When he spoke, everyone turned to look at him.
Remembering how this human had once beaten him until his face was swollen and bruised, the Scarlet King still felt a little apprehensive. However, it hid that feeling quite well.
"Human, what do you mean?"
"Nothing. I just think you're too conspicuous when you follow us around. You might attract trouble."
The Scarlet King: "..."
What kind of thing is that to say? Do I look like the sort of beast who goes around stirring up trouble?
"No! What if something happens to the Auspicious Beast? Will you take responsibility?"
"Oh, why are you so long-winded? It's not like I can't protect myself."
Seeing the Scarlet King look down on her, Lin Qiu'er was clearly indignant. She might have only five thousand years of cultivation, but ordinary fifty-thousand-year Soul Beasts weren't her match, okay?
Snow Empress bent down and picked up the fuming Lin Qiu'er, a kindly smile on her face. It was rare to see this icy beauty smile.
"Don't worry. The Auspicious Beast will be perfectly safe," Snow Empress told the Scarlet King.
She gently stroked the fluffy little head. Lin Qiu'er closed her eyes, looking thoroughly content, and behaved especially well in her arms.
Seeing this, the Scarlet King hesitated. After a moment's silence, he said gravely, "In that case, I'll entrust the Auspicious Beast's safety to you. She can be a little mischievous, so please be patient with her."
Since Snow Empress had given her assurance, there was no question that the Auspicious Beast would be safe. The Heavenly Snow Woman was incredibly powerful, after all.
The Scarlet King no longer tried to stop them, and the group prepared to leave. What Lin Ye didn't notice was that a dry branch had fallen from the tree above him.
As luck would have it, the branch landed squarely on his head.
Lin Ye clutched his head, sucking in a sharp breath from the pain, but didn't think much of it. He assumed he'd just had bad luck.
No one noticed Lin Qiu'er's eyes darting about, a sly smile creeping into them.
After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest and traveling another hundred kilometers, they would reach a small town.
People lived off what the mountains and rivers provided, and this town made its living off the Star Dou Great Forest. The main customers of the town's shops were Soul Masters traveling to and from the forest.
As soon as Lin Ye and the others entered the town, they felt its bustle. Stalls lined the roadside, and vendors' cries rang out without pause.
From Snow Empress's arms, Lin Qiu'er peered around at everything. These unfamiliar sights fascinated her.
Just then, a woman happened to catch sight of Lin Qiu'er in Snow Empress's arms. The little creature looked like a kitten.
Huh? What is that thing? It's sort of like a cat, but not quite, and it doesn't look like a fox either. Whatever it is, it's a strange-looking little thing.
Still, Lin Qiu'er was undeniably adorable, and the woman immediately took a liking to her.
So the woman stopped the group and asked Snow Empress, "Miss, what kind of Soul Beast is that in your arms? Would you sell it to me?"
Hearing that this human wanted to buy her, Lin Qiu'er was displeased. She wanted nothing more than to bite her.
Snow Empress was displeased too, and her lovely brows drew together slightly.
Lin Ye, on the other hand, found it amusing. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion really was gorgeous. It would make a pretty good pet.
With that in mind, he asked the woman with interest, "How much can you offer?"
Lin Qiu'er's eyes widened. What does he mean? Does this awful guy really want to sell me?
The woman tentatively held up one hand. "Fifty Gold Soul Coins. How about that?"
Seriously? Lin Ye nearly burst out laughing. The Auspicious Beast, the Little Ancestor of the Star Dou Great Forest, and she was worth so little?
It was only a minor incident. After Lin Ye sent the woman away, he noticed his stomach was empty and he was getting hungry.
So the group found an inn to fill their bellies.
The meal was anything but peaceful.
As the waiter brought out a dish, his foot suddenly slipped, and a plate of cold appetizers spilled all over Lin Ye. The juices even splashed onto his face.
"Yikes!"
The waiter got up, clutching his sore back. One look at the group, and he was so terrified his legs began to tremble.
These people kept Soul Beasts as pets. They had to be important.
I'm finished. I've offended a Lord Soul Master. I'm dead.
Thinking about what might happen to him, the waiter immediately fell to his knees. "Please spare me, my lord! Please spare me!"
As he apologized, he kept kowtowing.
It was clear the man was genuinely terrified.
Lin Ye: "..."
His face was splattered with sauce, his clothes were soaked through, and he reeked of something sour and spicy.
He wiped the sauce from his face and watched the waiter beg for mercy. After a long pause, he finally said, "That's enough. I'm not going to do anything to you. Just take me somewhere I can change."
The waiter was overwhelmed with gratitude and thanked him again and again.
As Lin Ye got up, he noticed Lin Qiu'er snickering. A suspicion began to form in his mind.
By dusk, the group had returned to Notting City.
The moment they stepped into their own courtyard, another bout of bad luck struck.
A bird flew over the courtyard, and a dollop of bird droppings fell from above...
Lin Ye sensed something was off and turned to look. Sure enough, a dollop of bird droppings had landed on his shoulder.
"Ugh..."
Lin Ye retched on the spot, then hurriedly took off his coat and tossed it away.
By now, Lin Ye was certain something was wrong. Why had he been so unlucky today? Why had all these bizarre and ridiculous things happened to him?
He was a Soul Master, for crying out loud. How had he not sensed the branch falling? How had the waiter slipped at just the wrong moment and made a mess of him? And how had the bird droppings landed on him of all people?
Something was off. This was far too strange.
As the saying went, once could be chance, twice coincidence, but three times was no accident. Something was definitely up.
Lin Ye turned his gaze to Lin Qiu'er, wondering if she had put some sort of curse on him. After all, she could manipulate other people's luck to a certain extent.
When he looked over, he saw Lin Qiu'er snickering, her eyes darting about.
Lin Ye grabbed Lin Qiu'er by one hand and demanded furiously, "Tell me, were you behind this?"
Lin Qiu'er looked utterly innocent. "Huh? What are you talking about? I don't understand."
She said that, but there was no hiding the amusement in her eyes.
Damn it! Lin Ye was furious, but he had no proof that Lin Qiu'er was the one messing with him.
Night fell. The moon hung like a jade plate, and stars filled the sky.
When he went to bed, Lin Ye didn't forget to bring Lin Qiu'er back to his room.
Of course, Lin Qiu'er hadn't taken human form yet, so certain unsavory things were out of the question.
She didn't seem at all uncomfortable. Like a little cat, she curled up into a ball on the blanket and slept soundly.
The next morning, at dawn.
"Ah! You bastard, what did you do?" The high-pitched shout made the whole room vibrate.
Snow Empress and Ice Empress rushed over at once.
They found Lin Qiu'er and Lin Ye fighting.
It was clearly just horseplay, though. Given the difference in their strength, if either of them had been serious, Lin Ye would have been flattened long ago.
Snow Empress made a token effort to break them up, cupping the tiny creature in both hands.
"Let go of me! Let go..." Lin Qiu'er kicked all four legs, looking furious.
Snow Empress gently stroked her little head. "All right, all right. Don't make a fuss."
"Big Sister Xue Nu, he cut my fur while I was asleep! Waaaah..." Nestled in Snow Empress's arms, Lin Qiu'er complained tearfully.
Now they could see that a small patch on her back was bald. The fur there had apparently been shaved off.
Snow Empress: "..."
Before you continue