The gang leader instantly seized Zhuzhu’s arm, yanking her roughly into his grip.
His hand clamped tightly around her throat, while the cold tip of his weapon pressed hard against her temple.
Cold sweat drenched her whole body; her breath came in short, helpless gasps.
“Tell me!
What do you want?!” the mysterious girl’s voice trembled, barely holding back her rage.
“Plenty of reasons!” the man laughed cruelly.
“Show your true face, oh mysterious hero!
Or I’ll shoot this girl right now!” The girl took a slow, steady breath.
“Very well… Release her, and I will surrender myself to you.” “You think I’m stupid?!” he sneered.
“Seize her!
Bind her — then kill them both!” Slowly, the girl stepped into the moonlight.
Her strikingly beautiful face came into view — dust-streaked and worn, as if she had just emerged from a place hidden for a thousand years.
Her white-and-green Hanfu robes were tattered, covered in dust.
“You broke your promise to let her go…” Her gaze turned sharp as ice.
“Hahaha!
She’s already in my grasp!
I hold all the power!” Suddenly, a soft yet clear voice echoed directly inside Zhuzhu’s mind — as if whispering right beside her ear: “Rise, Xixi… You can fight them.
You are not weak.” Zhuzhu froze.
Who is Xixi?
But the voice felt so powerful — like it came from the very depths of her own soul.
Slowly, courage flooded her.
With every ounce of strength left, she drove the heel of her shoe hard into the man’s instep — and sank her teeth into the arm choking her throat!
“ARGH!
THAT HURTS!” The moment his grip loosened, Zhuzhu broke free and ran.
The man roared in pain, then raised his weapon, aiming straight at her fleeing back.
“DIE!” The mysterious girl’s eyes widened in horror.
Her face went pale — memories from a thousand years ago flashed before her eyes: the moment she failed to save her sister.
No!
This must not happen again!
Without a single second of hesitation, she sprinted forward and threw herself in front of Zhuzhu, wrapping her arms around her as a human shield.
BANG!
The bullet struck her arm.
It was only a graze, yet fresh blood flowed freely.
Zhuzhu felt the warmth of that embrace — exactly like the arms of her own kin, a longing she had never known yet felt hauntingly familiar.
The girl pulled away slowly.
Pressing her right hand firmly against the wound on her left arm to stop the bleeding, her eyes blazed with cold fury as she stared the man down.
Unable to use one hand, she channeled all her strength into her legs — kicking an empty can nearby with all her might.
It slammed into the man’s temple like a stone, knocking him instantly unconscious to the ground.
Seeing their leader fall, his two remaining accomplices fled in terror, vanishing into the darkness.