Chapter 94 Want it? Not a Chance

Her eyes, innocent as a fawn’s, brimmed with confusion.

Both of them were momentarily stunned.

Yan Xu hesitated, glancing at Ye Ling. Ye Ling gave a small smile, nudged Yan Xu’s arm, and whispered, “Watch me.”

Ye Ling and Yan Xu exchanged a look. Then Ye Ling stepped forward, adopting a gentle, coaxing tone she might use with a child. Smiling, she asked, “Little one, was it you who took a small creature from the woods outside last time? Could you tell me where it is? Or perhaps, would you give that little creature to me?”

Children could be persuaded with a few kind words—there was no need for force.

Ji Tianxin blinked, seemingly at a loss.

Yet from behind, Duan Zi sensed something was off. This sounded suspiciously like a ploy to deceive and abduct a child. Was her fairy-like little sister about to be tricked?

Duan Zi had taken an immediate liking to this fairy sister who had just saved her—she was her benefactor, after all! Her older brother, the Crown Prince, had always taught her to repay kindness.

She tried to get up to issue a warning, but as soon as she moved, Yan Xu struck her down with a burst of energy, sealing her voice and rendering her immobile.

They really are villains, just as she’d feared—they want to trick this little sister!

Yan Xu glanced at Duan Zi, his lips curving in a smirk, then shifted his gaze back to Ji Tianxin.

Ji Tianxin mulled over their words. The woods? A little creature?

“You mean Shiyue?” Ji Tianxin realized what they were after.

Ye Ling and Yan Xu exchanged glances. Shiyue?

Could that be the name she’d given the creature?

“That’s right, little one. Could you give it to me? It’s very fierce—it might even eat people,” Ye Ling persisted with a smile.

“Oh, Shiyue,” Ji Tianxin replied, now understanding.

Ye Ling felt a surge of hope.

“No,” Ji Tianxin replied, crisp and clear.

Ye Ling: “…”

Yan Xu: “…”

Ji Tianxin’s voice was calm. “If you’d asked before, I would have given it to you. But not now.”

Back in the woods, if they’d asked, she would have handed it over. But now, it was impossible.

“Why?” Ye Ling blurted out, her expression changing as the smile faded from her face.

Ji Tianxin looked at her, enunciating each word with deliberation: “Because its surname is Ji.”

Ye Ling frowned. “Little girl, I don’t know what nonsense you’re spouting, but you should understand what we want. Keeping that creature with you isn’t wise—it might bring you trouble.”

Yan Xu stepped forward as well, his tone now grave. “That’s right, little one. That thing is no good. Keeping it with you will only bring danger.”

Ji Tianxin had always lived by a single principle: she would only give away what she wished to give.

If she didn’t want to give something, no one could force it from her.

In fact, she was used to giving things on her own terms. To force her hand was to invite trouble.

The former depended on her mood.

The latter—she’d fight for it.

“No,” Ji Tianxin repeated, her voice slow and languid, a faint crease forming between her brows.

“Listen to me, little one,” Ye Ling threatened in a low voice, “tell me where the creature is and hand it over. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being unkind.”

She had no real intention of hurting the child, but sometimes children needed to be threatened into obedience. Besides, they absolutely had to learn the whereabouts of that fierce beast.