Star Dou Forest, Lake of Life.
Under the tranquil night sky, a faint mist hung over the lake's smooth, pale-green surface, shimmering with a soft, dewy glow.
The place was utterly peaceful. Not even the insects sang; only the occasional night breeze rustled the leaves.
Anyone who saw this would be astonished. The heart of Star Dou Forest, known as a forbidden zone for humans, was so beautiful that it seemed completely free of danger.
By the lakeshore, a graceful figure with silver-white hair sat with her hands braced on the grass. Her pale, slender legs beneath her skirt were immersed in the lake.
As she swung them, the water murmured, and ripples spread across the surface, centered on her delicate feet.
Her hair fell behind her like a waterfall of silk, then fanned across the grass in a semicircle.
Her graceful figure and alluring curves inspired endless imaginings. Even without seeing her face, anyone would believe that she was an incomparable beauty.
Aside from Gu Yuena, no one else could have this pristine place all to herself.
And beside Gu Yuena, a three-meter-tall Soul Beast lay on the grass with its limbs folded beneath it.
Her fur was golden, and her entire body seemed made of translucent crystal, giving her an unusual texture.
Her overall shape resembled a lion, but her four paws were like a dragon's, and her muzzle was longer than those of other lionlike Soul Beasts. Beneath her fur seemed to be a layer of fine golden scales.
In addition to her normal pair of eyes, she had a third one, a vertical pupil.
Her two regular eyes gleamed gold, while the vertical pupil shone red, with an eerie quality to it.
The woman and the beast said nothing. They simply sat together in silence, seeming