Nonsense! How could my adopted son be a villain?

A sharp beak swooped down at Xu Lingguang, who gripped the Jade Unicorn's Toe tightly, waiting for it to unleash a burst of golden light and deflect the four hooks—

But even faster was the sudden burst of white flames.

Xu Lingguang felt a heat on his body, followed by Jie Gou's sharp scream.

He assumed it was the Jade Unicorn's Toe that had worked, and when he looked up, he saw four hooks surrounded by white flames, rolling miserably on the ground, their massive bodies crushing the trees along the way.

The white flames did not ignite the trees, but burned only on these hooks.

Xu Lingguang looked blankly at his hand, where a trace of white flame remained. The flame was not hot; he could only feel a slight warmth.

Xu Lingguang flicked his fingers lightly, and the flames dissipated.

He looked surprised. Where did the flames come from?

However, he had no time to think. The four hooks had already turned to ashes under the burning white flames, and the cries of the hooks could be heard from afar.

Xu Lingguang glanced at it, not daring to linger, and gathered his strength to head into the dense forest.

He needed to check first to see if Sangzhi had left safely.

However, when he arrived, he saw that the huge white flower was still standing in the same place, and the mulberry branch was kneeling in front of it with its head bowed, and white flames were floating in the air.

It was the white flame that had just saved Xu Lingguang's life.

Xu Lingguang hesitated and stopped. He didn't dare to approach the white roots rashly. He looked at the little cub that was hanging its head and not moving: "Mulberry branch?"

When the mulberry branch twitched, its white roots moved as well.

It slowly curls and unfolds around the mulberry branch.

A bad feeling crept into Xu Lingguang's mind, and he raised his voice a little higher: "Sangzhi, can you hear me?"

This time, Sangzhi reacted. He turned to look at Xu Lingguang, his eyes dark and deep, unlike the gaze of a child.

Xu Lingguang stopped in his tracks.

Just then, the rustling sound of the hooks jumping came from the woods. The remaining hooks, probably sensing the death of the lead bird, turned back one after another.

Xu Lingguang glanced back and saw that the returning Jie Gou was less than a hundred meters away.

He didn't care about anything else and rushed forward to grab Sangzhi's arm: "Jiegou is back, we have to leave quickly."

He casually grabbed a thin white root, not forgetting that he needed to bring back the antidote materials for Sang Quan and the others.

Sangzhi noticed his stealthy movements, her eyes crinkled slightly, and a message appeared in her otherwise empty gaze.

He grabbed Xu Lingguang's arm, nuzzled his cheek against it affectionately, and said, "Brother Lingguang, don't be afraid, it's all over."

Xu Lingguang was taken aback and looked at him in surprise.

Sangzhi smiled at him, and Xu Lingguang saw the white roots curl up, and white flames spread from the roots to the entire forest.

In an instant, Fengqiu was engulfed in a white sea of ​​fire.

The pursuing hooks screamed as they turned to ashes in the sea of ​​fire.

Sangzhi looked up at Xu Lingguang and said, "I wish I could really meet Brother Lingguang."

Xu Lingguang vaguely realized something, but refused to believe it: "What do you mean?"

Sangzhi took his hand and said, "I'll take you to see the mulberry spring and the red fruit."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Lingguang found himself in a dark tree hollow.

Sang Quan sat leaning against the tree trunk, holding a red fruit. His body was withered and had been dead for a long time.

Xu Lingguang's eyes widened. He went forward to check and found that Sang Quan and Hong Guo had both died from poisoning.

"How could this be?"

Sangzhi squatted down beside him, saying, "I came back too late; they were already dead."

His head rested against Xu Lingguang's body, and his two gray-brown ears, which had turned white at some point, drooped limply.

"But it was clearly clear before..."

Xu Lingguang stopped mid-sentence, realizing something: "It's an illusion?"

"To be precise, it's my memory."

Seeing the confusion in his eyes, Sangzhi stood up and pressed her forehead against his: "You'll know after you watch it."

Xu Lingguang saw Sangzhi's memories.

It is a memory without his existence.

The tiny cub struggled to survive alone in Fengqiu, and without Xu Lingguang's protection, he nearly died several times.

But whether it was good or bad luck, when he was about to die, he encountered the "God of Fengqiu," who was also weak and about to die.

The white tree roots were swallowed by the nearly starving cubs.

He was cured of the poison and inherited the memories of the God of Fengqiu. Overjoyed, he went back to his people to tell them that they were saved, that he could cure the poison from the great god, and that he had a way to drive Jie Gou out of Fengqiu.

But when he returned to Sangjiazhuang in high spirits, he only saw corpses all over the ground and a letter of apology left by the clan chief.

He was very observant and noticed that the number of people was incorrect. Taking a chance, he found the tree hole and discovered the bodies of Sang Quan and Hong Guo.

Sang Quan and Hong Guo had just breathed their last, their bodies were not even cold yet.

If he had come sooner, he might have been able to save them.

But there are no ifs.

Anger and sorrow filled the little cub's heart. With the determination to perish together with the enemy, Sangzhi returned to Fengqiu, lit a great fire, and perished together with all the Jiegou.

“I met Him too late. The hooks devoured Him, and He escaped with only a small root.”

The mulberry branch stretched out its hand, and its fingers turned into white roots.

Xu Lingguang was speechless for a moment. The mulberry branch in front of him was no longer that lonely and helpless cub.

"Is it really the god of Fengqiu?"

Sangzhi shook her head: "Yes and no."

"It formed a pact with our clan and lived together. It protected Fengqiu and ensured peace, while my ancestors were responsible for offering sacrifices and sustenance. However, many years ago, some clansmen succumbed to temptation and blasphemed the god, stealing its power. The reason we have become like this is because our ancestors stole its power."

"It was seriously injured and burrowed underground to recuperate, but its people thought that the gods had abandoned them. Fearful and terrified, they chose to flee Fengqiu."

"But it is not actually a god, nor does it have joy or anger. The reason why our clan was chosen is because we are the only clan in Fengqiu with a gentle nature, willing to form a pact with it and live together."

So what exactly is it?

"According to your human race's terminology, it should be called Tai Sui."