"Let go? Why wouldn't I let go?" Hearing Chu Lian's words, Qu Ningmeng released her arms from around Chu Lian's neck, leapt down from her embrace to the ground, and looked at the several unconscious men ahead with disgust. "What a bunch of annoying people."
"I know you dislike men, but could you not make it so obvious?" Chu Lian rubbed her forehead. She didn't even feel like saying much more. If the girl hated men this much, she shouldn't have put herself in such a situation in the first place.
She could already imagine it—if she had hesitated even a moment longer, this girl would have truly fallen to her death. Aside from that aura, she had no abilities at all.
With her fragile body, there was no way she could withstand the impact of falling from the eighth floor. If she had hit the ground, it would have been certain death.
"Alright, progress is at 1%, and I even got to see more interesting things. Totally worth it this time." She clapped her hands, turned around, smiled at Chu Lian as she said this, then walked to the railing. Leaning back against it, she suddenly jumped backward.
This time, Chu Lian didn't move to save her. She simply shook her head and sighed. "Looks like I worried too much. Even if I hadn't saved her, she wouldn't have died. There's someone protecting her—I just didn't notice."
As she spoke, she walked to the railing and looked down. Not seeing any trace of the girl, she knew she had been taken away.
With Qu Ningmeng gone, Chu Lian let out a breath of relief. There was no need to keep hiding so much anymore, nor worry about being interrupted by her.
"That girl is very unusual," Inori said as she walked to Chu Lian's side, glancing below.
"Yeah. We'll probably have more chances to interact with her in the future. For now, we don't know if she's an enemy or a friend. Let's leave it at that. We won't approach her—let her come to us instead." Chu Lian nodded. She had a feeling that the girl's purpose wasn't simple.
She had a premonition that the girl's ultimate goal might not only involve her, but also things she hadn't yet considered.
"Someone very strong just came," Hiyori, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. Her words further confirmed Chu Lian's suspicions.
"But we can defeat her." Kurosaki Satsuki shared the same keen perception as Hiyori. She believed that if she and Hiyori joined forces, they would definitely win against that powerful presence.
"Let's not worry about that for now. Whether we can win is something for later. There's no need to have any contact with her yet. We'll wait until her true intentions are revealed." Chu Lian shook her head. Seeing Chu Chu hang up her phone and walk over, she asked, "Can we leave now?"
"Yeah. Mother said she'll handle things here. The location's already been confirmed—special police will arrive in three minutes to take these people away. Their identities and backgrounds will be thoroughly investigated. No matter who they are, they won't be let off."
When Chu Chu got serious, she was quite reliable. After saying this, she looked around and asked, "Big Sis, that strange Qu Ningmeng is gone?"
"She's gone. We should leave too." Chu Lian didn't want to dwell on the topic. Her thoughts had long been tied to Li Xiu'er.
With that, she frowned slightly, took Inori's small hand, and left first.
"Big Sis, wait for me~" Seeing this, Chu Chu stopped walking and surrounded herself with a ring of lightning, quickly chasing after them.
Kurosaki Satsuki and Hiyori cast one last deep glance at the men before following and leaving as well.
"Hey, are we really okay doing this? If we get dragged into the station, it's going to be a huge hassle. And it's even being personally handled by that person from the Chu family—I think we're done for."
"Shut up, you bitch! If it weren't for you, would we have ended up like this?!"
"Tch, wasn't it just a failed night raid? If it had succeeded, she'd be mine. Why wouldn't I try?"
"Just shut up already, you shameless woman. All you think about all day is throwing yourself at the young lady. What else can you even do?"
"I can even get myself off right in front of you guys. Wouldn't that be a great show?"
"Is there anything in your head besides that kind of stuff?"
"What's the point of living if you don't indulge a little? I've trained this body so hard just to take down the young lady!"
"Shut up!"
"Hey, hey, why are all of you ganging up on me? You've all seen my body before—don't tell me I'm not beautiful?"
"Who would be interested in a slut like you? We all belong to the young lady. We'll only ever be part of her harem. No need to look at a shameless woman like you."
"Tsk tsk, you're just jealous of my bigger chest, aren't you? Figures. All of you are just underdeveloped little girls. How could you compare to me?"
"Shut up, shut up, shut up! You fourteen-year-old with the body of a twenty-year-old hag—just shut up already! Looking at your overgrown body is just pathetic."
"Oh? You're jealous because I developed early? Sure, I matured a bit fast, but at least I'm better than you girls who are already fifteen or sixteen and still look like you're eleven or twelve. I wonder if you'll have to live your whole lives with those flat figures. How pitiful."
"Ahhh! You bitch, you slut—shut up!"
After Chu Lian and the others left, the four burly men who had been tied up all opened their eyes. The voices that came out of their mouths were no longer deep male voices, but crisp, bell-like voices of young girls.
Yet hearing such tones from bodies like theirs—and the suggestive content of their words—created an extremely uncomfortable and bizarre impression.
"These are the ones. Take them away." Just as they were about to continue arguing, the rooftop door opened behind them. A squad of special police entered. The leader pointed at them and spoke sternly.
"It's all your fault, boss! Now we're doomed!" Seeing there was no escape, one of the "men" complained to the bald "leader."
Her complaint immediately sparked a wave of similar accusations from the others, nearly driving the bald "man" to the brink of losing control.
Unfortunately, at this point, they had no choice but to be taken away. Hopefully, they would find a way to get out this time.
"What a strange group of people." Holding Inori's small hand with one hand as she leapt across the high-rise buildings, Chu Lian held a crystal in the other, listening to the voices coming from it. A faint smile appeared on her lips—she already had a few guesses.
"Lian?" Inori looked at Chu Lian curiously, puzzled by her smile.
"Nothing. Just encountered something very interesting. You'll understand why I'm smiling once you see it for yourself someday." Some things were only amusing when experienced firsthand—explaining them would ruin the effect.
"Mm." Inori didn't press further. She nodded obediently, feeling the warmth from Chu Lian's hand holding hers, her mood brightening. "Having you by my side, Lian, is really nice."
"I always get the feeling Big Sis is scheming against someone. That person is really pitiful. Even though Big Sis can be a bit clumsy sometimes, once she actually starts thinking seriously, that cunning side of hers comes out—it can absolutely make countless people wish they were dead."
"Hmm? Chu Chu, why do I feel like you're talking bad about me? Am I being too suspicious?" Chu Lian put away the crystal and turned back with a smiling expression as she asked.
"Ah! That must be Big Sis overthinking! How could I possibly speak ill of Big Sis? I love Big Sis too much for that—why would I say anything bad about you?"
Of course, Chu Chu wouldn't admit she had been muttering under her breath. Seeing that Chu Lian still looked unconvinced, she immediately swore an oath. "If I said anything just now, may I be struck by five bolts of lightning from the heavens!"
"So you're admitting you were talking bad about me, Chu Chu." Chu Lian's gaze darkened instantly. She glanced at Chu Chu, then turned her head away, her voice gentle. "As someone who controls lightning, why would you be afraid of being struck by it? Heh... heh... Chu Chu, I don't have time to deal with you right now. But when we get home, just wait."
"Big Sis, I was wrong!" Chu Chu hadn't expected her little trick to be seen through so easily. There was no way to explain it now—she could only beg for forgiveness.
"Heh... Chu Chu, it seems it's been so long since I disciplined you that you've forgotten the house rules." Chu Lian's voice remained gentle, but upon hearing those words, Chu Chu felt that once the matter with Xiu'er was resolved, her doomsday would arrive.
Pfft... Watching from the side, Inori couldn't help but laugh. Lian and Chu Chu really had a great relationship. That kind of casual banter felt wonderful.
"We're here." Chu Chu looked at the standalone luxury mansion ahead and spoke softly, no longer joking around.
"We've arrived." Chu Lian stopped, released Inori's hand, and waited for the last two to catch up.
Standing so openly at the Li family's entrance, they were quickly noticed by the servants and guards. Two particularly arrogant-looking servants walked out, one of them glancing at Chu Lian and asking, "Here to cause trouble again?"
The other noticed Chu Chu and recognized her. "Well, well, isn't this that forty- or fifty-year-old auntie loli? Dressed so provocatively—out here selling yourself? Too bad I'm not interested in old women."
"Arrogant, insolent, vulgar, and uncultured. Slap them." Before Chu Chu could flare up, Chu Lian's brows knit together slightly. She gave a light command.
Tina, who had been sleeping atop Chu Chu's ample chest, vanished the moment Chu Lian spoke. Before the two servants could react, the sound of a bell rang, and their faces were struck by a heavy slap from the small girl.
"Wah!" The two of them tumbled to the ground one after the other, clutching their rapidly swelling cheeks and wailing. The commotion quickly alerted more people deeper within the Li family.
Seeing Tina—now in her blue maid outfit—strike first, the surrounding servants and guards immediately shouted in anger. "How dare you cause trouble at the Li family?! Are you tired of living?! Men, seize these insolent rabble at once!"
"Do these people not understand the situation? Our advantage is so obvious. These people who aren't even at the Human level—how dare they act so arrogantly?" Chu Lian frowned at the abnormal behavior. Was this really a great family, not some retarded family?
"Big Sis, these people seem almost possessed. They stubbornly believe their Li family is the greatest in the world, and anyone who offends them must die. I don't know where their confidence comes from, but it's really annoying," Chu Chu whispered into Chu Lian's ear after calming down.
"Something's not right. I feel like there's a reason behind this that we don't know. Anyone with a functioning brain should be able to assess the situation—they shouldn't be acting this recklessly." Chu Lian frowned. There was definitely more to this.
"Who dares cause trouble at the Li family?!" Just as the white-haired girl and Hiyori arrived, an angry roar came from within the estate, making Chu Lian and the others exchange glances. Was this some cliché third-rate villain scene?
As they wondered, the gates opened. The burly man who stepped out left them momentarily stunned.
"May I ask, sir—are you perhaps the legendary hero Li Kui?" Looking at the bearded, dark-skinned, nearly two-meter-tall, powerfully built man, Chu Lian suddenly asked.
"Ah! You actually know my name? Seems you're a fellow hero! State your name—I never kill the nameless!" The man, who believed himself to be Li Kui, became interested upon being "recognized" and played along convincingly.
"Me? I am none other than Xiang Yu, the Overlord of Western Chu. Surely you've heard of my name!" Seeing his reaction, Chu Lian responded in kind.
"Bah! You little girl sure have a loose tongue! How could a figure like Xiang Yu—who could lift a cauldron with sheer strength—be compared to a scrawny girl like you? Are you mocking me for being uneducated?!"
Hearing her declaration, "Li Kui" immediately grew angry. He drew a pair of axes from behind his back and shouted, "If you don't state your real name, I'll take your head with one swing and use it to flavor my wine!"
"I already said I'm Xiang Yu. Why won't you believe me?" Chu Lian sighed and shook her head. She was telling the truth, yet the other party thought she was lying.
"Bah! You dare call yourself Xiang Yu? If you really are, then let me see your strength! Don't collapse under just a couple of my axe strikes!" Enraged by what he saw as nonsense, "Li Kui" charged forward, swinging his axes, completely ignoring the small cat-eared maid standing before him.
"You bastard, meow!" Having been ignored the entire time, Tina became furious—and the consequences were severe. She had no intention of letting this so-called "Li Kui" pass. Raising her small fist, she delivered a powerful punch straight into his abdomen.
"Y-you..." Only after being struck did he seem to notice Tina. Seeing her cat ears and her long white hair, he stammered before suddenly coughing up a large mouthful of blood. "What kind of monster is this?! Heaven has abandoned me!"
After saying that, the axes slipped from his hands, and his body collapsed to the ground. Moments later, it faded into a shadow and disappeared.
"This..." The scene caused everyone's expressions to grow serious. The Li family was definitely not simple!