Chapter 10: Defiance

Xian Dao Tang.

Rong Shou stood before the window, his deep black eyes gazing at the empty training grounds outside, his expression stern.

Hua Qing entered the room, not daring to pause for even a moment, and immediately reported: "Sect Master. The Heavenly Sword Sect has been attacked by the Mo Yu, and the Young Sect Master Cui Cong and several low-level disciples have been abducted."

"Although the Kunyue Sect also encountered a Mo Yu attack, the sect-wide grand competition is about to take place. Many disciples had already entered the Wanzhanggu of Kunyeshan for training, which happened to help them avoid this disaster."

"Other sects have also encountered Mo Yu attacks. Among them, the Golden Blade Gate suffered the worst; the entire sect was wiped out."

"The Heavenly Sword Sect is preparing to convene an Immortal Alliance Assembly to crusade against the Mo Yu."

"The Mo Yu have made sudden, large-scale moves this time; were there any anomalies beforehand? Do our scouts stationed in the middle reaches of the Huang He have any news?"

"Speaking of which, they usually report on the movements of the Mo Yu on the tenth of every month, but last month they were seven days late. The news that came back was the same as usual, with no anomalies."

"There is always a reason for abnormal events; send people to investigate thoroughly."

"As you command, Sect Master. But should we first rescue the Junior Martial Sister? Su Xi is the Sect Master's personal disciple, and her status is equal to that of the Young Sect Master. However, since we do not know who among the Mo Yu abducted her, we can only start by tracking the protective spells Rong Shou previously placed on Su Xi; perhaps the other disciples can be rescued as well."

"I will handle the rescue; you focus on the Immortal Alliance Assembly."

"Yes, Sect Master."

Huang He.

The boundless, murky river water flowed toward the distance, surging and roaring with great momentum.

Su Xi stood by the river, behind her was a desolate grassland and forest. Her originally chubby, delicate face was now somewhat haggard and dejected, and her stomach rumbled with hunger.

"Master Xie, I want to eat! If I don't eat, I'll starve to death!"

"Can you not practice Inedia?" Xie Guanyu looked down at Su Xi, who only reached his chest.

"I just became a disciple and haven't learned anything yet before I was abducted by you." Su Xi glared at him fiercely, then squatted on the ground, plucked a blade of grass that looked harmless, and stuffed it into her mouth.

She was too hungry; although the grass tasted terrible, it could fill her stomach, and that was better than starving to death.

"Hiss—Meow—" Suddenly, a fierce cat's cry rang out.

"Where did that cat come from?" Su Xi looked over, and upon seeing it, "Da Miao?"

It was exactly the calico cat she had seen in the Ling Shou Yuan!

Why is it here?

"She has been hanging on your Dao Robe in cat-pattern form for four days. I hear that spirit cat meat is very delicious; would you like to have a taste?" Xie Guanyu stood with his arms crossed, looking at Da Miao leisurely.

Dazzling spirit light erupted from Da Miao's body, and in the blink of an eye, the cat grew from a foot in size to the size of a giant tiger.

"Meow—" Da Miao let out an urgent cry toward Su Xi.

Su Xi could not understand cat language and looked completely bewildered.

Seeing her reaction, Xie Guanyu chuckled softly: "She wants you to ride on her back; she intends to take you and escape."

"Is that what you mean?" Su Xi looked at Da Miao.

Da Miao sighed; the devil understood everything, so how could they escape...

"Sorry Da Miao, I didn't understand what you said." But even if she had understood, she could not leave. She had to follow Xie Guanyu to the Mo Yu to seize Xue Fuyi's fortune.

Su Xi went to Da Miao's side, stroked her beautiful back fur, and said to Xie Guanyu: "I promise to follow you honestly until my Master comes to save me; I will never run away. But can you let her go?"

"You may, but just like when I released your two sisters, what will you trade with this time?" Xie Guanyu looked her over with interest.

Su Xi's hair stood on end, and she subconsciously covered her backside, "Pervert!"

Da Miao let out a low growl, leaped into the air, and her huge, sharp cat claws struck directly at Xie Guanyu's vital neck.

A look of appreciation flashed in Xie Guanyu's eyes, "A good cat."

He raised his hand to meet Da Miao's claws.

The moment the hand and claws collided, Da Miao's golden-green cat eyes suddenly widened, and her giant cat body shrank back to a foot in size.

Finally, she opened her mouth, spat out a large mouthful of blood, and fainted.

It all happened in an instant; Su Xi saw it, but it was too late to do anything.

Not until Da Miao landed did she rush over, her fingers trembling slightly as she touched her nose... she was still breathing.

What should she do? Su Xi panicked.

【Host, try using the Sweet Tree Dew your Master gave you.】

【Right!】 She hurriedly took the Sweet Tree Dew Rong Shou had given her from her Storage Bag and fed it into Da Miao's mouth.

Faint gray wisps of cloud began to gather in the sky.

Xie Guanyu glanced at the Tribulation Cloud in the sky and said to Su Xi: "Stay further away; the spirit cat is about to undergo the Transformation Tribulation. Be careful not to get struck by the Tribulation Lightning."

"Xie Guanyu!" Su Xi scolded angrily, "Is bullying the weak fun?"

"I am bullying the weak?" Xie Guanyu was surprised.

"Abducting me, a disciple of the Southern Dao Sect, and seriously injuring Da Miao—which one isn't?"

Xie Guanyu looked at her, his expression gradually fading, "Perhaps you should have stayed in the scroll."

A black scroll appeared in his hand.

Su Xi immediately hugged Da Miao to her chest, staring at him fixedly. A moment later, her mouth pouted, "Master Xie, I was wrong. You are a great person, don't hold a grudge against a little girl; spare me this time."

She had to guard Da Miao through the tribulation; she could not enter the scroll.

But while her words were soft, her eyes were full of resentment and defiance... Xie Guanyu looked into her eyes, "I'll give you a chance. I am going to the Southern Region; it will take about half a day, and I will return before dark. If you run away, I will never chase you. If you haven't left—"

Before he could finish his sentence, he disappeared from where he stood.

Su Xi looked around; Xie Guanyu had indeed left.

She first placed Da Miao on the grass and looked up at the increasing gray wisps of cloud; this must be the Tribulation Cloud.

She looked as far as she could, but couldn't even see a bird; no one should come to disturb them.

"Da Miao, I don't know how to help you guard against the tribulation, but I will definitely do everything I can."

【Host, there is no spiritual energy here; should we take out the Spirit Stones from the space to assist Da Miao in overcoming the tribulation?】

"Alright."

Su Xi took out the Spirit Stones she had stolen from Ling Shou Yuan and placed them around Da Miao.

Very quickly, the Qi within the Spirit Stones gathered toward Da Miao.

Da Miao also slowly woke up; sensing the Tribulation Cloud in the sky and looking at the Spirit Stones around her and Su Xi, she struggled to stand up and returned to her original size.

She growled continuously at Su Xi.

Su Xi could not understand, "Er Miao, do you know what she is saying?"

"She is telling the host to use a Sound Transmission Talisman to send a message to Master. Also, she had wanted to reveal herself long ago and did not want to be suppressed by Xie Guanyu any longer."

Su Xi replied, "Thank you, Da Miao, but so many disciples of the sect have been abducted; as the disciple of the Sect Master, I cannot just stand by and watch."

Da Miao looked at her speechlessly, then growled again after a moment.

"She is telling you not to worry about those disciples and to leave on your own first; no one will blame you."

Su Xi shook her head, "Wait until you have passed the tribulation. Xie Guanyu is going to the Southern Territory; half a day should be enough time."

Da Miao still wanted Su Xi to leave, but the Tribulation Cloud had already formed, so she had no choice but to undergo the tribulation first.

However, to be honest, having someone by her side worrying about her and keeping her company, so she was not all alone, was something she was immensely grateful for.