Beautiful Creatures Among the Red Maples

Ruan Rou's death didn't cause much of a stir; it was just another common traffic accident.

A few sighs and murmurs, a few curses directed at the reckless driver, and that was all the ripple it made.

However, compared to others who heard the news, Xiao Xiao naturally felt the impact more deeply.

He had a chance to save this girl.

This thought constantly lingered in his mind, tossing and turning him in his sleep, casting a faint shadow of weariness and gloom over his brow.

He had discovered the monster possessing the girl, and he had even fought it.

But this only intensified his current frustration and unwillingness to accept it.

Threads of guilt clung to him like a parasite. Intellectually, Xiao Xiao knew that even with his recent encounters and bodily changes, he hadn't become a superhero. He was still an ordinary person. There was nothing he could do but accept the outcome, admitting his helplessness and powerlessness.

Emotionally, however, the negative feelings inevitably made his limbs go cold and filled him with a suffocating tightness in his chest.

A feeling of being unable to vent, pressing down on him, making him feel incredibly uncomfortable.

He knew he was getting stuck in a rut.

Even knowing this, he couldn't escape this state for a while.

This was a living person's life!

"Third Brother, what's been wrong with you these past few days? Did something happen?" Zhao Luzheng asked with a worried expression.

"Yeah, Third Brother, you've been acting like a gloomy shut-in lately. Come on, tell big brother, and I'll help you sort it out." Zhuge Yun slung an arm around Xiao Xiao's shoulders, adopting a posture of an elder offering comfort, though his overly exaggerated expression made him seem unreliable.

"Did some idiot dare to bully you, Third Brother? Who was it? Do they not want to live anymore?" Eldest Brother clashed his fists together, looking ready for a fight. His tall, sturdy build was quite intimidating.

Xiao Xiao felt a mix of amusement and warmth.

"I'm fine."

"Just some things I haven't been able to figure out lately."

"Oh? Have you figured them out now?"

"I've figured them out."

Xiao Xiao curved his lips into a smile, the gloominess on his brow vanishing, leaving only a clear brightness.

He had never been one to be overly critical of himself. The past few days of turmoil were enough.

He certainly didn't like dwelling on sadness or blaming others.

Given the circumstances, thinking more about it wouldn't change anything.

He had always believed in the saying: "When successful, help the world; when unsuccessful, cultivate oneself."

All he could do was to do his best and leave the rest to fate.

In Yanjing in November, there was one place that had to be visited: Xiangshan Park in the western suburbs.

At this time, Xiangshan was covered in red maple leaves, brilliant like the morning glow, fiery and vibrant, dyeing half the sky red.

Strolling along the mountain paths, one could see the forests ablaze with color, the autumn leaves redder than February flowers.

It was the weekend, and the annual maple-viewing season. Even though the sky was just beginning to brighten and the crisp, cold air had yet to dissipate, Xiangshan was already teeming with tourists, a sea of people.

This scene, while lacking the quiet elegance of a maple forest, offered a lively and festive atmosphere.

Xiao Xiao was from Yanjing. Ever since his parents first brought him to Xiangshan, he had fallen in love with the red maples here.

Every year after that, he would come to Xiangshan to admire the maple leaves.

This time, upon hearing he was coming to Xiangshan, Zhang Bo, Zhuge Yun, and Zhao Luzheng, who were not from Yanjing, enthusiastically joined him.

They had long heard about the red maples of Xiangshan.

At this moment, surrounded by a sea of maple trees, one felt dizzy and entranced, with only a vibrant red filling their eyes and hearts.

Even though he had been here many times, Xiao Xiao still found the scenery before him pleasing to the eye. He couldn't help but slow his steps, savoring the view.

Maple leaves had an exceptionally delicate outline, unlike ordinary tree leaves.

They always made one easily think of the word "beautiful."

Unlike beautiful flowers, beautiful maple leaves possessed a unique, elegant beauty. Even with their vibrant red color, they carried no trace of worldly vulgarity, instead exuding a sharp, austere beauty.

Hmm? Xiao Xiao's relaxed expression suddenly twitched.

What was this?

The maple tree before him was growing exceptionally well, its layers of leaves covering the crisscrossing branches in shades of deep and light red.

But what in the world was this tail-like thing, the same color as the maple leaves, dangling in front of him?

Xiao Xiao almost instinctively reached out to grab it.

Xiao Xiao tilted his head back, squinting slightly, and saw a greenish beak.

A splash of green amidst a sea of red, it couldn't have been more striking.

Xiao Xiao surveyed the creature from within the branches, finally seeing the full appearance of this unknown being.

Uh, it looked a bit like... a pheasant?

Its body was as red as a cinnabar maple, with only its beak being green. A tail, noticeably several times longer than its body, hung down lazily, swaying gently with a hint of nonchalance.

It was a very beautiful creature.

Xiao Xiao stared at the bird on the branch, somewhat dazed.

As if sensing his gaze, suddenly, before Xiao Xiao could react, he met a pair of round, black, bean-like eyes.

Huh, it's rare for a monster's eyes not to be red, Xiao Xiao thought, somewhat stunned. He stared back at the black bean eyes, and the air froze for a moment.

Clearly, this was another monster.

The aura of monsters was becoming increasingly familiar to Xiao Xiao.

And Xiao Xiao was almost numb to the fact that his life was always filled with all sorts of monsters.

However, compared to Qin Yuan, this bird was much more pleasing to the eye. Moreover, Xiao Xiao sniffed the air. There was no unpleasant smell. Perhaps it was because it was in the maple forest, but he only smelled the clean, crisp, and pleasant scent of maple leaves emanating from this monster.

"Third Brother, what's wrong?" Zhang Bo, who had been walking with his head down, casually glanced back and noticed something was off with Third Brother. Following Third Brother's elevated gaze upwards, he saw nothing but maple leaves and couldn't help but ask, "It's just maple leaves, right?"

Zhuge Yun walked straight to Xiao Xiao's side, craning his neck so far it felt like it would break, but he still couldn't figure out what Xiao Xiao had been so intently looking at.

"Isn't there nothing there?"

"Third Brother, confess and be forgiven, resist and be punished. What were you looking at just now?" Zhuge Yun asked, still peering around unconvinced.

"Third Brother, are you tired?" Zhao Luzheng wasn't surprised by Xiao Xiao's daze. Staring blankly at a tree? That was no big deal at all.

"Ah, I'm fine." Xiao Xiao retracted his gaze from the unknown creature, his eyes lightly sweeping over the long, vibrant red tail before landing on Zhang Bo and the others.

"I just thought this maple tree was particularly beautiful."

"Oh, really?"

"I think they all look pretty much the same?"

"Is this one really that special?"

Xiao Xiao smiled without replying. It was just an excuse, after all.