Seemingly noticing something unusual about Black Bull, Shen Bai spoke softly.
"Uncle Bull?"
Behind Shen Bai, Xiao Luan was curious too. Even this big dumb bull had things weighing on his mind?
Black Bull opened his eyes slightly. His gaze was calm, but Shen Bai still noticed the sorrow deep within it.
He spoke softly again.
"Uncle Bull?"
Black Bull shook his head.
"It's nothing. Let's keep moving, otherwise, the Humankind side..."
Before his words had finished fading, Black Bull's gaze sharpened in an instant. At the same time, Shen Bai looked toward the newcomer.
A weathered yet unaged face and unmistakable coral horns proclaimed the newcomer's identity.
Smiling, Shen Bai cupped his hands.
"This junior, Shen Bai, pays his respects to Senior Shen Xuan."
Shen Xuan studied Shen Bai and nodded slightly.
"I thought Shen Tian and Shen Yue were already rare talents. I never expected you to be every bit their equal."
Shen Bai smiled.
"Thank you for your praise, Senior, but compared with my two elder brothers, I still fall a little short."
Shen Xuan chuckled.
"A little? Hahaha. Keeping your edge concealed, refined on the outside and wild within. Not bad, not bad."
As he spoke, Shen Xuan surveyed their surroundings and continued.
"It seems I arrived too late."
Hearing Shen Xuan's words, Shen Bai raised his head, met his gaze, and spoke softly.
"It's not that you arrived too late, Senior. It's that you were late in coming."
Shen Xuan took no offense at the meaning beneath Shen Bai's words. Instead, he asked with a smile.
"I hear you've come to Humankind Territory to travel and study?"
Shen Bai answered frankly.
"Merely to draw on the strengths of many schools and validate my own path."
Without waiting for Shen Xuan to speak, Shen Bai continued.