Star Luo City

"Boom...!!!"

Somewhere in the Star Dou Great Forest, the Black Dragon flying low through the air released the Titan Giant Ape from its jaws. He crashed to the ground, knocking down many trees.

The Titan Giant Ape rubbed his backside as he climbed up from the ground. Looking up at the Black Dragon, he asked in confusion, "Sister Zi Ji, why are you acting like this?"

The Black Dragon radiated black light in midair and returned to human form.

At his words, she grew even more furious. She floated before the Titan Giant Ape's eyes, pointed at his ears, and demanded, "What did I tell you? You can't reveal our Soul Beast identities in front of Old Pervert!"

"And yet you almost exposed My Lord! Do you know that would make My Lord angry?!"

"If My Lord gets angry, neither of us will get away with it!"

Zi Ji said in exasperation.

You're in the Star Dou Great Forest, so My Lord won't be too harsh on you. But this lady has to travel alongside My Lord!

Wouldn't that be courting death?!

The Titan Giant Ape nodded, finally realizing it. He scratched his large dark face. "Oh... so that's how it is..."

Zi Ji snapped, "And who told you to come over here? If Old Pervert noticed something suspicious, we'd be finished! You..."

Zi Ji raised her hand. The phantom of a Black Dragon appeared behind her, and she could not resist the urge to give the Titan Giant Ape a fierce lesson.

My Lord would definitely learn that she had transformed into her true form and taken the Titan Giant Ape away. Who knew how she might be punished after returning?

"I... I was standing up for Sister Zi Ji..." the Titan Giant Ape said honestly.

Zi Ji's raised hand could no longer come down after hearing that.

That was right. The Titan Giant Ape truly regarded her as an elder sister and had come specifically to stand up for her. How could she repay kindness with hostility?

"Even so... you shouldn't have said so much..."

Zi Ji's face reddened slightly. If Old Pervert learned that the Dragon Sister the Titan Giant Ape spoke of was her, who knew how he would punish her?

What if he made her lick Old Pervert's toes... It was not like she found them dirty, but what about her dragon clan's pride?!

The Titan Giant Ape continued:

"But wasn't it all true? He humiliated Sister Zi Ji like that. I won't stand for it! Even if I can't beat him, I still have to fight! It's outrageous! We have to take revenge!"

The Titan Giant Ape was filled with righteous indignation. Sister Zi Ji, whom he had only recently acknowledged, was a noble dragon.

After all, his elder brother Da Ming merely possessed the Azure Dragon bloodline!

But Sister Zi Ji was a pure-blooded true dragon on the same level as the Azure Dragon. As a Soul Beast, he admired her immensely, for dragons were the rulers of all beasts.

And yet someone had bullied Sister Zi Ji—a weak human, no less. How could the Titan Giant Ape accept that?!

Zi Ji's expression turned awkward. She stammered, wanting to clear up the misunderstanding, yet unwilling to shatter the image the Titan Giant Ape had of her.

She could not possibly say that everything she had said before had merely been her own imaginings, could she?

"Argh! This is so annoying!!!"

Back at the camp, the bonfire had not gone out. After the group returned and added more firewood, it grew bright once more.

The family of three from the Peerless Dragon Serpent was overwhelmed by the joy of having survived a disaster.

At the same time, all of them remained silent, feeling that the whole affair was absurd.

They had encountered a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, and the reason for its appearance was even more laughable.

Just as they had fallen into despair, a dragon-type Soul Beast stronger than the Titan Giant Ape had appeared.

The entire sequence of events had been far too bizarre.

"Little Friend Dan Heng, thank you. True friendship is revealed in adversity. I, Meng Shu, acknowledge you as a friend! From now on, if you ever encounter trouble, you may come to the Meng Family!"

Dragon Duke Meng Shu stepped forward and grasped Dan Heng's hand, speaking earnestly.

Snake Woman Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran also looked at Dan Heng, their eyes filled with warmth.

Dan Heng's conduct before a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast had completely won their respect and friendship.

"It was only my duty..." Dan Heng shook his head.

Though he was not completely certain, the Titan Giant Ape definitely had not appeared because of the Peerless Dragon Serpent. They had merely been caught up in it!

"I'm truly ashamed. I actually wanted to take what someone else loved..."

Dragon Duke Meng Shu pulled Dan Heng down to sit. They had not yet finished their roasted meat.

He praised Dan Heng's disciple again and hoped to invite Dan Heng to the Meng Family—not as a recruit, but as an honored retainer.

Dan Heng politely declined. This time, Dragon Duke Meng Shu did not press the matter.

He truly regarded Dan Heng as a friend now. They could even be considered comrades who had faced life and death together.

Zhu Zhuqing came out at this moment. Seeing that Dan Heng had returned safely, she retreated back into the carriage.

"Little Friend Dan Heng, you truly are fortunate. Where are you headed on this journey?" Dragon Duke Meng Shu asked curiously, his attitude warm.

Dan Heng answered, "We're heading to Star Luo City..."

"It's a long journey. Little Friend Dan Heng, why don't we travel together? As it happens, I have a brother over there whom I haven't seen in a long time."

Dragon Duke Meng Shu sighed.

Seeing that Dan Heng's family had not hired any powerful guards, he wanted to escort them for part of the way.

Dan Heng wanted to refuse, but the other party had not said they were specifically escorting him. What reason did he have to stop them from traveling the same route?

"Yiran, pour Little Friend Dan Heng a cup of wine to warm him up."

Dragon Duke Meng Shu said with a chuckle.

Meng Yiran pursed her lips, a shy smile on her face. Carrying a fragrant breeze with her, she came to Dan Heng's side and poured him a cup of wine. Looking at him, she said, "Brother Dan Heng, only now do I understand that compared to Soul Power, a man's courage is more important..."

"This first cup is for you!"

Meng Yiran tipped her head back and drank it all in one gulp.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu smiled faintly. He was now quite willing to bring Dan Heng and his granddaughter together.

After all, the Meng Family would need Meng Yiran to support it in the future. Rather than find a powerful Soul Master who would be difficult to control, it would be better to find someone like Dan Heng, whose character was beyond reproach!

Just then, a cold wind blew through.

Meng Yiran was about to say more when she suddenly sneezed.

"Huh? Why has it turned so cold?" Dragon Duke Meng Shu was somewhat worried. Hopefully, another Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was not coming!

Dan Heng sensed a trace of resentment and said softly, "The weather has turned cold. My wife is frail, so I need to go back and look after her."

Revealing his marital status, he rose and left.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu and the others all showed disappointed expressions.

What a pity!

Upon returning to the carriage, Dan Heng found that it was quite spacious. With blankets spread across the floor, there was enough room for four people to squeeze together and sleep without worrying about the night's cold.

As soon as he entered, Dan Heng looked at Gu Yuena.

Gu Yuena's face was slightly pale, and she looked very weak.

The moment he sat down, Gu Yuena burrowed into his arms without saying a word.

This was very unlike the Gu Yuena of old.

Dan Heng touched Gu Yuena's wrist and frowned slightly.

Gu Yuena's condition was terrible. She had barely been able to maintain a balance with her injuries before, but now her body was unstable and continuously worsening!