"Hehe, do you want to come home with big sis? I'll definitely be gentler than Janet!"
Girls really did seem to be alike.
Even female God-of-War fighters were no exception.
Whenever they saw a cute little animal, they couldn't help wanting to pet it.
Even if the creature was poisonous or dangerous, they didn't care at all.
Of course, perhaps the capybara before her simply looked so harmless.
So Zhao Ruo paid no mind to the danger.
While the other party was eating beef jerky,
the little girl actually reached out to pet his head.
Ye Xiu felt incredibly comfortable, too.
He couldn't help lying down on his side.
What was he doing?
He was even exposing his pale belly.
Before Ye Xiu could react, his body had already followed some instinct, honed to its limit by all that petting, and flopped onto its side.
His four short legs stretched out of their own accord.
His round, pale belly, covered in soft fur, was laid bare before Zhao Ruo.
"Oh my gosh! You can even show your belly!"
Zhao Ruo's beautiful eyes lit up in an instant, as if she'd discovered a priceless treasure.
Her voice trembled with excitement, and her delight nearly spilled over.
In all her years hunting monsters, she'd never imagined seeing anything like this.
A Beast General-level monster was exposing its most vulnerable belly right in front of her, completely off guard!
How could anyone resist?
"Big sis is coming! Let me rub your little tummy!"
Almost unable to contain herself, Zhao Ruo reached out with her fair, slender hands, which nevertheless held considerable strength.
Carefully and gently, she placed them on Ye Xiu's fluffy, warm belly.
"Mmm..."
A wave of pleasure, more intense and deep-seated than the massage on his head, instantly swept through Ye Xiu's body!
The fur on his belly was softer and finer, and the nerve endings there seemed more sensitive, too.
Zhao Ruo's fingers were just the right temperature.
First she gently stroked his belly, taking in its softness and the slight rise and fall of his breathing.
Then her fingertips began playfully tracing circles across it, occasionally giving him a light scratch.
"Purr..."
An uncontrollable, contented purr rose from deep in Ye Xiu's throat.
The sound was low and rhythmic, giving away just how relaxed and happy he was.
He squinted, his head unconsciously tilting to one side as his limbs went completely limp.
One of his hind legs even gave a little kick at the air when she scratched a particularly ticklish spot.
"Hehe, you're so soft and warm! How are you this cute?"
Zhao Ruo grinned from ear to ear, her hands growing more and more practiced.
Just as the atmosphere turned warm and cozy, and Ye Xiu was so comfortable he was almost falling asleep,
a piercing whistle suddenly tore through the stillness!
"Whoosh—!"
A streak of icy light shot toward Ye Xiu's exposed, defenseless belly at a speed too fast for the eye to follow.
Like a venomous snake, it lunged straight for him!
The attack was too fast, too sudden, and filled with lethal intent!
Ye Xiu's fur stood on end as he basked in comfort. A chilling premonition of death shot through his whole body like an electric current!
He didn't even have time to think. Driven by instinct, he curled inward with a jerk,
trying to protect his vulnerable belly as the black hole behind him nearly opened on reflex!
"Clang!"
At that crucial moment, another streak of icy light arrived just in time.
It struck the first with pinpoint accuracy, ringing out with a crisp metallic clang!
Both identical throwing knives were knocked away. They spun into the dirt nearby, their tails still humming.
It was Zhao Ruo!
The moment the throwing knife appeared, her expression changed. Her hand, which had been resting by her leg, swung out almost instinctively.
She'd intercepted the deadly strike with a spare throwing knife she carried!
"Luo Feng! What are you doing?!"
Zhao Ruo was shocked and furious. She jumped to her feet and shielded the still-dazed Ye Xiu behind her.
From the shadows of the rubble nearby, a young man with a stern face and sharp eyes slowly emerged.
He wore an ordinary combat suit and stood tall.
The lingering stench of blood still clung to him, so he'd clearly just been through a battle.
It was Luo Feng!
His brows furrowed as his gaze passed over Zhao Ruo,
locking onto the capybara behind her, which had just rolled over and was still shaken. His eyes were full of wariness and confusion.
"Senior Sister Zhao Ruo, are you all right? Why are you protecting this monster?"
Luo Feng's voice was steady, but carried a hint of reproach.
"I sensed a powerful energy signature and a Beast General-level aura over here. I was worried you were in danger. I didn't expect you to..."
He left the rest unsaid, but his meaning was clear.
He hadn't expected her to be playing around with a Beast General-level monster and stopping him from killing it.
"It's not an ordinary monster! It's not aggressive. It's very docile!"
Zhao Ruo hurried to explain, a lingering blush and a trace of fear still on her face.
If she hadn't reacted quickly, the cute little fellow might already have...
"Docile?"
Luo Feng's gaze sharpened.
"Senior Sister Zhao Ruo, have you forgotten what they taught us at the Training Camp?
'Those who aren't of our kind must have a different heart.' Monsters are monsters. They're born to be humanity's enemies!
What looks like docility could just be a disguise!"
As he spoke, he quietly set his Spiritual Force in motion.
Several more throwing knives silently emerged from behind him, hovering in midair with their gleaming tips aimed at Ye Xiu.
He looked ready to attack again at the slightest disagreement.
Ye Xiu had fully recovered by now, and fear and anger surged within him.
He knew Luo Feng. He was the protagonist of Swallowed Star, and the future Galaxy Overlord!
But at that moment, the protagonist had nearly killed him with his "plot armor"!
He stared warily at Luo Feng, lowering his body slightly as a deep "grrr" rumbled in his throat.
This was no longer the contented purr from before. It was a warning.
The space behind him began to warp slightly, with the Mini Black Hole ready to open at any moment.
He knew Luo Feng was dangerous, but if it came down to a fight, he wasn't entirely helpless!
In an instant, the warm, tender atmosphere turned tense and hostile!
Standing between them, Zhao Ruo looked at Luo Feng, his expression stern and his killing intent still strong.
Then she glanced back at Ye Xiu, who was baring his teeth and clearly furious. Her head began to ache.
"Luo Feng! Listen to me! It really is different!
It even ate the beef jerky I gave it, and let me rub its belly..."
Zhao Ruo tried to ease the tension.
"That only proves it's intelligent enough to exploit human sympathy!"
Luo Feng refused to back down, his gaze blazing.
"Senior Sister, move aside! Let me kill it and eliminate the threat for good!"
Seeing the light on Luo Feng's throwing knives brighten as he prepared to attack again, Zhao Ruo grew frantic, too. Her Origin Force began to surge.
"Luo Feng! You wouldn't dare! I found it first!"
Before you continue