Chapter 7: Is This What You Call Family?

What the hell?! What kind of nonsense is Mother spouting? She wants to go to the underworld?

"What is the underworld? Why would you want to go there, Mother?"

"Why do you care so much? In any case, this fox spirit has no intention of staying here!"

Xiao Tong did not understand his mother's meaning, but seeing her leap from the bed the moment she woke up and rush to the table to grab a sharp pair of scissors to end her own life, he panicked. Even as young as he was, he understood—Mother was trying to commit suicide!

"Mother, we can talk about anything! Please, put the scissors down!" Xiao Tong hurried forward to stop her, but both he and Bai Ling were too weak and too small to hold her back.

"What is there to talk about? I have no reason to stay here! Feng, wait for me... I am coming for you now!"

Seeing Ming Xi fiercely aim the scissors at her wrist, Xiao Tong shouted at the top of his lungs: "Help! Help! Mother is trying to commit suicide!"

What?!!

That single cry was enough to send a shockwave through the entire Ming household!

That wretch is trying to commit suicide? Ming Yue and the other young ladies were horrified—she could not die now! The Emperor had just issued an oral decree; if she were to perish, the entire household would be executed!

Just as Ming Xi was about to plunge the scissors, an inexplicable force struck her, instantly knocking the scissors to the floor!

Ming Xi was startled. She looked up to see a woman in her twenties walking toward her. Before she could even react, she heard a crisp "slap," and her face burned with searing heat!

...This woman actually dared to slap her?!

"You wretch, you actually dare to commit suicide?" The woman who had knocked away the scissors and struck her without provocation spat out, her words dripping with malice.

Ming Xi found it both strange and ridiculous. "Whether I live or die is none of your business. Give me back those scissors!"

If her memory served her correctly, the two women before her were the original owner Ming Xi's second sister, Ming Yue, and third sister, Ming Zhu. Ming Yue, in particular, possessed the highest talent in the Ming family and was the household's favorite, which made her look upon Ming Xi, the "useless one," with utter disdain.

"You wretch, you dare to talk back? It would be one thing if you died on your own, but now you want to drag the entire household down to hell with you? Don't you know that the Emperor has issued an oral decree? If it is discovered that you are dead, everyone in this house will be executed!"

"Exactly! Can't you just behave yourself for once? Stop causing trouble! Haven't you embarrassed our family enough? I truly don't know how our Ming family ended up with a creature like you!"

Another "slap" rang out. Ming Xi felt another searing pain across her face. She wanted to fight back, but her body was so weak from a fever that it refused to obey her commands!

Damn it all, what is wrong with this body? It’s bad enough that it has no spiritual power, but why is it burning with fever and so weak that she cannot exert even the slightest strength?

Otherwise, as a noble fox spirit, she would never let these two wretched humans abuse her like this!

"And about those magical beasts killing people lately, you have to provide an explanation to the whole county! Or better yet, let's just slaughter Bai Ling. It's just a useless, broken magical beast anyway..."

"No!" Before Ming Zhu could finish, Xiao Tong hugged Bai Ling tightly and shouted in protest.

"You little bastard, this is no place for you to speak!" Ming Zhu felt nothing but disgust for the boy's defiance.

Despite their words, Xiao Tong could no longer bear to watch. Although he had seen his aunts bully them before, this time—

"Second Aunt, Third Aunt, please stop! Mother is still recovering from a fever; she cannot withstand this kind of beating! I beg you!"

...Xiao Tong?!

Ming Xi was stunned. She opened her eyes to see Xiao Tong's small frame standing in front of her, head held high as he pleaded on her behalf.

For some reason, looking at this small figure warmed her heart!

"So what if she has a fever? This wretch must be taught a lesson today!"

"No, please! I beg you, let Mother rest and recover!"

"Get lost, you little bastard!" Ming Zhu shoved Xiao Tong aside and, ignoring his pleas, continued her cruel venting.

Seeing them attack again, Xiao Tong gritted his teeth, his small fists clenched so tightly they creaked. "Aunt! No matter what, we are all family! If you continue like this, I won't be polite anymore!"

"Oh? Not polite?" Ming Yue laughed with disdain. "Go ahead and show me how you intend to be impolite!"

Xiao Tong pursed his lips and, without another word, threw open the door and dashed out. Ming Yue was momentarily stunned—what was this little bastard up to? It was well known that this half-human, half-beast child possessed an intellect far beyond that of his peers.

What was he planning to do?!