The Rabbit and the Little Princess, First United Front

"I hear you, but the Zhu Family's affairs are not for an outsider to dictate."

Commander Zhu raised his arm, and the surrounding guards immediately closed in, their torches illuminating the edge of the Broken Slope.

"The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect may have influence in the Heaven Dou Empire, but in the Star Luo Empire, the Zhu Family's marriage contracts are not for you to manage. If word of this gets out, Sect Master Ning might find it difficult to explain."

Ning Chuan stepped forward, the Seven Treasures Pattern plaque hanging at his waist, as the guards parted to either side.

"Commander Zhu, don't speak so definitively. Our young miss is right behind us."

Commander Zhu sneered.

"The Ning family's young miss is a golden branch and jade leaf; why bother getting muddied for a runaway girl of the Zhu Family?"

From behind the woods came the sound of skirts brushing against grass.

Ning Rongrong stepped out from the shadows of the trees, the Seven Treasures Token in her hand catching the firelight on its surface.

"All I see is a group of people chasing an injured girl."

Commander Zhu's expression darkened.

"Miss Ning, this is family law."

Ning Rongrong held the Seven Treasures Token up to her chest.

"Chasing someone to the edge of a cliff under the guise of family law—your Zhu Family certainly knows how to interpret the rules."

Xiao Wu leaped out from the other side, the Concealment Talisman tucked firmly inside her collar. She stood half a step in front of Zhu Zhuqing, her toes lightly tapping the ground.

"You still have the nerve to mention the marriage contract?"

"The runaway prince is living it up in Soto City, yet you don't go after him, choosing instead to hunt down his fiancée. The Zhu Family's rules are truly good at picking the softest targets."

The guards behind Commander Zhu looked at one another, and their torches dipped slightly.

Zhu Zhuqing leaned against the edge of the Broken Slope, her short dagger still held horizontally in front of her, blood from her shoulder seeping down her clothes.

She did not lower the dagger.

Su Hang stood in front, lightning flickering along the ground at his feet, sealing off the path of retreat without pressing in on her.

"It's normal for her not to trust us."

Ning Rongrong tilted her head and added.

"If I had been chased all this way, I wouldn't trust anyone so easily either."

Xiao Wu glanced back at Zhu Zhuqing.

"Don't rush; I'm standing here. No one is getting past me."

Zhu Zhuqing did not reply, but she retreated half an inch, avoiding the edge of the loose gravel.

Commander Zhu took note of this movement and waved his arm.

"Go around Su Hang and take the Second Miss."

Two agility-type spirit masters pressed in from the flanks simultaneously, one hugging the bushes and the other stepping over the jagged rocks at the edge of the slope, moving with great speed.

Ning Chuan immediately stepped forward.

"Block the left side."

Ning Rongrong's spirit rings lit up, and the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda rose above her palm, casting colorful light onto Ning Chuan and the two guards.

"Seven Treasures has a name, the first is Speed."

The speed of the Seven Treasures guards increased instantly, allowing them to close the gap and cut off the man on the left.

Ning Chuan shouted lowly.

"Young Miss, keep the amplification steady."

Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth, the light of the pagoda unwavering.

"Stop talking and aim true. This is my first time providing support in actual combat; don't make me lose face."

Xiao Wu had already met the man on the right.

The man shifted his spirit power, attempting to slip past her shoulder.

Xiao Wu bent her waist, unleashing the Soft Bone Movement Technique to dodge the arm blade reaching for her, her toe flicking up into the back of his knee.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Bang.

The agility-type spirit master was kicked back into a tree trunk, his back slamming against the rough bark as his torch fell into the wet mud.

Xiao Wu landed and brushed off her hem.

"And you call yourself an agility-type? You can't even handle a simple snatch."

Ning Rongrong immediately chimed in from the back.

"Bunny, I'm giving you extra points for that today."

Xiao Wu turned back and hummed in response.

"Save the people first; I'll settle the score about the seating with you later."

Su Hang did not use his Dark Demon Evil God Wings, nor did he unleash any ultimate moves.

Dark Purple Lightning spread across the ground, causing the damp mud in the forest to smoke as it was electrified. Every time the pursuers tried to push off the ground, their feet would be numbed for a split second.

Commander Zhu quickly realized something was wrong.

"His lightning is blocking our path. Don't step on the dark areas."

Su Hang flicked his fingertip, and the line of lightning shifted forward by half a foot.

"A bit late for that warning."

A soul master on the right who had just climbed up tried to charge again, but the moment his toe touched the lightning line, his leg stiffened, and he pitched forward.

Xiao Wu followed up with a kick, sending him back into the pile of guards.

"Line up to go back, no cutting in."

Zhu Zhuqing stood at the edge of the Broken Slope, her short daggers lowered, her cat tail swaying gently.

She did not miss this opening.

Her speed increased once more after manifesting her Nether Civet, and she surged forward along the edge of the lightning line, her short dagger slicing across the sleeve of a pursuer.

The fabric tore, and a wristband fell to the ground.

The pursuer retreated several steps, his face burning with humiliation.

Zhu Zhuqing spoke coldly.

"I'm not crippled yet."

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she immediately shouted.

"Nice, Zhu Zhuqing, that was beautiful."

Xiao Wu nodded as well.

"Got spirit, this girl likes it."

Hearing these remarks, Commander Zhu's expression darkened completely.

"Second Miss, have you forgotten how many years the Zhu Family has raised you?"

The wound on Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder tore open, and she stumbled, yet she still raised her short daggers.

"The Zhu Family raised me only to push me into a marriage contract to risk my life."

Commander Zhu took a step forward.

"Without the Zhu Family, where would you get your martial soul cultivation, where would you get your resources?"

Zhu Zhuqing steadied herself, her tone turning even colder.

"You gave me resources, so you want to take my life back as well?"

Commander Zhu was momentarily silenced, then he spoke sharply.

"The marriage contract between the Dai and Zhu families concerns the overall situation of Star Luo. As the Second Miss of the Zhu Family, you should accept this path."

Ning Rongrong immediately exploded.

"Spare me that. Using the 'overall situation' to pressure people is the easiest way out, since it's not weighing on you."

Xiao Wu also stood her ground.

"You talk about the overall situation, and Dai Mubai talks about being carefree, but in the end, you leave her to carry it all alone. The Zhu Family's abacus is certainly clicking loudly."

Ning Chuan led the Seven Treasures guards to hold the left flank. With the light of the pagoda accelerating them, the Zhu Family pursuers could not seize any position.

Sweat began to bead on Ning Rongrong's forehead, yet she kept the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda steady in her palm.

"Uncle Ning Chuan, don't let them flank us."

Ning Chuan replied.

"Rest assured, Miss, they won't get past the left flank."

Commander Zhu stared at Su Hang.

"Su Hang, are you really going to stand against the Zhu Family for Zhu Zhuqing?"

Su Hang stepped onto a line of lightning, and the electrical glow merged into a semicircle along the muddy ground, sealing off the entire path in front of Zhu Zhuqing.

"If she wants to leave, the Zhu Family cannot stop her."

Commander Zhu gritted his teeth.

"Can you bear the pressure from Star Luo?"

Su Hang looked at him, his tone flat.

"You should worry about surviving tonight first."

The beast fur on Commander Zhu's arms stood on end once more, and his soul power surged, overpowering the torches; it was clear he intended to take action himself.

Zhu Zhuqing tried to step forward, but her shoulder injury caused her to sway.

Su Hang raised his arm to steady her for a brief moment before pulling away, keeping a clear distance between them.

After regaining her footing, Zhu Zhuqing did not lower her short dagger.

Su Hang stepped back half a pace.

"If you can still fight, stand and make your choice."

Under the torchlight, Zhu Zhuqing looked up to meet Su Hang's gaze, raising her short dagger once more.

Su Hang finished the second half of his sentence.

"If you can't, no one is going to kneel in your place."

Blood continued to seep from the wound on Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder, yet her spine remained straight, and the soul power of the Nether Civet began to gather beneath her feet again.

"I will not kneel."