"Why did you come to Fire Tree City this time?" Hu Xiaotian asked. "Was it only to visit your Senior Sister?" Since their reunion, he had yet to ask Yan Nujiao what had brought her here.
"I came to deliver sacrificial offerings for my master. My master is from the Red Yi Tribe." Yan Nujiao walked up to Hu Xiaotian and rested both hands on his shoulders. Gazing at him with eyes as clear as emeralds, she said, "Xiaotian, my Senior Sister isn't a bad person. She's probably just been deceived by that man. Please don't hurt her." She understood something of how Hu Xiaotian operated. Although he treated her well, he never dragged his feet when handling matters that affected the larger picture, nor did he show softhearted mercy. She feared that if her Senior Sister encroached on his interests, he would strike at Tongyun.
Hu Xiaotian patted her lovely cheek affectionately and said softly, "You needn't concern yourself with this. Why don't you return to Heavenly Wolf Mountain first? Once things here are settled, I'll go there to find you right away." He did not want Yan Nujiao caught between them.
"I don't want to leave," Yan Nujiao said.
Knowing that she was worried about Tongyun's safety, Hu Xiaotian smiled. "Don't worry. Whatever happens, I promise I won't hurt her. But I can't let her help a tyrant do evil either, producing a false Spirit Maiden to help the Beggar Gang control Fire Tree City."
"What are you planning to do?" Yan Nujiao asked.
"Since there's no hope of getting anywhere with your Senior Sister, I can only approach the Lady of the City first," Hu Xiaotian said.
"She'll be coming to the Temple tomorrow to offer sacrifices," Yan Nujiao said. "If you want to see her, that