Chapter 165
Chapter 165: Shi Zi Chu, You Really Raised a Loyal Dog
Surrounded by Chu Zhi Rou in the front and the Blood Moon Eel King behind, Shi Zi Chu found himself caught between two deadly forces, leaving him with little room to maneuver.
He lifted his gaze and glanced at Meng Xi Yu.
Chu Zhi Rou was putting everything on the line to please him—he couldn’t leave her hanging now!
Noticing the silent signal from Shi Zi Chu, Meng Xi Yu hesitated before he made his move.
To win Shi Zi Chu’s favor, Chu Zhi Rou was paying a steep price. She lunged forward and wrapped herself around Shi Zi Chu, switching places. The Blood Moon Eel King, which had charged at them, sank its sharp teeth into her back, tearing away a large chunk of flesh.
Chu Zhi Rou felt the intense pain, her vision dimming as a tortured moan escaped her lips.
“Junior Sister Zhi Rou!” Shi Zi Chu quickly caught her, his voice fraught with panic.
Through the pain, Chu Zhi Rou trembled and spoke with difficulty, “As long as… as long as Second Senior Sister is safe…”
Liang Wei Sheng rushed over. Seeing that Shi Zi Chu was unharmed, he let out a relieved breath.
Shi Zi Chu gently supported Chu Zhi Rou, his eyes showing both gratitude and concern. “Why are you so reckless?”
Chu Zhi Rou weakly smiled, her voice quivering, “As long as Second Senior Sister is alright…”
Meng Xi Yu, glancing over momentarily, refocused on the Blood Moon Eel King and began his attack.
“Rou Rou?”
A voice full of uncertainty yet tinged with concern called out. A man emerged from the mist and hurried toward them.
Shi Zi Chu raised her eyes to meet his gaze.
The worried look on Chu Zhi Huan’s face faltered upon seeing Shi Zi Chu.
Just when Shi Zi Chu thought he would rush to carry Chu Zhi Rou away, Chu Zhi Huan instead introduced himself with a stiff formality. “I am Chu Zhi Huan of the Chu Clan.”
The pain from the chunk of flesh torn from her back nearly knocked Chu Zhi Rou unconscious. Seeing that Chu Zhi Huan didn’t rush to check on her but instead greeted Shi Zi Chu, she gasped for air, her pain too much for her to bear. Her body fell limp, and she fainted.
Shi Zi Chu, who had been focused on Chu Zhi Rou’s condition, was too late to greet him, and she cried out in shock, “Junior Sister Zhi Rou!”
Hearing the commotion, Chu Zhi Sheng turned back, rushing to find his beloved in Shi Zi Chu’s arms, pale and unresponsive.
“Get away!”
Chu Zhi Sheng raised his hand, filled with spiritual power, and struck.
“A’Xiu!” Shi Zi Chu instinctively called out, closing her eyes in fear.
Fu Qi Xiu moved with a blur, his demon-charged palm meeting Chu Zhi Sheng’s attack head-on.
The result was obvious.
Chu Zhi Sheng was knocked back a few steps, his spiritual power churning wildly within him as his expression darkened.
Shi Zi Chu opened her eyes and saw Fu Qi Xiu’s tall, straight back. A small smile tugged at her lips, though it quickly disappeared, her face still stricken with residual fear.
Fu Qi Xiu turned his head, his gaze sharp.
Shi Zi Chu, kneeling on the ground as she held onto Chu Zhi Rou, still wore the lingering fear in her eyes.
He was about to mock her when a faint, tender smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Fu Qi Xiu suddenly withdrew his gaze and turned to face Chu Zhi Sheng, his eyes cold with murderous intent.
He may not be able to kill Shi Zi Chu, but wasn’t this scoundrel fair game?
Shi Zi Chu, her voice tinged with anger, said, “Clan Chief Chu really has such great authority, attacking without reason!”
Chu Zhi Sheng, his eyes dark with hostility, locked onto Fu Qi Xiu.
Hearing Shi Zi Chu’s accusation, he sneered, “Am I attacking without reason, or are you the one maliciously hurting Rou Rou? You should know your own heart.”
With a chilling gaze, he turned his focus back to Fu Qi Xiu. “Shi Zi Chu, you really raised a loyal dog.”
Shi Zi Chu raised an eyebrow, her lips curving in a subtle smirk.
She’d seen many people dig their own graves, but this—this was truly something else.
The next moment, Fu Qi Xiu’s figure vanished like a ghost.
Chu Zhi Sheng wasn’t even close to being a match for Fu Qi Xiu, especially when Fu Qi Xiu was in a fury, his power doubled.
Shi Zi Chu tilted her head, looking up in resignation.
Well, Fu Qi Xiu had been holding onto his rage for days. If she didn’t let him release it, he might implode.
Liang Wei Sheng, stepping forward with Qing Yu perched on his shoulder, offered, “Senior Sister, let me take over.”
Shi Zi Chu handed Chu Zhi Rou over and stood up, supporting her knees.
“A’Xiu, my legs are numb,” she said weakly.
At the sound of her voice, Fu Qi Xiu froze, a reluctant look crossing his face as he stepped back.
With a look from Shi Zi Chu, he grudgingly extended his arm as a spirit staff.
Noticing that Chu Zhi Sheng’s defense artifact had shattered, Shi Zi Chu lightly reprimanded, “That’s Clan Chief Chu you’re dealing with. You were a bit too harsh.”
Fu Qi Xiu mocked with a dark smile, “Are you scared?”
“I’m worried about you,” Shi Zi Chu responded, sidestepping the question.
Fu Qi Xiu’s expression froze, before a cold sneer escaped his lips. “Really… hypocritical.”
Under Shi Zi Chu’s gentle gaze, he finally fell silent.
Compared to the unconscious Chu Zhi Rou, Chu Zhi Sheng was in no better condition.
Meng Xi Yu, holding a Spirit Beast Pill, spoke with a cold edge, “Clan Chief Chu really is impressive.”
Swallowing the Spirit Pill, Chu Zhi Sheng sneered, “What a pair of rogues.”
“Clan Chief Chu shouldn’t look at us through the eyes of an idiot,” Meng Xi Yu retorted sharply, “Shi Zi Chu isn’t foolish enough to kill someone in front of everyone.”
Before Chu Zhi Sheng could respond, Meng Xi Yu’s voice grew colder. “I will report this matter to Venerable Xing Lan.”
The mention of “Venerable Xing Lan” caused a shift in Chu Zhi Sheng’s expression, and his fury subsided somewhat.
Suddenly, Chu Zhi Sheng remembered the events surrounding the Eternal Night Forest.
Meng Xi Yu twirled the Spirit Beast Pill between his fingers, his eyes sharp. “When I report this, I’ll say Clan Chief Chu suddenly became enraged and tried to kill Shi Zi Chu. What do you think, Clan Chief Chu?”
“Turning things around!” Chu Zhi Sheng growled, his temper flaring again.
Seeing that Chu Zhi Sheng’s anger had been tempered somewhat, Meng Xi Yu knew he had struck a nerve.
Standing aside, Chu Zhi Huan, who had been silent, watched the scene unfold. His gaze subtly lingered on Shi Zi Chu.
The commotion caused by Venerable Xing Lan’s visit to the Chu Clan had already spread like wildfire. The elders and ancestors in the back mountain had voiced their discontent with Chu Zhi Sheng.
An enemy of an enemy was a friend. With Shi Zi Chu having Venerable Xing Lan’s backing, she could be a valuable ally.
Chu Zhi Huan hid his thoughts well, but his mind was in turmoil.
“Isn’t this the truth?” Shi Zi Chu asked, clutching her chest in fear, “If A’Xiu hadn’t been here, I would have died on the spot.”
Seeing Shi Zi Chu’s mock display, Chu Zhi Sheng’s eyes were filled with disgust.
All she did was twist the truth and bully others—what else was she good for?
Venerable Xing Lan must have lost his mind!
Instead of taking good care of someone like Rou Rou, he chose to favor this… disgraceful woman.
“Clan Chief, perhaps the truth is not what you think,” Chu Zhi Huan suddenly spoke, his voice calm but firm.
Chu Zhi Sheng turned sharply, his attitude hostile. “Who invited you to speak?”
Ignoring the hostility, Chu Zhi Huan continued, “I overheard Zhi Rou saying, ‘As long as Second Senior Sister is safe, it’s fine.’ It seems Zhi Rou was injured while protecting Daoist Shi.”
Meng Xi Yu’s voice rang cold and sharp, “It seems the Chu Clan still has some clever people.”
Chu Zhi Sheng’s gaze flickered with doubt as he turned toward Shi Zi Chu.
“Junior Sister Zhi Rou was injured to save me,” Shi Zi Chu said, a faint smile playing at her lips. “We’re close sisters, Clan Chief Chu seems quite upset by that.”
“Sharp-tongued,” Chu Zhi Sheng sneered. “Who knows if you used Rou Rou as a shield on purpose!”
The brief flicker of amusement in Shi Zi Chu’s eyes quickly vanished.
It seemed that her previous image of malice was still deeply ingrained. However, when Chu Zhi Rou woke up and heard this, she would likely hate Chu Zhi Sheng with all her heart.
Weary of arguing with an idiot, Shi Zi Chu stood with poise, “Let’s treat Junior Sister Zhi Rou’s injuries first.”