Unruly Phoenix Xiaoyao

Chapter 62: His Majesty Ning says, the darkness tempts one to commit crimes

"I didn't save you just to get a present," Ning Xiaoyao said sincerely to the mother wolf named Peach.

Big Boss Black patted Ning Xiaoyao's face with his paw. "Stop pretending."

"Alright," Ning Xiaoyao said, "I need money and grain."

"......" said Peach.

An unsatisfied Big Boss Black asked her, "Can't you control yourself a bit more?"

Ning Xiaoyao said, "Can't you ever shut your mouth?" First he told her to stop pretending, then he told her to control herself. Even a movie queen wouldn't be able to master such a complicated role. Peach licked her lips as she saw the human and cat about to break into an argument. Her tail gave a swish before a grayish black cloth ball rolled out from behind her.

"I wanted to give you this," she told Xiaoyao.

Ning Xiaoyao looked at the thing that some human must have thrown away and was now being used as Peach's toy. "So it's a little cloth ball." Getting a present was a happy occasion, so Ning Xiaoyao cheerfully reached out to take the ball. But Peach wagged her tail and hid the ball behind her again. Ning Xiaoyao awkwardly withdrew her hands. Big Boss Black felt like his ninny had been bullied once more, and wanted to take revenge for her with his claws. Yet after he saw Peach's fangs, Big Boss Black grew alarmed.

Peach looked at Ning Xiaoyao and said, "I was going to give you this cloth ball to start, but you said you wanted money and grain. So I won't give you the cloth ball anymore."

"Miaow," said Big Boss Black, "Are you going to give us money and grain?"

Ning Xiaoyao hastily waved her hands. "No need, I have money and I've just stolen some grain."

"Over on that side of the mountain," said Peach, " There's a place where humans live. You should go take a look, there's a lot of money and grain there."

"That won't do," Ning Xiaoyao said, "I can't steal from the common people."

"I heard that you're enemies with the Grand Preceptor?" Peach asked.

"......" said Ning Xiaoyao. Did all the animals know about this?

"Those are the Grand Preceptor's men," Peach said, "My leg was injured near those big houses."

Ning Xiaoyao's joy came so quickly that she suffered a lapse of concentration. Big Boss Black bit his tail just to check. It hurt, so that meant everything happening right now was real! Ning Xiaoyao pointed at the mountain face before them and asked, "Is it over there?"

"Yes. Follow alongside the brook to the north until its end, and you'll reach it," Peach said as she looked behind Xiaoyao. "There's a human coming, so I'm going now. Xiaoyao, if fate decrees it, we'll meet again."

Ning Xiaoyao heard the sound of footsteps as well, and turned around. Peach picked up one little snow wolf in its mouth and vanished into the forest. Big Boss Black shouted after her, "Did you forget one?"

Peach's voice came from far away, "Xiaoyao, that other son of mine is too small and weak. I can't provide for him, so you can adopt him."

Lou Zigui had already reached the vicinity, but grew alarmed when he heard a wolf howling. He unsheathed his saber and ran towards the direction of the noise.

Ning Xiaoyao bent down to pick up the abandoned wolf pup, feeling its bones beneath the fur. She furrowed her brows and asked Big Boss Black, "Why is he so skinny?"

"All whelps are skinny if you can't provide for them," Big Boss Black reached out a paw to pat the little snow wolf's head. "Peach took away the one that looked stronger."