A white bone arrow flew over with a puff, pinning itself into the butt of the miniature Fu Dao Ox tucked beneath Sect Master Zhang's armpit. Blood splattered everywhere on the spot.
After an instant of silence, it let out a miserable howl. "Old Zhang, you did that on purpose, didn't you? With such poor protection, how am I supposed to recover?"
Half its rump had exploded, exposing jagged white bone streaked with blood. The agony made it kick wildly, its little one-foot-long ox face twisted into a knot.
Sect Master Zhang said guiltily, "Sorry, that was a mistake."
But when he turned and took a look, he immediately changed his words. "I'm afraid it wasn't my fault. That woman you and Wang Xuan once chased down has appeared. Just how much must she hate you? She didn't even bother shooting at me—she just had to aim for your butt."
Fu Dao Ox turned back and immediately saw Princess Qingling, that cleanliness-obsessed princess. After pursuing them all this way, she was still bathed in fresh flower petals, with the Immortal Gathering Flag suspended above her head. Treasure bow in hand, she aimed at it again.
"When my Lord Kong was here, he slaughtered the forces of more than ten of your giant cities all by himself! Now you're taking your anger out on me? Wait until Lord Kong returns! He'll punch your Holy Emperor to death and crush every last one of you beneath a single foot!"
Fu Dao Ox's temper had grown as well. Back in Hell, it had been unwilling to mention the Holy Emperor, Heavenly God, or Lord of Ash, deeply fearful of them. Now that it had been pushed to the brink, the words came pouring out of its mouth.
"Ox tongue, veal shank, beef tendon—they're