Looking at Ji Dantong's cold gaze, alongside Xiao Tian's unchanged expression, Master Lv couldn't help but shiver.

Then he glanced at the more than twenty subordinates lying silently on the ground, life and death uncertain.

His heart filled with panic. He instantly thought of fleeing the place, yet his legs wouldn't listen to him.

"M-Master Ji, Master Xiao!"

Master Lv stuttered as he clasped his hands together, but before he could finish his words, the woman claiming to be a lady of the Ji Family interrupted, "I give you five minutes to take these useless subordinates away, or else you stay here forever!"

These words made Master Lv feel as if he was granted amnesty. He hurriedly got to work.

...

Once all the thugs were out of the room, the man lying on the ground slumped like mud, unable to even gather the strength to beg for mercy.

On the other side, after painstakingly explaining the situation to the little girl, Ji Dantong asked, "Have you thought it over?"

"There is only this one chance!" Ji Dantong said very seriously, "If you truly don't want to come with me from the bottom of your heart, then sister won't force you. Just hope you seriously consider it and give me an answer!"

The woman leaning against the wall patted her daughter on the head and smiled, "This is a good opportunity! Mom is happy for you. You should go with this sister. Mom and your sister will be waiting for you to come back!"

At this moment, Xuanxuan's little sister toddled to her sister's side, clutching her sleeve, "Sis, where are you going?"

Xuanxuan smiled and patted her sister's head, "Sister is going to a faraway place. It might take a long time to come back. Do you want sister to go?"

"How long is a long time?" Xuanxuan's sister asked innocently, "Is it a year?"

At this moment, Xuanxuan's mother pulled the sister over, "Sister is going to learn skills. When she returns, she will be very skilled and can buy you candies every day!"

"Okay!"

The sister laughed happily, clearly not understanding what 'a long time' means, saying, "Then you can go, sister. Remember to bring me candies when you come back."

Upon hearing her sister's words, Xuanxuan finally shed tears, "Once I'm gone, mom, how will you and sister manage?"

Xuanxuan had clearly heard the earlier scene from inside the house; if those people returned, it was obvious they wouldn't be able to defend themselves.

This question made Ji Dantong frown, then she solemnly stepped before Xuanxuan's mother, "Auntie, I can't take you all with me, but this is for you."

She took out a delicate jade bracelet from her pocket. Although its surface appeared rugged, the energy fluctuation it contained surprised Xiao Tian a little; it seemed to be an item with special effects.

"This, this is too precious. I can't accept this!" Xuanxuan's mother quickly declined.

"Hear me out. This jade bracelet is for your protection. Just use it in a special way, and at least that group won't be able to harm you!" Ji Dantong explained using the Sound Transmission Technique.

After finishing, she confirmed again, "Did you remember?"

Xuanxuan's mother nodded dazedly, clearly stunned by Ji Dantong's sound transmission.

Seeing Xuanxuan still looking worried, Ji Dantong insisted, "Why don't you try it now!"

"Okay!"

For her daughter's peace of mind, Xuanxuan's mother agreed and bit her middle finger hard, letting a drop of blood fall onto the jade bracelet.

The moment the blood touched the bracelet, it turned from jade green to blood red, releasing a faint red ripple around Xuanxuan's mother, making her face appear extra glowingly red.

It was clear that, in her younger years, this woman was quite a beauty, although time had worn her luster away.

Xiao Tian, feeling puzzled, reached out to touch the woman's body, instantly a burst of fierce energy forced him to step back.

Meeting Xuanxuan's concerned and doubtful gaze, Xiao Tian nodded to her, "She's right, with this jade bracelet, ordinary people can't get close."

Ji Dantong gratefully glanced at Xiao Tian, then turned to the man, her tone returning to icy, "I'll make it plain: I paid off your gambling debt this time. But if you dare gamble again, or if you mistreat them even a little..."

"Don't think that just because I'm not here, I won't know what happens." Ji Dantong warned, "Before I leave with Xuanxuan, I'll inform the local Dark Forces to pay close attention to you!"

Hearing this, the man shivered instantly, "I wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare. I'll surely treat them well from now on. And never gamble again."

Seeing everything settled, Xiao Tian ruffled the loose hair on Xuanxuan's forehead, "Don't worry, I have friends here too. They'll look out for you!"

"Thank you, big brother!" Xuanxuan said softly, feeling a bit down.

...

Ji Dantong was efficient, indeed paying off the man's gambling debt and spending a fortune enlisting the local Dark Forces as her eyes and ears, guaranteeing the mother and daughter would be safe.

Once everything was done last night, Ji Dantong took Xuanxuan and set out on the journey back to the school in the middle of the night.

"Big brother, I'm leaving!" Xuanxuan waved her arm, standing beside Ji Dantong, bidding farewell.

"Alright!" Xiao Tian responded with a smile, "Learn well once you're there."

Ji Dantong commented from the side, "The school has cultural lessons, so you don't have to worry about that!"

However, Xuanxuan, with her head down for a long time, finally walked to stand before Xiao Tian.

Xiao Tian timely bent down, only to hear Xuanxuan whisper, "Thank you, big brother. You're the first one willing to listen to me say so much, except for mom and sis. I'll never forget you!"

She added, "My name is Bai Xiaoxuan. Big brother, remember my name!"

"I will!"

Xiao Tian agreed with a smile, then they hooked fingers in promise, and only then did Xuanxuan contentedly return to Ji Dantong's side.

Looking at the person in front of her with complex emotions, Ji Dantong ultimately couldn't say much more, just lightly remarked, "See you, Hunter!" Her voice carrying a hint of regret and self-mockery, as if the words "see you again" were just a pleasant hope.

"See you!" Xiao Tian responded in kind.

After speaking, both fell into silence, Ji Dantong intently observing that face, as if to etch it into her memory.

...

"Big brother... has left!"

It wasn't until Xuanxuan's slightly lost voice sounded that Ji Dantong snapped out of it, murmuring, "Yes, he has left!"

"Let's go too!"

Ji Dantong took Xuanxuan's hand, walking away into the night.

This farewell, whether they'll meet again or not, had become an unknown, but Ji Dantong knew that the man known as Hunter would forever remain a bright spot in her memory...

——

"Xiaoshengzi, you little rascal, where did you run off to and die?"