My and Their Anime-Style Otherworldly Survival Adventure

Homura Akemi shook her head and said, "No, I don't have much magic left. I can't maintain a large-scale time stop for long. It's too risky to go there."

Jiu Xiao was embarrassed. Did she really go there when she had enough magic power before? He clicked his tongue inwardly, gaining a deeper understanding of Homura Akemi's audacity. However, Jiu Xiao was not one to be easily subdued. A sly glint flashed in his eyes as he took Homura Akemi's hand.

The girl's skin was cool in the night, and before she could break free, a warm, magical force flowed through their skin, like sunlight suddenly streaming through a window in winter.

"You!" Akemi Homura's pupils contracted slightly. She subconsciously tried to pull her hand back, but Jiuxiao gripped her fingers even tighter.

"Don't move." Jiu Xiao's voice was unusually serious. "Feel carefully, have you noticed anything?"

Homura Akemi was forced to stand still, and the magic power of the Nine Heavens slowly filled her body. Her initial resistance gradually turned into curiosity. Closing her eyes and concentrating, she vaguely felt her magic power beginning to slowly recover. Not only that, Homura Akemi felt some of the negative emotions in her heart gradually dissipating under the nourishment of this magic power, as if a warm power was soothing her weary soul, and her whole being was being purified.

"What... what's going on?" Homura Akemi opened her eyes in disbelief, her gaze filled with shock and confusion.

Jiuxiao smiled slightly and explained, "This is my unique ability. I can replenish other people's magic power through physical contact. You can take a look at your Soul Gem."

Homura Akemi lowered her head with a hint of disbelief, her gaze fixed on the Soul Gem on the back of her left hand. The gem, which had been tainted by frequent use of magic, was now slowly emitting a soft light, as if it had been revitalized by an invisible force.

Homura Akemi was speechless with shock. No wonder he was so confident in protecting Madoka. With such cheat-like abilities at his disposal, even a magical girl destined for despair could have a tomorrow, right?

But why was Jiuxiao holding her hand? Wasn't simple physical contact enough to require interlocking fingers? A touch of shyness rose in Homura Akemi's heart, and she hesitated between pulling away and trying to break free. Looking at the boy's handsome and sunny profile, Homura Akemi gave up the idea of ​​struggling. Perhaps, being led by him like this wasn't so bad... No, no, no, this was only for defeating Witch Night, there was absolutely no other meaning!

In this way, Homura Akemi found a reasonable excuse for herself.

After about the time it takes to eat a meal, Homura Akemi held up the Soul Gem, which had regained its luster. She was certain that the filth inside had been completely cleansed, and she felt as if she had returned to the moment when she first became a magical girl, with her magic power restored to its peak.

However, Jiu Xiao didn't let go of her hand, and Akemi Homura, very tacitly, didn't mention it. Before they knew it, they had arrived at the subway station. The bustling crowd made the girl subconsciously tighten her grip on Jiu Xiao's hand, so she wouldn't get lost...

Taking the JR express line, it took about half an hour to reach Yokosuka, where you could see the huge warships moored in the harbor from afar. It's worth mentioning that many areas of the Yokosuka military base are open to the public; you can visit them for a fee. Unfortunately, it was nighttime, so Homura Akemi could only activate her time-stop device from a distance.

“Let’s go,” Homura Akemi said calmly, leading Kusho through the heavily guarded checkpoints with practiced ease, as if this were her own backyard. In the black and white world, only their figures moved slowly. The soldiers on the checkpoints seemed unable to see them, or more accurately, their time was frozen—a unique ability of Homura Akemi as a magical girl.

Jiuxiao looked around curiously at these modern military facilities and couldn't help but want to reach out and touch those cold steel behemoths, but was gently pulled back by Xiaomei Yan.

"Don't touch it, be careful not to leave fingerprints!" As she spoke, Homura Akemi took out a pair of gossamer-thin gloves from her pocket and handed them to Kusho. "Wear these. We can't leave any clues, or we'll be in big trouble if we get caught."

Good grief, they came prepared; they're obviously repeat offenders.

Jiuxiao took the gloves and asked as he put them on, "Xiaoyan, where are we going next?"

After glancing at Jiuxiao, Akemi Homura said, "Come with me."

The two arrived at the third basement level of Yokosuka Base: "This is it. Turn left into the third warehouse, D section shelves, there are Mark-19 grenade launchers there. Turn left into the fourth warehouse, there are M4A1 carbines, standardly equipped with ACOG optical sights, very suitable for urban warfare..." Homura Akemi listed them off as if she knew them inside and out, as if this was her private armory, and she knew the performance and location of every weapon like the back of her hand.

Jiuxiao was dumbfounded. How could you be so skilled? You and Xuecai... cough cough, wrong channel, it should be "skilled to the point of being heartbreaking." How many times has this child visited this place? It's absolutely terrifying to think about!

While Jiuxiao was still in a daze, Xiaomeiyan had already put the weapons and ammunition into his "shield". In no time, the originally empty "shield" space was filled with all kinds of modern military equipment, from pistols to rifles, from light machine guns to grenade launchers, and even a few shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles. It was practically a small armory.

Not to be outdone, Jiu Xiao grabbed the MK153 recoilless rocket launcher from the shelf and stuffed it into his system space. Although he didn't need it, he could give it to Sania as a "local specialty" for her.

After a thorough search, Jiu Xiao had emptied the warehouse completely. His system space had been expanded six months ago and could now easily hold several football fields. He didn't even let go of some large military equipment; whether or not it was usable, he took it all, since it was free.

Now it was Homura Akemi's turn to be dumbfounded. She watched as Kusho easily took away several M2HB heavy machine guns and a number of ammunition boxes, leaving her speechless. Who exactly was there to buy the goods?

Time passed second by second, and Homura Akemi felt her magic power being consumed rapidly like flowing water; she felt she was nearing her limit.

"Jiuxiao, we have to retreat. I'm nearing my limit."

Jiuxiao took Akemi Homura's hand and said, "No rush, I can replenish your magic power anytime. Then take me to visit other warehouses, preferably those with heavy firepower, or tanks or armored vehicles would also be fine."

Homura Akemi immediately became alert and reminded her, "Don't do anything reckless. We don't have the equipment and personnel to operate many of these things, so they're just for show. Besides, things like missiles and tanks have positioning devices inside, and activating them will reveal our location."

Jiuxiao shrugged, saying nonchalantly, "It's fine, as long as I don't take it out, it'll be okay, right? Just take me to get it, let's fleece America!"

Homura Akemi was on the verge of a breakdown. This wasn't just taking advantage of her; it was practically stealing her sheep! It seemed this matter couldn't be resolved peacefully. She could already imagine tomorrow's headline—Shocking! Yokosuka Umbrella Base Raided by Mysterious Force, Large Quantity of Advanced Weapons Vanished!

P.S.: I've already begged for forgiveness, please let me go QAQ.

Chapter 146 Ouch, what are you doing!

Unable to dissuade Jiu Xiao from his insistence, Homura Akemi finally led him to their next target location—a warehouse storing various armored vehicles and heavy weapons. Along the way, she repeatedly reminded Jiu Xiao of the complexity and potential dangers of these weapons, hoping he would abandon this unrealistic idea. But Jiu Xiao ignored her, his eyes gleaming with a thirst for unknown power, like a child seeing a long-desired toy. Homura Akemi's warnings were like a breeze passing by him, gone in an instant.

If Homura Akemi hadn't strongly dissuaded them, the Nine Heavens would have also wanted to take the aircraft carrier from the port, which would have caused a huge uproar. America would have become the first country in the world to lose an aircraft carrier, which would undoubtedly have caused a global uproar.

Homura Akemi only released the time stop after they had left the mold base quite a distance. It's no wonder he was so cautious; this operation was far too shocking. A slight misstep could trigger an international incident, dragging the two of them into an abyss of no return, and then they would have to "restart" again!

Jiuxiao glanced at the massive hull of the USS George Washington from afar, already harboring a plan to strike it again sometime. Akemi Homura was terrified and quickly pulled Jiuxiao away from the scene. She was genuinely scared; she feared that if Jiuxiao's crazy idea were to actually be carried out, the consequences would be unimaginable. All the way, Akemi Homura silently prayed that the operation would proceed safely and without anyone discovering it.

The next day, Jiu Xiao didn't wake up until late morning due to excessive mental exhaustion. In his groggy state, he heard the doorbell ring. He got up to open the door, but when he opened it, there was nothing there.

Jiu Xiao was furious, thinking it was some naughty kid playing a prank, and slammed the door shut. Just as he was about to go wash up, there was another knock on the door. Jiu Xiao frowned, wondering who was so inconsiderate as to disturb his sleep so early in the morning. With a hint of displeasure, he walked to the door again, flung it open, and prepared to teach the person outside a lesson.

However, there was still no one outside the door, only the morning breeze gently brushing his cheek, bringing a slight chill. Jiu Xiao was completely stunned. Had he encountered a ghost? Or was someone playing a game of invisibility with him? He looked around and quickly spotted a "puppet" at his feet. But this puppet looked somewhat familiar. When he looked closer, his pupils shrank sharply. This wasn't a puppet at all; it was clearly the second form of the Zero Hour Witch! Commonly known as Bebe, or Charlotte.

Before Jiu Xiao could regain his composure, Bei Bei's face contorted, instantly transforming into a little girl with purple hair and red and blue eyes. Moreover, her mouth split open into a very large gash, seemingly smiling, but actually quite eerie.

"Thump, thump, thump!" Jiu Xiao was so frightened that he stumbled backward, almost falling flat on his face. None of his family understood; everything was fine this morning, but he was scared out of his wits by a strange little girl who could change forms. Jiu Xiao's heart pounded wildly, as if it would burst from his chest. He stared wide-eyed at the strange little girl before him.

Having been a fan of Madoka Magica in his previous life, Jiuxiao quickly noticed something amiss. The Snack Witch could change her expression? Wasn't that Nagisa Hyakue, the assistant of the Law of Cycles? Just as he was filled with doubt and was about to ask, Nagisa Hyakue slowly got up from the ground and said in a tone that was both childish and slightly reproachful, "How rude of me! Is it really necessary to be so afraid of Nagisa? She was sent by the God to assist you."

Jiu Xiao was stunned. The scene before him was beyond his expectations. He wondered if he was still dreaming. He pinched himself hard, and the pain told him that it was all real. After regaining his senses, Jiu Xiao stepped forward and gave Bai Jiangzhu a hard flick on the forehead. The force was so great that Bai Jiangzhu's little face turned red instantly, and tears even welled up in his eyes.

"Ouch, what are you doing!" Bai Jiangzhu covered her head, glaring angrily at Jiuxiao.

Seeing Bai Jiangzhu's aggrieved look, Jiu Xiao was furious. How dare she say, "Oh, what are you doing?!" If you removed the "what are you doing?", Jiu Xiao would have thought he had met an old friend in another world.

"What did I do? You disturbed my sleep! You acted like a ghost! You almost scared me to death!" Jiu Xiao listed Jiang Zhu's "crimes" while gently flicking her forehead a few times. This time the force was much less, more like a reproach with a touch of doting affection.

Bai Jiangzhu rubbed his forehead where he'd been flicked, pouting as if he wanted to argue, but seeing Jiu Xiao's feigned fierce expression, he ultimately couldn't bring himself to speak. He just muttered softly, "Xiao Zhu didn't mean it, it's all because big brother is too timid..."

"Huh? What did you say? Say it again if you dare." Jiu Xiao deliberately put on a stern face, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.

Sensing danger, Hyakue Nagisa fell silent, blinking her yellowish eyes and gazing pitifully at Kyuuou, like a wronged kitten, evoking sympathy. During their banter, Hyakue Nagisa had reverted to her human form as a young girl, her long, milky-white hair reaching her ankles, making her appear petite and adorable, like a delicate porcelain doll.

Cuteness is justice! As a partner of justice, Jiu Xiao naturally chose to forgive her. Leading Bai Jiangzhu inside, Jiu Xiao asked her to sit on the sofa in the living room, while he hurriedly ran to the kitchen to pour her a glass of warm milk. Bai Jiangzhu took the milk with both hands, sipping it slowly, her eyes constantly scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Now can you tell me what exactly happened?" Jiu Xiao sat down opposite Bai Jiangzhu, crossed his arms, and asked with a serious expression.

Bai Jiangzhu put down her milk cup, licked her lips, and seemed to still want more. Seeing Jiuxiao's serious expression, Bai Jiangzhu asked in confusion, "Don't you know the God, big brother? But if that's the case, why did the God send me to assist you?"

"Don't answer questions with questions, you little rascal!" Jiu Xiao was exasperated, and couldn't help but rub Bai Jiangzhu's soft cheek a few times as "punishment." Bai Jiangzhu's cheek was like cotton candy, with an excellent feel, so he couldn't help but rub it a few more times.

Bai Jiangzhu slapped away Jiu Xiao's mischievous hand and shouted in a cute but fierce tone, "Why are you rubbing Xiaozhu's face! How annoying!" After saying that, she pretended to be angry and turned her head away, ignoring Jiu Xiao.

Seeing this, Jiu Xiao couldn't help but smile. The little guy was actually quite cute when he was angry. He cleared his throat, deciding to try a different approach: "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Tell me, who is this god you're talking about? And what is he helping me with?"

"Goddess is truly Goddess! She is the most powerful being in this world. She redeemed Nagisa from despair and gave her a new life," Nagisa Hyakue said, turning her head with a look of adoration, her eyes sparkling.

Tired, let it all end! Jiuxiao felt like he was about to collapse. After asking so many questions, all he got were a bunch of vague answers. He rubbed his temples, trying to calm himself down. He couldn't afford to get angry with a young girl. Anyway, he already had the answer in his heart about this deity—it was simply the God of Circles, or rather, the Principle of Circles.

"So, what did this deity ask you to assist me with? It can't be that I'm here to play with you, can it?" Jiuxiao said half-jokingly, but there was still a hint of expectation in his eyes, hoping to get some useful information from Baijiangzhu.

"The deity said that Nagisa should just stay by her older brother's side, and that he should get along well with the other magical girls, and that Nagisa should provide 'assistance' when necessary. But what is 'assistance'? Nagisa doesn't quite understand. Did Nagisa's decision to cut off the power to this building last night help her older brother? Does that count as assisting? I heard from my mother that two people can quickly get closer in the dark, so Nagisa..." (PS: There's a small bug here. In the original story, Nagisa doesn't have her previous memories after becoming a divine messenger. This is my personal interpretation, where she remembers some things from the past, excluding QB.)

Now Jiuxiao understood, but understanding doesn't mean comprehending. Why would Yuanshen, who was perfectly fine, send a tiny little guy to "help" him? Was he being cuckolded? Or was it just his thought process after becoming a god?

Has it become so peculiar? Jiu Xiao was filled with doubt, but he didn't show it on his face. He just smiled and said to Bai Jiangzhu, "Well, you did very well last night, but don't do it like that next time. It will cause trouble for others... Wait, you arrived last night. Why did you only come to find me now?" Jiu Xiao noticed the key point.

Bai Jiangzhu lowered her head, her gaze darting away. She was truly embarrassed to admit that she had actually arrived in this world three days ago, but her gluttony had delayed her important business. Moreover, last night she had swallowed the "herself" of this world whole... it was simply too shocking! So, Bai Jiangzhu stammered, "Well, um... last night I suddenly sensed the aura of a witch, and then I went to hunt her down..."

At this point, Bai Jiangzhu secretly glanced at Jiu Xiao. Seeing that he didn't have any particular reaction, she continued, "As a result, after defeating the witch, it was already dawn. I was afraid of disturbing my older brother's rest, so I found a place to hide nearby. I only just mustered up the courage to come and talk to my older brother."

Jiu Xiao's lips twitched slightly. He seriously suspected that this little guy was making up a story to fool him. Slaying a witch? All night? You're probably on Witch Slaying Night! Thinking this, Jiu Xiao casually chimed in, "Oh right, you're such a brave little rascal. Let me guess, the witch you're slaying isn't some giant black worm, is it? And the kind that especially loves cheese?"

The pupil-like earthquake at Hyakue-nagisa has been discovered? That shouldn't be possible!

"What nonsense are you talking about! Xiaozhu doesn't know anything about any big black bug. Besides, its name is Beibei, it's not some big black bug..." Bai Jiangzhu quickly covered her mouth, realizing she had let something slip, and her face instantly flushed red. Her eyes widened, and she frantically tried to explain, but didn't know where to begin. She could only look helplessly at Jiuxiao, her big eyes filled with panic.

Now it was Jiu Xiao's turn to be caught off guard. He really just said it casually, but he never expected it to come true. It's true that two tigers can't share one mountain, unless one is male and the other female. I didn't realize this little girl was so ruthless towards "herself."

But now things are in trouble. The senior has lost her love-hate relationship partner, and Jiu Xiao has lost his tool for building affection. He was originally planning to save the senior from the snack witch at the last minute, and then stage a heroic rescue to deepen their bond. Now, all his plans are ruined.

He rubbed his forehead and said earnestly, "We are all of the same origin, why are you so eager to harm each other? What deep hatred or grudge do you have? But never mind, what's done is done, there's no point in dwelling on it. The important thing is, how do you plan to make it up to me?"

Bai Jiangzhu fiddled with her fingers like a child who had done something wrong. She didn't understand why Jiuxiao knew about her relationship with the Snack Witch. Wouldn't it have been better to let the other "self" be free sooner? And what was there to compensate for? She was just an innocent little girl (for sure!), what was there to compensate for?

Seeing that Bai Jiangzhu remained silent, Jiu Xiao was at a loss. Looking at the little girl in front of him, Jiu Xiao had an idea. Since the Snack Witch was gone, it wouldn't hurt to have Bai Jiangzhu "guest star" as her former "self" for a while, just to experience life.

It's lunch break at Mitakihara Junior High School. Miki Sayaka, holding her phone, excitedly runs to her friend, "Madoka, have you seen today's news?"

Xiaoyuan looked up in confusion, pulling herself out of her book, and asked gently, "What news made Sayaka so excited?"

Sayaka Miki handed her phone screen to Madoka. The screen displayed a news report about a mysterious force looting a mold warehouse in Yokosuka, with the perpetrators still at large. The report included pictures of the empty warehouse and a condemnation from the US ambassador. The news ended with a warning to the public to be wary of terrorists and extremists, as the missing weapons included heavy artillery.

Homura Akemi covered her face; she knew this would happen. After nearly a hundred reincarnations, she, Homura Akemi, had actually become a "terrorist"—a truly novel ending! Indeed, it was all that man's fault!

After reading the news, Xiaoyuan looked worried. "How could such a thing happen? I hope it won't cause too much panic among the citizens."

Sayaka Miki put away her phone and laughed so hard she almost fell over: "This US military is so lame. They lost a nuclear bomb during the Cold War, and now there's this scandal of their warehouse being looted. I really suspect they're staging this themselves to get more military funding from Congress."

Xiaoyuan could only smile wryly; he really didn't know much about this kind of thing and couldn't join the conversation. He could only change the subject, saying, "Sayaka, what are your plans after school today? Want to come with us to hunt down a witch?"

Chapter 147 Extortion

Upon hearing this, Sayaka Miki's face instantly lit up with excitement. Although she no longer intended to become a magical girl after learning part of the truth about magical girls, she still had a great interest in participating in the witch-slaying operation, since she saw it as a matter of "punishing evil and promoting good."

"I must go, I must go, please take me with you." Sayaka Miki clasped her hands together, making a pleading gesture, her eyes sparkling with expectation.

After school, Homura Akemi still chose to act alone. She was still brooding over what happened at dinner the night before and wanted to get revenge. Mainly, with Kusho around, she felt reassured about Madoka's safety, and besides, she didn't like traveling with large groups. Her long reincarnation life had made her accustomed to being alone, a subconscious act to maintain her outwardly cold but inwardly passionate image.

After arranging the "script" for Bai Jiangzhu, Jiu Xiao met up with Xiao Yuan and the others as scheduled. In a corner of a shopping street, after greeting everyone, Jiu Xiao couldn't help but tease Xiao Yuan, "Xiao Yuan, did you miss me after not seeing me for a night?"

Before Xiaoyuan could react, Miki Sayaka, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore. She stepped between Jiuxiao and Xiaoyuan, put her hands on her hips, and said with dissatisfaction, "Hey, hey, hey, stop teasing Xiaoyuan all the time. She's my future wife!"

Xiaoyuan's cheeks flushed instantly. She quickly covered Miki Sayaka's mouth from behind, frantically explaining, "No, no, Jiuxiao-kun, you, you mustn't listen to her nonsense! Sayaka too, Sayaka too, she always says strange things..." Xiaoyuan's voice trailed off, but the blush on her cheeks grew more pronounced. She stole a glance at Jiuxiao and found him looking at her with a teasing smile. She panicked even more, quickly lowering her head, unable to meet his gaze.

Miki Sayaka broke free from her restraints, deliberately putting on a hurt expression, clutching her heart, and said in heartbreaking grief, "Waaah, Madoka, you've changed! You actually abandoned me for this man! My heart is aching so much!" She exaggeratedly took a few steps back, accidentally bumping into a passerby.

"Hey! Little girl, can't you watch where you're going?" The man who was bumped into frowned and yelled at Miki Sayaka in an unfriendly tone. Judging from his exaggerated attire, he was very likely a thug.

Sayaka Miki jolted, nearly losing her balance and making intimate contact with Mother Earth. At the last second, a long, strong hand grabbed her arm and pulled her back steadily. Unexpectedly, Sayaka's legs gave way, and she fell headfirst into the other person's arms.

"Be careful, you're such a grown-up, why are you still acting like a child, so reckless?" Jiu Xiao's voice carried a hint of helplessness as it rang in the girl's ear. His warm breath tickled her earlobe, making Miki Sayaka's ear itch slightly, and her cheeks involuntarily flushed red.

"Kora! Don't ignore me! These middle school students these days are getting more and more arrogant!" The man who was bumped into was obviously very dissatisfied with being ignored, so he raised his voice and tried to get more attention.

Miki Sayaka hurriedly left Jiuxiao's embrace, turned around, clasped her hands together, bowed at a 90-degree angle, and apologized repeatedly: "Red bean paste, secret horse! I didn't mean to!" Miki Sayaka's voice was filled with sincere apology, and her head was so low that it almost touched her knees.

This scene, witnessed by the thug, only emboldened him further. He crossed his arms, looking down at Sayaka Miki with a malicious smile: "Huh? If apologies were enough, what would we need the police for? You just stepped on my new shoes, a limited edition! What are you going to do about it?" The thug pointed to his shoes, which indeed had a clear footprint. A closer look revealed several scratches, though it was unclear whether he had deliberately made them or if they were genuinely damaged.

The thug glanced at Sayaka Miki with a flippant look, then fixed his gaze on Kyuu, and arrogantly said, "Hey kid, you're this guy's boyfriend, right? These shoes cost me 500,000 yen, how are you going to compensate me?"

Sayaka Miki was completely stunned. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the thug's shoes, her mind racing with panic. Five hundred thousand yen! Her family's monthly income wasn't even that much; how could they possibly afford to pay it back!

"Five hundred thousand yen?" Jiuxiao raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with disdain. Although he wasn't very familiar with the market prices in Japan, he could tell that the shoes the thug was wearing weren't worth that much at all; they were probably just cheap knock-offs from a street stall. This was blatant extortion, a case of judging people by their appearance, clearly bullying an honest person.

Jiuxiao wasn't going to tolerate him; he'd seen plenty of people like that. Just as he was about to teach the other man a lesson, a fragrant breeze wafted by, and Mami Tomoe's figure blocked Jiuxiao and Sayaka Miki's path.

“Sir, I’m so sorry. How much compensation do you intend to ask my companion for? I can pay for it for her first.” Mami Tomoe’s voice was gentle and pleasant, with a polite smile on her face. As she spoke, she took out her wallet from her pocket. Madoka, who was standing next to her, quickly stepped forward and fumbled around in her pocket for something.

The thug's eyes instantly turned lewd when he saw Mami Tomoe's mature demeanor and voluptuous figure, which seemed beyond her years. He sized her up, his smile becoming even more unrestrained. Mami Tomoe noticed the thug's gaze, her smile freezing on her face, and her fingers gripping her purse turned slightly white.

Jiu Xiao could no longer tolerate it. How dare they give his (prospective) wife such a lewd look! They probably don't know what death means! He pulled his senior behind him, and Jiu Xiao's eyes instantly turned cold.

"Five hundred thousand yen isn't enough. I'll give you a million directly, and the extra can be used for your medical expenses." Jiu Xiao's voice was low and cold, with a dangerous glint in his eyes. As soon as he finished speaking, Jiu Xiao rushed forward and threw a punch, slamming it hard into the thug's stomach. Of course, Jiu Xiao didn't use his full strength, otherwise the thug would probably have been killed on the spot.

Before the thug could react, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, his body arching like a shrimp, his face turning deathly pale. He staggered back a few steps, clutching his stomach, and sat down heavily on the ground, sweating profusely from the pain, unable to even speak.

Passersby quickly moved away from them, afraid of getting involved. Seeing the thug fall, Jiu Xiao went up and started punching and kicking him, muttering as he did so: "You tried to extort me, you tried to bully my woman! Do you even know what death means?! Five hundred thousand? I'll give you two big purses, you want them?" Jiu Xiao's voice was deep and fierce; every punch and kick carried considerable force, yet he skillfully avoided vital points. Clearly, he didn't intend to kill him, but simply wanted to teach him a lesson.

What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listeners. Upon hearing Jiu Xiao's words, "my woman," the three women blushed slightly. Mami, in particular, felt her heart race involuntarily; since her parents' passing, no one had ever stood up for her so forcefully.

So this is how he sees me? Mami Tomoe thought to herself, a hint of shyness flashing in her eyes, mixed with an indescribable sense of relief.

The thug lay curled up on the ground, his hands covering his head, groaning in pain, too weak even to beg for mercy. His face turned from deathly pale to bluish-purple, cold sweat pouring down his forehead; he was clearly in excruciating pain. The surrounding air seemed to freeze; passersby quickened their pace, afraid of being drawn into this sudden conflict.

Realizing what was happening, Mami quickly pulled Jiuxiao back: "Junior Yuan, that's enough, something bad will happen if you keep fighting!"

Xiao Yuan was somewhat at a loss. She hadn't seen Jiu Xiao so angry in a long time, and she felt both frightened and inexplicably moved. She cautiously tugged at Jiu Xiao's sleeve, her voice trembling slightly, "Jiu...Jiu Xiao-jun, please stop hitting him. He's already learned his lesson..."

Miki Sayaka stared silently at the enraged Jiuxiao, her eyes slightly unfocused. Although she knew hitting someone was wrong, the thought that he had fought so fiercely to protect her stirred a flicker of emotion within her. Jiuxiao's figure grew taller in her heart, and a seed of "affection" was silently planted, waiting for the right moment to sprout and grow. And that moment would arrive in the not-too-distant future.

Despite appearing strong on the outside, Sayaka Miki, who always sees herself as a protector, may also yearn deep down for someone to stand up for her without hesitation.

Upon hearing their voices, Jiu Xiao stopped what he was doing. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger, and glanced coldly at the thug on the ground, his tone carrying a warning: "Get lost, and don't let me see you again, or next time it won't be so simple."

The thug struggled to lift his head, his eyes filled with fear and resentment, but he dared not say a word. He just gritted his teeth and nodded, then staggered to his feet and limped away.

Jiuxiao turned around and looked at Mami Tomoe, Madoka, and Sayaka Miki. The coldness on his face instantly disappeared, replaced by a hint of apology and gentleness: "Sorry, I was a little impulsive just now. Did I scare you?"

Mami Tomoe smiled slightly and shook her head: "It's okay, we understand how you feel. But next time, please be careful not to get yourself into trouble."

Xiaoyuan nodded, a relieved smile on her face: "Yes, Jiuxiao-jun, you looked really scary just now... but thank you for protecting us."

Miki Sayaka hesitated, "Th-thank you. But...it was definitely my fault first, I even stepped on his shoes..."