She remained silent, and soon Xie Qinzhou explained to Zhi Yao.
"They want to annihilate the Fox Clan and seize the last remnants of the foxes' spiritual power. And your mother, as a Nine-Tailed Red Fox, is the most esteemed and powerful being in the entire Fox Clan."
At this point, Xie Qinzhou sighed slowly. "Once your mother is conquered by the Wolf Tribe, coerced by them, it means that the dignity of our Fox Clan will be thoroughly trampled upon!"
Zhi Yao furrowed her brows and couldn't help but ask, "Then why don't you go and save my mother?"
If she remembered correctly, that red fox seemed to wish for her mother's death, claiming that she was a disgrace to the entire Fox Clan.
Why... were Xie Qinzhou's words completely opposite to hers?
Did this mean that someone was lying?
Zhi Yao's mind spun with a myriad of thoughts, but she remained composed on the surface.
Xie Qinzhou didn't expect Zhi Yao to ask such a question, he was a bit stunned, but then he smiled again, his smile teasing, "Do you think a fox can fight against wolves?"
And it's not just one wolf, it's a whole pack! An entire tribe!
"What do you want me to do then?" Zhi Yao couldn't quite grasp what Xie Qinzhou was trying to convey.
If Xie Qinzhou couldn't fight them, how could she?
"I just want to help you find your mother and let you know her situation," he resumed his gentle and refined demeanor. "Yao Yao, I'll show you a clear path, I can't fight against the Wolf Tribe, but there's someone who can."
"Pei Chiyao."
He uttered these three words softly. "You might as well tell Pei Chiyao, let him intervene to help you rescue your mother, what do you think?"
"Pei Chiyao's status and position are unmatched throughout the entire country. If he applies pressure on the Wolf Tribe, they will naturally be wary. They fear no creature, only humans."
By then, when Pei Chiyao and the Wolf Tribe are both weakened, he can reap the benefits.
In the fox's eyes beneath the golden frame of his glasses, there seemed to be a glimmer of light, faintly discernible.
Zhi Yao was slightly startled. Pei Chiyao?
Seeing Zhi Yao hesitating, Xie Qinzhou continued to coax patiently, "Don't worry, they dare not touch Pei Chiyao. They don't have the courage to confront humans directly!"
Zhi Yao had been silent all along, and seeing this, Xie Qinzhou remained patient. "Come with me."
He beckoned to Zhi Yao, who stood up and walked to Xie Qinzhou's side. "Look."
Xie Qinzhou did something she didn't know, lightly pressing, and the partition that was originally a wall suddenly turned into a transparent window. Zhi Yao immediately saw her long-awaited mother!
Her mother was still so beautiful... but much more haggard.
She tightly held her hand, and in her ears was Xie Qinzhou's voice, with a hint of bewitching intent. "Look, your mother has become haggard. If she continues to stay with the Wolf Tribe, she will only become weaker and weaker, and may even die... Zhi Yao, can you bear it?"
Zhi Yao took a deep breath, suppressing the immediate urge to rush over and acknowledge her mother, and shook her head hastily. "I can't bear it."
Xie Qinzhou smirked, thinking Zhi Yao had agreed, but to his surprise, Zhi Yao changed the subject, "But this is originally a matter between us and the Wolf Tribe. Why should Pei Chiyao be involved? He isn't obligated to help me save my mother."
The young girl's gaze was resolute, "I will save my mother myself."
Mother, wait for me.
You must wait for me.
Zhi Yao secretly vowed that she would work hard to become stronger, but before that... she only hoped her mother could hold on.
Perhaps it was the fox's innate sharp intuition, but Zhi Yao didn't think that tall, handsome man would harm her mother.
Because... she recognized that gaze too well.
She had seen it in Pei Chiyao's eyes, and she believed that only two people in the world wouldn't hurt her.
That's her mother and Pei Chiyao.
So, she had reason to believe that person wouldn't hurt her mother either.
Xie Qinzhou's expression froze, not expecting Zhi Yao to say such words.
Wasn't Zhi Yao supposed to be naive and foolish, unlike a fox? How come she wasn't fooled by him?
But soon, Xie Qinzhou regained his composure.
Very well, this makes things even more interesting.
"Mr. Xie, Pei Chiyao is waiting for me, I'll leave first."
She glanced deeply, infatuated, at her mother, then turned and briskly left.
She had lingered here long enough; Pei Chiyao would worry if he couldn't find her.
As she turned away, tears welled up in Zhi Yao's eyes; she didn't want to leave her mother... but she couldn't go over there right now.
If the Wolf Tribe killed her, her mother would suffer even more.
She couldn't throw her life away in vain.
With a crestfallen expression, Zhi Yao left the place, feeling like her heart had been ripped out, hurting badly.
Just as she was about to enter the banquet hall, before she even stepped in, Zhi Yao heard Xie Tingyan's wailing.
"Brother Yao!! Brother Yao, spare me, I really don't know where Zhi Yao went, I didn't mean to! I just went a few steps away to take a call, and when I turned back, she was gone!"
Xie Tingyan cried out in fear; he didn't want Pei Chiyao to send him to Myanmar to work!
He cried out, "Zhi Yao, my dear Zhi Yao! Where did you go!! Good girl Zhi Yao, you've made me miserable!"
"Shut up!"
Pei Chiyao's voice carried a frosty tone, "Xie Tingyan, if anything happens to Zhi Yao, you know the consequences."
It wouldn't be as simple as death.
It would be worse than death.
Zhi Yao hurried over, "I'm here."
When her voice reached Xie Tingyan's ears, it was as if he heard a celestial melody.
Have you ever seen an angel?
Xie Tingyan had, at this moment.
He turned incredulously, and when he saw Zhi Yao's figure, Xie Tingyan wanted to rush over, grab Zhi Yao's thigh, and cry his heart out.
Her eyes were red; Pei Chiyao could tell Zhi Yao had been crying.
His gaze lingered on Zhi Yao's arm, where there was also a red mark, seemingly left by someone pulling her forcefully.
"Miss, my miss, where did you go!" Xie Tingyan finally put his heart back in his chest, "Didn't I tell you not to run around?"
Zhi Yao knew she had wronged Xie Tingyan. "I'm sorry, I met someone and had to leave with him without informing you," she said apologetically.
Seeing Zhi Yao unscathed, Xie Tingyan's heart finally settled. "As long as you're okay, there's no need to apologize to me," he replied.
He didn't deserve her.
"Get lost," Pei Chiyao glanced at Xie Tingyan, who immediately shut up, knowing he was unnecessary at this moment.
He swiftly fled the scene, fearing Pei Chiyao would hold him accountable.
Pei Chiyao silently stared at Zhi Yao for a while before speaking, "Did you meet Xie Qinzhou?"
He smelled the same as always, unpleasant.
Upon seeing Pei Chiyao, Zhi Yao felt a surge of bitterness, as if she had finally found a place to release her pent-up emotions.
She sniffled, trying to hold back her tears, but they burst forth anyway.
She threw herself into Pei Chiyao's arms like a little bomb, causing him to step back from her force.
The young girl cried bitterly, "Pei...Pei Chiyao... you were right... sob... that Xie... Xie Qinzhou, he's a bad person!"
