"You called me older sister...

you called me older sister, have you forgiven me?" Bernice's face shone with undisguised joy.

It had been years since she had last been called Jiejie, and how could she not be thrilled? "You have done so much for me and our clan, what right do I have to question you? Rather, will you forgive my willfulness?" Seeing Bernice's agitation, Monic felt a sharp pang in her heart.

It turned out her sister didn't hate her after all; in fact, her care for her was intensely passionate.

The Sirius Giant Clan, though a branch of the Werewolf lineage, possessed not only the savagery of wolves but also human emotions... "My foolish little sister, after all the suffering you've endured these years, how could I possibly still blame you?" With a wave of her hand, Bernice untied the ropes binding Monic, opened her arms, and pulled her into a tight embrace.

The two sisters clung to each other, sobbing uncontrollably. "Sister, Tagli has captured them now, I can't just stand by and watch them be led to their deaths!" After weeping for a good while, Monic suddenly spoke up.

Regardless of everything, she and Liang Xiaoke had consummated their union; she was his woman, and she naturally could not abandon his friends to their fate. "What can we do? Do you know how many powerful Demon Lords the Minotaur Clan has? I have at least seven Demon Lords above my own rank, not to mention their Chieftain.

Our current strength is simply inadequate to confront them!" A flicker of helplessness crossed Bernice's face.

How could she not understand her sister's intentions, but what choice did she have? "Sister..." Monic pondered, realizing the truth in her heart.

With the strength of her meager following, how could they possibly effect a rescue? Could they really only watch them go to their deaths? What would she tell Liang Xiaoke when he returned? Liang Xiaoke would not return—not because he didn't want to, but because he physically could not return... "What? You want me to walk right into their trap? I say, Jingyu, I am your sworn elder brother! You want me to sacrifice myself for a mere household servant? Is that how you treat your big brother?" Outside the edge of the Heaven's End Forest, near the plains of Panbula where the Minotaur Clan resided, Liang Xiaoke stared at Ye Jingyu in utter disbelief. "Brother, do you truly think I am that kind of person? In truth, whether it's you or Xiao Linzi, you are both my brothers.

Do you think I would sacrifice you for the sake of Xiao Linzi?" Ye Jingyu had only intended to ask Liang Xiaoke to reveal himself to exchange for Lin Xiaoyi, but the moment he spoke, Liang Xiaoke reacted so strongly. "You are not that kind of person..." Liang Xiaoke shook his head. "Then why are you..." "You actually are..." Before Ye Jingyu could finish, Liang Xiaoke scoffed disdainfully. "..." "Fine, even if I am that kind of person, are you going or not?" Ye Jingyu, weary of arguing, cut straight to the point. "I'll go, but you have to tell me what your plan is, right?" Liang Xiaoke didn't truly believe Ye Jingyu was a callous person; he simply couldn't fathom his true intentions yet. "Do you remember the Chiyou Banner?" Ye Jingyu asked. "I remember.

It's on you...

Why?" Liang Xiaoke looked utterly perplexed. "Chiyou was an Ancient Demon God; his true form was a Minotaur.

I suspect these Minotaurs are his descendants..." "So you mean..." Upon hearing this, Liang Xiaoke immediately grasped Ye Jingyu's line of thought. "Precisely.

As long as they are descendants of the Chiyou Demon Clan, they will surely recognize this banner when they see it.

At that moment..." Ye Jingyu whispered his entire plan into Liang Xiaoke's ear. "But what if they aren't?" After hearing the plan, Liang Xiaoke nodded repeatedly.

It was indeed the best possible plan, but the critical issue was: what if these Minotaurs were not related? "If they aren't, then we must leave it to fate.

Brother, are you going or not?" Ye Jingyu spread his hands in helplessness.

This was the best solution he could conceive of right now, though it was admittedly risky. "I'll go..." Liang Xiaoke agreed without hesitation.

He might be somewhat afraid of death, but what did a small risk like this matter for the sake of his sworn brother? At worst, it meant death. "Good, Big Brother..." Ye Jingyu clapped Liang Xiaoke hard on the shoulder, deeply moved. "Damn right, it's good.

But when is the best time to go? We can't just go right now, can we?" Liang Xiaoke rolled his eyes.

Is he only appreciating this now? "No rush now, we still have seven days.

Let's go on the sixth day; by then, their preparations won't be as thorough," Ye Jingyu decided.

Immediately, the two concealed themselves at the boundary where the Panbula Grasslands met the Heaven's End Forest, constantly monitoring the movements of the Minotaur settlement.

Time flowed like water, and six days sped by unnoticed.

During these six days, the Minotaurs scoured every inch of the Heaven's End Forest searching for Liang Xiaoke, yet they found no trace of him.

If you had told them, they would never have believed that Liang Xiaoke had already infiltrated their main settlement.

At this time, upon the vast plains, thousands of Minotaurs were gathered.

The shortest among them stood at least ten feet tall, while the tallest towered at nine zhang, equivalent to a nine-story building.

Their muscles bulged beneath their hides, looking as if a single casual punch could shatter a mountain.

The tallest Minotaur sat cross-legged in the center, radiating an aura so commanding that not a single other Minotaur dared approach him; all stood respectfully around him.

Just then, a six-zhang-tall Minotaur rushed over from the distance—it was Tagli, whom Ye Jingyu and Liang Xiaoke had previously seen in the canyon of the Sirius Clan. "Reporting to Father, we have searched the entire Heaven's End Forest, and still, we haven't located that individual..." As he spoke, Tagli gazed upon the man sitting cross-legged on the ground, resembling a colossal mountain, with an expression of deep reverence.

The seated giant paid no attention to Tagli's words, merely letting out a soft sigh.

Tagli instantly understood the meaning, nodding to those behind him.

Immediately, two five-zhang-tall Minotaurs dragged Lin Xiaoyi and Gongsun Lu forward. "Today is the final hour.

If your friend does not appear, do not blame us for showing no mercy!" The enormous Minotaur sitting on the ground spoke calmly, yet his voice exploded like a cannonball tearing through the void as he looked at the two brought before him.

Lin Xiaoyi and Gongsun Lu exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with sorrow.

Just as Liang Xiaoke was about to make his grand entrance, a sudden surge of noise erupted nearby.

In the next instant, they saw another Minotaur, fully seven zhang tall, rushing over in haste. "Tagmu, what is the status on your end?" Seeing this Minotaur arrive, the seated giant spoke once more. "Reporting to Father, I did not find the cursed individual, but I apprehended several other humans on the grasslands.

I suspect they are associates..." The Minotaur known as Tagmu answered just as respectfully. "Bring them forward..." The seated Minotaur issued a direct command.

Several Minotaurs immediately hauled several figures forward.

Upon seeing these new captives, the expressions of both Ye Jingyu and Liang Xiaoke shifted drastically.

To the Readers: Three chapters concluded.