"I, I'm, I was..."
The Nine-Headed Lion should have been furious at the sight of Shi Xiu.
But now, he was utterly embarrassed.
He had originally come in looking for opportunities.
He had never expected a huge pack of snow wolves to live here.
In just a few moves, they had frozen him solid.
And now, he happened to see Shi Xiu approaching.
He mistakenly thought Shi Xiu had come to rescue him.
His heart practically overflowed with gratitude!
However, the Nine-Headed Lion soon realized he had been flattering himself!
"What happened here? Where are my brother and the others?"
"Huh? Those people? I don't think they've come out!"
"Thanks!"
Smack!
Although Shi Xiu had not come specifically to rescue the lion, he still freed him in passing.
It was hardly any effort.
Yet, to his surprise, the Nine-Headed Lion was moved beyond words!
"Human Race youth, I'm willing to fight shoulder to shoulder with you!"
Was this fellow trying to acknowledge him as his master?
But all Shi Xiu could think about now was Huo Ling'er and Shi Hao's safety.
He had no time to worry about anything else!
He immediately swung himself onto the Nine-Headed Lion's back.
"Run faster! Take me to them!"
"All right, all right!"
The big cat had not even figured out what was happening.
How had he become this boy's mount?
But that was the reality!
In a situation like this, there was simply no room for stray thoughts.
Awooo!
"Ah, big brother, run! There are so many wolves!"
They had barely run any farther.
Then they saw Shi Hao being chased by three white wolves.
He looked rather bedraggled!
[Four Strikes of the Vermilion Bird: Immobilization]
There was no time to say anything.
Shi Xiu immediately unleashed his ultimate move!
Unexpectedly, the Four Strikes of the Vermilion Bird really did work wonders.
The three white wolves remained in their forward-leaping poses.
They were frozen motionless in midair.
Shi Hao did not hesitate either.
He immediately wheeled around to strike back.
[Suanni Precious Technique]
What a little rascal!
He was really beating dogs while they were down!
Bang!
A tremendous crash rang out.
The three snow wolves were instantly knocked to the ground, not a breath left in them.
Just then.
Several red figures appeared in the distance.
Sure enough, they were Huo Ling'er and her bodyguards!
"Ling'er, move aside! I'll handle this!"
[Four Strikes of the Vermilion Bird: Rain of Fire]
It was perfect coordination.
On the surface, Huo Ling'er and her companions appeared to be fleeing pursuit.
But combined with a certain someone's attack.
It became a flawless lure, drawing the enemy deep into a trap.
Those enormous, snow-white wolves had never dreamed this boy would suddenly charge out.
And bring a sky full of fire raining down like meteors!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The indiscriminate flame attack engulfed the entire cave.
Not one of the dozen or so enormous white wolves before them escaped.
The fierce attack also destabilized their cavern.
"Big brother, hurry and run! This place is about to collapse!"
Perhaps because he had noticed the cavern starting to shake.
The Nine-Headed Lion hurried over.
He lowered his heads, letting Shi Xiu land straight onto his back from midair.
Although the two of them were the last to flee.
The Nine-Headed Lion's running speed was absolutely extraordinary.
They soon caught up with Huo Ling'er and her companions!
"Get on!"
"Ah, you!"
Shi Xiu simply reached out.
His right hand caught Huo Ling'er around the waist.
He pulled the princess onto the lion's back.
The whole movement flowed like drifting clouds and running water, completed in one seamless motion.
Huo Ling'er had completely lost her temper, too.
She merely clutched the Nine-Headed Lion's mane tightly.
Her head was lowered, her face flushed.
Soon, the two of them rode the Nine-Headed Lion to the entrance.
"Oh, big brother, sister-in-law, you're really fast!"
Since he had been the first to bolt.
Shi Hao had escaped with his life before anyone else.
Huo Ling'er's bodyguards came next.
Then came the two riding the Nine-Headed Lion.
Although a few surviving white wolves tried to chase them out.
The moment they touched the sunlight outside, they shrank back.
"Ling'er, are you all right? Why did you go into that cavern?"
Seeing Huo Ling'er sitting silently in front of him.
Shi Xiu asked with concern.
She immediately jumped to the ground, blushing.
Only after reaching her guards did she recover somewhat.
"Look, it was because of this!"
It was a golden egg, with a high-level aura swirling over its surface.
The moment Shi Hao saw it, his mouth began to water!
"Sister-in-law really thinks of everything! I'm starving. Hurry and cook that egg so we can eat it!"
"Eat, eat, eat! All you ever think about is eating! This is a treasure. Neither of you is laying a finger on it! Hmph!"
After saying that.
Huo Ling'er haughtily hugged the treasure to her chest.
Then she entered her carriage.
It was as though she feared the two brothers before her would snatch it away!
"Big brother, thank you for saving me just now!"
For some reason.
The Nine-Headed Lion had actually grown accustomed to calling him big brother.
But Shi Hao was somewhat displeased.
"Hey, hey, hey! Nine-Headed Lion, don't you understand first come, first served? He's my big brother! You're third!"
What a little rascal.
Although the Nine-Headed Lion looked a little aggrieved.
He still tacitly accepted his position.
"All right! I used to always be the boss, but now..."
"Hahaha! Then it's happily settled, right? I've got a little brother, too!"
Shi Hao really did make himself at home.
Shi Xiu might as well let him be!
"Ling'er, what kind of egg did you find?"
"It should be a rare breed. I can feel it!"
Perhaps because it had been subjected to the Four Strikes of the Vermilion Bird earlier.
The egg had also been exposed to intense heat.
Its hatching time seemed to have arrived earlier than expected.
Just as everyone looked over.
Tiny cracks suddenly appeared at the top of the shell.
It seemed something was about to emerge!
Crack, crack, crack!
Just as Huo Ling'er curiously leaned her head closer.
A streak of light flew straight out.
It was a Little Wolf God, complete with wings-a divine beast cub.
It looked quite adorable!
But having only just been born, it also seemed afraid of the light.
"Ah! It's so cute!"
Girls probably all liked adorable pets like this.
Once this Little Wolf God grew up, it would certainly make a fine guard.
However, perhaps because it had absorbed the Vermilion Bird power Shi Xiu had released.
The Little Wolf God did not seem particularly fond of Huo Ling'er.
Its eyes fixed straight on Shi Xiu.
It actually wriggled out of Huo Ling'er's arms of its own accord, trying to go over to him.
But this action upset Huo Ling'er again.
"Hmph! You heartless little white-eyed wolf! Don't you know who risked her life to bring you out?"
"Hahaha! Don't be angry, my wife. Go ahead and play with it!"
Fortunately, a certain someone had sharp eyes and quick hands.
He immediately returned it to its rightful owner.
Otherwise, the problem might have grown worse!
And Huo Ling'er still did not seem to have completely gotten over her earlier anger.
"Hmph! Who's your wife? We haven't formally bowed at the wedding yet. You'd better spare a thought for the one at Immortal Mountain!"
This woman said one thing and meant another.
When a certain someone had rescued her earlier, she had clearly been deeply moved.
Yet now she put on an aloof air again!
Such was the persona of the Fire Emperor's daughter.
Shi Xiu had humble roots, after all, so naturally he found it difficult to understand what these princesses truly thought!
He only vaguely understood that girls' thoughts were terribly hard to guess!
"Then where are we going next?"
"This princess doesn't care where you go, but this little brat and the Little Wolf God are coming with me!"
Although Huo Ling'er had four guards.
But these four sealed ones could not intervene lightly.
Shi Hao had thus become the princess's unpaid hired muscle.
After that little episode just now, she found him rather handy to boss around.
"Sister-in-law, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
"What's inappropriate about it? Once we get out, come to our Fire Kingdom, and I'll make you a great general!"
This princess really did have a lavish hand...
Before you continue