Listening to his third brother's chatter, A Jun sorted through his thoughts while glancing at Xiao Jiuwuo again and again—why was she ignoring him? Was she asleep, or still upset about earlier?
—Hmm… maybe she thought she'd done something wrong, that's why… Ah, forget it. As long as she's fine, nothing else matters… Oh! So it wasn't a dream—I really slept for a whole day… Wait, no, this is bad. The trial time is only today, and the road is still long. What if yesterday…
Realizing how much time he had lost, A Jun grew anxious again, his eyes filled with confusion. Xiao Xi and Ning'er exchanged a helpless glance—他们had no idea what he was thinking.
"With Lord Xi's help, we'll reach Emperor North City before dusk today!"
Fortunately, there was still someone clear-headed. Yuwen Lu, calmly reading his book, reassured A Jun and reminded him: "I arranged it for this afternoon. Yesterday, Lord Xi was in a poor mood. Even if you had gone, she might not have helped you."
"Hey, can't you at least look at people when you talk?"
"Xiao Xi—mm, thank you."
"Mm. We move in one hour."
Though taciturn and seemingly cold, even oddly hostile toward A Jun, Yuwen Lu's words were always timely, concise, and precise—unlike Xiao Xi's endless chatter. In critical moments, he was reliable. Of course, Xiao Xi still disliked him—this guy always acted like he was in charge… who did he think he was, the center of the universe?
"Oh, right, A Jun—what did you say you saw at the Moonlight Hot Spring?"
"Mm! A girl's figure, with cat ears on her head…"
The strange encounter at the hot spring was still unclear, even to A Jun himself. He tried to recall details in answer to Xiao Xi's question. Xiao Jiuwuo seemed to wake, glancing at him as if to lend support, but—
"Ah, bro, your nose is bleeding!"
Xiao Xi's shout drew everyone's eyes to A Jun. His face felt hot, and something was flowing from his nose.
"Oh… maybe the air is too dry…"
"But I've never seen you like this before. And your face is so red—did you catch a chill in the rain yesterday?"
"I…"
"—It's fine. He's just exhausted."
"—A Jun, rest a bit longer."
"Huh? Bro, you… sure? Could it be… an illusion…"
Everyone fussed over him. A Jun stuffed cotton into his nose, trying to recall the scene again. But something felt wrong. He stopped—cotton could stop the bleeding, but not the restless stirrings of youth.
—I don't know, I don't know, I don't know!
In the dorm, not only was A Jun acting strange. Xiao Jiuwuo, nestled in the Saintess's arms, panicked at the topic, then buried her head tightly, pretending to sleep. Meow… didn't hear, didn't hear, didn't hear!
—Hmm? Both of them are acting odd. But at least it was just a false alarm…
"Xiao Jiuwuo… don't run off again, alright?"
"Meow~"
"Otherwise, I… and everyone will worry."
"Meow!"
"Were you scared just now? It was my fault—I got careless when I was happy…"
"Meow…"
"Oh, perfect timing. Let's go, Xiao Jiuwuo!"
"Meow!"
"Hey, A Jun, where are you two going?"
"To watch the sunrise on the grassland…"
"A Jun… you just woke up. Better rest before we set out."
"Mm… I'm fine. Look—I promised Xiao Jiuwuo, and I can't break my word, right?"
"Meow~"
"To the watchtower at the camp, then!"
"Oh… understood!"
"Ah, beautiful! And the morning air, so refreshing, right?"
"Meow!"
"Hey, Xiao Jiuwuo, if that person wasn't a bounty assassin, then who? With cat ears… bathing in the middle of the night, so strange…"
"Meow…"
"Mm? You think so too? But why did she run? I wanted to explain…"
A Jun had a habit—unsolved problems stayed in his mind, gnawing at him until he found the truth. It was exhausting.
"—Meow!"
"Hey, what's wrong, Xiao Jiuwuo… huh? Where are you going? Don't run off—ah, she's acting odd today. Still mad at me? I'd better buy her that treat when we arrive!"
"Everyone, here it is—huh? Why is the hot spring still misty in daylight? Can't see clearly… oh, wait for me!"
"Hey… bro, what are you doing?"
"I want to see if there's…"
Two hours later, the group resumed their journey. They admired the vast grasslands, ate Xiao Xi's campfire cooking, and trudged through crowded herds of cattle and sheep. By afternoon, they reached the forest's edge.
Before them lay the Moonlight Hot Spring. Soldiers had mentioned a shortcut that halved the travel time, but it required passing through the ancient city—only with royal permission. So they had no choice but to forgo it.
"Meow?"
"A Jun, let's keep going. Aren't we short on time?"
"It's still early—maybe we'll find something…"
The knot in his heart tugged at him. He wanted to search for clues. Xiao Xi understood and didn't stop him.
The cat glanced at the Saintess, then meowed, as if reminding him. Ning'er, almost reading her thoughts, echoed the warning.
"Mm, it's still early—but Lord Xi may not wait. If we miss the time…"
But A Jun was stubborn. He ignored the girl's kindness, glanced at Yuwen Lu, and tried to slip away. Yuwen Lu's calm words stopped him, and he reluctantly followed the group deeper into the forest. He slowed, looking back again and again, torn.
"Xiao Jiuwuo, do you think she sees me as… a bad person?"
"Meow?"
"I didn't mean to peek at her bathing…"
"Meow…"
"Strange, why do I feel so hot thinking about it—huh? At least… I never used to get nosebleeds."
"Meow!"
"Hey, Xiao Jiuwuo, why are you covering my eyes? I can't see—ah, you're laughing. You think it's my fault too… I don't know when we'll meet again, but I must apologize properly!"
The Illusion Forest was one of the last ancient, untouched reserves on the continent. Pure, natural, free of human interference. No disposable trash, no "I was here" carvings.
The vegetation was dense, the rare plants eccentric—trees grew twisted, or in dazzling colors. Legends said in the northern forest lived strange trees that walked, practiced yoga, and gossiped. But with the miasma there, few could enter.
The forest was divided starkly—north and south, split by the Qiankun Valley. The north was thick with miasma, the south fresh and oxygen-rich. From above, the curved boundary formed a Taiji diagram, with two points at north and south. Marvelous!
Strangest of all, there were few animals—only horned beasts. Some said it was their sacred domain, so no other creatures dared intrude. Others claimed a past disaster had driven animals away, leaving only plants to thrive. Still others whispered that the rare plants devoured animals, monopolizing the forest. Rumors, nothing more.
So the question remained—where were the horned beasts?
By now, the children had traveled long through grassland and forest. By rights, they should have seen them. But not a trace—not even a shadow.
"Hey, what wildebeest grassland? We haven't seen anything yet—do you even know the way?"
Xiao Xi was full of complaints. The name didn't match the reality, so he seized the chance to jab at Yuwen Lu. Of course, the beasts existed, but when there was an opportunity, why not give him a hard time…
"Hmph… ignorant."
"Who are you calling that…"
"Shh…"
But Yuwen Lu couldn't be bothered to argue. He casually poked back, making Xiao Xi's small eyes widen in anger. A Jun, being the sensible one, calmed his younger brother and explained the truth.
The wildebeests' territory wasn't here, but in the forest's central region—one of the points of the Taiji—and the northeastern grasslands beyond. That was their exclusive domain. At the very center lived their leaders, the divine beasts Xi and Ye, rulers of day and night, honored as the Sixth Sacred Domain.
Between the forest and the northeastern grasslands lay a body of water A Jun had seen before: the Abyssal Creek. A massive chasm, bottomless, with hidden currents—extremely dangerous, unless one was a Guardian skilled in lightness arts. For the wildebeests, however, it was a natural barrier, allowing them to live in peace.
They could leap across the chasm—but only after evolving. In their original form, they looked like dumplings with horns, similar to ordinary horses, except with horns on their heads and tails behind them. No one knew what they might become.
In theory, there were two advanced forms—aside from the rarest, the Sacred Horned Beast, considered their ultimate form but never yet achieved. The two common evolutions were the Skyhorn Beast and the Unicorn Horse. The former had wings but lost its horn. The latter kept its horn but had no wings, unable to fly.
—So the question was, how could a Unicorn Horse leap across such a vast chasm without wings?
That's right—by stepping on air!
Though they couldn't fly and weren't as fast as winged beasts, Unicorn Horses had the miraculous ability to walk on air. Guardians had even been inspired to create a lightness skill called "Sky-Stepping"—like having boosters underfoot, using reverse force to hover and move as if walking on solid ground. The Unicorn Horses, however, were far superior—they could run, jump, even dance midair.
And most importantly, the grasslands held a special delicacy beloved by the wildebeests: a rare plant called Green Jelly Grass. It sounded delicious…
Xiao Xi listened intently to his brother's lecture, though his eyes kept wandering. After passing through a dense grove shaped like dancers in a square, the children entered a more open area—grassland, lake, and ancient trees, arranged beautifully, almost like a high-class garden.
"A Jun, look!"
"Mm?"
But A Jun was still immersed in his explanation, unable to stop. After all, Xiao Jiuwuo and Ning'er were attentive listeners, and even Xiao Xi half-listened. Normally quiet, A Jun became animated when discussing topics he loved, especially when others wanted to know.
"Oh! This grass is really special—big, beautiful, green and translucent, like jelly. It even smells nice…"
"Want to… taste it?—Come on, don't keep Lord Xi waiting!"
"Good idea… Hey, what kind of way is that to talk!"
The chubby foodie couldn't resist. Now practically a gourmet, he wanted to study this unique… ingredient. But Yuwen Lu had no patience for such distractions. With their appointment approaching, he dismissed Xiao Xi and urged the others onward—just as he had with Xiao Shuai, ignoring him completely.
In truth, Yuwen Lu's focus wasn't wrong. Ning'er looked awkwardly at Xiao Xi, while A Jun and Xiao Jiuwuo sighed helplessly. The others followed Yuwen Lu's lead, leaving only Xiao Xi reluctant to move on.
Through the neatly trimmed grass, they reached the lake. But there was no boat, no bridge. Yuwen Lu calmly prepared to walk across the water. Xiao Xi, still sulking, suddenly perked up.
—Ha, what's he thinking? Wade through or swim? This lake looks deep. What a joke… huh?
The next second, Yuwen Lu's action slapped his doubt away. The lake surface was like solid ice—walkable. The clear, bottomless water glowed faint green, like a glass walkway on a mountaintop—frightening yet beautiful.
Step by step, the children advanced, the ancient tree at the lake's heart drawing closer. It was indeed a primordial giant—lush, massive, its trunk so wide that even a dozen people hand-in-hand couldn't encircle it. Its tangled roots spread like legs, standing firmly on the water.
"This feels just like my hydroponic plants at home, haha… ah!"
Xiao Xi was trying to cheer up Ning'er. Since that incident, she'd been gloomy, glancing at A Jun and the cat, silent. But with a joker around, he tried to lift her spirits.
Unfortunately, the joke fell flat. Ning'er remained cold. And just as Xiao Xi chuckled at his own wit, his left foot slipped—splat! He sprawled on the lake, limbs trembling, posture awkward… but it earned a smile from the beauty.
"Careful, everyone—some spots are hollow. Mm, I think that grass would make a great dish. We should have Mom buy it—haha, another exclusive recipe for the Duanmu family… Ow, my goodness!"
He scrambled up, warning the others. But he didn't realize—only he had to worry. The others walked easily. As he whispered more food ideas into A Jun's ear, a cold gaze from afar made him shiver.
A Jun followed the look—and saw, beneath the tree roots, a massive figure. Huge wings, a sharp horn—majestic and awe-inspiring.
—Yes… that was her. Lord Xi. Standing beneath the roots, watching the children, her eyes sharp and piercing.
—She didn't look easy to approach. But Xiao Xi's antics hadn't helped.
A Jun's heart tightened. Meeting her gaze, he almost couldn't look directly. But then, her eyes softened. Sensitive as he was, A Jun felt a weight lift from his chest.
—Will she… be willing to help me? I remember…
Suddenly, A Jun recalled what Yuwen Lu had mentioned before—even if the time was set, whether it would work still depended on one's character.
Those words sounded fine, but the last two characters—"character"—were a bit sharp, leaving Xiao Xi full of complaints. This also planted unease in A Jun's heart.
—If something goes wrong, what then? But at this point, there was no better option. He had to try!
"Greetings!"
The children carefully approached the great being, keeping a ten-meter distance. Yuwen Lu bowed respectfully.
Xiao Xi, seeing this "two-faced" big brother, couldn't hold back his muttering, but A Jun quickly stopped him, and he reluctantly joined the greeting.
This too was a virtue. In such a sacred place, before such a figure, one couldn't be too casual.
As the saying goes, great beings are magnanimous. Seeing the children's courtesy, Saint Xi's gaze softened. At that moment, A Jun, after urging himself many times, finally stepped forward, voiced his request, and lowered his head to await the result…