Yung could only sigh. He hated it when people close to him kept secrets on important matters. He hated it more that he was doing the same.

Came Silky's worried cry. The critter seemed to understand what was going on. It cast worried looks towards the cave with tears barely held in.

Despite what he had said, Silky was a kind soul. In actuality, he did not want anything bad to happen to his flock. Even if they did betray him, even if… they were no longer the same flock.

I understand Silky. I promised to get your flock back. I will do it one way or another.

Yung must go. He should go. But Nyanya hadn’t convinced him. He knew he should not be so political in analysing his girlfriend and best friend’s emotional pleas, but he feared death too much to ignore his own feelings.

Yung said.

Nyanya smiled, but then frowned. Yung wasn’t finished.

<... We feel like that manner of cutesy complaining suits us more.>

So the voidfiend outbreak that happened when I was two… these bastards did it! So they are planning something again within Dim Gold City?

Yung looked at Nyanya with complicated feelings. He tried to remember his own parents but only got back the sorrow of his grandfather, and even Ziyou Maque’s destitute smile when he had talked about his departed wife.

Yung’s love for his Nyanya just grew, but so did his apprehension.

It felt like he was being forced to make a choice he did not want to. Even now, Yung could not get over this visceral feeling of denial that came from his very soul.

That he did not ever want to set foot upon some unknown place of danger, without absolute protection that he would be alive.

After all, he did not want to die!

And in this world, any random Qi-infused thing could murder him because of some ridiculous dao aspect it possessed. Nothing, not even the heavens and fate itself, could guarantee his life.

Absolute protection was an impossibility. Period.

…other than maybe cuddling with his girlfriend in a very safe hotel suite, guarded by cultivators from the richest clan on the whole plane.

At least he would be safe for the moment!

Su Nanya growled, then booped him on the belly with her giant foxy snout.

Yung gulped. He knew she was right.

Su Nanya continued with a stern but uncertain glare,

Yung hollered.

The giant vixen whined.

I... okay, Yung, admit it… she’s right. Dammit! Yung let out a long exhale. He had been living a dream until now. A safe dream, with a safe house, a safe pet, and a safe girlfriend.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

But the world wasn’t safe. He couldn’t stay the way he was. Because if Nyanya and Miss Maid weren’t here, a monster like the Wretched Emissary could murder the whole Dim Gold City, and no one could do anything.

He would have to get stronger. No ifs, elses, or buts.

Not stronger so he could plunder what others had, but strong enough to protect what belonged to him. His peaceful dreams and second chance at life.

For now, he had a rich and all-powerful girlfriend. She promised to keep him safe. Yung had no false sense of machismo, he was completely happy to let her be the provider, the protector.

But during the night of the sect recruitments, after their date, she had to leave. And within that small window, Yung encountered the heinous Divine Hawk gang.

Yes, Yung’s Heart qi and Empathic powers were a lucky cheat. And yes, Su Haochen was there too. But then, what if he wasn’t, like right now? It seems like he was busy dealing with the cultists back in Dim Gold City.

What if next time, there was a Divine Tiger or Divine Dragon gang, and they were not brainless thugs? What if they were in the Unfolding Heaven realms?

What if Nyanya, Miss Maid, and Su Haochen’s ninja party were simultaneously busy? With no one there to protect him,

Yung would die.

What if Su Nanya’s mother really was a heartless queen towards people she had no interest in? After all, like mother, like daughter. What if the matriarch of the Su Fox clan didn’t want her daughter to give her love to a talentless madlander like him? Could she veto Nyanya’s order so Miss Maid and Su Haochen would no longer protect him in Nyanya’s absence?

If so,

Yung would die.

Unless he grew strong.

Unless he earned the matriarch's approval.

But it still hurt, hearing Nyanya say so openly that her love for him might still have such conditions attached.

The giant vixen dropped Yung before the barrier and pushed on his head with her massive paws. Gently.

Yung grumbled.

Young grumbled louder.

Yung didn’t grumble. He was just speechless.

Yung pleaded,

Yung closed his eyes. Su Nanya brought her snout closer to his ears and sniffed, the sound coming in like a whimper.

It was a plea.

Yung was a fool. He hugged her coat, this time with tender care.

She was afraid. She was all-powerful, but she was still beholden to others.

Yung had to be realistic. Maybe he could hoodwink her mother into treating him nicely. But what about the rest of the world that shared no blood ties with Su Nanya but still wished to possess her like a trophy?

Su Nanya was a political figure.

She was the most popular, most beautiful, and sexiest celebrity on the plane, with millions, perhaps billions of rabid ‘fans’ supporting her. If they ever found out that their ‘idol’ got a boyfriend, and they did this and that under the blanket, then….

Yung shivered.

Even on earth, politicians and celebrities had stern managers, PR teams, and an army of paparazzi wanting to get dirt on them.

If the boyfriend, in this case, wasn’t strong enough, both mentally and politically, maybe even economically, then bye-bye to life.

Yung wanted to respond to her plea. He needed to respond.

But! No, precisely because of that, I…

He opened his mouth—

“Wait! Young Yung! Honoured Fairy Su!”

A voice rang out.

It was Ziyou Maque, jumping through the legion of fiends with spears in his hands and blades at his back. Behind him were the cultivators from the Free Sparrow Gang, including his daughter Ling, each working in tandem like a well-oiled machine, cleaving apart any fiend that came close without mercy. And then, there was the Youjin Clansfolk, led by their elders and the stern young mistress, Youjin Chun, heading towards Yung and Su Nanya with grim resolve written on their faces.

They came near the cave entrance, blood and grime on their weapons but even more fighting spirit on their soul.

“You dare disobey me, insect? Is An Ping deaf?” One moment, Su Nanya had her whimpering snout resting on Yung’s shoulder; the next, she roared, her voice marred with outrage and killing intent. Her essence qi, usually so gentle and naughty under Yung’s playful touch, now felt ravenous enough to devour anything with life in it.

It was the pull of death, and it was aimed at the newcomers. To those who did not interest her, she could and would be crueller than any unjust calamity.

“These bastards are the ones who killed my wife, Ling’er’s mother.” Ziyou Maque did not back down. He took Nyanya’s raging aura head-on. The colour drained from his dark face, and blood leaked from his ears. But he stood firm, "Give me a chance to take their head, and you will gladly have mine after!”