Chapter 306 - I won't Do Anything Stupid

"Wait!" The Pekingese started to wriggle, doing its best to threaten the group. "You're not allowed to kill her! Shanhu and I are heavenly embodiments, statutes of the will of the gods! If you harm her, Heaven will send down a divine punishment on you and your bloodline!"

Liu Xiaodan paused walking. 'That strong?!'

"Why can't you even break free from Guangru then?" Guangru said uncaringly. "Don't worry, Baba. This guardian has no more power to do that."

Heima's voice then echoed inside Liu Xiaodan's mind. "It seems like their abandonment and failure of duties had caused their powers to plummet, one even affected and corrupted along the way. Baba, we should not kill this Shanhu. Perhaps, Big Brother Feng could purify her to restore some of her rationality. 

"They were yet to be considered full-fledged by the time they were destroyed. This phase is rather prone to corruption. Even if the small one has endured, he needs to be purified as well." Heima then hummed. "I believe we have enough time before the night comes. Shanhu might grow stronger soon."

"What if they hurt Ming and the rest?" Liu Xiaodan frowned. Even at a devolved form, these Pekingese dogs were as strong as Kings. If he helped them regain power, wouldn't they smite his friends?

Of course, Heima couldn't answer for the dogs. He and Old Xiong were in a strange stance after all. Then again, these two were nonetheless part of their brethren as holy beings. As Heima felt like he was bound to be biased, he decided not to make the big decision. He felt that neither Old Xiong would say anything.

…

"Kill it."

Heima's crystal eyes would flicker if it could. He stared at the big black teddy bear that sat in a room of its own. This was supposed to be Guangru's room in the house, but Old Xiong had been here for a while now.

Old Xiong then repeated his words slowly after sensing Heima's confusion. "You should kill it."

"You're mad! How could you do this to one of us?!" Lanlu, the Pekingese, introduced himself to the old guardian and to him alone. However, from the mouth of the seeming elder guardian came out words that even Heima couldn't fully process—let alone Lanlu. "Aren't you supposed to be wise?!"

"...I am wise. You're the one blinded by your weakened senses." Old Xiong didn't sound mad at all. He then turned to look at Liu Xiaodan. "Xiaodan, that King is rather strong and knows how to pick out the weak. Not only did it pose a threat to the Chuan family, but it had also originated from a nearby temple. It must be a demon instead, but its seal had weakened it too much."

Liu Xiaodan was actually lost in their conversation. Just earlier, his parents decided to eat out, but he had to sit it out because of the King hunt. Wu Qianqian only wished that he would be safe; she didn't want to leave, but Liu Xiaodan convinced them that a King was nothing to him. That was why Guangru felt free to bring Lanlu here… Liu Li and Wu Qianqian were away.

Then, it also seemed that Old Xiong wasn't as simple as he thought he was. Earlier, this Pekingese didn't even bother greeting the black horse. However, in the face of this black teddy bear, it would actually introduce itself without coercion? Right now… Old Xiong was saying that the spirit was a demon?

Then, what happened with Shanhu?

"Xiaodan..." The black bear chuckled upon recognizing the look on Xiaodan's face. "Ghosts and demon spirits are rather fragile things. Guardians, however, are made differently. Like I said earlier, the demon knew how to pick out the weak. This Shanhu must have protected someone in the temple, and so she was eaten by the demon. However, it doesn't mean that she has perished completely."

"Ah! So I was—" Lanlu didn't have to finish his statement before the bear's voice hummed in acknowledgment: "She continues to call out to you because she is eaten by such a vile being. Xiaodan, you need to kill it tonight to release Shanhu before it regains more of its power. It might not be dangerous for you, but a demon never mixes with a neighborhood."

Liu Xiaodan narrowed his eyes at the thought. This neighborhood was the new home of his parents, and so he must keep it safe from everything that he could help with. Now that a demon threatened it, he wouldn't back down. Even the Qiao family's Black March didn't faze him, what more of a single demon?

After biding goodbye to the black teddy bear who didn't seem to be too worried because of their collective strength, Liu Xiaodan held onto Heima with one hand while his other hand held onto Guangru. The Pekingese was still carried by the child on their way. Then again, they ran into Chuan Nayi.

"Are you going out again?" Chuan Nayi closed her room's door. "I'll come with you."

"...I don't think that's a good idea, Nayi." Liu Xiaodan placed the black horse on his head before reaching out to rub Chuan Nayi's cheek. "I'll be back soon. You don't have to worry."

"If there's nothing to worry about, then I can come with you." Chuan Nayi frowned lightly. She then noticed the Pekingese that looked at her, but she ignored it for now. "Xiaodan, you don't have to do these things on your own anymore. It's not a secret to us… to me."

She then brought down his hand and hugged it. "Don't worry, I won't get in your way."

Liu Xiaodan only stared at her, not knowing what to say. He just continued to stammer, but she frowned deeper before whispering, "Don't make me say stupid things, Liu Xiaodan. I know you're not meeting another girl, but if you continue to hide from me, what am I supposed to think?" She then erased the frown with a smile. "Xiaodan, I swear I'm not going to be stupid."

"...promise me."

"I promise… will all my love for you… I won't do anything stupid." Chuan Nayi raised her hand as if swearing an oath. Liu Xiaodan only held onto her hand and stared at her for a while before nodding. As long as Chuan Nayi promised not to be rash and stupid, there shouldn't be any trouble.

When they got to the staircase, one of the maids came to the man. "Young Master, a lady wants to see you. She said you know her, and there's no way you'd turn her away. Erm, don't worry, if you don't want to see her, we will chase her out… but she's actually crying at the gates earlier. She's so pitiful… we let her in the waiting room."

Liu Xiaodan twitched and pulled Chuan Nayi to the waiting room, the child just holding onto the small dog like it was indeed a toy. When he saw who was there, the woman had already seen him as well. Her eyes lit up in hope, but it was suddenly replaced by dread as she stared at the young madam.

One word only left Bai Yueji's mouth. "...Nayi?"