17 Chapter 17: One more step, and I'll cut off their heads

When he spoke, he never took back his words. In his dictionary, 'reward and punishment' were ranked on the first page. Since these eunuchs had exceeded the time limit and had not found the little mink, he had no reason to spare their lives.

These hands were stained with too much blood. Therefore, An Honghan didn't mind staining them a little more. After all, no matter how much he tried to clean them, the deep sins would never be washed away.

Xi Xizhi's eyes wandered among the crowd. Just now, they were all excited and full of vigor; why did their faces turn mournful in an instant?

What did that eunuch's words just now mean? Was their punishment related to her?

Xi Xizhi patted An Honghan's thumb with her claw, and her bright eyes seemed to ask for an explanation.

"You're quite adept at playing innocent, do you know why they're being punished?" An Honghan pinched her little paw, and his icy words sent chills down Xi Xizhi's spine.

Honestly shaking her fluffy head to indicate that 'she didn't know,' Xi Xizhi wanted to know the truth.

An Honghan let out a heavy bombshell, "It's because you suddenly disappeared this morning, so they all have to die."

An Honghan was accustomed to killings, so when he said it lightly, he didn't think it was inappropriate.

On the contrary, as a cultivator, Xi Xizhi had heard her Master talk about too much karma. Including the palace maids and eunuchs present, at least one hundred people would be affected. If all these people died because of Xi Xizhi, how heavy would the blood debt on her shoulders be?

Chirp! What did her disappearance have to do with the eunuchs and palace maids? Why did they have to blame them for her disappearance?

Xi Xizhi believed in 'one person does and one person is responsible' concept, so she held her chest high, and her naive look made people want to hug her.

"Do you want to shoulder all responsibility?" An Honghan's eyebrows raised slightly, as his cold gaze swept over Xi Xizhi. His eyes filled with chilling coldness, like the wind in the winter season.

For a moment, Xi Xizhi hesitated, because she wasn't a great person with the spirit of self-sacrifice.

However, thinking that these palace maids and eunuchs were all innocent, Xi Xizhi took a step forward. If she caused so many people to die, she would go to the netherworld and straight to the eighteenth level.

Chirp! Yes!

Gathering her courage, these two words were squeezed out from between her teeth. As soon as she spoke, it meant she would confront An Honghan.

"Very well…" An Honghan's voice became even colder, "You dare to oppose me just for a bunch of servants. Don't forget, you're just a pet I keep; it'd be easier for me to crush you than an ant."

Xi Xizhi didn't need a reminder; she was well aware that she was just a pet mink.

"I spared a eunuch's life yesterday, but today… there's no chance I'll spare another." An Honghan restrained the little mink in his arms, applying quite a strong force, "Continue the beating! No one is allowed to stop unless I say so."

Shrill screams echoed in his ears, as the palace maids and eunuchs, seeing their hopes dashed, cried bitterly.

Xi Xizhi's anger also rose, feeling the hand on her back pressing painfully. A claw lashed out at An Honghan's hand, but her strength possessed no threat. Apart from leaving a red mark on his hand, she couldn't even scratch out blood.

This act was enough to enrage An Honghan.

"You have quite the backbone, daring to swing your claw at me." An Honghan's hand slowly moved toward Xi Xizhi's neck.

Xi Xizhi saw his intention and quickly rolled her round body to the side. However, she could not steady herself in mid-air and unexpectedly fell to the ground. Her silvery fur was covered in dust. Xi Xizhi seemed to have been hurt, chirping and rolling on the ground before shakily standing up.

Had An Honghan just tried to break her neck?

When An Honghan realized the little mink had slipped from his arm, he didn't have time to catch it.

Whimpering in pain, the little mink rubbed its front leg.

An Honghan's first thought was that the little mink must have been hurt from falling, especially its front leg. How could such a small creature withstand a fall? He was only trying to scare the mink; who would have known she'd react so much? If he wanted to snap her neck, he could have done so in an instant, instead of slowly moving toward it?

An Honghan moved forward two steps, intending to pick the mink up again.

Thinking he still wanted to hurt her, Xi Xizhi stumbled back, falling several times.

Seeing that the little mink was scared, An Honghan stopped in his tracks and told her, "I have no ill intentions. Stay still for me!"

Wouldn't every villain claim to have no ill intentions? Xi Xizhi didn't believe that. As she turned her head, she saw the eunuch being beaten within the crowd: Lin En screamed the loudest, sounding like a pig being slaughtered.

If these people truly died, Xi Xizhi's guilt would be immense. One way or another, she had to stop this. After resting for a while and bearing the pain in her front leg, Xi Xizhi moved step by step towards the crowd.

It was more than gloomy that An Honghan's face could describe. As soon as he wanted to catch the little mink, she got frightened and fell down again.

For the first time, An Honghan felt defeated...

In leading armies and conquering territories, he had never been so helpless. But when it came to the little mink, he was powerless.

"Stop right there! I'll spare them. If you dare to take one more step, I will immediately order the guards to chop off their heads!"

This threat was obviously effective. Xi Xizhi stopped and, in fact, she could no longer move due to the pain in her front leg.

An Honghan hastily approached and picked her up, extending his finger to touch her injured leg. As soon as he touched it, she let out a shrill scream of pain...

An Honghan withdrew his finger, gently squeezing her instead.

"You know it hurts, and you still run around recklessly. Do you not want this leg anymore?" An Honghan spoke weakly, moving very carefully to avoid touching her wounded leg.