Xu Chunniang's brows furrowed slightly. After entering the secret forest, she had only killed a desolate beast in self-defense. No matter how one looked at it, that could hardly be called wanton slaughter, could it?
She explained, "You misunderstand. I have not slaughtered desolate beasts indiscriminately."
"Heh, you human cultivators are the most sinister and deceitful. Do you think I would believe your sophistry?"
The Cloud-Winged Desolate Beast's eyes burned with even greater fury. It rolled about desperately, trying to throw the person on its back off, yet it never got its wish.
Xu Chunniang's brow creased more deeply. She felt that the other party must have misunderstood something.
A vague thought faintly surfaced in her mind.
But before she could think further, Little Orange, who had been tied to her back, suddenly woke up.
After realizing the situation, Little Orange did not panic. Instead, it spoke to the Cloud-Winged Desolate Beast.
"Every grievance has its debtor, every debt has its creditor. The intruders you seek truly are not us."
As it spoke, Little Orange revealed its true form, spread its wings, and flew before the Cloud-Winged Desolate Beast.
"You are a desolate beast too! No, that is not right..."
A look of astonishment flashed through the Cloud-Winged Desolate Beast's eyes. "Part of the blood flowing within you belongs to desolate beasts, yet you are not one. What exactly is going on?"
"Because in the distant future, pure-blooded desolate beasts like you will have long since ceased to exist."
Little Orange looked at the Cloud-Winged Desolate Beast, its gaze filled with complicated emotions. "Even the land beneath our feet is an illusion."
"Impossible!"
The Cloud-Winged Desolate Beast rejected this outright, and its gaze toward Little Orange became wary once more.
"I do not know why you chose to keep company