frowned. ’Huang Ying ordered me to bring back Sangze’s cub, but the current situation isn’t in my favor. There’s no way I can forcibly take the black panther cub.’

"Fine."

"But we’ll go after I’ve eaten my fill." After saying this, Qiao Xixi sat right down on a stool.

Fenglin was stunned, but he quickly understood. ’When Huang Ying sent me, I already felt this would be a difficult task. How many females in this world are willing to risk themselves for their beast husbands? To them, beast husbands are just things that can be replaced at any time.’

He had been surprised that Qiao Xixi had agreed to his demand, but seeing her attitude now, he found it laughable.

"Fine. You’d better keep your word." With that, Fenglin flew up into a large tree to wait, showing no intention of leaving.

Feiyan continued to watch Fenglin’s every move warily, while Sunxiao shifted back to his human form and returned to Qiao Xixi’s side.

"You’re going?"

Qiao Xixi nodded and said in a low voice, "Yes. I want to meet that Wing Clan female face-to-face."

Sunxiao and Jin Ling were both strongly against it, but Qiao Xixi felt this was a good opportunity and insisted.

"If you go, I’m going with you."

"If you follow me, she won’t let her guard down."

No matter what Sunxiao said, Qiao Xixi was determined to go alone. In the end, Sunxiao’s murderous intent toward the Wing Clan female only grew stronger.

"I need to go figure out what’s going on with her first. I’ll tell you the details when I get back."

"Let’s eat first."

Qiao Xixi pulled them to sit down.

The cubs had also grown tense because of the scene that had just unfolded. Qiao Xixi soothed them, "It’s okay. Your fathers and I are here. Be good and eat first."

Sangqi sat down, leaning against Qiao Xixi, but he was too worried about Sangze to eat.

"Mother, I miss Father."

Qiao Xixi held him and coaxed him softly.

The family took a long time to eat this meal, so long that the sun was about to set. Just as Fenglin was thinking that Qiao Xixi had no intention of going and was just tricking him, she put down her chopsticks and stood up.

"I’m full. Let’s go."

The cubs immediately dropped their chopsticks and gathered around Qiao Xixi.

"Mother..." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Qiao Xixi looked to Jin Ling for help. Jin Ling’s brows were tightly furrowed. He didn’t want to let Qiao Xixi take this risk, but he also knew that she wouldn’t easily change her mind once she had made a decision.

Jin Ling let out a breath and went over to pull the cubs aside.

Sunxiao’s expression was as cold as ice. Every step Qiao Xixi took forward, he followed.

Helpless, Qiao Xixi could only turn back and grab his arm. "Sunxiao!"

The frigid, snake-like pupils in his eyes grew even more crimson, but he still stopped in his tracks.

"Xixi!"

Qiao Xixi squeezed Feiyan’s hand. "Don’t worry, I’ll be fine."

Feiyan grabbed her hand back, his face etched with reluctance.

Qiao Xixi could only pretend not to see it and turned to face Fenglin.

"Let’s go."

Fenglin suddenly transformed into his beast form, seized Qiao Xixi with his talons, and flew into the sky with her.

"Xixi!"

Sunxiao told Jin Ling and Feiyan to stay behind as he immediately gave chase.

But no matter how fast one was on the ground, it was no match for speed in the air.

Fenglin brought Qiao Xixi to a mountain before dropping her to the ground.

Fenglin shifted back to his human form, pulled Qiao Xixi up from the ground, and led her toward a cave up ahead.

"Let go of me. Since I came with you, I’m not going to run."

Fenglin only let go after hearing her say that.

Hearing the commotion outside the cave, Huang Ying got up and walked out.

The instant she saw Qiao Xixi, she was certain. ’She’s back again!’

Qiao Xixi looked up, her gaze suddenly meeting a pair of pale red pupils. She stopped in her tracks.

Their eyes met, and sparks seemed to crackle in the air between them.

Huang Ying sneered and was the first to speak. "You really are hard to kill, Qiao Xixi!"

Qiao Xixi raised an eyebrow. "That look on your face, hating me to death but unable to do anything about it, is quite a sight."

Huang Ying took a deep breath, suppressing the anger rising in her chest. "Qiao Xixi, I think we can have a proper talk."

"Before that, I want to see my beast husband."

Huang Ying scoffed, looking at her in disbelief. "Qiao Xixi, are you really insane? He’s just a paper character. Is he worth all this effort?"

"Cut the crap. I want to see him."

"Fine. Follow me inside."

Huang Ying turned and entered the cave, and Qiao Xixi followed.

The cave was quite large. Sangze was tied up in its deepest recesses.

"What’s wrong with him?"

"What’s the hurry? He just fainted."

"Alright, spit it out. What did you want to talk to me about?"

Huang Ying turned around and, before Qiao Xixi could react, grabbed her by the hand.

Qiao Xixi frowned and was about to pull away when she heard Huang Ying say, "Qiao Xixi, I really don’t understand what you’re thinking. This is just a book, a mission world! Everyone you interact with is a fake paper character. But in that other world, we have our families, our friends, everything we’re familiar with! Don’t you really want to go back?"

Qiao Xixi looked at her and fell into deep thought.

"We’re both pitiful people who were kidnapped and brought to this illusory world. Let’s team up and leave this place, okay?"