In the early morning of the third day after that, the prince took Bai Yi to Soul Hunting Forest.
Xue Qinghe changed into a riding outfit today. The light golden robe was tucked into the girdle, and her hair was tied high. She looked a little neater than in the palace.
Xue Ke was riding a white pony in the middle of the team. She was still young, with a round and bright face that was unique to a girl. Her eyes kept turning around, looking at the trees on the side of the road, at the guards leading the way, and finally landed on Bai Yi.
Bai Yi is riding on a dark gray horse, with his back straight and his eyes looking forward, his face as calm as ever.
Xue Ke looked at him several times and saw that he never turned his head, so he took the initiative to pull the reins and let the horse get closer.
She said with a bit of curiosity and joy in her tone:
"Are you that Bai Ying? I was also present during the selection that day. You look very good when you draw your sword."
Bai Yi turned his head to look at her, nodded slightly and said, "The princess is so impressed."
Xue Ke asked him, "How old are you this year? You look a few years older than my eldest brother."
Bai Yi replied, "Twenty."
Xue Ke said, "You became Soul King when you were only twenty years old. Where did you practice before? Why has no one ever mentioned you?"
Bai Yi said, "I have been traveling around and recently returned to Heaven Dou City."
Xue Ke nodded twice and asked again:
"Then why do you want to be a guard? With your talent, you can't be reused in any sect you go to?"
Bai Yi said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince appreciates me, and I am willing to repay you."
Xue Ke blinked, not sure if he believed it or not, but he did not continue to ask.
Xue Qinghe walked at the front of the team and happened to be within the conversation range of the two people behind him, and listened to every word.
Soul Hunting Forest There is a stone gate at the entrance, with two mottled stone gatekeeper statues standing on both sides.
The team passed through the gate and continued along a narrow forest path.
The trees on both sides were towering, and their branches and leaves blocked most of the skylight, leaving only sporadic light spots on the ground.
The air is filled with a moist earthy smell, and occasionally you can hear a few unknown Soul Beast low whistles in the distance.
Xue Ke's mount slowed down, and her eyes moved from the front to Bai Yi. She looked around several times but did not wait for Bai Yi to speak actively, so she spoke again:
"Xiao Bai, are you usually so quiet?"
Bai Yi said, "As a guard in the palace, you shouldn't talk too much."
Xue Ke said:
"But my elder brother asked you to protect me, so you should have a few words with me."
Bai Yi said, "What does the princess want me to say?"
Xue Ke thought for a while and said, "You haven't told me just now what your favorite food is."
Bai Yi was silent for a moment and said, "Food cake."
Xue Ke laughed and said:
"What's so delicious about pancakes? I'll ask the imperial kitchen to make you a plate of snacks when you get back. I'll make sure you don't want to touch pancakes again after eating them."
The team continued to deepen for a while.
Suddenly there was a crashing sound in the dense forest ahead.
A medium-sized large bird jumped out from the canopy. It was covered with dark gray feathers, and the down on its neck glowed with dim white light. When its wings were spread out, they were about as wide as two people embracing each other.
It circled around and landed on a protruding rock, lowering its head to stare at the cavalry below.
Xue Qinghe looked up and said to Bai Yi:
"Dark-Feather White-Neck Crane, seven hundred years level, Second Soul Ring suitable for Swan Martial Soul."
Bai Yi got off the horse and handed the reins to the attendant next to him.
He drew the sword very lightly, Demon-Slaying Sword slipped out of his palm, lay it sideways on his side, and thrust it diagonally from the flank.
When Dark-Feather White-Neck Crane saw him approaching, the feathers on its neck suddenly exploded, its wings fluttered into the air, and hovered high into the sky.
Bai Yi didn't chase him, he just stood there and waited for two breaths.
The bird circled for half a circle and then swooped down again, its claws spread out, and the air flow brought up picked up the fallen leaves on the ground.
Bai Yi turned sideways to avoid the two sharp claws, then turned Demon-Slaying Sword in his hand and lifted it up on his wrist. The tip of the sword scratched the soft feathers under the bird's belly, dragging out a shallow wound.
The bird let out a short chirp, lost its balance and tilted towards the ground.
Bai Yi didn't give it a chance to regain its momentum. He took a step forward, turned the sword sideways, and struck the side of the bird's neck.
The bird fell to the ground in response, its neck drooped, struggled twice and then stopped moving.
The whole process is very fast, from drawing the sword to sheathing the sword, it only takes a few breaths.
Xue Ke leaned out from the horse, looked at Dark-Feather White-Neck Crane lying on the ground among the fallen leaves, then looked at Bai Yi's calm expression, and let out a short exclamation:
"Awesome! I haven't seen clearly how you draw the sword."
Xue Qinghe also looked at the position of Bai Yi, his eyes swept from his sword blade to his stance, and finally landed on the footprints he left when he moved just now.
A little judgment came to her mind. He had been consciously controlling the direction when hunting Soul Beast, and all his movements were centered on Xue Ke's position to ensure that she would not fall into danger due to Soul Beast's counterattack.
Xue Qinghe withdrew her gaze, her face still had that gentle and calm expression, but her fingers holding the horse's reins relaxed slightly.
She closed her eyes and said to that name in her mind, maybe she could try to believe him once.
Bai Yi put Demon-Slaying Sword away, walked to the side of the bird, and said to Xue Ke:
"Princess, you can begin."
Xue Ke jumped off the horse, walked quickly to the body of Soul Beast, and sat down cross-legged.
She closed her eyes and guided the Soul Power into her body, and the dark purple light slowly flowed around her body.
Xue Qinghe also dismounted, walked to the side of Bai Yi, stood side by side with him, his eyes fell on the Soul Ring that was merging with Xue Ke, and said without turning his head:
"You did a great job just now."
Bai Yi said, "It's a matter of duty."
Xue Qinghe said no more.
Xue Ke closed his eyes and guided the Soul Power into the body.
The dark purple light slowly circulated around her body. Her breathing was steady, her face was peaceful, and she had obviously entered a stable state of absorption.
Bai Yi stood a few steps away from her, maintaining a vigilant posture.
Sunlight leaks through the gaps in the tree crowns and shines on the fallen leaves on the ground, creating mottled light and shadow.
Everything seemed quiet and normal.
But Bai Yi noticed something strange.
He secretly runs Fiery Eyes, and his disguised eyes are no different from ordinary people on the surface, but he can see deeper things.
There is a shadow inside the trunk of an ancient tree in the distance that is slowly expanding, with an irregular shape, like a large curled-up Soul Beast.
The aura of the shadow was deliberately suppressed by him, and it was almost completely integrated into the trunk of the tree. If his pupil technique could not directly see through the disguise, he would not be able to detect anything hidden there.
Bai Yi judged the volume and concentration of the shadow, and found that the cultivation level was at least ten thousand years old.
He looked away without changing his expression, moved half a foot forward, and stood between Xue Ke and the ancient tree.
He didn't make a sound, nor did he draw his sword. He just put his hand on the hilt of Demon-Slaying Sword at his waist, with his fingertips attached to the end of the hilt, ready to use force at any time.