Xiao Ning'er's hands and feet turned icy with panic. The soul force throughout her body seemed locked in the grip of an invisible hand, leaving her unable to summon even a trace. Just as dread tightened around her heart, a shadow slipped soundlessly out of the darkness in the corner, its blood-red eyes shining eerily in the gloom. A troop of equally pitch-black soldiers poured out behind him, their hands and feet actually gleaming bayonets, flashing with a cold light that made her scalp prickle.
The shadowy figure in the lead flicked his wrist, and his bayonet sliced through the ropes binding Xiao Ning'er with a swish. She stumbled forward, only for a powerful arm to catch her firmly.
"Who are you? Why are you helping me?" Still shaken, Xiao Ning'er looked up at the shadow before her, her eyes full of confusion.
"What, scared silly?"
At the familiar voice, Xiao Ning'er whipped around and saw Yun Tian leaning against the doorframe, watching her with perfect composure. All her pent-up fear and hurt burst through her defenses. Unable to hold back any longer, she flung herself into his arms, choking out, "Yun Tian!" Tears tumbled down like pearls from a broken string.
Yun Tian clumsily patted her back, muttering inwardly, Wait, this isn't right. Xiao Ning'er in the original story was a cold, proud little firecracker. Since when did she become such a crybaby?
"There, there, stop crying. Keep this up and you'll look like a little kitten."
Only after a long stretch of coaxing did Xiao Ning'er finally stop, still sniffling. Yun Tian then told her the truth-the elders of the Xiao Family had long since been bought off by the Divine Family and become Shen Fei's lackeys. After hearing this, Xiao Ning'er trembled with rage. "All I wanted