Chapter 551: Chapter 346 The Scent of Hope and Happiness_2
"Our beasts have nothing, but we are proud of the return of kindness. That woman fought for our survival. She deserves to be saved. Please, I beg you, let her go."
Wan Qiao furrowed her brows and rubbed her forehead as she deeply contemplated the abyss in her eyes, not betraying her emotions. After a lengthy consideration, she let out a sigh.
"This lady may have been kind to us, but she is still human. She is a member of the delegation sent here to spread death and disaster. If we let her go, she will have to live in our Capital, where we can keep an eye on her. I refuse to let her learn about us and then send her back to her old Kingdom. All of our secrets would be exposed."
The young man’s expression softened, and in gratitude, he bowed before the One-Horned Jasmine Eagle. "Even if she must live in our Capital, it’s better than her death." He spoke with happiness in his voice.
"Oi!" Wan Qiao suddenly shouted, loud enough to halt the guards who were ready to attack the delegation. They stood still, looking only at her.
"You, you, you," she pointed at three groups of guards within range, "escort these citizens back to the Capital. Let them live inside Heaven Building."
Following her orders, it was evident how quickly the guards acted. Some of the guards carried children on their backs, facing the sky, while others marched on the ground, guiding the stronger villagers. The elderly villagers, however, had left behind belongings, bringing immeasurable grief to the survivors.
Seeing the guards swiftly obey her command, Wan Qiao felt satisfied as she turned to Yan Xiaobao.
"I’ve found a task," she said with a brilliant smile on her face, "and no one is more suited to it than you. This female Senior Observer Li, you must find her and keep her alive. As for the rest of us, we’ll slaughter anyone who dares tread upon our lands."
Hearing this, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but gulp. Everyone within range was a King-ranked or higher cultivator. While transforming into a Werewolf would allow him to fight them for a short time, battling multiple opponents for an extended period would almost certainly lead to his defeat.
After some thought, he understood he couldn’t refuse the responsibility placed upon him and began to figure out how to ensure her safety. The best idea seemed to be simply avoiding the battle.
Although these human-shaped Magic Creatures were very similar to humans in intellect and lifestyle, they were not humans. Deep inside, instincts they couldn’t suppress would undoubtedly surface during the approaching battle. Seeing a woman alive, even if they were instructed not to kill, their deep-seated hatred toward humans would compel them to attack her amidst the confusion, noise, and chaos of combat, possibly leading to her death.
Though Yan Xiaobao was baffled by the task assigned to him, he never showed any of his thoughts outwardly. Instead, he began carefully planning the best way to rescue her, unsure of her cultivation level.
If Yan Xiaobao were to expend all his energy, he could transform into a Werewolf briefly, releasing massive energy waves in three to four strikes—strong enough to create an opening for two people to escape. However, after fleeing, he would be left powerless. That meant they would have to find a place to hide in order to survive.
While the plan sounded straightforward, it was far from simple. Hiding from a Magic Creature was nearly impossible. Their sharp sense of smell, keen eyesight, and exceptional hearing would make it likely they’d be discovered wherever they hid. If Yan Xiaobao had exhausted all his energy during their escape, there would be no one left to protect them.
With a sigh in his heart, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but hope this Senior Observer Li was strong enough to protect herself, leaving him only the task of finding a safe place to hide.
Wan Qiao had been observing Yan Xiaobao closely. She understood perfectly what he was thinking. She couldn’t help but feel surprised as she saw the determination reflected in his ice-blue eyes. His demeanor had shifted from playful to that of a cultivator—a warrior who had faced life-and-death battles and knew the importance of caution. The fact that he wasn’t affiliated with any of the guards meant that if one harbored a grudge against him, they might attempt to eliminate him in the chaos expected in the battle.
As the group of villagers left their proximity, Wan Qiao’s eyes turned icy, and her arms raised into the air. Her golden-hazel feathers sprouted from her skin, and soon, a giant bird stood before everyone. Her wings spread wide, scattering fragments of trees in all directions with immense force. The once-dense forest instantly transformed; the bird created a clearing in the woods. Through the trees, the blue sky suddenly became visible, allowing sunlight to pour down onto the group of beasts and a lone human. As their killing intent surged, all of the beasts’ eyes turned blood-red. Slowly, the creatures reverted to their primal forms, howling, growling, roaring—every sound from the beasts reverberated throughout the forest. Finally, Wan Qiao began moving. She lifted her wings, and a deafening, piercing cry echoed as the bird swooped into the dense forest, marking the start of the chaos.