It had been raining incessantly in Shu.
Verdant Green Maiden held an oil-paper umbrella and sat sideways on Old Yellow Ox's back as they made their way through the forest. The ox's hooves sank unevenly into the mud.
Rain pattered through the trees as they walked, giving the scene the feel of an ink wash painting.
Old Ox swayed from side to side, and Verdant Green Maiden's head bobbed along with him. Then she suddenly caught sight of a black-and-white beast darting past.
She froze for a moment, then her eyes widened with delight.
"Oh! It's an Iron Eater Beast!"
Verdant Green Maiden patted Old Yellow Ox's shoulder and said, "Old friend, hurry! Let's catch up!"
"Moo?"
Her old friend tilted his head. His moo was full of confusion, as if asking whether Verdant Green Maiden was in her right mind.
He was just an old ox. How could he outrun anyone in this terrain?
"Old friend, don't sell yourself short!"
Verdant Green Maiden braced herself against Old Yellow Ox's back and scratched him. "You've been with this snake for so long, you've been strengthened. Now get moving!"
Old Yellow Ox stopped dead, then sprang up and shook Verdant Green Maiden off.
He flicked his tail, as if to say, Go by yourself!
Verdant Green Maiden: "..."
Fine, she'd go by herself. Was a living Jiao Dragon really going to let an ox push her around?
She put away her umbrella and shot forward. In the blink of an eye, she caught up with the Iron Eater Beast. It had been running for ages and still hadn't noticed that a ferocious beast was following behind it.
Verdant Green Maiden followed the Iron Eater Beast to its den, where she spotted another little one, about the size of a kitten.
A