Can We Skip the Hug?

"Rustle... rustle..."

Amid the sound of grass and leaves brushing together, Fang Li made his way down the mountain path.

"Chirp, chirp..."

Along the way, dark shadows would occasionally block his path or dart out from the forests on either side. Yet before they could attack, they were frightened away by threads of killing intent. He never even got a clear look at them; they seemed to be nothing more than insignificant monsters.

Fang Li was basically walking along the edge of the forest, so it was only natural that he encountered weak monsters.

The truly powerful monsters should have been hidden deep within the forest, not lingering around its outskirts.

Originally, Fang Li had wanted to get a look at the monsters of this world, which was why he had not simply flown away. But the young girl following behind him had once again ruined that plan without even trying.

"Riiip..."

The sound of fabric tearing rang out.

"Ah!"

Alice's startled cry followed immediately after.

Fang Li stopped, then turned around with a somewhat helpless expression to look behind him.

There, Alice was clutching her holy sword like a pillow, trembling as she followed behind Fang Li.

The sound of tearing fabric had come from her clothes being caught and ripped.

What Alice wore was not anything practical, but a light and luxurious formal dress.

And this was no ballroom. It was merely some unknown stretch of wilderness in the mountains.

As she walked through the forest thick with trees, Alice's dress naturally caused her all kinds of inconvenience. One moment, her skirt would be snagged on a branch; the next, the fabric would be torn by something sharp. By now, her clothes were riddled with holes and ragged tears.

"Mm..."

Alice could only hug her holy sword, which