CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 16: THE CUNNING FEMALE

"Stop right now! You’ll die!"

A deep and familiar voice suddenly sounded beside her ear.

Wen Shu was so disoriented from the pain that she thought she was hallucinating, until the Sharp-leaf Grass let out a piercing scream and she abruptly opened her eyes.

A giant dark green vertical pupil was almost pressed against her face, reflecting her current disheveled state.

The entirely pitch-black giant snake straightened its body, exhaling a mass of icy mist. The leaves of the Sharp-leaf Grass instantly froze, and the snake’s tail swung powerfully, shattering the leaves completely!

The Sharp-leaf Grass writhed in agony, and as the vines binding her body convulsed and retreated into the underbrush, several thicker and longer thorny vines lashed fiercely towards the black snake.

Wen Shu regained her freedom, but her bloodied legs were too weak to support her, causing her to fall straight to the ground. Her leg bones emitted a teeth-grating "creak," staining the ground with her blood.

Mious noticed her severe injuries, half of the snake tail reached out, glanced at the scabbed cut, and swiftly retracted it to fiercely attack the mutant beast plant before him.

The snake tail collided with the vines mid-air, mixed with the snake beast’s icy mist. The Sharp-leaf Grass, devoid of superpower, had its branches and trunk shattered one by one, and the shattered ice fragments spewed in all directions.

Wen Shu supported her weary arms, dragging her legs and hid in the nearby underbrush to avoid being affected.

Through the severed snake tail, she recognized Mious, and it seemed that not dissolving the contract was the right decision.

The intense battle scene of the Beastman triggered a strong sense of crisis in her. This world was as perilous as the apocalypse.

She must quickly regain her superpower; otherwise, her survival would rely on depending on a male. But trusting others was difficult for her, let alone entrusting her life...

Recalling her less than pleasant experiences, Wen Shu’s eyes turned cold as she observed the battle ahead, using her superpower to heal her severely injured legs.

The moment the light appeared, Wen Shu’s eyes lit up with surprise; after a forced breakthrough, her spiritual power had unexpectedly risen to Third Rank!

Unfortunately, she still could not heal the severe injuries completely. Her leg, exposing the stark white of bone, grew back some flesh, but several tendons were still severed, rendering her unable to walk for the time being.

Wen Shu sighed in disappointment, her gaze returning to the battle before her.

The black giant python, its body dozens of meters long, coiled on a tree as thick as itself, surrounded by a hazy white mist. The sight was both awe-inspiring and surreal.

Large masses of white mist collided with the mutant beast, and the plant let out twisted and shrill cries. The trunk that came into contact with the mist froze instantly.

Wen Shu observed the Beastmen battle up close for the first time, finding them adept at combining beast forms with superpowers, especially Mious.

The plant stood no chance against him, quickly freezing entirely, its struggling vines frozen into claw-like shapes.

Mious’ strong snake tail flicked, shattering the several dozen-meter-high plant inch by inch, piling it upon the ground like a small hill, instantly melting into a pool of thick blood.

Having dealt with the mutant beast, Mious’ streamlined body slid down the tree to the ground. The ebony scales shimmered with an aloof light under the sunlight, appearing both mysterious and dangerous.

His icy vertical pupils fell on the spot where Wen Shu was. A black light glimmered around him as his body rapidly shrank, transforming into a tall and exceptionally handsome Beastman.

Wen Shu parted the undergrowth, meeting the gaze of the approaching male and, with a weak voice tinged with gratitude, said, "Mious, thank you for saving me."

Though he was forced by the contract to help her, he did save her after all.

Once a month had passed, she would certainly fulfill his wish and forever disappear from his world.

Mious’ gaze fell on her face. The female’s face was as white as paper, and her legs were blood-soaked and immobile like dead flesh. She looked extremely miserable yet still smiled at him in gratitude.

Something stirred in Mious’ heart, and a hint of unconsciously felt pity surfaced in his eyes.

Wen Shu did not notice Mious’ emotions. She was currently in agony, her head dizzy from excessive blood loss, and her legs felt as if they were being repeatedly sliced by knives.

Seeing Mious remain silent, she patted her face to stay conscious, pulling a weak smile as she requested, "Could you please take me back to the tribe?"

She gestured to her blood-drenched legs, "I don’t think I can walk."

Mious saw her slightly teasing smile, and while surprised by her change in demeanor, he was even more shocked.

Such severe injuries would be excruciating for both delicate females and males alike.

Yet this female appeared nonchalant, as if she was already accustomed to such pain.

But how could she be used to getting hurt, it would be more likely for her to harm others.

Yesterday he had gone to see the elder and had learned everything about the female.

She was a vicious female who bullied others and abused her Beast Husband, and no one in the Fox Beast Tribe liked her.

Though the female seemed to have started changing after encountering him...

Mious lowered his eyes, driving away those thoughts, responding emotionlessly, "I can."

Wen Shu’s eyes brightened, her pale face turning slightly rosy. "Great, thank you!"

She breathed a sigh of relief, finally able to return to the tribe.

Mious hadn’t spoken, and she thought he might refuse.

Seeing her delighted face, Mious averted his complex gaze, turning back to his original form. Carefully, he wrapped the female around the waist with his tail and moved toward the tribe.

——

In the depths of the dense forest, a sharp and handsome male stood outside a tree hollow, at his feet lay a bloodied rabbit, and behind him, lined up neatly were dozens of tall and well-built males clad in black animal skins.

Luo Fei clenched a vine tightly in his hand, his gaze swept angrily over a mud pit not far away. The force he exerted was so immense that he broke the vine as thick as his wrist, the fractured shards embedding in his palm.

The tension in the air almost palpable, the males nearby all bowed their heads, not daring to breathe heavily, fearful of courting trouble while secretly guessing who was so fearless as to anger the leader this much!

Luo Fei’s gloomy gaze fell on the vine. He had only left the cave for a moment, and upon returning, the female was nowhere to be found.

Thinking of her frail body, he rushed to save her without a second thought, but the trail ended at a mud pit, and after a frenzied search, he found only the footprints of the female alone nearby!

Returning to the cave and seeing the unbound vine, he connected all the female’s actions and finally realized he had been fooled!

This was the first time someone had escaped right under his nose!

"Heh, Bai Shu." Luo Fei chuckled lightly, a strong desire for conquest rising within him.

This cunning female, the identity she told him was probably all lies! He must catch her and make her understand the consequences of deceiving him!

Grinding his back teeth, he lifted the vine to his nose. After a gentle sniff, he tore it into a dozen pieces and handed them to his most trusted subordinate. "Pass the order, catch this female during the operation; search every tribe."

A glint of determination passed through his eyes, recalling her cold body at night, he awkwardly added, "Catch her alive... don’t hurt her."