"Maybe he really does like me?" Grace mused. "Otherwise, out of so many people, why would he choose to give it to me?"
"Ugh, please!" Queenie Zhu spat, her tone sharp. "Where does a useless waste with no Spirit Root like you get your confidence? Are you giving it up or not?"
"Nope."
"Queenie, why bother talking to her? Let the Spotted Leopard Spirit Beast bite her!" Jenny Zhu snapped impatiently. "Even if it doesn't kill her, at least cripple both her hands—so she pays for biting yours!"
At the mention of this deep grudge, Queenie Zhu's eyes flashed with cruelty. She waved her hand at the Spotted Leopard Spirit Beast.
Grace casually pulled out a handful of poisoned darts from her spatial pouch and looked at it coolly.
But just then, something unexpected happened.
For some reason, the Spotted Leopard Spirit Beast suddenly looked absolutely terrified. Its eyes bulged as it glanced around wildly, fur bristling, ears drooping, and its tail tucked tightly between its legs as it cowered and trembled.
"Spotted Leopard, what's wrong with you?" Queenie Zhu shouted. "Attack!"
The Spotted Leopard Spirit Beast shakily stood up, then suddenly bolted in the opposite direction.
"Hey? Where are you going?" Queenie Zhu had completely tamed the Spotted Leopard Spirit Beast, so she had no idea why it would suddenly go out of control.
The Spotted Leopard Spirit Beast was incredibly fast, and Queenie Zhu couldn't catch up.
When she finally did catch up, she witnessed a shocking scene.
The leopard... was pouncing straight at Sierra Wan!
Sierra Wan was in the middle of seeing off guests at that moment!
The Spotted Leopard Spirit Beast suddenly lunged at her, making Sierra Wan's face go pale with fright. She screamed and dodged away in panic.
"Mom!" Kevin Zhuo was nearby and dashed over with his sword, stabbing the Spotted Leopard Spirit Beast and leaving a gaping wound.
"Ah! My Spotted Leopard!" Queenie Zhu shrieked, her eyes wide with shock, on the verge of tears...
She had worked so hard to get such a fierce Spotted Leopard Spirit Beast...
...
Grace glanced at the chaos on the other side but didn't join in. Instead, she looked over at Evan Xiao, who was standing with her father.
When did he get back?
He had just bid farewell to Minister Zhuo and left.
Is he really leaving already?
Grace gazed longingly at his retreating figure. His jet-black hair fell to his waist, swaying gently as he walked—so mesmerizing it almost dazzled her.
He didn't even say goodbye to her before leaving...
Grace pouted, her heart filled with loss and reluctance.
But just then, Sierra Wan suddenly let out another scream.
She kept yelling and flailing her hands, "Let go! Let go!"
She felt like the bones in her hand were about to snap.
"It's an Antler Serpent!"
"Isn't that Grace's Antler Serpent?"
Everyone started exclaiming in shock.
Antler Serpent?
Grace dashed over, and sure enough, it was her Antler Serpent!
It was clamped tightly onto Sierra Wan's wrist, blood gushing out and flowing into its mouth.
"Cutie Pie! What are you doing?" Grace cried in surprise. "Let go! Let go now!"
Cutie Pie glanced up at her with big, watery eyes, then obediently released its grip.
Sierra Wan clutched her wrist and screamed, "Someone, catch it! Kill it!"
A group of guards rushed over, all trying to catch the serpent.
The Antler Serpent spun around and darted into the bushes, disappearing from sight.
"Cutie Pie! Cutie Pie!" Grace chased after it, calling out, "Come out! I promise, I won't let them hurt you!"
But it never showed up again...
...
At that moment, Cutie Pie was actually inside a carriage parked outside the Zhu residence!
It was the Imperial Advisor's carriage.