Chapter 2 Finally Able to Understand

Chapter Two: Finally Able to Understand

The Forest of Magical Beasts—its name speaks for itself. This is the domain of magical beasts, a paradise for them. Typically, magical beasts rest during the day and hunt at night, so every novice mercenary knows that the best time to hunt them and collect their magic cores is during daylight hours. If the task cannot be completed before nightfall, it’s best to retreat to a nearby town to rest and reconsider plans the next day. In the depths of the forest, it’s safest to find a cave; otherwise, a single misstep could mean total annihilation. For in the Forest of Magical Beasts, night belongs to the beasts—they are the true hunters.

The sharp snap of a twig reached Ye Tian’s ears. Instantly, he rolled over and leapt to his feet, a surge of danger flooding his senses. He grabbed the rusty sword beside him and swept his gaze around, unable to suppress a bitter smile. He sensed many savage presences nearby; though he couldn’t identify them, he was certain they were anything but friendly. Surveying his surroundings, he found nothing to rely on except the towering tree at his side. After a moment’s deliberation, he pushed off with both legs and decisively vaulted up into the branches. “Let’s hope these creatures can’t climb trees,” he murmured.

As he pondered, a ball of fire came hurtling toward him, making him start. He scrambled onto another branch—sparks exploded around him. Still shaken, Ye Tian heard the whistling roar of more projectiles, and looking up, saw an onslaught of fireballs raining down.

“Are you kidding me!” he cried inwardly, bitter with despair. He plunged from the tree, barely steadying himself before a foul wind washed over him—a shadow lunged his way. Ye Tian thrust his rusty sword at it, feeling a powerful impact that numbed his wrist. The shadow retreated with a whimper. Stunned by its strength, Ye Tian barely had time to recover before another black shape darted at him. Twisting his body, he floated several meters away, but before he could settle, two more shadows and a ball of fire converged. He spotted an opening between them, slipped through, and broke free from the encirclement—only to find a ball of fire right before him, unavoidable. Helpless, he summoned all his strength, hoping to minimize the damage.

Unexpectedly, when the fire struck him, it sizzled and vanished in a wisp of white smoke. The shadows froze, clearly surprised by this outcome. Ye Tian, his energy surging, flickered out of sight, leaving only the whimpering shadows behind.

Ye Tian dared not linger, running for a full hour before slowing down, his heart still pounding from the ordeal. Sleep was out of the question, so he pressed onward, eager to leave this perilous place behind. Suddenly, from afar, he heard the sound of water—a joy blossomed within him. Having been roused in the middle of the night, forced to exercise, and then run for an hour, he was sticky and exhausted. Elated, he quickened his pace. Following the sound for half an hour, he finally found a small pool. Without a second thought, he stripped and plunged in, relishing the comfort.

Just then, footsteps approached. Ye Tian stealthily raised his head, realizing they were coming his way. He cursed inwardly—there was nowhere to hide. He took a deep breath and submerged himself, hoping to avoid detection. The footsteps drew nearer and stopped at the pool’s edge. After a moment, Ye Tian peeked up and saw a shapely, jade-like leg slip into the water, followed by the other, and then—

Ye Tian jolted, unable to contain himself, and stood up abruptly. Before him was a stunningly beautiful face: exquisite features, crescent brows, eyes bright as sapphires, a delicate nose, and a slightly parted cherry mouth. His gaze slid down her snowy neck, past her refined collarbones, to two petite, proud peaks on her chest—saintly yet youthful, promising much for the future. At the apex of each, a rosy bud caught his eye, and on the left, a curious mark was etched.

The maiden was clearly unprepared for someone lurking underwater, stunned into silence. When she regained her senses, she realized she was completely naked, and hastily covered her chest with her arms, mouth agape to cry out. Ye Tian, just recovering himself, saw her about to scream and hurriedly clamped a hand over her mouth, muffling her cry. As he tried to relax, pain shot through his palm—she was biting him fiercely. Ye Tian dared not let go, enduring the pain, and whispered, “Stop biting, please. I’ll let you go now, but you mustn’t scream, alright?” She nodded, and he slowly released his hand, but as soon as he was halfway done, she tried to shout again—he quickly covered her mouth once more.

Frustrated, Ye Tian growled, “Can’t you be a bit trustworthy? Besides, if you draw others here, I don’t mind, but it’ll bring you trouble.” The maiden paused, then nodded. Ye Tian slowly released her hand. Suddenly, her eyes grew cold, and a pair of serpentine daggers appeared in her hands, aiming straight for Ye Tian’s chest. Startled, Ye Tian blocked with his arms, splitting them apart. The maiden, caught by his movement, stumbled forward, their naked bodies pressed together at zero distance.

At that moment, a hurried call rang out nearby. The maiden trembled, wrapped her arms tightly around Ye Tian, and swiftly pulled him underwater. As Ye Tian struggled, she whispered urgently in a language he’d never heard. Ye Tian stilled, puzzled by the unfamiliar tongue. Seeing him cease his struggle, she shouted something toward the distance and began conversing with the unseen voices.

As Ye Tian adjusted, he suddenly felt a remarkable softness against his face, realizing his cheek was pressed to the maiden’s breast, his lips grazing a cherry tip. His body grew warm, his desire rising. Should he yield to the beast within or uphold his morals? It was a solemn question, and Ye Tian suffered in torment.

While Ye Tian wrestled with his thoughts, the maiden released him. The two faced each other, silent for a long moment. Finally, Ye Tian spoke: “Well, today’s events are my fault. Perhaps we should dress first, then discuss how to resolve things?” The maiden’s face darkened and she spoke at length in words Ye Tian couldn’t understand. He scratched his head helplessly, lamenting the inconvenience of the language barrier. As he pondered, the maiden suddenly stood up in the water. Ye Tian, startled, clamped his hands over his eyes, muttering, “No evil, no evil…” Only when a cold snort sounded beside him did he lower his hands. Sensing the icy fury in her gaze, Ye Tian forced a laugh, seeing she still stared at him. He hurriedly said, “Miss, please turn around…” Seeing the murderous intent deepen in her eyes, Ye Tian had no choice but to leap from the pool and dress at lightning speed.

Once ready, Ye Tian cupped his fists toward her: “Today’s events were my fault. Punish me as you see fit—I won’t protest.” The maiden stared coldly at him, pointed, spoke a few words, then gestured for him to follow. Ye Tian nodded, and she turned into the depths of the forest; he followed.

After about the time it takes to eat a meal, they rounded a mountain pass and Ye Tian’s vision opened up.

It was a natural valley, speckled with firelight, shadows moving amidst a cacophony of voices. Seeing the flames, the maiden quickened her pace; Ye Tian kept up. As they drew near, he realized two groups faced off. As Ye Tian approached, both sides stared in surprise, and when they saw the maiden beside him, one group showed delight, the other grew grim. Suddenly, a whooshing sound pierced the air—a figure lunged at the maiden. Ye Tian’s face hardened; his right palm struck out, blasting the shadow back with a muffled thud, then it vanished.

Everyone awoke from their stupor. One group immediately roared at the other, who responded in kind—the valley erupted in heated argument.

Just then, a cold snort echoed from the sky, silencing both sides instantaneously. After a pause, one group spoke a few words, then turned and departed. Another voice drifted down from above, and Ye Tian felt as if he were being summoned. He followed the sensation to an inconspicuous tent. Some nearby people seemed intent on stopping him, but another phrase from the sky dissuaded them.

Unimpeded, Ye Tian entered the small tent. Inside was only a blanket, upon which sat an old woman dressed in white. Ye Tian approached her quietly, standing before her. To his astonishment, she seemed almost insubstantial. After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes—Ye Tian was startled to discover they were green. She studied him for a moment, then extended her hands. Thinking she wanted to stand, Ye Tian reached out to help, but as their hands met, a thrilling voice sounded in his mind: “Human, where have you come from?”

Ye Tian stared, but her face remained indifferent, her lips unmoving. The voice echoed again: “Answer me quickly, human. Where are you from, and what is your purpose here?” Ye Tian answered loudly, “I am from Central Continent, a newcomer here. If I have disturbed your people, I beg your forgiveness. Also, what is this place?”

The voice responded, “Central Continent? What is that? I’ve never heard of it.” Ye Tian replied, “Central Continent is a sizeable province in Huaxia—you should have heard of it.” “Huaxia? Is that a continent? And your hair and eyes are black—are you a demon? No, you lack demonic energy. What is going on?”

Ye Tian said, “What demon race? What demonic energy? I am human!” The voice paused for a moment, then spoke again, “Extend your head. Do not resist.” The old woman released his hand, pressed her palms together and chanted. After a while, she opened her hands, and a green orb floated above her palm. She glanced at Ye Tian, who leaned in; she pressed the orb gently to his crown. As it touched his head, it melted inside. Just as Ye Tian wondered what was happening, a voice sounded in his ear…