The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 34

“No way. Are you a cultivation maniac or something?”

“Yi Xian, Yi Xian, talk to me for a bit, will you? Otherwise, this journey is going to be unbearably boring.”

Duanmu Ya had noticed that no matter whether Yi Xian was standing, sitting, or resting, she was constantly absorbing Light Spirit Energy. What was even more terrifying was that the phantom beast she had tamed was exactly the same. It basked in the sunlight nonstop and ignored everyone. At first, Duanmu Ya had found the little pony adorable and even tried to play with it. But after a flash of light nearly blinded her and left her seeing double for days, she had not dared go near that ill-tempered creature again.

Yi Xian found herself distracted by Duanmu Ya’s clamoring voice. She also realized she had been overly absorbed in cultivation these past few days. “You were missing for so long. Didn’t the people from the caravan come looking for you?”

Duanmu Ya pouted. “They probably did, but they didn’t find me.”

Losing someone in Beast Tribe Territory was not all that unusual, especially since she had insisted on going to search for medicine. Who would have expected to be kidnapped by some clueless beastman and whisked away in an instant? Thinking back on it now, Duanmu Ya regretted not heeding the caravan’s earnest warnings. If she hadn’t coincidentally run into Yi Xian, she would likely have fallen into that person’s trap. “There are people in the caravan sent by my mother to protect me. They won’t leave until they find me.”

Yi Xian felt reassured. Sudden mishaps were what she feared most.

That day, the two of them took turns going to the river to wash up. Yi Xian found herself staring at her reflection on the water’s surface. Thinking of Lan Tong and her dogged pursuit, she couldn’t help wondering, Could it be that face she’s after?

But this face was far from breathtaking. Ancient tales spoke of men going to war over beauty, but Lan Tong was not someone who would allow herself to be shortchanged. So what was her real motive?

A glimmer of light flashed across the water’s surface. Yi Xian’s eerie sixth sense kicked in. She dodged just in time as a sharp arrow whooshed past her ear. A second and third followed in rapid succession, so fast it left her breathless.

She continued dodging, then flung a light orb toward the attacker. It missed. She hadn’t even gotten a clear look at their face before a figure darted through the forest like a leopard and vanished from sight.

“Yi Xian, are you alright?”

“Which bastard dares sneak attack like this? Come out if you’ve got the guts!”

Yi Xian’s heart was still racing. It was thanks to her body’s flexibility that she had dodged it all. She pulled the three arrows from the dirt behind her and compared them to the set Lord Yin Bao had provided. “They’re elf-made arrows.”

Duanmu Ya’s expression changed instantly. “I knew it! These people are all double-faced. Sweet on the surface, venom behind your back. We’ve barely left and they’re already trying to kill us.”

Yi Xian shook her head. “I don’t think they were sent by the elves.”

The elves had already recovered their precious artifact. If they wanted her dead, there had been countless opportunities while she was staying with them. Why wait until now?

Besides, the warmth she’d felt from them had not seemed fake.

“Ah, you’re bleeding.”

“What?”

Duanmu Ya pointed to her ear. Yi Xian reached up to feel a trace of bl00d. She had likely been grazed by a wind blade. Using Light Spirit Energy, she healed the wound in seconds.

Duanmu Ya watched in amazement. “If you keep this up, I’ll be out of a job. I used to think I was useful, but next to you, I feel like extra baggage.”

Yi Xian didn’t know how to respond. She only said, “That person will be back.”

Duanmu Ya cracked her knuckles. “Good. I hope he does. I want to see who he really is.”

That night, Yi Xian took the first watch while Duanmu Ya snored peacefully nearby. To avoid drawing large beasts, they hadn’t lit a fire. When it got too dark, Yi Xian used a light orb for illumination, which worked well enough.

Rustling sounds came from the forest now and then. At night, those sounds were magnified. Yi Xian hesitated, then woke Duanmu Ya, and the two went to check. They found nothing. But as soon as they sat back down, the rustling resumed. This happened over and over, leaving them sleepless all night.

Yi Xian was fine. After a day of cultivation, she felt so energized that even missing sleep didn’t tire her. But Duanmu Ya was different. She claimed she had once been a Beast Tamer with great promise in her family, but had no real talent in the field. After being cast aside, she’d grown resentful and disliked cultivation. She preferred dabbling in alchemy, which left her with poor spiritual strength.

Yawning multiple times, Duanmu Ya grumbled, “Yi Xian, this won’t do. That guy is clearly toying with us. We need to lure him out and deal with him.”

Yi Xian had already sent Lord Yin Bao and its mouse underlings to investigate several times. All they had discovered was that the attacker was fast and left no trace. Yi Xian had a few guesses about the person’s identity, but nothing certain until she caught him.

“How about this.”

“What?”

The next part of the journey, Duanmu Ya and Yi Xian put on a show of arguing, blaming each other loudly. After the quarrel, Duanmu Ya declared she wanted to part ways.

Yi Xian and the little pony took a different path. Perhaps because it had been absorbing Light Spirit Energy daily, the pony’s body had not only stabilized but also grown in size. A tiny horn tip had even begun to emerge from its forehead. Everything seemed to be progressing well.

Yi Xian circled it twice. “The sun is just right today. Shall we cultivate together?”

She and the pony picked a sunny spot. Yi Xian sat cross-legged, closing her eyes to sense the surrounding energy. The little pony knelt and lazily basked in the sunlight. In truth, it was napping.

This was the perfect time for an ambush.

Yi Xian had discovered these tiny Light Spirit Energys had immense utility. As long as she closed her eyes and focused, she could sense any presence out of sync with the forest’s natural flow. Aside from the massive Light Spirit Energy her pony radiated, the rest of the forest pulsed with gentle Wood Essence. One tree, however, gave off a presence that didn’t belong.

Had it not been for the thin swirl of familiar black aura around him, she might not have spotted him. In her eyes, that dark aura repelled the Light Spirit Energy, creating a visible gap.

She quietly recited a Phantom Beast Spell and, just as the intruder crept closer, she transformed into a tiny flying insect. This was currently her fastest transformation, likely due to the small size and ease of control. She had never again managed to transform into something large like that first gorilla.

Where is she?

A male elf with pale green hair flapped his wings in midair, his handsome face filled with confusion.
He had just landed where Yi Xian had been when a palm-sized light orb shot at him. He dodged narrowly, only for two more to come at him from both sides.

Each attack was a precise payback for the arrows he had once fired at her.

Yi Xian had planned to capture him while he was distracted. But the little pony was too aggressive. Especially when facing an elf tainted by darkness, a Light Spirit Energy creature’s hatred was instinctive. Before Yi Xian could stop it, the pony stood up and chased the airborne elf, hurling light orbs and forcing him to flee.

The elf dodged clumsily, only to run straight into Duanmu Ya, who had been waiting.

“Aha, it’s you.”

“Move aside, little pony.”

From who knows where, Duanmu Ya pulled out a red net. With a swift throw, she trapped the fleeing elf. The net shrank on its own, binding the elf tightly.

Yi Xian returned to her human form and quickly stopped the pony, which was already gathering another light orb with its sharp little horn. “You can play later. We have questions first.”

Duanmu Ya examined the captive. “Yi Xian, he’s an elf.”

Yi Xian nodded. “I know who he is.”

The male elf glared at her. “Despicable human.”

Duanmu Ya kicked him several times. “Who are you calling despicable? Why the grudge against us? Why stalk and harass us like that?”

This elf looked different from when Yi Xian had first seen him. His pale green hair was streaked with red. A dense black aura coiled between his brows, and his gaze was full of hatred.

This wasn’t harassment. He had intended to kill her.

After Yi Xian had healed the elves with Light Spirit Energy, Xiao Xiao had told her about a splinter group among the elves. Though called a branch, they were really traitors exiled from Elfa Forest. They had a name called the Bl00d Elves.

Bl00d Elves were elves who had fallen into darkness, driven by hatred and bitterness. Their actions tended to be extreme.

Yi Xian searched her memory and finally recalled the elf’s name. “You are Mu Feng.”

His gaze faltered for a moment.

That reaction confirmed her guess. She could only laugh at the absurdity.

“Mu Feng? Who’s that?” Duanmu Ya asked.

Yi Xian smiled. “To be precise, this is the elf who almost turned you into fertilizer.”

She turned back to Mu Feng. “If we’re talking about despicable, dragging us into your mess is far worse.”

Duanmu Ya quickly understood and glared at him with wide eyes. “You thieving scum! You nearly got me killed and now you dare show your face? I’ll kill you!”

To keep her from beating him to death on the spot, Yi Xian held her back. “Hit him later.”

Mu Feng shouted, “The reason I’m like this now is all because of you. If not for you, I would’ve already become a four-winged elf!”

Duanmu Ya grew even more furious. “You are the most shameless elf I’ve ever seen. No wonder your kin banished you from Elfa Forest.”

That hit a nerve. Mu Feng twisted his mouth, his expression turning savage. Yi Xian watched as the black aura slithered across his face, making him look terrifying.

“Little pony.”

“Aargh—”

A glowing orb struck Mu Feng’s body. The black aura scattered, and he screamed as if he were being burned alive.

Duanmu Ya was startled by the outburst Mu Feng made. She touched her own face, remembering how she had also been struck by a light orb from the little pony once, though it had only made her dizzy. “Stop pretending. I’m warning you now, it won’t work. We’re not going to let you off.”

Yi Xian did not think he was pretending. She was starting to believe in how deadly light could be against dark forces. She said with some regret, “The Elf Elders only spared your life because you hadn’t committed any serious crimes these past years. They merely banished you from Elfa Forest, but you clearly didn’t treasure that mercy at all.”

The elves had definitely shown bias in handling the theft. But since Duanmu Ya and Yi Xian had burned down over a dozen treefolk first, and the Elf Elders had let that go, Yi Xian decided not to intervene further in the matter, even if she still felt uneasy about it.

Now, seeing Mu Feng like this, she couldn’t decide whether she felt disappointed or sorry for the other elves.

Mu Feng was clutching his face and rolling on the ground in pain. His pointed ears, a mark of his elven bl00d, were visible. His bl00d-red eyes glared at Yi Xian with such fury that it seemed they might bore a hole right through her.

Duanmu Ya, now unsure, whispered, “What’s going on?”

Yi Xian gave her a strange look. “You don’t see the black aura on his face? He must have willingly fallen and is in the process of becoming a Bl00d Elf. That would make the Light Spirit Energy far more harmful to him than to ordinary people.”

Duanmu Ya crouched down beside him and said, “No, I don’t see any black aura.”

Yi Xian sighed. “It has been scattered by the Light Energy. Light and dark forces are clashing inside him, which is why he’s suffering like this.”

Last time, she had used Light Spirit Energy to heal elves injured by Bl00d Elves. This time, it was being used directly against a Bl00d Elf. It was the first time she had faced a situation like this, and she had no idea what to do with this particular elf.

Dragging an adult elf while traveling was no small task. Duanmu Ya soon grew tired and kept shouting about it. Elves weren’t light, and dragging one even a few meters was exhausting.

One day, after seeing Lord Yin Bao crawl out from a tree hole, Duanmu Ya had an idea.

“Do something for me and I’ll pay you. How about it?”

Lord Yin Bao stood on Yi Xian’s shoulder and spent a long time squeaking out terms with Duanmu Ya. Yi Xian had to help translate, and in the end, Lord Yin Bao successfully bargained several spirit herbs out of Duanmu Ya’s storage pouch. Later, Duanmu Ya complained to Yi Xian, “Why are all your little pets so clever? They even know how to negotiate!”

Yi Xian only smiled and said nothing.

After that, Mu Feng was carried by a team of mouse underlings as they made their way to Yars City. When he realized he was being transported by low-level creatures, his fury was unmatched. He hurled insults at Yi Xian and Duanmu Ya nonstop.

Naturally, Duanmu Ya was delighted by his frustration. She even brought a mouse up to his face now and then to make him nauseous.

One day, Yi Xian used Light Energy again to disperse the black aura on Mu Feng’s face. His screams were piercing, more like a beast’s howl than a man’s. Duanmu Ya covered her ears in annoyance. “Yi Xian, why don’t we just leave him here to rot? Bringing him along is such a hassle.”

Mu Feng hugged his head and began slamming it into the ground with all his strength, bl00d flowing freely. “Kill me. Just kill me already!”

Yi Xian remained calm. “The more you wish for death, the more I will deny it to you.”

Duanmu Ya thought this wasn’t like Yi Xian at all. Still, she agreed that simply killing him would be too easy. But watching him suffer so badly also made her anger slowly melt away.

Eventually, she noticed something.

The black aura on Mu Feng’s face began to appear every three days instead of five. Each time it emerged, the little pony blasted it with light orbs. If not, Yi Xian would purify him more gently with her light-based healing. Compared to the pony’s brute force, Yi Xian’s approach was practically kind.

She pulled Yi Xian aside. “So that’s why you suddenly grew so sadistic. You’ve been doing good deeds behind my back.”

Yi Xian didn’t deny it. “He delivered himself to me. Why waste such a great chance for practice? I know little about dark forces. I want to learn what else Light Energy can do besides healing.”

Duanmu Ya pressed, “So what else can it do?”

Yi Xian replied, “Purify.”

That was the conclusion she had drawn from experimenting on Mu Feng. The Light Spirit Energy was driving out the darkness from his body. It was painful, but the results were surprisingly effective.

Duanmu Ya repeated the word thoughtfully. “Nice name. Is that your Light Energy’s second ability? So, what are you going to do with this Bl00d Elf?”

Yi Xian had never been someone who relished bloodshed. Unless necessary, she avoided killing. Honestly, it was Duanmu Ya who had more reason to hate Mu Feng. “If the darkness can be completely purged from him, then he can’t really be considered a Bl00d Elf anymore. And elves… are our friends.”

Duanmu Ya couldn’t argue but still felt it was letting Mu Feng off too easily. She stomped off and beat him up again.

After observing him for several days, Yi Xian noticed the black aura had almost completely vanished from Mu Feng’s body. His once-bl00d-red eyes had returned to their clear state. She even increased the number of daily light orb purifications from one to two or three.

Mu Feng, having felt the full effects of these treatments, no longer screamed. From unbearable agony to a strange feeling of renewal, he now felt as if reborn. “What are you really trying to do?”

Duanmu Ya glared at him. “You’ve got the nerve to act innocent? Yi Xian is saving you, idiot.”

Yi Xian pulled her back. “Bringing you along has been a waste of our strength. Mu Feng, you are not like this because of me or Duanmu. This is the result of your own choices. If you truly want respect, then become a four-winged elf by your own strength. Falling into darkness is the path of the weak.”

Yi Xian added, “Let him go.”

Reluctantly, Duanmu Ya retracted her Binding Spirit Rope. The red net transformed into a knotted red cord that wrapped around her wrist. “Get lost. And don’t let me see you again.”

Mu Feng sat on the ground in silence. Even after their figures disappeared from sight, he did not move.

—

Yars City, Caravan Outpost

“Lady Xue, Young Master Duanmu is back.”

“Huh?”

“Right at the gate. And she brought someone with her. If not—”

Before the words were finished, the figure had vanished.

After months of travel, Yi Xian and Duanmu Ya finally returned to Yars City. But just as they reached the gates, two towering beastmen blocked their way. Entry required a beastman-issued token.

Just as Yi Xian considered asking Lord Yin Bao to steal one, they encountered a mercenary group sent to search for Duanmu Ya. That was how they finally made it to the caravan outpost.

No sooner had they arrived than a fiery figure burst out the door. She rushed over, anxiously inspecting Duanmu Ya from head to toe. “Let me have a good look. Are you hurt? Did anything happen to you?”

Duanmu Ya nodded and opened her mouth to complain, but before she could, her ear was grabbed and she was dragged inside. The trembling woman who had just moments ago been filled with worry now roared like a lioness. “You little brat! Do you know how many places we searched near Yars City? Do you know how many nights we stayed up worrying? Do you know Ming Feng’s mercenary team still hasn’t returned because they’re out looking for you? Huh?”

Yi Xian jumped in surprise. She had expected Duanmu Ya to lash out in return, but instead, Duanmu Ya only cried out, “Auntie Xue, let go! My ear is going to fall off!”

Once the woman let go, Duanmu Ya immediately clung to her. “Auntie Xue, you think I didn’t want to come back? I was abducted by beastmen and nearly couldn’t escape. If not for Yi Xian, you and Mother would never have seen me again.”

Only then did the woman, Lady Xue, turn her attention to Yi Xian. “So this is the one?”

Duanmu Ya nodded and pulled Yi Xian over. “Yi Xian, this is the Auntie Xue I told you about. You should call her Auntie Xue from now on.”

Yi Xian was caught between laughter and helplessness. The woman quickly cupped her fists and said, “Miss, thank you for saving Xiao Ya. If you ever need help, you may come to us and use my name, Lady Xue.”

There was an undertone of dismissal in her words.

Duanmu Ya noticed and quickly pulled her aside. “Auntie Xue, Yi Xian is the one I swore to the Heavenly Dao to befriend. She is coming back to the Human Territory with us. That is final.”

Lady Xue’s face darkened. “Swearing to the Heavenly Dao? That’s not something to take lightly. You fool.”

Duanmu Ya said, “You don’t know Yi Xian yet. But once you do, you’ll definitely like her.”

Lady Xue huffed, looking at Yi Xian with clear suspicion. “You’ve only known her a few months. What do you really know? Do you know why she was among the beastmen?”

Duanmu Ya had no answers. She had asked Yi Xian about her past many times, but Yi Xian had never shared it. “Everyone has secrets. When I first met her, I didn’t tell her everything either. Auntie Xue, don’t worry. Once you’ve spent time with her, you’ll see I’m right.”

Lady Xue seemed unconvinced, but had no choice for now.

What followed was a long period of Duanmu Ya venting her grievances, swearing to find the beastmen who had kidnapped her and make them pay. She dramatically described their cruel hunting customs, riling everyone up. Then she moved on to the complicated events involving the elves…

Before they knew it, night had fallen.

Later, Yi Xian was pulled aside by Lady Xue, who offered more thanks. Despite her words, the emotional distance remained. Yi Xian found this kind of wariness more comforting than fake warmth.

Back in their room, Yi Xian finally felt at ease. Even in Elfa Forest, she had never felt so relaxed. Humans were indeed social creatures. Only among their own kind could they feel true belonging.

And she was getting closer to that sense of belonging every day.

Yi Xian had finally enjoyed a rare chance to sleep in. When she woke, she found that the little pony had once again slipped outside without a sound to bask in the sun. More importantly, this time it was not just sunbathing. It was engaged in a fierce exchange with a human cultivator.

That person appeared to be a Wind Spirit Master, wielding wind as blades, each one slashing mercilessly toward the little pony.

Although the little creature had grown slightly thanks to absorbing plenty of Light Spirit Energy, it was still just a cub. Its light-charging intervals took several seconds, while the opponent’s wind blades were endless, slicing through the air one after another. Fortunately, the little pony used its agility to dodge the attacks and came away mostly unscathed.

Still, the whole scene reeked of an adult bullying a child. Yi Xian casually hurled a light orb toward the man. The orb collided with one of the wind blades mid-air and dissipated just like that.

It was exactly like the time Duanmu Ya’s fireball had been canceled out. They neutralized each other.

Upon seeing Yi Xian appear, the man became even more interested. He changed the direction of his attacks and launched the blades at her instead. Yi Xian had been training diligently lately. Summoning light orbs was almost second nature now, and with her nimble body, the two of them quickly ended up evenly matched.

“Hey, Scarface! Stop bullying Yi Xian.”

“What do you mean bullying? It’s clearly just a friendly sparring match.”

“I saw it with both eyes.”

Duanmu Ya’s fireball cut short what he called sparring. Then she gave them both a quick introduction.

Scarface, the Wind Spirit Master, was one of the mercenaries hired by the caravan for protection. He had grown curious about Yi Xian’s skills after hearing her and Duanmu Ya’s adventures, so he had waited early in the morning and just so happened to see the little pony basking in the sun.

Yi Xian knew the pony’s temper well. If anything blocked its sunlight, it would get irritable. With its beautiful, crystal-clear appearance, it attracted attention easily. Eventually, it would return the favor by gifting a light orb. Even Lord Yin Bao, Di Huang Jing, and Duanmu Ya had all received the blessing of its light.

That was how this human-versus-pony sparring match came about.

It had been a long time since Yi Xian fought anyone. This morning’s skirmish brought back memories of her past life. She did not mind Scarface’s antics. People who loved martial arts were often unbothered by such details.

Duanmu Ya changed the subject. “Brother Ming Feng still isn’t back?”

Scarface replied, “He went deep into the Kara Plains to look for you. That place is extremely dangerous. You really caused us a lot of trouble, you know.”

For once, guilt showed on Duanmu Ya’s face. “It’s my fault.”

Yi Xian had heard of the Kara Plains from the madwoman. It was said to be the kingdom built by goblins. Although goblins only ranged from ten to thirty centimeters tall, they were numerous. Officially classified as low-level spirits, their intelligence was far from low.

From Duanmu Ya’s expression, Yi Xian realized that this Brother Ming Feng must be important to her. “Don’t worry. Since we two made it back safely, they will too.”

“Let’s hope so.”

After a simple breakfast, Duanmu Ya perked up and pulled Yi Xian outside, saying she wanted to show her around. She did not want Yi Xian to leave the beast territory with regrets.

Yars City was just as bustling as Yi Xian had imagined. Because of the trading routes, even rare races were visible here. For instance, the dwarves approaching them. They were stocky and solidly built, but their height was… questionable. The shorter ones barely reached Yi Xian’s knees; the taller ones barely made it to her waist.

When placed beside the towering beastmen, the contrast was hilarious.

Yi Xian now understood why beastmen and dwarves did not get along. That height difference was an insult to both.

Duanmu Ya whispered, “Yars City may not be as lively as our human markets, but Yi Xian, let me tell you, they’ve got all sorts of strange trinkets here. If you dig around a bit, you might find some real treasures.”

Yi Xian felt a little awkward. She patted her pouch. She only had a handful of copper coins that clinked together noisily.

Duanmu Ya instantly caught on to her predicament. “Yi Xian, do you know who you’re with right now?”

Yi Xian smiled. She already knew Duanmu Ya was about to brag. As expected, Duanmu Ya patted her chest proudly. “A fourth-tier alchemist. One random auction item from me is enough to cover your expenses for a whole year. If you’re my friend, don’t be stingy. Otherwise, I’ll get angry. Come on, pick whatever you like. We’ll buy it all.”

They visited the dwarves’ workshop first. Most of the weapons were heavy, like battle axes and iron hammers. Yi Xian tried lifting one and failed instantly.

Duanmu Ya explained, “These are mostly for beastmen. For us humans, they’re pretty useless.” She turned to the dwarves. “Show us your lighter weapons. The good ones. Special ones. Especially anything suitable for women.”

Yi Xian felt like she was trailing behind a rich heiress. The kind who waved her hand and bought everything. It was surprisingly fun.

The dwarves quickly laid out a selection of light weapons and small hidden tools before them. Duanmu Ya eagerly picked through them, asking questions about everything like a curious child.

Yi Xian’s eyes stopped on a pair of ladies’ bracelets. She picked them up. They were heavy. “What are these? Hidden weapons?”

A dwarf straightened the bracelets into rods. Hidden clasps connected them into a hairpin with an antique design.

Duanmu Ya inspected it closely. “You like this?”

Yi Xian shook her head. A dagger would be more practical. The piece was exquisite but too complicated. Life and death came down to a split second. There would be no time to fiddle with it. “Not really. Let’s check out other shops.”

Only after confirming a few times did Duanmu Ya finally give up on buying it.

Yi Xian asked, “Why don’t you pick a weapon for yourself?”

Duanmu Ya wiggled her hand, revealing the strange red cord on her wrist. “With this, I have all I need.”

Yi Xian sighed. “It can grab a spirit herb or catch a sprite, sure. But does it do anything else?”

Duanmu Ya scratched her head. “I’m an alchemist. As long as I can catch the herbs I want, that’s enough. As for everything else, my mother will arrange guards for me.”

Yi Xian felt like she had wasted her breath.

They wandered into a shop run by the sea folk. Most of the items were beads. Row after row of variously colored beads, ranging in size from a thumbnail to a head.

Yi Xian kept looking until she found one that matched the color of the little pony’s eyes. “What’s this?”

The sea merchant replied, “Dragon’s Tear.”

Yi Xian was surprised. “A dragon’s tear?”

Duanmu Ya grabbed it to inspect. “There’s no way this tiny thing is a dragon’s tear. I don’t believe it.”

The sea folk, seeing their excitement, quickly explained. The so-called Dragon’s Tear was not a real dragon’s tear. It was a bead extracted from the brain of a snake. These were rare and had to be taken while the snake was still alive. If the snake died first, the bead became useless.

Yi Xian found it interesting. “Are all of these Dragon’s Tears?”

The sea folk shook their head. “Only the one in your hand. It chooses its fated owner.”

Duanmu Ya immediately urged, “Buy it! We’re getting this one. Just like that saying, out of three thousand rivers, we take only one ladle.”

Yi Xian was speechless.

Duanmu Ya held the bead up to the sun for a long time but found nothing unusual. She toyed with it for a while before losing interest. “I’ll hold onto this for you. Once we’re back in the Human Territory, the first thing we’ll do is get you a storage pouch. Then we’ll get you clothes, jewelry, food, and weapons.”

Yi Xian let her plan everything without interruption. Sometimes it felt nice to be cared for this way.

Duanmu Ya was bouncing around and not even looking at where she was going. Just as she was about to bump into a beastman, Yi Xian pulled her back. Duanmu Ya jumped in surprise. The beastman loomed over them with a grim face.

Duanmu Ya scowled. “We didn’t even bump into you. What are you staring at?”

Yi Xian thought it best not to stir up trouble. Fighting in a beastman city would not end well for humans. They were about to return home. It was better not to create any complications.

She tugged on Duanmu Ya’s sleeve. “Let’s go check over there.”

Just as they prepared to take a detour, the beastman blocked their path again and pointed at Yi Xian. “You cannot leave.”

Duanmu Ya snapped, “Why not?”

Yi Xian remained calm. “Why?”

The beastman revealed two scars on his wrist. Then he added a fresh one. A single drop of bright red bl00d floated from his hand and flew straight at Yi Xian.

The madwoman, who had been sulking, suddenly spoke. “Damn it. That’s the Snake Tribe’s Bloodline Soul Hunt.”

Yi Xian dodged the bl00d drop. “What the hell is that?”

“Remember that snake beast you killed while fleeing from Guata City? This guy is its kin. Judging by those two older scars, he’s been tracking you from Guata City. He’s certain you’re the one.”

Yi Xian groaned. Kill one, and another comes. It never ends.

Duanmu Ya snapped out of her daze and quickly hurled a fireball that vaporized the bl00d drop instantly.

The beastman charged forward to grab Yi Xian.

Duanmu Ya stepped between them. “What do you think you’re doing? This is Yars City. Fighting is forbidden here. Are you picking on us because we’re human?”

Yi Xian had been ready to fight, but after Duanmu Ya’s warning, the beastman actually backed off. He pointed at Yi Xian. “A runaway slave. The City Lord will not let you go. Just you wait.”

After he left, Duanmu Ya turned to Yi Xian. “What City Lord? What runaway slave? Yi Xian, are you hiding something from me? You can tell me. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

Yi Xian was touched. But secrets? She had plenty.

Like how her original body had birthed a little beast cub. That brute still wanted her to bear more…

Yi Xian shared a vague version of her escape from Guata City with Duanmu Ya, leaving out the more serious details. “It’s not looking great. If the City Lord really shows up, she won’t let me off so easily.”

Duanmu Ya sneered. “They just want some treasure. They’ll pretend it’s about their dead tribesman, but really they want us to hand you over so they can interrogate you and take the loot.”

Yi Xian had to admit that made sense.

Duanmu Ya grabbed her arm. “We need to talk to Auntie Xue. Time to make a plan. Don’t worry. We’re not the type to back down.”

When Lady Xue heard, her brow furrowed. “A runaway slave? Do you know who that beastman was?”

Yi Xian answered honestly. “A big lion.”

Lady Xue pressed, “What kind of lion?”

Yi Xian had always thought Lan Tong’s beast form was strange. But now, being questioned, she did not want to say too much. “A golden lion from a remote little city.”

Lady Xue’s frown deepened. “The lion tribe holds high status among the beastmen. But since she’s from a backwater town, it should not be a huge problem.”

Yi Xian agreed. She figured that brute had been injured and returned to Guata City with the cub. They would settle down there.

But within a few days, that illusion was shattered.

A crowd of beastmen gathered outside the outpost. Just standing there, they radiated pressure. Clearly, they had come to cause trouble.

Leading them was the same beastman who had bothered her days ago. Standing beside him was a beautiful woman Yi Xian recognized instantly. It was the City Lord who had once tried to charm her with seductive magic. So they really had come for her, just like Duanmu Ya predicted.

Lady Xue stepped forward. “Why have you all gathered here today?”

The beastman took a bold step. “We want her.” He pointed straight at Yi Xian.

Lady Xue replied, “Do you know who she is? Her name? Why should we hand her over to you?”

The beastman remained unfazed. “She killed a member of our Snake Tribe. Hand her over, and we’ll consider the matter closed. Otherwise, don’t blame us for what happens next.”

Duanmu Ya was ready to launch a fireball but Yi Xian held her back. The others at the outpost were just as angry. Everyone wanted to step forward and challenge the beastmen.

Just then, Yi Xian felt something strange at her feet. She looked down.

A dusty little cub was tugging at her pant leg with furry paws, tilting its head and blinking at her innocently.

It felt like a thunderclap in her brain.

Her scalp tingled. She even wondered if she was hallucinating. After all, Guata City was far from Yars City. How had this little cub made it all the way here without Lord Yin Bao’s protection?

Unless… that brute Lan Tong was nearby too…?

================

Yi Xian: The Dragon’s Tear looks like the little one’s eyes. Beautiful.

Duanmu Ya: Just like that big fool’s eyes. Truly, among the three thousand rivers, I only take one scoop. I was not wrong!