Chapter 36: Mischief, Monsters, and a Sister’s Resolve

“Holy crap! That woman who looks like a female toad is the Empress?”

Ahoge Dragon finally realized she had narrowly escaped death, her heart pounding erratically.

“You foolish Ahoge, you truly have nine lives! I was even considering having Blood Granny reveal her strength and forcibly protect you if things went south.”

“However, it’s fortunate the Empress didn’t punish you much. During this hunting event, you’d best behave yourself; as long as you stick with me, I won’t let you get hurt.”

Yao Yueli sighed, for with the sudden change in the hunting grounds, the chances of encountering powerful demonic beasts would only increase.

Even if it meant not hunting any beasts, not venturing deep into the forest, and foregoing the champion’s title, she was determined to protect Ahoge Dragon.

“Hahaha! It’s nothing at all! I’m a Dragon, so when I show up, those little demonic beasts will surely be terrified and flee!”

“Then, I can just casually waltz into any beast’s lair and pick up tons of treasures!”

Ahoge Dragon was incredibly optimistic, treating it all like a mere sightseeing trip.

“You’re dreaming big, those demonic beasts are mostly controlled by the Blood Elf. They’ll be itching to capture you if they see you!”

Yao Yueli’s words were like a bucket of cold water, and the mention of the Blood Elf again made her seethe with annoyance.

“Huh? I heard the change in the hunting grounds was because of a Blood Elf? Does he know me?”

Ahoge Dragon, aware that she was a target for the Blood Elf, felt a pang of fear at the thought of being captured.

“It’s hard to say. He’s the very one Gudou Toutian captured, and his lair is quite close to our Imperial Capital. It’s possible he’s part of the same group as the Blood Elf who tried to capture you before.”

“In any case, just stick close to me. I’ll make sure to protect you.”

Yao Yueli gently patted Ahoge Dragon’s shoulder, offering a comforting gesture.

“What?! What in the world is the Gudou family doing?! How could they just let the Blood Elf go?! Infuriating! Absolutely infuriating!”

Ahoge Dragon furiously pounded the table!

Yao Yueli furrowed her brows, observing Ahoge Dragon’s outburst, and realized there was no need to comfort her at all.

“Where are you going? Didn’t I tell you to stay put?”

Seeing Ahoge Dragon rise to her feet, Yao Yueli quickly grabbed her wrist.

She genuinely feared Ahoge Dragon would go out and cause more trouble.

“Why, I’m going out to find those toads and make a bet! I have absolute faith that you, Big Sister, will become the champion!”

Ahoge Dragon gave Yao Yueli a confident thumbs-up, her small fangs flashing brightly.

“You are not going! We’re definitely going to lose this time. You’d just be throwing your weapons away for nothing by making a bet.”

Yao Yueli confessed her true intention: her biggest goal this time was to protect Ahoge Dragon and ensure she didn’t get into trouble in the Sunset Forest.

“Big Sister, don’t give up! I’ve seen all your hard work these past few days, and I believe Big Sister will surely defeat everyone!”

Ahoge Dragon felt that things had finally become interesting, and she certainly didn’t want them to end now!

“Get back here, I’m the one who decides. I can’t take you to dangerous places. After we enter the Sunset Forest, we’ll just patrol the outer perimeter for three days!”

“A single failure doesn’t mean anything. When we return, I’ll challenge Xing Rou’er again and still get what I want!”

Indeed, what she truly desired most was the truth from back then.

“Big Sister is so stubborn. Alright, alright, I won’t go bet with them then.”

Ahoge Dragon sighed helplessly, feeling as though she was losing a hundred million.

“Then sit beside me and stop wandering around.”

“No way, I’m going out to play! Staying in the room feels really uncomfortable.”

Ahoge Dragon possessed a restless nature, unable to sit still unless she was being doted on by Big Sister.

“I’ll go out with you.”

Yao Yueli didn’t want to overly restrict Ahoge Dragon, so she stood up and accompanied her outside.

“Huh? Mao Mao?”

Opening the door, they nearly collided with Mao Yuxia.

She seemed to have been standing there for quite some time, her head drooping, presenting a truly dejected appearance.

“What’s wrong, Xiaoxiao? Did someone bully you?”

Yao Yueli asked, her voice laced with concern.

“Who dares bully you?! Tell me, and I’ll use my Little Li Flying Dagger to stab them to death!”

Ahoge Dragon’s expression turned fierce, for Mao Yuxia was hers, and only she was allowed to bully her!

“Sister Yueli, I’m sorry…”

Mao Yuxia’s sudden apology left both of them bewildered.

“It’s all my fault for not looking after Little Ahoge properly, which led her to cause such great trouble.”

“Huh… what I did has nothing to do with you, Mao Mao, I didn’t ask you to help me go invisible and rob a shop!”

Ahoge Dragon scratched her head.

“No, it’s all my fault! Sister Yueli entrusted you to me, yet these things keep happening. I feel… I haven’t… fulfilled my responsibilities at all…”

“All of this is because of me~ that Little Ahoge has been put in such danger, and it’s also made Sister Yueli… hesitant, unable to fight freely during the hunting event…”

Mao Yuxia was filled with self-reproach, large tears streaming from her eyes.

“Mao Mao, none of this is your fault. What have you done wrong? In fact, you’ve often helped me a great deal!”

Ahoge Dragon placed her hand on Mao Yuxia’s head, stroking her soft, fluffy ears, which felt wonderfully comfortable.

“For example, if you hadn’t woken me up, Mao Mao, that statue would probably have been split in two by now!”

“Who knows, maybe the entire school mountain would have collapsed… Hehehehe, then when you go to school, you wouldn’t have to painstakingly climb stairs anymore!”

“Ugh! Why did you hit me?!”

As Ahoge Dragon was thinking this, she genuinely wished for an opportunity to do just that, to carve the mountain down to a single peak.

Unfortunately, Yao Yueli lightly smacked her on the head.

“Xiaoxiao, don’t listen to her nonsense. Don’t I know Ahoge well enough? All of this is simply because she’s too mischievous. You don’t need to blame yourself.”

Yao Yueli comforted Mao Yuxia, hoping the little cat wouldn’t dwell on negative thoughts.

“I… I know a large part of this is because of Little Ahoge, but I also bear responsibility! That…”

Mao Yuxia suddenly changed her demeanor, adopting a determined and serious expression as she continued:

“For the hunting event, can you take me with you, meow! I can help you with invisibility, making it easier to hide from powerful demonic beasts… Ah… Sister Yueli…”

Yao Yueli flicked Mao Yuxia’s forehead, cutting her off.

“Xiaoxiao, you are not allowed to go. Invisibility is practically useless against demonic beasts. It’s so dangerous out there, and I can’t possibly look after both of you!”

Did this girl truly believe the hunting event was some kind of game?

One needed at least three-star strength, and even four-star powerhouses had previously perished at the hands of terrifying demonic beasts!

“I’ll just be a burden to Sister Yueli… Then I…”

Mao Yuxia sadly lowered her head, realizing she was too weak to help her beloved Sister Yueli at all.

“Mao Mao, I think you absolutely *can* come with us!”

Ahoge Dragon, seemingly recalling something, patted Mao Yuxia’s shoulder and declared,

“I’ve learned a few small spells these past few days, there’s one called ‘Mimic Grass’!”

“When we go invisible using that, we’ll take on the aura of grass, and it’ll feel like there’s nowhere in the entire forest we can’t go!”