He... he didn't have improper thoughts about me, did he?
Seeing Tang Tian's unblinking stare, Ye Ruxue immediately misunderstood him, thinking he wanted her to offer herself to him in marriage.
If he had not helped her, she would have likely been unable to hold back from giving him a sword already.
"Miss Ye, can you give this Thunderclap Beast to me?"
Just as Ye Ruxue was struggling over whether to draw her sword, Tang Tian spoke somewhat awkwardly.
Earlier, when Ximen Lian and the four Falling Star Sect disciples had pursued Ye Ruxue, they had also been after the Thunderclap Beast.
Ye Ruxue would rather be besieged and nearly humiliated than hand over the Thunderclap Beast. That alone showed how precious it was.
"This..."
Ye Ruxue had already imagined Tang Tian's intentions, never expecting that he was after the Thunderclap Beast instead.
Her wishful thinking made even her frosty, beautiful face flush faintly red.
Yet for some reason, learning that Tang Tian's target was not her left her feeling both embarrassed and annoyed.
Her face turned cold as she said expressionlessly, "What? Young Master Tang wants the Thunderclap Beast too?"
"Misunderstanding, it's a misunderstanding."
Seeing the hostility in Ye Ruxue's gaze, Tang Tian hurriedly waved his hands.
He said awkwardly, "Miss Ye, I only want some of the Thunderclap Beast's blood. I have no intention of competing with you for it. If you cannot give me the Thunderclap Beast, then a little blood will do."
"Fine, but I need to ask the Thunderclap Beast itself what it thinks."
Ye Ruxue looked at the Thunderclap Beast in her arms. As for what Tang Tian wanted its blood for, she did not ask further.
After all, everyone had their own secrets. It was not appropriate to pry.
"He saved us just now. Little Thunder, can you give him some of your blood?"
Though Ye Ruxue was icy as frost, she was exceptionally gentle when looking at the little demonic beast before her.
Tang Tian was somewhat surprised by the sight and stared blankly, lost in thought.
The Thunderclap Beast looked at Tang Tian with its little eyes, then nodded.
"Kid, this is incredible! This Thunderclap Beast is no ordinary one. I never expected you to encounter it. Unfortunately, this little fellow does not seem willing to go with you."
At that moment, Fan Siren's voice rang out in Tang Tian's mind.
"Why do you say that, Master Fan?"
Tang Tian wisely chose not to be ashamed to ask.
"The lightning power within this Thunderclap Beast is rather pure. It is likely an ancestral-returning Thunderclap Beast. An ancestral-returning Thunderclap Beast is called a Thunder Beast. At its peak, a Thunder Beast is among the supreme powers of the universe. If you cannot make it willingly follow you, then build a good relationship with it. This little girl has gotten a bargain."
After Fan Siren finished speaking, he fell silent.
"Young Master Tang, Little Thunder has agreed."
Ye Ruxue's voice remained cold. Drawing blood would harm the Thunderclap Beast, so naturally she was not pleased.
Tang Tian came back to his senses and nodded.
With a wave of his hand, he took many precious spirit herbs from his storage pouch and placed them before the Thunderclap Beast.
"This..."
No matter how composed Ye Ruxue was, she was stunned at the sight of so many spirit herbs.
It seemed that everyone in Starfall City had underestimated the Tang Family's good-for-nothing young master.
With his strength and all these spirit herbs, how could he possibly be a good-for-nothing?
How laughable that the Qin Family had been so eager to break off the engagement.
All of a sudden, Ye Ruxue found herself looking forward to seeing the outcome of Tang Tian's challenge against Lin Yichen.
Seeing so many spirit herbs, the Thunderclap Beast cried out happily and pounced on them.
It grabbed one of the century-old snow ginseng plants, then bit into it with a crunch without a second thought.
That bite seemed to sink its teeth right into Tang Tian's heart. It hurt so much!
A century-old snow ginseng could sell for at least a thousand Lower-Grade Yuan Stones.
If used to refine pills, it could produce at least a second-grade upper-tier Snow Ginseng Pill.
But after recalling Master Fan's words, Tang Tian felt much better. He would treat it as an investment.
"Little fellow, I will not take your blood for nothing. With these spirit herbs, even if you lose a little blood, you can replenish it. And after consuming these herbs, your cultivation will improve as well."
Tang Tian did not treat the Thunderclap Beast as merely a demonic beast. Since he wanted to build a good relationship, he had to be sincere.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."
The Thunderclap Beast hugged the century-old snow ginseng as it ate, nodding all the while.
After finishing the snow ginseng, it actually bit its own foreleg, and blood began to flow.
Tang Tian hurriedly took out a jade bottle and collected some blood. Then he took out medicine for wounds, carefully applied it to the Thunderclap Beast, and bandaged it.
This time, it was Ye Ruxue's turn to be stunned. She had originally thought Tang Tian was domineering, scheming, perhaps even lecherous, and utterly ruthless when killing.
Yet the scene before her deeply stirred her icy heart.
So he could be this polite and caring toward a demonic beast?
It seemed women everywhere liked small animals, and they also felt some goodwill toward caring men.
After finishing, Tang Tian gently patted the Thunderclap Beast's little head and smiled. "Don't run around carelessly in the future. There are many bad people in the outside world."
The Thunderclap Beast looked at Tang Tian as if it half understood, then nodded.
"Miss Ye, many thanks. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."
Tang Tian cupped his hands and turned to leave. Though he wanted to spend more time with Ye Ruxue, time was pressing, and he did not dare delay.
"Very well. May I ask presumptuously why Young Master Tang wishes to venture into the depths of Starfall Forest?"
Ye Ruxue frowned lightly. Even experts at the Organs-Hiding Realm did not dare rashly risk entering the depths of Starfall Forest.
After all, no one could be sure whether an incomparably powerful demonic beast might suddenly emerge.
"I need to find some spirit herbs: Thunder Cherry Blossoms and Heavenly Thunder Vine."
Tang Tian had a favorable impression of Ye Ruxue, so he did not hide it from her.
"Thunder Cherry Blossoms? Heavenly Thunder Vine..."
Ye Ruxue pursed her red lips and considered it carefully before saying, "I know of a place with Heavenly Thunder Vine. However, there is an Advanced Bone-Forging Realm Heavenly Thunder Python there. It is extremely powerful. Even I would not dare approach it."
At the same time, she told Tang Tian its approximate location.
"Thank you, Miss Ye. Since I now know there is Heavenly Thunder Vine there, I will not give up. If there is a chance another day, I will certainly come to thank you in person."
Upon receiving news of the Heavenly Thunder Vine, Tang Tian was overjoyed and immediately turned to head there.
"Young Master Tang, please wait a moment."
Ye Ruxue had not expected Tang Tian to leave so decisively. She hurriedly put away the spirit herbs and held the Thunderclap Beast, which was still gnawing on snow ginseng.
"Does Miss Ye have any further guidance for me?"
Tang Tian was somewhat surprised. He turned around and looked at the peerless beauty before him.
"The Heavenly Thunder Python is not easy to deal with. I have nothing else to do anyway, so why not accompany Young Master Tang? I can lend you my strength as well. What do you think?"
Ye Ruxue rarely took the initiative to offer help, so after speaking, she felt somewhat awkward.
Tang Tian was surprised to hear this. From his original memories, he naturally knew that Ye Ruxue, the eldest miss of the Ye Family, was famed as an ice beauty.
Naturally, he knew of the Heavenly Thunder Python. It was exceptionally powerful and could even fight an expert of the Organs-Hiding Realm.
With only Initial Blood-Burning Realm cultivation, dealing with the Heavenly Thunder Python was indeed highly risky.
"Miss Ye, it is too dangerous. You should not come. It will be more convenient for me to go alone. If anything happens, I would have no way to explain myself to the Ye Family Patriarch."
Although he wanted Ye Ruxue to come with him, Tang Tian forcibly reined in that thought and spoke gravely.
Yet Ye Ruxue shook her head insistently. "Young Master Tang, you saved Ru Xue and Little Thunder, and that is a great kindness. Dealing with the Heavenly Thunder Python should not be too dangerous. Do not try to persuade me further. My mind is made up."
Tang Tian had no choice but to agree.
[Author's note]: Today's first update is here. The usual three updates will be delivered one by one shortly! Everyone, guess whether Ye Ruxue is the female lead?
Before you continue