Like Dog-Skin Plaster: Xue Qinghe and the Others

"Crack!!!"

The slash cut through the Datura Snake's defenses as easily as a knife through melon, slicing the branches it was coiled around into three pieces as well. Emerald-green venomous blood flowed from its wounds.

"Hiss~~~" The snake's mangled body crashed to the ground. Its fading consciousness felt the pain, sending it thrashing wildly across the earth.

"That's it?" Seeing the giant snake so easily cut into several pieces, Xiao Yu was a little surprised. It seemed he had still underestimated the strength of this body.

At the same time, the system's notification rang out in Xiao Yu's mind.

[Congratulations, Host, on completing the weekly mission "Defeat a Hundred-Year Soul Beast"]

[Rewards: 5 Cocoa Fruits, 1 Flash Strike Skill Stone, 1 Leo's Memory, System Backpack unlocked]

[The rewards have been placed in the System Backpack. The Host may claim them at any time]

"Oh, you're finally getting the hang of it. I was wondering how a system as grand as you didn't even have a backpack. Turns out it just wasn't unlocked yet." Xiao Yu, who had been ready to catch the rewards, brightened at the news.

Until now, the rewards had only ever come one at a time, so he hadn't minded. But the rewards for future missions would surely be more plentiful. If he still had to pick them up one by one, it would be a real hassle.

But now that the System Backpack was here, things would be much more convenient.

"All done. Let's go." Xiao Yu glanced at the yellow Soul Ring rising below and made to leave.

He wasn't a Soul Master, so the Soul Ring was no use to him. It was a waste, but how many Soul Rings went to waste in this Soul Beast Forest anyway?

Meanwhile, in a corner nearby, Xue Qinghe and the others were marveling at Xiao Yu's attack.

"What kind of Soul Beast is that? Its strength is incredible. That was the defense of a hundred-year-old Datura Snake, and it broke through it with such ease. It even looked like it was holding back. Truly terrifying," a soldier exclaimed.

"Indeed. And it's still a juvenile. Who knows how terrifying it'll be once it grows up? When did a Soul Beast like this appear in our Royal Soul Beast Forest?" Another soldier was equally shocked.

Xue Qinghe came back to his senses at their words and looked up, only to see that the little beast had already flown far away.

"Enough talk. Hurry after it. I've made up my mind. I want that Soul Beast." Xue Qinghe quickly emerged from the bushes and chased after Xiao Yu.

At his words, the two soldiers saw that the crown prince had already set off and hurried after him.

With the mission complete, Xiao Yu wasn't flying very fast. He was currently getting a feel for the skill he had just obtained—Flash Strike.

It was a skill that allowed him to attack an enemy in an instant. It was extremely powerful. To others, it looked as if he had suddenly vanished; by the time they reacted, they had already been hit.

"Hm?" Just then, his ears twitched slightly. It seemed he had heard something.

"Humans?" With no bushes to conceal them, Xue Qinghe and the others were now clearly visible to Xiao Yu. Besides, Xue Qinghe was in such a hurry to catch up that he hadn't even thought to hide his identity.

"Your Highness, I think it's spotted us," a soldier said when the little beast suddenly stopped and turned to look at them.

"Obviously," the other soldier said testily. "We're so conspicuous, and this little beast is far more intelligent than other Soul Beasts. How could it not notice us?"

"Are they looking for me?" Xiao Yu frowned slightly as he watched their gazes remain fixed on him. He didn't think he'd done anything to provoke humans.

Unless...

"Were they there the whole time?" Xiao Yu guessed the truth.

"But what does that have to do with me? Are these people trying to kill me?" Xiao Yu frowned. Right now, he looked like Leo. In the human world, that made him a Soul Beast. What good could humans possibly want with a Soul Beast?

"Forget it. Better to avoid trouble."

Xiao Yu shook his head. Whatever they wanted, these people were strangers to him, and their business had nothing to do with him.

After taking a quick look at them, Xiao Yu beat his wings and flew upward. That was the beauty of being able to fly. I'm already this high up. How are you going to catch me? Go on, fly up here if you can.

"Your Highness, it's about to fly away. Should I shoot it down?" Seeing Xiao Yu about to leave, the soldier beside him hurriedly asked as he summoned his Martial Soul—a longbow. It was especially effective against flying Soul Beasts like this one.

"Don't." Xue Qinghe quickly shook his head, his gaze fixed on Xiao Yu. "This Soul Beast is quite intelligent. If we shoot it down, it'll only grow hostile toward us, which will make it harder to get along with later."

After a pause, Xue Qinghe stepped forward and called to Xiao Yu, "Wait! I don't know if you can understand me, but we're not here to kill you."

Xiao Yu could naturally understand Xue Qinghe, but he wasn't interested in what he had to say. Who cared whether they had come to kill him or not? He just wanted to go back.

"Your Highness, it doesn't seem to understand us," a soldier said awkwardly.

Xue Qinghe frowned as he watched Xiao Yu continue on without stopping. This was troublesome. He didn't want to attack if he could help it, but the little beast was about to fly away. Was there really no way to stop it?

"Wait." Xue Qinghe seemed to think of something and turned to ask the soldiers, "Did either of you bring anything to eat?"

They might not speak the same language, but food was universal. Perhaps he could lure the Soul Beast over with something to eat.

At that, the soldiers exchanged glances and helplessly shook their heads.

"Sorry, Your Highness. We came in a hurry and didn't think to bring any food."

Both soldiers had traveled light. They hadn't brought anything with them.

Xue Qinghe couldn't very well blame them for it. He hadn't prepared anything either, and could only watch as the target he'd taken a liking to flew away.

"Let's follow it for now. It must have a home, so we'll find that first. I'll figure out what to do after that." Xue Qinghe could think of no other option.

The two soldiers nodded, and the three of them hurried after him.

"Why are you following me? You're like dog-skin plaster." Xiao Yu noticed the people below still trailing him and felt exasperated. He was just an ordinary little sprite. Why were they after him? It wasn't as if he were some cute-type Sprite King who could grant wishes.

"Forget it. Follow me if you want. I can fly, after all. If anything happens, I can just fly away."

Xiao Yu stopped paying attention to Xue Qinghe and the others and flew toward the giant tree.

But Xue Qinghe and the others below began to sense that something was wrong.

"Your Highness, have you noticed that there seem to be fewer and fewer Soul Beasts around us?"