Chapter Thirty-Three: Protection

Once again, an uncanny silence settled over the scene.

That move had been ruthless—yet deeply satisfying.

Su Li praised, "Not bad. Remember this look. Whenever you encounter those delicate little lotuses, make sure to torment them mercilessly for me."

The red demon flower swayed back and forth in triumph. Though it had no idea what a "delicate little lotus" was, the Flower King took the command seriously, resolving: the harsher the act, the happier the leader. From now on, that's how things would be done!

The Tiger Spirit, who had been quietly observing the whole time, decided to continue playing dead.

It actually knew a little about the delicate little lotus and felt a twinge of apprehension—it rather liked those pitiful, fragile creatures, as soft as tender flowers. It must never let the leader find out.

Tender little flower... The Tiger Spirit glanced at the bouncing Flower King and shuddered.

"Come here." Shen Luo’s patience had reached its limit. He folded his arms across his chest, his gaze cool. No matter how he looked at it, he found her perching on another’s shoulder deeply irritating.

Su Li leaped back into his embrace, her fluffy tail swaying. In her cheerful mood, she pressed her pink paw pads against his arm, stepping up and down, dispelling the frustration in his chest in an instant.

Shen Luo lovingly rubbed her head, then raised his eyes and sneered, "That female cultivator tried to harm the furball and got what she deserved."

His words overflowed with protection.

Su Li’s eyes sparkled with joy.

Everyone was left dumbfounded by the shamelessness of this master and servant pair, nearly forgetting to react.

Didn’t Nian Ciyun do nothing?

Wasn’t it always the demon beast making moves?

Though they wanted to complain, recalling the white demon beast’s fierce claw and the red demon flower’s sly yet formidable presence, no one dared object.

Soon, they tacitly began to fill in the story themselves: perhaps, after all, the female cultivator did try to attack the demon beast? Otherwise, why was she the only one beaten up?

Shen Fengling cleared his throat loudly, trying to smooth things over. "Ah Luo, what happened earlier?"

Shen Luo cast a cold glance at Gu Hongshang and briefly recounted the unpleasant incident from a few days prior.

Indeed, Shen Luo’s strong reaction was justified.

A contract beast is a life-and-death companion to a beast master—sometimes even more important than family, friends, or partners. Its significance cannot be overstated.

Buying a beast with money? That’s an open provocation. What beast master could tolerate such an insult? That golden eagle’s fiery action was truly satisfying. If they didn’t show their strength, would people mistake the Shen clan of Youzhou for sickly kittens?

---

However, if the male cultivator acted because of something Gu Hongshang said...

Sensing the skeptical looks from the crowd, Gu Hongshang’s expression stiffened. Hesitating, she glanced at the white demon beast. Seeing its clear gaze, she mustered her courage and distanced herself, saying, "I have nothing to do with Mo Lin. He’s the one who keeps... pestering me."

Seeing the ravishing beauty struggling to speak, everyone instinctively chose to believe her.

Men truly are slaves to beauty!

Su Li withdrew her gaze in boredom—she had only helped teach Nian Ciyun a lesson because she couldn’t stand that delicate little lotus.

That face always reminded her of those people from her previous life.

What happened back then ran deep. Su Li considered herself cold-hearted, but even she had been wounded by them.

Her blood sister, always so frail and helpless, managed to inspire everyone’s protective instincts—stealing parents, friends, even... a fiancé!

Su Li had thought it over carefully—what had she done? Tearfully claiming "I didn’t mean it," while clinging on all the same. Putting up a virtuous façade while behaving otherwise.

She’d even mastered the art of tearing up lotuses barehanded.

You want protection? Then I’ll bully you openly in front of everyone—fair enough, right?

...

The troubles of the past weighed on her, leaving Su Li a little downcast.

Suddenly, a warm palm gently stroked her head.

Su Li looked up abruptly, meeting the boy’s gaze.

In those eyes, worry and confusion flickered.

She froze.

Then the corners of her lips curled up. Su Li proudly thought, being a demon beast was so much simpler and happier than being human.

For example, recruiting followers through fights?

She covertly coveted the Frost Ice Flood Dragon from the realm of ice and snow—already transformed into human form, the little brother. Just thinking about it made her excited.

Once the demon beast in his arms had returned to normal, Shen Luo’s furrowed brow relaxed. He shot an unhappy look at the two female cultivators opposite. Ever since their arrival, trouble had followed—utterly vexing. After instructing the Flower King to release Nian Ciyun, he said to Shen Fengling, "Nineteenth Elder, let’s go on our own."

He made it clear he had no intention of bringing the two female cultivators along.

Gu Hongshang stared in disbelief.

---

Shen Fengling felt awkward, especially under those shining, beautiful eyes. He spoke, "Will the two cultivators join us?"

As a clan elder, he considered many things. If word got out that they abandoned female cultivators in a perilous secret realm, people would deem the Shen clan of Youzhou cold and heartless. Who would dare ally with them? What sect would accept their descendants as disciples?

In the end, everyone traveled together.

Guided by the demon Flower King and the spirit plants, the group avoided danger several times. By dusk, they finally found a river.

The river was a hundred yards wide, its surface shimmering in the sunset, breathtakingly beautiful. At first glance, it appeared ordinary, but a closer look revealed that every fish and shrimp within had blood-red eyes and were viciously tearing at each other.

"Ah!" A cry of pain rang out.

Everyone jumped in alarm.

Turning to look, they saw the Thunder Peng Bird had thrown Nian Ciyun off its back, rousing her with a rough landing.

For anyone Su Li’s leader disliked, the demon beasts were united in hostility.

Though the Thunder Peng Bird had to obey its master by letting the female cultivator ride, it could still stir up some trouble.

Su Li cast an encouraging look. "Promising indeed."

The Thunder Peng Bird lifted its chin proudly.

Never had he seen his own demon beast so sycophantic. Shen Fengling’s face reddened. He took a bottle of pills from his storage pouch and handed it to Nian Ciyun, kindly saying, "These are Heart-Nourishing Pills. You should recuperate quickly, lest you faint from another demon beast scare."

Nian Ciyun choked on her words, accepting with a forced smile.

To a straightforward man like Shen Fengling, he had no idea why the female cultivator before him was unhappy.

Soon, darkness covered the sky and the group decided to rest by the river.

After lighting a bonfire, Su Li saw Shen Luo about to take out spirit fish. Her little paw pressed his hand urgently.

Shen Luo was baffled.

Just then, the bushes rustled.

Su Li stretched her neck eagerly.

In no time, the Flower King returned, dragging a short-maned black wild boar. With a mighty tug, the boar rolled several times and stopped before the group.