First Encounter with Xiao Wu and Er Ming, Xiao Wu's Shock

Morning light filtered through the layered canopy, scattering mottled fragments of gold across the forest.

Li Qinglian stepped into this primeval forest, each breath filled with the fresh scent of grass, trees, and earth.

Just then, a figure emerged leisurely from the depths of the shaded woods ahead.

She was a woman dressed in an emerald-green gown, with a graceful figure and a gentle face. Her long hair fell to her waist, and as she walked, she carried an aura that seemed perfectly at one with the forest.

Her footsteps were so light they were nearly inaudible, yet with every step she took, the surrounding plants trembled faintly, as if paying her respects.

She stopped before Li Qinglian and solemnly bowed.

"Your Highness, you have returned."

Her voice was soft and flowing like water, carrying heartfelt respect.

Li Qinglian paused slightly before recognizing her.

Bi Ji.

The Emerald Swan, one of the top ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest, with more than five hundred thousand years of cultivation.

Among the ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest, she was one of the rare few known for gentleness rather than savagery. She normally mediated conflicts between ferocious beasts and soothed the weaker soul beasts in the forest.

"Sister Bi Ji? What are you doing here?"

Li Qinglian was somewhat surprised.

"My lord sensed your aura and specially sent this subordinate to receive you."

"My lord said that if you did not come again soon, she would personally go ashore to find you."

Bi Ji straightened, a gentle smile on her face.

She knew.

Her lord regarded Li Qinglian differently from the rest of them.

"Well, I'm here now..."

Li Qinglian rubbed his nose.

There had been no point in coming to see Gu Yuena before he had achieved success in cultivation.

His relationship with Gu Yuena was more one of mutual benefit.

He needed to prove his worth, but Gu Yuena needed him as well!

Bi Ji covered her lips and chuckled, not exposing him. She merely turned slightly and made an inviting gesture.

"Your Highness, this way. My lord is already waiting at Life Lake."

The two walked side by side through the dense forest.

Bi Ji walked beside Li Qinglian with calm, elegant steps, occasionally raising a hand to brush aside low-hanging branches and clear a path for him.

Ever since Li Qinglian had taken human form six years ago, Gu Yuena had begun going ashore frequently.

Though she had never said it outright, all the ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest understood. Li Qinglian held a place in their lord's heart far beyond that of an ordinary soul beast.

Therefore, even though Li Qinglian now only appeared to be a twelve-year-old human boy, Bi Ji did not dare slight him in the least.

The two followed a forest path toward the inner region.

The deeper they went, the thicker and taller the trees became, the denser the foliage grew, and the dimmer the light became.

The air was permeated by an ancient, weighty presence—the unique oppressive aura of a place inhabited by soul beasts over ten thousand years old.

Suddenly, a noise came from the forest ahead.

Li Qinglian halted and exchanged a glance with Bi Ji. They immediately lightened their steps and moved closer under the cover of the shadows.

Through gaps in the overlapping bushes, he saw two figures.

One was a massive ape covered entirely in dark golden fur, its body as huge as a hill, its limbs as thick as the trunks of ancient thousand-year-old trees.

Even while crouching, it stood more than seven or eight meters tall. The muscles on its shoulders and back bulged in great slabs, every line seeming carved by a giant axe and containing brute strength enough to tear apart mountains.

Its enormous mouth was slightly open, while its thick, long tail swayed gently behind it, sweeping dust and pebbles into the air. It was clearly in an excellent mood.

Standing opposite him was a girl who looked around twelve or thirteen years old.

She wore a simple long dress and had soft black hair. Her features were delicate and lively, while a wild innocence showed between her brows.

There was a trace of panic and unease in her eyes, as if she were hurriedly trying to explain something.

Xiao Wu.

Li Qinglian recognized her at once.

Six years had passed, and she had grown considerably, but that unique aura could not deceive him.

"...My brother and the others will definitely worry themselves to death! Er Ming, don't be like this, I..."

Xiao Wu's voice was filled with anxiety.

Er Ming merely gave a chuckle.

"Sister Xiao Wu, don't be afraid. I just wanted to talk to you. You haven't come back to see us in so long. I've really missed you..."

Li Qinglian frowned.

Was this the part from the original story where Er Ming abducted Xiao Wu?

He remembered that Er Ming had forcibly taken Xiao Wu into the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, indirectly leading to the later conflict between Tang San and the Lineage of strange beasts.

I didn't expect to run into Xiao Wu here.

But Xiao Wu and I should have taken human form around the same time, shouldn't we?

As he pondered, Xiao Wu suddenly seemed to sense something.

She abruptly turned her head, her gaze locking precisely onto where Li Qinglian was hidden.

Their eyes met.

The air fell silent for an instant.

Xiao Wu's pupils suddenly contracted.

The next second, Xiao Wu's expression darkened, and a flash of coldness passed through her eyes.

"Er Ming, kill them."

"My identity cannot be exposed. We cannot let anyone leave here alive."

Er Ming's expression turned grave. He turned around, hostility filling his gaze as he looked at Bi Ji and Li Qinglian.

His enormous three-meter-tall body advanced step by step. Each footfall made the ground tremble faintly, while a heavy, tangible pressure bore down upon them.

Li Qinglian made no unnecessary move and merely looked at Bi Ji beside him.

"Humph."

Bi Ji simply took a calm step forward.

The next instant, a gentle yet majestic aura erupted violently from her body.

Emerald-green light surged out from within her, gathering around her into the phantom of a huge, elegant Emerald Swan. Its wings spread wide, blotting out the sky.

Her cultivation of more than five hundred thousand years poured forth like a tide, forcing Er Ming's aura back.

Er Ming's steps abruptly halted, and his bell-like eyes widened round.

"...Bi Ji?!"

He recognized that aura.

The Emerald Swan was one of the ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest. Though she rarely took part in battles, her cultivation of more than five hundred thousand years was undeniable. She was certainly no easy opponent.

But what shocked him even more was this.

Bi Ji was protecting that human boy like a guard.

Er Ming's mind could barely process it.

"Bi Ji!"

Xiao Wu also froze where she stood.

Her gaze passed Bi Ji and fell upon the black-haired youth who slowly stepped out from behind her. She examined him carefully.

Six years ago.

That night when a tribulation descended in the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.

That enormous tree, black from trunk to crown, its branches twisted like black jade, had made every ferocious beast avoid it. Its aura that day had shaken the entire Star Dou Great Forest.

Xiao Wu remembered it clearly. That cold, pure aura of death had seemed to press pause on the entire forest.

And now, that very aura was seeping out from the black-haired youth before her, thread by thread.

Xiao Wu's pupils contracted sharply. Her lips parted slightly, and her voice trembled with disbelief.

"You are... that great tree...?"

"You survived the tribulation? And you took human form too?"

Xiao Wu was horrified.

After that tribulation, Li Qinglian's aura had vanished. Xiao Wu had thought he had perished.

She had never expected that great tree to choose, like her, to rebuild its cultivation in human form.

What shocked her even more was that someone as important as Bi Ji would treat him with such reverence.