Chapter 8 – Scared Stiff

Just you wait, stinky brat, Wang Shi thought to herself. Once we get our hands on all your food, I’ll make sure to give you a proper beating.

Wang Shi’s husband saw her expression and instantly knew what she was planning—after all, she had tricked little girls like this before.

He quickly stepped forward. “Little girl, don’t be afraid. We’re not bad people.”

Xin’er finished the apple in her hand and calmly said, “Scram.”

Wang Shi was so angry she almost stepped forward to hit her, but she didn’t dare.

Since they were all headed toward the capital anyway, Xin’er kept following from a distance. But finding them annoying, she decided to walk ahead on her own.

She began tidying up her bundle and dusted off her clothes. “Ah Da, let’s go.”

Seeing that Xin’er was leaving, Wang Shi panicked and stepped in front of her.

“Little girl, you can’t leave!”

Her son ran over too, shouting loudly, “Filthy brat! Leave your food and don’t even think about leaving!”

Over a dozen people surrounded Xin’er, their faces twisted with greed and malice.

Wang Shi smiled and said, “We tried asking nicely, but you didn’t listen. So just leave your things behind. We might let you live. Otherwise, once we catch you, we’ll sell you off!”

Xin’er stood her ground and reached out to pat Ah Da on the head.

Wang Shi looked at the wolf and sneered. “Don’t think we won’t do anything just because you’ve got a wolf! We’ve got so many people—it’ll be easy to kill it.”

Xin’er spoke gently to Ah Da, “What if they really try to kill you?”

Ah Da’s eyes turned fierce, glaring at the group.

Wang Shi’s son clapped and cheered. “Great! Kill the wolf and we’ll have wolf meat to eat!”

Go ahead, Ah Da. Show them you’re not to be messed with.

Ah Da let out a chilling howl and gracefully approached the group.

Though the dozen or so people were a bit nervous, they didn’t believe one wolf could take on so many of them.

There were plenty of other travelers on the road watching from a distance, curious but unwilling to step in to help a lone little girl.

Among the group, some held sticks, others hoes or knives.

Of the dozen people, eight or nine were full-grown men—tall and strong—so they weren’t scared.

Wang Shi’s husband, wielding a large cleaver, was the first to charge. The blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

It looked like the cleaver was about to strike Ah Da’s neck.

Some of the onlookers smirked with satisfaction. Wang Shi’s son yelled, “Good job, Dad! Kill it!”

But before the blade could land, Ah Da sprang up, and with a flash of white light, his massive paw slashed across the man’s face.

The man howled in pain and dropped his cleaver.

He fell to the ground, writhing in agony. Three deep claw marks ran across his face—some even exposing bone.

The others froze on the spot, stunned and unable to move.

Wang Shi screamed and rushed over, finding her husband rolling on the ground in pain.

All she could do was sit there and cry.

Ah Da glanced at the others, then suddenly charged. Only then did the rest react, breaking into a frantic run.

But how could two legs outrun four?

Soon, the air was filled with screams and wailing.

Wang Shi’s youngest son had long since collapsed in terror. A dark stain spread across his pants as yellow liquid trickled down.

The bystanders had already scattered in fear. Only Ah Da remained, chasing down the fleeing attackers.

Xin’er watched calmly as Ah Da toyed with them like a cat playing with mice. She laughed gleefully.
“Good job, Ah Da!”

The old woman, seeing her son’s injuries, was beside herself with grief.
“You little slut!” she shrieked. “You dare kill people?! I’m going to report you! You murderer!”

Xin’er rolled her eyes and sat on a rock, eating a bun.

The others—Wang Shi’s remaining sons and nephews—had all been bitten and were lying on the ground.

Two of them weren’t even moving—whether dead or alive, it was unclear.

The old woman sat wailing on the ground, slapping her thighs.
“Someone help us! Please, help us!”

Her little grandson, meanwhile, had been scared senseless. His mind snapped—he stood there drooling and giggling idiotically, eyes blank.

Ah Da slowly walked up to the old woman and tilted his head, his blood-red eyes fixed on her.

The old woman clamped her mouth shut, not daring to breathe, her forehead drenched in sweat.

A moment later, Ah Da’s nose twitched—he smelled urine in the air.