The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 32

The elves refused to release Duanmu Ya, and Yi Xian could not go back on her promise and leave him behind. So she began familiarizing herself with the young elves around her, hoping to slowly work her way into a solution.

Tian Tian was a young elf of just thirty-five years old, barely 1.4 meters tall, with a pair of pale pink wings. She often flew in from the roof or window and hung upside down to make silly faces at Yi Xian. At first, Yi Xian was very uncomfortable with such a flying race. In the middle of a conversation, Tian Tian might suddenly shoot into the sky, flip mid-air a dozen times, and even do the splits…

Once, she had even cheerfully popped out while Yi Xian was summoning Lord Yin Bao. Upon seeing it, she had stared in disbelief. Yi Xian remembered how both of Lord Yin Bao’s ears had shot up in fright. It had then darted away like a street rat, chased in circles by Tian Tian with a bow and arrow, and had not dared show itself since.

Later, the madwoman explained that some underground creatures, like Lord Yin Bao, goblins, and even the treefolk of Elfa Forest, belonged to the lower elves. They were forbidden from entering the High Elf territory. Disgusting species like goblins had even been driven to the Kara Plains, where they had built their own kingdom.

Since then, another young elf named Xiao Xiao had been assigned to Yi Xian. She was in charge of food. The elves’ cuisine was fragrant and delicious, and their fine wines were mostly brewed from flower dew and spiritual springs. A few sips could refresh the mind and body. However, Xiao Xiao often kept a watchful eye on her surroundings, as if searching for something. Yi Xian suspected that the elf tribe had sent her as an extra pair of eyes to monitor her.

Still, even though they refused to release Duanmu Ya, they did allow her to visit him from time to time.

Yi Xian and Duanmu Ya took some time to sort out everything that had happened.

“They said I’m the thief?”

“Yes. So it’s not because of the ten treefolk who died in the fire. It’s because something valuable was stolen from the elves. And the thief might be human. When he stole from them, we just happened to stumble into Elfa Forest. Too coincidental. I think this thief might resemble you… in certain ways.”

By resemblance, Yi Xian did not mean looks, but something else. That similarity might be why the elves believed Duanmu Ya was an accomplice.

“You need to think carefully. What makes you different from others?”

Duanmu Ya was delighted by the question. He started counting on his fingers.

“I am the youngest fourth-tier alchemist, born with extraordinary talent, dual elemental roots, and raised with high expectations from my family…”

Yi Xian pressed her hand to her forehead. All he listed were his own praises. This man was not only delicate but also incredibly self-absorbed.

“Be serious. This determines whether you remain imprisoned or whether you’ll be punished together with the thief once they catch him. At that point, they might settle old scores and you will not be able to turn the situation around.”

Duanmu Ya paled and hugged his knees, sitting on the ground in misery.

“But I’ve racked my brain and I still don’t know. I didn’t do it. How would I know what precious item they lost?”

That was the most frustrating part. The elves refused to reveal what was missing. From their perspective, it made sense. If the roles were reversed, Yi Xian and Duanmu Ya would not tell two arsonists anything either.

Duanmu Ya groaned and buried his head in his arms.

“Why would they let you go and not me? Do I have ‘thief’ written on my forehead or something?”

That offhand remark lit a spark in Yi Xian’s mind. She stood up suddenly.

“I’ll go ask. I’ll visit you again later.”

Granny Zhi was one of the elders of the elf tribe and was especially loved by the younger elves. When Yi Xian arrived, there was already a long line outside her cottage. Most of those waiting in the air were young girls. Under the sunlight, their wings shimmered in all shades, gilded with a warm glow.

Just as Yi Xian reached the entrance, she was stopped by an elf. The elf placed her hands on her hips and pouted.

“No cutting. Go to the back of the line. One at a time.”

Yi Xian turned around and saw that at this rate, she might not get in before nightfall.

Tian Tian and Xiao Xiao quickly chimed in.

“She’s Granny Zhi’s honored guest. She has important business. Please make an exception, Sister Yin.”

The elf called Sister Yin shook her head, her beautiful phoenix eyes narrowing. She glanced at Yi Xian, then looked at the two younger elves with frustration.

“Today is Fate Day. Don’t think I don’t know what you two are up to. Trying to ask about romance, aren’t you? Not happening. You’re both underage. Even if this guest does have business, she should wait her turn. We can’t let the others wait in vain.”

Yi Xian thought that was fair, so before they could argue, she obediently walked to the end of the line.

Tian Tian pouted unhappily.

“What’s wrong with cutting the line just a little?”

Yi Xian looked at the blushing elf girls gathered together and whispered, “What’s Fate Day?”

Xiao Xiao explained, “It’s the day Granny Zhi tells fortunes about love. When fate aligns, we call it Fate Day. Since you’re here by chance, Sister Xian, you could ask about your romance too. Granny Zhi is always accurate.”

Yi Xian only smiled. Her romance? Better to deal with reality first.

Tian Tian and Xiao Xiao, seeing that she didn’t believe, began sharing some famous love stories from the elf tribe. The most well-known was the tale of Ling and the bl00d elf Mu.

Ling, while still underage, had foreseen that her destined partner was a bl00d elf, which she could not accept. So she joined her parents in a group opposing bl00d elves. No one knew that she had secretly sworn to kill the one destined for her, and she found him, Mu, a young bl00d elf.
She failed to kill him and was kidnapped instead. What followed was a tragic love-hate story.

Time passed quickly. When it was finally Yi Xian’s turn, the story had just ended. Dusk had fallen, and most of the elves had already left.

“Granny Zhi.”

“Granny Zhi.”

Tian Tian and Xiao Xiao called out together, rushing toward the elder sitting at the table. Granny Zhi laughed so hard her eyes nearly disappeared.

“You two little rascals, what do you want from me this time?”

Yi Xian’s eyes were drawn to the crystal ball on the table. She had not paid much attention to it before, but now she was curious. After all, both she and Duanmu Ya had touched it. The results had clearly been different. The answer to the mystery must lie in that crystal ball.

Granny Zhi looked at Yi Xian.

“You’re here for romance?”

Yi Xian shook her head.

“I want to know what happened after both my friend and I touched the crystal ball. It’s very important. Please, Elder.”

Granny Zhi dismissed the two young elves, then gently blew on the crystal ball. The green glow rippled like the surface of a vast lake, clearing like mist parting to reveal the moon.

What appeared before Yi Xian was a mighty lion. The familiar head could only be Lan Tong’s beast form. She was riding on the lion. Beside the lion was a cub carrying a chubby baby on its back. The baby had the same blue eyes as Lan Tong and Little Lan. Strangely, the child clutched a skull in both hands.

Yi Xian backed away in alarm, nearly falling. She steadied herself. This is the original host’s fate. It doesn’t belong to me.

She looked again. The background was filled with soft, glowing light. It was warm and comforting.

“What is this?”

“Keep watching.”

Granny Zhi brushed her hand over the ball. The image changed to red flames blazing upward, a powerful surge like something trying to break free. In the center was Duanmu Ya, struggling amidst the fire.

“What is this?”

Granny Zhi waved her hand. The ball returned to normal.

“These are your futures.”

Futures?

Yi Xian did not believe it.

“If that is the future, then what does it have to do with the theft? Do you mean the stolen item will be lost in the future?”

To her, this looked like a set of pre-recorded illusions meant to fool the weak-minded. If Duanmu Ya saw that, he would probably worry himself to death.

Granny Zhi was not offended.

“The item we lost is a treasure sought after by humans with wood spiritual roots. It greatly enhances their abilities. For you, it’s useless. Tell your friend to return it soon, and we might spare his life.”

When Yi Xian repeated this to Duanmu Ya, he cried out in frustration.

“I really didn’t steal anything!”

Yi Xian knew that. She had been with him the entire time. But it would take evidence to convince the elf elders. Or they had to find the missing treasure.

“What did she mean by something that enhances wood-rooted humans?”

Duanmu Ya looked at her as if she were from another world. Seeing she was serious, he got dramatic again.

“Watch this.”

He took a deep breath and spread his hands. A faint flame flickered from his left palm, forming a small fireball. From his right, a tender green sprout emerged like grass growing from stone. He strained, holding his breath, but everything vanished in a puff.

Yi Xian was not entirely sure what she had seen. The madwoman seized the opportunity to explain a bit about her spiritual roots. In addition to the five elements, there were six other types, which were wind, fire, lightning, light, darkness, and wood.

“So one of your roots is fire, and the other… wood?”

Duanmu Ya nodded.

“Yes, but my wood root is almost useless. I can only use it to identify herbs. I rely on the fire root for alchemy.”

Yi Xian thought his fire root seemed unreliable, too, but she did not say it out loud.

Suddenly, Duanmu Ya exclaimed and clapped his hands.

“I get it now. Most elves have wood roots. If the stolen item boosts wood-based cultivation, then it would be extremely valuable to them. That has to be it.”

Yi Xian followed the thread of logic and pieced it together.

“So the elders saw your dual roots in the crystal ball. Their treasure benefits the wood roots. That’s why they locked you up.”

This was outrageous. More wrong than any tragedy.

To clear Duanmu Ya’s name, the only solution Yi Xian could think of was to catch the real thief and recover the stolen item. But so much time had passed. Had the thief already left Elfa Forest?

Yi Xian thought for a long time about what the madwoman had taught her regarding the awakening of spiritual roots and the cultivation that would follow. Finally, she asked, “You said I’m a beast tamer. Does that mean I’ll also awaken spiritual roots?”

The madwoman stayed silent for a while before speaking in a hushed voice. “In theory, most beast tamers awaken their roots in childhood. Individuals with exceptional talent typically exhibit signs of their abilities early on. Take Duanmu Ya, for example. He was not wrong, as he was born with dual roots, trained as an alchemist, and raised with the utmost care by the Duanmu family. But someone like you… having your spiritual roots sealed is extremely rare.”

Yi Xian blinked. “You said my roots were sealed?”

The madwoman had sensed a powerful seal on Yi Xian from the beginning. She had originally hoped to exploit the crack in that seal to take over Yi Xian’s body. But she had misjudged the situation and ended up in a desperate trap herself.

“Yes. That seal is beyond my strength to break. However, every battle you’ve experienced lately has built up your experience. If nothing unexpected happens, your roots will awaken soon. Maybe the elves released you because they already foresaw which root you’d awaken.”

Which one?

What kind of spiritual root would she awaken?

The last image Yi Xian saw before falling asleep was the scene within Granny Zhi’s crystal ball. A peaceful family of four had left a deep impression on her. In her dream, she saw Lan Tong in the form of a lion, chasing her endlessly. She had to keep running. Eventually, she ran into complete darkness, where not even her fingers were visible. She could neither see nor hear anything. Cautiously, she fumbled through the darkness until she finally found a faint glimmer of light. Then she was abruptly awakened.

Tian Tian had slipped in through the window, and the morning sunlight accidentally shone on Yi Xian’s eyelids, startling her awake. Her many years of vigilance meant she never let her guard down easily.

Tian Tian stuck out her little tongue. “You weren’t getting up, so I came to check on you.”

Yi Xian sat up and realized it was already late. No wonder the little elf had sneaked in.

“Tian Tian, let me ask you something. Can your tribe’s valuable items be taken out of Elfa Forest?”

Tian Tian tilted her head, confused. “Why would anyone take them out of Elfa Forest? Sister Xian, is the outside world fun? Tell me about it! I heard you humans have lots and lots of tasty food.”

Yi Xian thought to herself, So she’s a little glutton after all. The outside world was not fun at all. It was full of danger, and a single misstep could cost a life. As for the human race… She had never even been to a human city. What could she say that wouldn’t mislead the girl?

After thinking carefully, she said, “Honestly, I think your elf tribe is just fine as it is.”

Tian Tian nodded eagerly, her curiosity quickly diverted by Yi Xian’s words.

After some playful chatter, Yi Xian managed to confirm that items could indeed be taken out of Elfa Forest. Thankfully, the chaos they had caused that day had drawn enough attention from the elves. Security had since been tightened. Even Lan Tong had been forcefully ejected by the elders.

First, the wolf tribe had invaded, then Lan Tong had charged in, followed by the fire they had set. Combined with the theft of the elves’ treasure, those incidents together made that day completely beyond explanation.

Yi Xian mulled things over in her room for a while, then went to visit Granny Zhi. The two spoke privately behind closed doors. Afterwards, she went to see Duanmu Ya, who looked particularly excited upon seeing her.

“So? So? Have you figured anything out? Are they planning to release me soon?”

Yi Xian looked at him gravely. Her stare made Duanmu Ya’s heart pound with unease.

“Yi Xian, say something. You’re making me nervous.”

Yi Xian sighed. She told him what she had just learned from Granny Zhi. “The elf elders have made a decision. They plan to publicly announce everything you did, and—”

Duanmu Ya immediately asked, “And what?”

“They’re going to turn you into fertilizer.”

Duanmu Ya froze. After a long pause, he dropped to his knees, dazed and devastated. All his former arrogance when he cursed out the beastmen was gone.

“I didn’t steal anything. Yi Xian, please tell them. I really didn’t. I don’t want to be made into fertilizer…”

Yi Xian had not expected the elves to be so brutal in their punishments.

After she returned from seeing Duanmu Ya, she refused the company of Tian Tian and Xiao Xiao, claiming she was tired. Behind closed doors, she used fabric borrowed from Xiao Xiao to sew a rough, palm-sized outfit. She quietly called for Lord Yin Bao.

It poked its head out from under the bed, looking extremely cautious. Within a minute, it had switched hiding spots three times. It was more rabbit than anything else.

“That fierce elf isn’t here?”

Yi Xian grabbed it and plopped it on the table. She forced the new outfit onto it. It was a bit large, so she added a few stitches and tied a little belt. Then she frowned at its overly conspicuous ears. Using leftover fabric, she crafted a green hat and gently placed it on its head, covering the ears. Now it looked just like a wolfish granny in a little green cap.

“Where’s Little Lan?”

Lord Yin Bao had not dared to come. Naturally, the little one could not come either. If the elves mistook them for intruding beastmen, they might also be turned into fertilizer.

Lord Yin Bao shook its ears but found the hat restrictive. It scratched at it with a paw. “Went with her mother.”

Yi Xian’s hand paused. “That’s fine.”

It was only during those two days when Yi Xian had fallen asleep that Lan Tong had stormed into the elves’ territory like a madwoman. The little one had followed her scent, found her injured, and had happily trotted after her. Even a dozen mouse brothers pulling on its tail could not stop it.

Lord Yin Bao looked guilty. “I’ve sent my little ones to deliver a purple fruit to her each day. That should be enough to feed her until she’s grown.”

Yi Xian adjusted the hat it had messed up. “Thank you for taking care of Little Lan. But I have an urgent task for you now. This outfit will help you hide in the grass. Be careful. The elves shouldn’t notice.”

She explained the mission. Perhaps out of guilt for losing the cub, Lord Yin Bao did not argue or demand anything in return. It simply leapt into a hole and disappeared.

The next day, just before the execution, Tian Tian told Yi Xian that Duanmu Ya had asked to see her one last time.

That night, Duanmu Ya’s eyes were bloodshot, likely from prolonged crying. His eyes were swollen beyond recognition. His hair was disheveled, and he looked utterly miserable.

When he saw Yi Xian, he clutched her wrist and shoved a storage pouch into her hand.

“Yi Xian, I thought about this all night. I was going to set this place on fire. But even if I did, I probably couldn’t beat these elves. I’d only make them angrier, and they might take it out on you instead. Then I thought, if my mother found out I was turned into fertilizer, she’d be devastated. You’re the only friend I’ve made here. If you ever return to human lands and happen to meet someone from the Duanmu family, you can take everything in this pouch. Just deliver a few herbs to them for me. You won’t need them anyway. That’s all I ask.”

Yi Xian glanced at the storage pouch he treasured so much. She opened her mouth but said nothing in the end.

Duanmu Ya rambled on. “Also, if they ask about me, don’t tell my mother how I died. Just say I was killed by those wolves from the wolf tribe. That way, my family will avenge me. They’ll be too busy to come after you.”

Yi Xian listened to his wild story-making with a smile and tears in her eyes. She patted his hand. “I promise.”

Duanmu Ya nodded. “I told you, I’ll make them pay. No one messes with a fourth-tier alchemist like me and gets away with it.”

Yi Xian felt deeply conflicted.

The elf elders had decided to first expose Duanmu Ya’s so-called crimes to the public. All the elves were summoned.

Fortunately, their gathering was aerial. Wings flapped everywhere as they hovered, whispering about the accused. On the ground, apart from Duanmu Ya, who had been dragged out and tied up, the area was empty. Yi Xian looked up and saw several four-winged elves.

She asked curiously, “There are four-winged elves?”

Tian Tian replied proudly, “Of course! I’m going to be one too someday. Do you know how many wings Granny Zhi has?”

Yi Xian looked over to see Tian Tian grinning secretly. She had never seen Granny Zhi’s wings before, but now she understood why elder elves always wore cloaks and walked in human form. Perhaps they had six wings… or even eight.

Clearly, the elves’ combat power should not be underestimated.

The elder who announced Duanmu Ya’s crimes was unfamiliar to Yi Xian. This elder also wore a black cloak. Their pale green hair trailed to the ground, and their face was stern as they read out the charges. At the end came the verdict.

Duanmu Ya, having cried and screamed already, suddenly reverted to his old fierce self. Just like when they first met, he roared again with full energy.

“You bunch of blind feathered freaks! I’m a fourth-tier human alchemist! Remember this, my Duanmu clan will avenge me!”

He hurled several fireballs at the elders. They were easily deflected.

“Take him away. Turn him into fertilizer.”

After Duanmu Ya’s matter was resolved, the elves returned to their usual peaceful routine. Fine wine, delicious dishes, music, and dancing filled the air, as if dragging someone off to be turned into fertilizer was no more remarkable than sweeping the floor. To the elves, it simply was not worth mentioning.

What stood out, however, was that once Duanmu Ya had been turned into fertilizer, the matter of the elves’ precious item also came to an end. The elf elders no longer brought it up. Even the patrols stationed at the exit of Elfa Forest were all quietly withdrawn.

Yi Xian still did not know what this “precious item” truly was. All she knew was that it had been enough to trade for Duanmu Ya’s life. She thought to herself, Sometimes, a human life really is worth so little.

“Sister Xian, come quickly.”

“What is it?”

Tian Tian tugged on her arm urgently, as though wishing she could stick a pair of wings on Yi Xian’s back. “Granny Zhi asked me to fetch you.”

Yi Xian realized this matter was finally drawing to a close.

The location was still the large square where Duanmu Ya’s execution had nearly taken place. Today, many elves again hovered in midair. Tian Tian squeezed her way through the crowd and even thoughtfully made room for her.

At the very center knelt an elf with pale green hair, their head bowed and brows lowered, with an expression that could not be read.
Beside the elf stood several elder elves shaking their heads and sighing, as if deeply disappointed.

As Yi Xian arrived, she saw Duanmu Ya being supported over, his face full of confusion.

He stared wide-eyed at the familiar scene before him, but this time, the person in the center was not him.
Turning his puzzled gaze to Yi Xian, he asked, “What’s going on? I… I’m not dead?”

Yi Xian smiled and stuffed the storage pouch back into his hands. “Take care of your own belongings.”

Granny Zhi walked up to them. “Honored guests, this matter arose from the failure of our elf tribe. We should have asked both of you to verify the final outcome. But, unexpectedly, a traitor emerged among us. Please forgive us for this disgrace.”

Yi Xian responded graciously. “Was the item recovered?”

Granny Zhi nodded with a gentle smile. “Thanks to your clever suggestion, it was retrieved safely.”

Yi Xian and Duanmu Ya were invited to return, though Duanmu Ya remained dazed and confused. “What suggestion? Yi Xian, did you keep something from me?”

Yi Xian chuckled. “You finally noticed.”

It all started when she decided to meet with Granny Zhi in secret. Had she simply returned the missing item like she did with Duanmu Ya’s storage pouch, it would have been a small favor. But doing so would not have cleared their names.

The elves still harbored suspicions about Duanmu Ya. Returning the item could have been taken as proof of guilt.

Why suffer for nothing?

After much thought, Yi Xian came up with a plan to play hard to get. Apart from Granny Zhi, she told no one, which ensured everything could unfold smoothly.

Duanmu Ya listened, stunned. “You… you…” He likely remembered how he had cried and laughed before his supposed execution, and his face flushed with embarrassment. After a moment, he asked, “But how did you know the real thief was still among the elves?”

Yi Xian had taken a gamble. The chaos that day had provided cover for some to escape Elfa Forest. She had placed her hopes on the strength of the elves, since even someone like Lan Tong had needed the elf elders to drive her away.

Imagine a human thief. How could they possibly escape unharmed?

She gambled that the thief had been injured and dared not flee with the item. So she secretly asked Lord Yin Bao to look for any injured elves. Coincidentally, one was indeed found.

Most importantly, the madwoman had reminded her that elves were not good at scheming.

Yi Xian had lived among the elves for days and still did not fully understand their territory. So how did the thief know where the treasure was? How had they escaped the elves’ search?

Sometimes she thought that these adorable little elves, when they folded their wings, looked very much like humans.

—

After listening to the entire plan, Duanmu Ya jumped up and hugged Yi Xian excitedly. Yi Xian instinctively twisted his wrist, kicked his ankle, and threw him hard over her shoulder.

He only had time to cry out before crashing to the ground like a sprawled frog.

Yi Xian realized she had overreacted and hurried to check on him. “Are you alright?”

He gasped, having barely caught his breath, and now felt like his whole body had fallen apart. With a pained expression, he held out a hand and wiggled his fingers. “I think I twisted my back. Can you… can you help me up?”

Thankfully, sprains and bruises were no big deal. Duanmu Ya was an alchemist, after all. He swallowed a few foundational pills and sniffed some of the elves’ medicine. “Not bad. All good stuff.”

Yi Xian couldn’t help but laugh. Aside from their initial imprisonment in that small tree cave, the elves had treated them quite well. At the very least, this place had given her a few nights of peaceful sleep.

“Now that the thief is caught, shouldn’t we leave?”

“What’s the rush? I still haven’t caught that Di Huang Jing.”

Duanmu Ya first enjoyed a hearty meal, then soaked in a hot bath. Only after all that did he sit formally in front of Yi Xian, looking restless.

“Yi Xian, there’s something I have to apologize for today.”

She looked at him suspiciously. “What is it?”

He scratched his head for a long time before finally making up his mind. Even then, he kept fiddling nervously with his fingers like a shy girl.

“That night you came to see me… I resented you. I hated you. I didn’t understand why the elves treated you like an honored guest while locking me in a place so dark I couldn’t see the sky. I thought you’d definitely rescue me, but you didn’t. The way you said nothing made me angry… I thought you were just like the others, pretending to be kind while secretly wishing for my death. But after a whole night of thinking, I realized, you’re the only one I know here. If I turned against you, the Duanmu family might never know where or how I died. But you could bring word back to them.”

Yi Xian listened calmly without interrupting.

“I placed a very strong enchantment on my storage pouch. If someone from the Duanmu family opens it, it will immediately strike you down. And if you tried to keep the pouch for yourself, the food inside is poisoned. Prolonged use would mean certain death.”

Duanmu Ya lowered his head, unable to look her in the eye. He moved his finger, scratching from the surface of the table to underneath it, as if doing so could give him strength.
“I’m sorry. I never imagined all this was part of your plan to save me. I judged you with a petty heart. I was the truly despicable one.”

The madwoman scoffed. “Typical spoiled aristocrat behavior. You never should have saved that Duanmu Ya.”

Yi Xian asked, “Why are you telling me this now?”

Duanmu Ya stole a glance at her like a child who had done wrong. “You risked everything to save me three times. And I still thought so badly of you. I felt horrible. If I kept it all bottled up, I’d suffer. I, Duanmu Ya, swear to the heavens that from this day forward, you, Yi Xian, will be my closest lifelong friend. No matter what happens, I will never betray you.”

Yi Xian sighed. Why does everyone on the Jiuxi Continent swear oaths so casually?

“Alright, I understand.”

Duanmu Ya looked uneasy and asked cautiously, “Are you completely disappointed in me now? Do you never want to deal with me again? If you’re angry, do whatever you want. I won’t fight back. Just don’t be afraid of me because of this. I know I went too far.”

Yi Xian smiled. “Since we’re close friends now, shouldn’t you take off that men’s outfit?”

This person loved to cry and shout, was fussy, timid, delicate, vain, and self-absorbed. With all the feminine traits and subtle gestures slipping through, even a blind person would notice. Yi Xian certainly did.

Seeing Duanmu Ya’s almond eyes widen in shock, Yi Xian continued, “Enough. It’s still more convenient to dress as a man when traveling. Get some rest and focus on catching that Di Huang Jing.”

“Huh?”

Yi Xian had another dream. In the dream, everything was pitch black, and only a few faint lights floated in from the distance. She followed the drifting lights suspended midair. Not far ahead, there seemed to be a bright lantern waiting for her.

“Yi Xian, Yi Xian. Are you awake?”

“I’m coming in now.”

Yi Xian jolted upright. Behind Duanmu Ya stood Tian Tian, who was trying to stop her. With her arms crossed and cheeks puffed in anger, she flapped her wings rapidly.

“Men and women should keep their distance! You rude thing, get out!”

Xiao Xiao quickly joined in. The two little elves, determined to protect Yi Xian’s modesty, each grabbed a bow and arrow and aimed straight at Duanmu Ya, forcing the impulsive intruder out.

Yi Xian thought the little elves were absolutely adorable.

Tian Tian mumbled in her ear, “That guy is awful. He actually tried to peek at you while you were sleeping.”

Xiao Xiao added, “He looks so polite, but who knew he could be that bad? What do humans call it? Something like refined…”

Yi Xian casually offered, “A refined scoundrel.”

From then on, the two elves only ever referred to Duanmu Ya by those words.

While Yi Xian washed and dressed, the two little ones had already told her all about the thief. Mu Feng, born of both human and elf bl00d, was never favored by his kin. The crime he committed this time was in the hope of ascending to the rank of Four-Winged Angel so he could earn some pride. The elders, considering it his first offense, expelled him from the elf clan.

Duanmu Ya sat on the steps of the wooden hut, chewing on a blade of grass as she stared off into space, clearly bored.

Yi Xian asked, “Well? Have you figured out how to catch the Di Huang Jing?”

Duanmu Ya patted the pouch at her waist. “I’ll use the Bao Hua Jade Dew again to lure it.” Then she gave a mysterious smile. “This time, I even invited some extra help. We’re sure to succeed.”

Because of the previous incident where Duanmu Ya had been locked inside a tree hollow, the elf elders, seeking to make amends, sent five adult elves and five little ones to join them on the hunt for the Di Huang Jing.

Yi Xian, just to be safe, also invited Lord Yin Bao to secretly watch over them.

The group set out in high spirits. Once they reached the place where the trap had been dug, each elf found a tree to hide in. Duanmu Ya crouched down and carefully laid out the trap once again, using the same red rope. If one looked closely, they would see that the rope had many knots, spaced about ten centimeters apart.

“This rope isn’t ordinary, is it?”

Duanmu Ya nodded. “It’s a Spirit-Binding Rope. It can hold down any spiritual creature. I’ve caught a lot of rare herbs with it. As long as it steps inside this circle, it won’t escape.”

Yi Xian said nothing. The two of them held their breath, staring at the porcelain bottle filled with Bao Hua Jade Dew. They waited for a long time, but nothing happened.

“Maybe we’re too far. It might not be able to smell it at all,” Yi Xian suggested.

“That’s possible. But this is where we encountered it last time, so it should still be around here. Blasted wolf beasts, of all times to show up, why did they have to come just when I was about to catch the Di Huang Jing? It drove me mad.”

Yi Xian tried to comfort her. “Isn’t patience the key to catching something like this? Take it slow, and you’ll catch it.”

Duanmu Ya scratched her head and explained, “You don’t get it. Spiritual herbs like this are rare and unpredictable. If your luck’s bad, you could squat here for ten days or half a month and still not see a trace. Last time I was this close.”

They had almost lost their lives too.

As it turned out, Duanmu Ya was right. They staked out the area for half a month and still never saw the shadow of the Di Huang Jing. With no choice, they remained among the elves for longer.

Yi Xian, on the other hand, had strange dreams every night. Endless darkness. Countless specks of white light floated toward her. In the distance, a lamp as bright as daylight shone, but no matter how far she walked, she could never reach it.

Each dream continued where the last one left off. After more than half a month of this, Yi Xian began to find it strange.

One day, she did not get up immediately after waking. She sat in bed in a daze. A beam of sunlight streamed through the window and landed on her blanket, just like the tiny white light in her dream floating in front of her.

Yi Xian reached out her finger. One of the glowing specks playfully bumped into it, then quickly darted away. Then one, two, three… more and more specks of white light flew toward her from the distance, gathering in her palm. They rolled around playfully and slid down her wrist.

She should not have been able to feel anything. Yet Yi Xian found that her fingertips tingled with a soft numbness wherever the light touched. It was oddly pleasant.

The Madwoman spoke. “So, it’s a Light Spirit Root.”