"Alright then, let me ask you a few questions." After that,
To both
Under these circumstances, never mind Xian Miaomiao — even Chu Feng was ecstatic. After searching with nothing to show for it, they had finally caught sight of hope. It was that feeling of having reached a dead end, only to discover a willow-shaded path leading to another village.
After that, Chu Feng and Xian Miaomiao had Little Red guide the way, and they hurried toward the Ancient Immortal Flower's location at full speed.
However, after an entire day of traveling, Chu Feng's expression suddenly changed. His gaze grew complicated, and he abruptly halted in his tracks.
He turned to look at Little Red and asked, "Little Red, tell me the truth — did you lie to us?"
"Huh? Master, what are you saying? I'm such a well-behaved little thing, how could I ever lie to you?" Upon hearing this, Little Red immediately grew flustered.
"Up ahead isn't the Ancient Immortal Flower's location at all — it's where your clan lives, isn't it?" Chu Feng said.
"Little Red, is what Chu Feng said correct?" At this, Xian Miaomiao's brows knitted together in anger, for this matter was of the utmost importance.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry, alright? I just… I missed home. I wanted to see my family before we went to find the Ancient Immortal Flower." Seeing that the jig was up, Little Red spoke in a pitiful, aggrieved tone.
"Little Red, you little rascal — how dare you deceive me! Just wait till I teach you a lesson." With that, Xian Miaomiao was about to strike, ready to give Little Red a thorough punishment.
"Miaomiao, stop." Yet this time, Chu Feng reached out and actually held Xian Miaomiao back.
In that moment, not only was Xian Miaomiao surprised — she couldn't understand why Chu Feng was stopping her. After all, Little Red had deceived them, and that was extremely detrimental to both Chu Feng and Xian Miaomiao.
As for Little Red, it was even more astonished, staring at Chu Feng with a look of utter disbelief, its eyes filled with confusion. It couldn't fathom why Chu Feng had suddenly taken its side — even it knew that being caught in a lie was a dangerous situation.
"Little Red, brace yourself," Chu Feng said.
"Master, what are you talking about?" Little Red was even more confused.
"Your family is gone," Chu Feng said.
"What?" At these words, Xian Miaomiao's beautiful eyes flickered, as though she had grasped something.
"Master, what are you saying? I don't understand…" Little Red remained bewildered.
"Go see for yourself." Chu Feng freed Little Red from Xian Miaomiao's grip and released it. At this point, he wasn't afraid of it running away.
The moment it was freed, Little Red shot forward like a bolt. Seeing this — and having put two and two together — Xian Miaomiao hurriedly followed after it, and Chu Feng trailed closely behind.
All three moved at tremendous speed, racing forward until they quickly arrived at Little Red's home.
It was a small plain — this should have been the home of the Imperial Spirit Bugs.
Originally, complex tunnel networks should have been built here, for thousands of Imperial Spirit Bugs had once lived in this place.
But now, everything had been destroyed. The plain had been reduced to an enormous crater.
And inside that crater, as well as along its edges, lay several dead bugs. They had withered and dried out, their original forms impossible to make out — but Chu Feng could sense that they hadn't been dead for long.
"No, no, no!!!!"