As Ren Kai headed toward Yaoguang Shoal, he felt puzzled.
In the game, Qiqi should have run toward the mountains.
So why had she gone toward the seaside instead?
"Wow… this feels amazing!"
The pink fox clung to Ren Kai's clothes with both paws while half her body fluttered in the wind.
After several "rides," she had started to enjoy the thrill of speed.
"This area is way too large…"
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
Ren Kai suddenly stopped.
The Guili Plains were absurdly vast, and Yaoguang Shoal was still far away.
With a single hand seal, eighteen Uchiha Madaras appeared.
"Split up and search."
"Got it."
The shadow clones immediately scattered in different directions.
"Lord Ban is amazing!"
"You even know witchcraft!"
The pink fox stared at the clones in amazement.
Wasn't that the same clone technique described in her jade pendant?
"You should work harder too."
After saying that, Ren Kai dashed straight toward Yaoguang Shoal.
"Okay! I'll do my best!"
The fox looked excited.
"Awoooo!"
A wolf's howl echoed from ahead.
Ren Kai instantly accelerated, worried that a wolf pack might have found Qiqi.
But when he arrived—
It turned out to be wolves fighting wild boars.
"…Boring."
Not seeing Qiqi anywhere, he continued toward Yaoguang Shoal.
Just before reaching it, another disturbance appeared ahead.
This time—
He saw Xiao fighting several strange beasts.
"Xiao? What are you doing here?"
Ren Kai drew his blade and helped Xiao eliminate the monsters before speaking.
"Mr. Ban, this is my duty."
"Rather, why are you here at night?"
Xiao looked extremely surprised.
He couldn't understand why Ren Kai would appear here.
"The little girl I asked you about earlier escaped Guili City."
"I heard she ran toward this direction."
Ren Kai frowned as he explained.
"What?!"
Xiao's expression turned sorrowful as he asked anxiously.
Suddenly—
Ren Kai's body trembled slightly.
"My clone found her."
"Let's return to Guili City."
Without hesitation, Ren Kai sprinted back toward the city.
Each leap carried him hundreds of meters.
"Understood."
Xiao followed behind him.
Ren Kai's mood brightened.
Everything had happened exactly as he expected.
Qiqi had indeed exited through the eastern gate—
But after wandering around, she had turned back toward the mountains.
Luckily, several clones had searched the nearby mountains.
One clone had found Qiqi there.
Covered in dirt, she held a Violetgrass in her hand.
The clone brought her back to Guili City and handed her over to Guizhong before dispelling itself.
At that moment, Guizhong was spinning around while hugging Qiqi happily.
After a few turns, she quickly set her down and checked her condition.
"You scared me to death!"
"Are you alright?"
Guizhong crouched down and looked at her anxiously.
"Qiqi went to gather herbs."
Qiqi raised the Violetgrass in her hand to show Guizhong.
"Your name is Qiqi?"
Guizhong asked in surprise.
Had the girl regained her memories?
"No."
"That big brother called me Qiqi earlier."
Qiqi recalled meeting Uchiha Madara.
The moment he saw her, he had called her Qiqi.
Perhaps that was really her name.
"Qiqi… that's a good name."
"But the talismans on your body aren't fully stabilized yet."
"You must not run outside these next few days."
Guizhong still felt uneasy.
Not long ago, she had released Qiqi from her seal.
But Qiqi had lost control of the adeptal energy within her body.
Guizhong had used talismans to calm her down.
However, once suppressed by the talismans, Qiqi fell into a deep sleep.
Guizhong never sealed her again.
She never expected Qiqi to wake up—
Let alone run out of the city.
"Okay."
"That big brother said he would come pick me up."
Qiqi suddenly smiled happily.
"Wait… what?"
"You gave this child some of your divine power as well?"
Cloud Retainer was shocked.
A half-dead zombie smiling like that was unbelievable.
She extended her hand to sense Qiqi's condition.
"Divine power is different from adeptal energy."
"That was extremely risky."
"But somehow… it worked."
Ping'er approached excitedly and sensed the life force inside Qiqi.
"You accidentally succeeded."
"Qiqi now has a trace of life again."
"Hehe! See?"
"I told you I'm the smartest among us!"
"Now you can't argue with me!"
Guizhong declared proudly.
Less than ten minutes later, Ren Kai and Xiao returned to Guili City.
Both of them leapt over the city walls and headed straight toward Guizhong's residence.
"I didn't expect things to turn out like this…"
After hearing Guizhong's explanation, Ren Kai felt hopeful.
Qiqi might truly have a chance to live again.
"Big brother…"
"Did you come to pick me up?"
Qiqi walked up to Ren Kai with her head lowered.
She sounded unsure.
Earlier that day, when Qiqi woke up, she had barely stepped outside Guizhong's residence before the guards spotted her.
They panicked.
"Zombie!"
They shouted in terror.
When Qiqi had been sealed, the adepti had dressed her in funeral clothing.
Combined with the talismans Guizhong attached to her body—
The guards' reaction was completely understandable.
Startled by the shouting, Qiqi ran out of the residence and into the streets.
The citizens reacted the same way.
"Zombie!"
People screamed while running away.
Qiqi had no memories.
She only remembered gathering herbs in the mountains.
Frightened and confused, she ran through the city streets, eventually escaping through the eastern gate.
After wandering in circles, she returned to the mountains.
There, she picked some Violetgrass and simply stared at it in a daze.
Then—
A shadow clone of Uchiha Madara appeared.
"Qiqi."
He called her name and gently lifted her into his arms.
It was the first time Qiqi had felt warmth.
And the first time someone had approached her instead of running away.
"Of course."
"My little Princess Qiqi."
Ren Kai felt his nose sting as tears welled in his eyes.
He lifted Qiqi into his arms.
"Big—"
"Mr. Ban… tonight's gathering is ready."
Guizhong almost blurted out "Big Brother" when she saw the touching scene.
Fortunately, she corrected herself in time.
If she had said it—
Ping'er and Cloud Retainer would immediately realize Ren Kai's identity.
There was only one person Guizhong called "big brother."
"I'll take my leave first."
Xiao could barely contain his excitement.
He wanted to share the good news with his fellow Yaksha.
"Make sure the other four Yaksha attend the gathering."
"No excuses this time."
"Otherwise the Geo Archon will not be pleased."
Guizhong called out firmly.
"…I'll try."
Xiao instantly returned to his awkward state.
Looking defeated, he left.
Why is it always me?
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