"I told you, my spiritual power alone can't conceal you completely. After you eat the Simulation Gold Jade Sausage, the spiritual power on it will carry my scent too.
"That method I mentioned last time was only theoretical. If it really doesn't work, run for it. I have plenty of ways to make his Blue Silver Emperor inheritance fail..."
Tian Meng shuddered inside the Inner Scene. He might have said that, but only he knew the truth. If he really had a way to sever someone's inheritance, he wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state.
But Oscar had genuinely scared him. He was afraid the guy might cause some huge disaster in the Star Dou Great Forest and leave them with a mess they couldn't clean up.
Besides... he'd never heard of any Blue Silver King in the Heaven Dou Great Forest, but Oscar didn't believe him.
It had taken him quite some effort to persuade the stubborn guy, but he'd had little success.
"Let's try it first. We'll see what happens if it doesn't work."
Oscar said a few words to Tian Meng, then dived toward the riverbed.
While Oscar and Tian Meng were underwater studying the Breath Concealment Method, a "whoosh, whoosh" sounded from somewhere in the Heaven Dou Great Forest.
A moment later, arrows condensed from Soul Power sliced through layers of fallen leaves and embedded themselves in a tree nearby!
A girl dressed in black happened to drop from the treetops. She landed on the trunk in an extremely exaggerated pose, then twisted and turned, using the thick bushes to conceal herself. Only a curvy silhouette remained visible.
"Thud, thud, thud..."
Light, rapid footsteps sounded through the woods as arrows flew toward her from every direction!
"Rrrip!"
As she dodged the arrows, the girl in black couldn't avoid brushing against the bushes. Her clothes tore, and thin streaks of blood appeared on her skin.
"Mm~"
The pain made her clench her teeth. A muffled groan escaped her lips, and her body faltered.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Three arrowheads crossed paths as they flew toward the girl. One pierced her right shoulder, making her stumble.
But strangely, the second arrow merely grazed her thigh, leaving her completely unharmed. Only the third clipped her waist, raising a faint mist of blood.
If Oscar had been there, he would have realized at once that the archer was going easy on her!
After the first arrow hit and left her momentarily stunned, the second and third shots were aimed at a stationary target. Unless the archer was a complete beginner, there was no way they would miss!
But the person pursuing her clearly wasn't a beginner. That left only one possibility: they were going easy on her!
Unfortunately, Oscar wasn't there. He was in the river, studying Tian Meng's Breath Concealment Method, which sounded reasonably reliable but didn't seem all that dependable in practice.
"Phew..."
After who knew how long, Oscar surfaced from the water and let out a breath. He shook his hair and said,
"You big meat worm, anyone else would've died practicing this Breath Concealment Method... Never mind. I should thank you for this too. Getting around in the Star Dou Great Forest really would've been a hassle otherwise."
Oscar was an easygoing optimist who didn't take much seriously. He'd already forgotten about nearly drowning underwater just moments ago.
"When you escaped from that ice field, you must've caught plenty of fish in the sea, right? I'll lend you my body. Show me what you can do."
Oscar had no experience catching fish. In both his lives, he'd eaten at the temple or at restaurants. This really was a job for someone who knew what they were doing.
Tian Meng didn't stand on ceremony. He took control of Oscar's body and dove into the water, scooping up two fat fish along the way.
"You're in for a treat tonight. Too bad I don't get to eat any."
Tian Meng sounded envious, but he still cleaned the fish and set them over the fire.
"Do you smell blood? Hmm? Where is he?"
Tian Meng wrinkled his nose and asked softly. The fish were ready, but Oscar was sprawled on his back atop the halo inside the Inner Scene. He seemed to have fallen asleep.
"You really trust me that much? Never mind. I'll grill the fish first. It has nothing to do with me anyway."
Tian Meng pursed his lips. As he grilled the fish, his eyes sparkled.
He'd never actually eaten grilled fish before. He'd always eaten it raw. The last time he'd smelled it cooking was when he'd met that Titled Douluo.
"Is it ready?"
After who knew how long, Oscar's voice sounded. Tian Meng lost control of the body, and now a grilled fish was in his hand.
"Hmm? Why does it smell like blood?"
Oscar frowned. Fish had a fishy smell, but the smell of human blood was completely different. He was certain he could smell blood.
"It drifted down from upstream. Maybe someone up there is hurt?"
Tian Meng coiled on the halo and pointed the way with the feelers on his head. Then he flopped down miserably and lay still.
"Cherish life and follow the immortal way; save all beings without limit. Let's go take a look..."
Thinking this, Oscar set the fish back on the branch and hurried upstream. In just a few breaths, he reached the spot.
He peered out from the bushes. The smile on his face immediately froze.
"..."
"..."
Their eyes met, and the atmosphere instantly turned painfully awkward.
"Sinful... sinful... See no evil... see no evil..."
As he spoke, Oscar quickly turned around and started to leave.
But soon, he heard a splash. He glanced back and saw a dazzling expanse of pale skin collapse into the water.
"Damn, did she pass out from blood loss?"
Oscar couldn't decide whether to cover his eyes or not. After quickly carrying the girl to the bank, he found himself at a loss.
Should he help her or leave her alone? That was the question...
He'd caught a glimpse of the wound, and the hole in her shoulder looked serious. Soul Power in this world meant infections were almost never a problem, but if it wasn't treated promptly, it could still leave lasting damage.
Most importantly, there were plenty of bloody scratches on her waist and thighs too. It looked like she'd been chased by a Soul Beast and scraped against bushes while fleeing.
To make matters worse, her sudden fall into the water had reopened many of her wounds. If he left her alone, the blood loss could make her go into shock.
The smell of blood might even attract Soul Beasts, and that would be a huge problem.
"She probably came to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Soul Beasts. She's in her twenties now, still a ways off from reaching level thirty. She should have companions nearby. Never mind... I'll wait here."
Oscar took off a piece of clothing and draped it over the girl, then leaned against a nearby tree and waited.
"Hey, that's not fair! Do you think I'm the sort of person who peeks? Honestly..."
Tian Meng complained from within the Inner Scene. His only amusement had always been watching the scenery outside through it, and now Oscar had taken even that away from him.
But Oscar ignored him and couldn't help sneaking another glance at the girl.
Of course... not because of her looks. Her clothes covered her so completely she looked like someone lying in a morgue, and he wasn't interested in that.
He was wondering whether his guess was wrong. The wounds on her body were actual penetrating injuries, not damage caused by a Soul Skill... Most likely, they'd come from arrows...
Could she have enemies after her?