Chapter 23: The Utmost Hatred for Humans Raiding Fox Dens by Day

Before Xiao Tong could finish his sentence, a thunderous crash erupted as the front door was smashed to pieces.

"Ming Xi! Let's see where you can run to now!" the head guard declared triumphantly as he stormed into the room.

Regardless of the circumstances, they had finally succeeded. Whether it was to kill Ming Xi or to reclaim the Red Resonance and the Oracle, as long as that fellow Shi Zhiyan was absent, this useless woman was completely defenseless.

"Mother! Mother, wake up! They’ve broken in!" Xiao Tong urgently shook Ming Xi, but she remained slumped in a state of deep exhaustion.

"Do you know what I hate most, little one?" Ming Xi slowly opened her eyes and said with a fierce glint, "I hate it when humans raid a fox den during the day!"

Foxes are nocturnal creatures that typically sleep in their dens during the day, emerging only at night to hunt or scavenge. Many hunters made a habit of raiding these dens while the foxes were in their deepest slumber, capturing and killing them when they were at their most vulnerable.

Although Ming Xi had been reborn as a human, her fox instincts remained. She was still prone to drowsiness during the day, and more importantly, she despised it when humans dared to strike while she was sleeping.

"Ming Xi, you’re at death's door—what are you spouting?" The guard leader swung his scimitar with a vicious strike toward the bed. Ming Xi dodged agilely and leaped aside, letting his blade cleave the wooden bed frame in two.

"Damn it! Don't let her escape! Men, move in! Kill this wench!"

At his command, over a dozen guards swarmed forward, their blades flashing. Ming Xi summoned Red Resonance to parry, though with her current strength, this was all she could manage; she was unable to unleash the weapon's true spiritual power.

"Mother!"

"Stay back, my silly boy! This is no place for you—get out!"

"But Mother, your injuries..."

"Go!"

Although Xiao Tong was worried, staying here would only put him in further danger. What should he do? That’s right... find his godfather! With that, he bolted toward the door at top speed.

Ming Xi felt utterly defeated by the state of her current body. Not only was her waist throbbing with pain, but she was already panting after just two movements.

"Ming Xi, stop resisting! Do you really think a useless wretch like you can fight us?"

"You think I can't? Don't underestimate me! Bai Ling, set the place on fire!" Ming Xi commanded. Bai Ling hesitated, asking, "But this is Young Master Shi's home! If it burns down..."

"It’s fine! The magistrate provided this manor for the child's father when he came to this county on business; he didn't even buy it himself. He won't care if the place is demolished. Besides, this is one of the few historic, well-known mansions in the county. If it burns, just say the Ming family did it! After all, everyone in town saw you carrying torches with the intent to burn the house down! It’s not worth that much anyway—eight thousand taels should cover it..."

What? Eight thousand taels?! If they burned it down and their master forced them to pay, they wouldn't be able to afford it even if they sold their lives!

"Bai Ling! Burn it!"

"Understood, meow!"

Tongues of flame lashed out, and the guards descended into panic. "Water... find water! If this place burns, we’re finished! Hurry, find water! Don't let the house go up in flames!"

The room dissolved into utter chaos.

Outside, Ming Yue was equally relentless. Although her servants had warned her not to use magical beasts because the rune master Shi Zhiyan could easily absorb their power, she refused to believe that she, at the Purple Profound Sixth Grade, could not defeat him at the Ink Profound Third Grade. It was only a one-level difference!

"Miss Ming, are you done yet? You’re endless, and I have no interest in fighting you."

"Save your breath! As the strongest of the six Ming sisters, I have never lost to anyone! I won't lose to you, either!"

"Six sisters? Isn't there supposed to be seven? Why is one missing?"

"My eldest sister was cast out of the Ming family years ago for a grave mistake. But what does that have to do with you?"

"Of course it has nothing to do with me! But since it doesn't, why did you answer?"

"You! I have never met anyone as unreasonable as you!"

"And how exactly am I being unreasonable?"

"Ming Xi stole a family heirloom and fled. It is only natural that we seek to reclaim it. Your interference is nothing short of unreasonable!"

As they argued and clashed, Xiao Tong rushed over, crying out, "Godfather! It's terrible! The Ming family guards have infiltrated the house! What should we do?"