Li Chang'an, Mu Xi, and the Emerald Swan were now sitting atop the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder. Under the watchful gazes of Duolong and the others, they headed toward the core region of the Star Dou Forest.
Even though they were riding on its shoulder, Li Chang'an didn't feel any jolts or bumps. The Titan Giant Ape was fast—blindingly so—and that alone earned his admiration.
As expected of the king among soul beasts, the Titan Giant Ape's control over its body was truly at the peak of perfection!
Mu Xi's face remained pale the entire time, though she didn't show any signs of fear. Still, the worry in her eyes was impossible to hide.
"What are you worried about?" Li Chang'an pinched her soft cheek with a smile.
"I... I just don't want to be a burden to you..." she murmured, her voice as sweet and soft as ever.
"Silly girl, I told you—I'll protect you. Don't worry, everything's going to be fine." As he spoke, he gently let her rest her head on his shoulder, eyes scanning the ever-changing scenery around them.
The tension between humans and soul beasts hadn't yet reached the critical levels it would in ten thousand years. Back then, advancements in human technology had led to the slaughter of numerous high-level soul beasts, eventually sparking wave after wave of beast tides.
He wondered what the fabled Lake of Life looked like. How many kings lay dormant beneath its surface? And more importantly—was Xiao Wu already there?...
As his thoughts wandered, Li Chang'an suddenly sensed a peculiar aura growing stronger—an aura of life, pure and rejuvenating, making one feel as if their heart and soul had been cleansed.
They were close!
From his perch atop the Titan Giant Ape, Li Chang'an could clearly see a large clearing nestled among the lush greenery up ahead. At the center of the clearing lay a still, mirror-like lake—tranquil and utterly beautiful.
Even though he already had a general idea of what the Star Dou Forest's core looked like, witnessing it with his own eyes still stunned him. If he had to describe it in one phrase, it would be—"Holy crap!"
'Holy crap, this kind of scenery actually exists in the world!'
At that moment, the Titan Giant Ape began to slow down. As they approached the Lake of Life, it reached a massive hand to its shoulder, signaling for the group to dismount.
Touching the ground again gave Li Chang'an a sense of steadiness. Mu Xi, meanwhile, was completely mesmerized by the lake, her peach blossom eyes wide in awe as she stared at the glistening waters.
"Hello, are you... humans?"
A crisp and sweet voice suddenly rang out. A young girl appeared out of nowhere and bounded up to Li Chang'an and Mu Xi.
The girl was about the same height as Li Chang'an, dressed in pink, with fair skin and a healthy blush on her cheeks. She looked like a ripe peach—cute and tempting enough to make someone want to take a bite.
What stood out most was her braid—it was done in a scorpion-tail style and reached all the way down to her hips.
Li Chang'an already had a pretty good guess about her identity. His heart leapt with joy, though he kept a calm expression.
"Hi, I'm Li Chang'an, and this is my friend, Mu Xi."
The girl nodded, then pointed to her own face and grinned. "I'm Xiao Wu. Wu as in 'dance'."
'Just as I thought!'
Li Chang'an internally cheered.
At this point, the Titan Giant Ape transformed into his humanoid form—a towering, muscular man over two meters tall.
With the Emerald Swan in his arms, he walked up to them and gave Xiao Wu a big toothy grin. "Xiao Wu, I'm back."
"Little Cui's life is nearing its end. This human girl can absorb her soul ring, and since Little Cui chose her willingly, I'll be helping her give birth to the child over the next few days. Then the girl can absorb the soul ring."
Xiao Wu's expression turned slightly somber. She walked over to Little Cui, gently stroking her head. "Don't worry, Little Cui. I'll take care of your child."
The Titan then turned to Mu Xi and said, "Your body's a bit too weak right now—perhaps not strong enough to endure Little Cui's soul ring. But since she's willing, I'll help nurse you back to health over the next few days. Come with me."
With that, he led Little Cui toward a quiet spot by the Lake of Life.
Mu Xi hesitated and looked back at Li Chang'an. Xiao Wu noticed and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. Er Ming is really kind. Besides, you're helping Little Cui—it's only fair that you benefit too. I promise nothing bad will happen!"
"Ahem, I'm the great Xiao Wu of the Star Dou Forest, after all!"
Li Chang'an gave Mu Xi a warm, encouraging smile. "Go on. Once you're back, you'll be a proper one-ring spirit Master. I'll be waiting right here."
Only then did Mu Xi nod and obediently follow Titan and Little Cui to the lake.
"This lake is what we call the Lake of Life. The life energy around it is extremely dense. Since Little Cui doesn't have the strength to give birth on her own, Er Ming brought her here to help. Your friend will benefit greatly as well."
"Oh, and by the way, that Titan Giant Ape? He's my little brother. I call him Er Ming."
Xiao Wu sat down on the grass, patting the spot next to her, gesturing for Li Chang'an to sit too.
"Can you tell me about the human world? I might leave this place in a year, and I want to know what it's like out there."
Li Chang'an perked up. 'Just as I thought—my timing is perfect. If I'd come any later, she might have already left the forest,'
"The human world, huh? It's a fascinating place—full of good food, fun games, and lots of interesting things."
"What I find most entertaining are the stories of sticks and abalone. Don't worry, I'll show you what that means when the time comes. That's for later though..."
As Li Chang'an began weaving tales of the human world, Xiao Wu listened intently. It was the first time someone had described it all to her, and she was full of curiosity and questions.
"Why can't you show me the stick and abalone now? Didn't you say it's super fun?"
"Well, right now, the stick isn't fully grown, and the abalone isn't ready yet. But give it a few years, and I promise—I'll show you everything."
"Okay! You better not lie to me!"
"Oh right, Xiao Wu—how's your waist?"
"My waist? It's perfectly fine." As she spoke, Xiao Wu stood up and bent forward in one smooth motion, her hands pressing against the ground.
"Excellent," Li Chang'an said seriously. "Before I leave, I'll teach you a few... special moves. They're very important for our future playtime, so make sure you learn them well!"
_____
T/N:
Hello everyone! My Patreon is just $3 — a perfect opportunity to access 20+ advanced chapters and support the translation.
You'll also get access to firsthand girls' pics as a bonus!
🔗 patreon.com/user?u=79514336
Or simply search Translator-Sama on Patreon.