Xueji and Shaya descended rapidly together from the Canglong. This colossal vessel now hovered over the ancient forest, as majestic as a true divine dragon.
Skydiving from a great height once again, Xueji felt something was missing.
As gravity seized her body, pulling her towards the earth, she instinctively glanced to her side. But the graceful, ancient-robed silhouette she expected was no longer there. In her place was Shaya, her face alight with excitement.
Noticing Xueji’s distracted gaze, Shaya waved a hand in front of her face.
Concerned, Shaya’s voice came through the communicator, “A-Ji, what’s wrong? Didn’t you eat enough?”
Hearing Shaya’s voice, Xueji snapped out of her daze and quickly shook her head.
“Nothing, just… spaced out for a second.”
Her words were disingenuous. The message she had sent to Ling Xiaoxiao two days ago remained unanswered, planting a seed of quiet unease in her heart.
‘What’s this? Do I… miss her? Xueji, get a grip. Even if something happened to anyone else, that woman would be fine. Besides, even if she got into trouble, she’d proba…’
Xueji tried to recall all the things Ling Xiaoxiao had done to her, hoping to suppress a certain indescribable feeling rising within.
But the Ling Xiaoxiao in her memories was frustratingly contradictory. Of course, Xueji remembered the scenes of hurt, the pain inflicted. Yet, the moment a trace of resentment began to sprout, another image would surface: Ling Xiaoxiao, tears of blood streaming down her face, begging her pathetically not to leave.
Replaying this mental conflict repeatedly, Xueji found it impossible to stop herself from worrying about Ling Xiaoxiao. She could only end her tumultuous thoughts in a state of profound contradiction.
“The clouds are so thick today, annoying,” Xueji muttered, raising a hand. A burst of wind magic scattered the surrounding clouds.
Shaya watched the troubled Xueji with confusion, wanting to say something but finding no words. Having entered human society for barely over a month, human worries were still largely incomprehensible to her.
The two completed their descent in a silence filled with tangled thoughts.
…
Just as Xueji and Shaya were adjusting their gear, a massive, azure-blue giant wolf charged towards them from a distance.
The wolf’s form overlapped with Xueji’s memory of the demon god Fenrir. Instinctively, Xueji fully armed herself, shifting into combat stance. But Shaya ran straight towards the creature before Xueji could stop her.
The sudden situation temporarily pushed thoughts of Ling Xiaoxiao from Xueji’s mind. With a flash of magical light, Xueji appeared beside Shaya, pulling her into a protective embrace.
After rescuing Shaya, Xueji used wind magic to rapidly gain altitude.
Shaya’s fluffy head was pressed against Xueji’s chest. Though unsure why, Shaya decided to simply enjoy it, her small arms naturally wrapping around Xueji.
“Woah, ohh~”
Meanwhile, the blue giant wolf stayed obediently put, watching the scene with a puzzled expression.
Xueji faced off against it for a moment, sensing no hostility. Then, noticing the scar over the wolf’s right eye, she remembered who it was.
This was Shaya’s younger brother, Scar-eye. Xueji had once used Fenrir’s heart to perform a heart transplant for him. Who would have thought that in just over a month, he’d transformed into this magnificent, over-twenty-meter-tall beast?
“A-Ji, were you… scared by my little brother?” Shaya looked up, belatedly realizing the possibility.
Xueji awkwardly turned her head away, mumbling an apology, which sent Shaya into fits of unrestrained laughter in her arms.
“Stop laughing. We have serious business to discuss with the Monarch Deer,” Xueji said, trying to maintain a serious tone. However, the faint blush on her fair cheeks betrayed her completely.
Xueji wasn’t as socially awkward around people she knew as she was with outsiders. Even after becoming a girl, she retained a somewhat brash demeanor. Shaya rarely got to see a flustered Xueji and found it quite novel.
“A-Ji, you look really pretty when you blush,” Shaya said, her breathing growing slightly heavier as she stared at Xueji’s face, swallowing hard.
“Alright, alright, I know what I did was silly. Stop teasing me.”
Xueji set Shaya down and quickened her pace, walking ahead to greet Scar-eye.
“Lady Xueji, there’s no need for such formality. You are always welcome here,” Scar-eye spoke. After conquering Fenrir’s heart, his intelligence had grown considerably, though his speech still carried a simple, honest tone.
“We have important matters to discuss this time. I hope you can accompany me to meet the leaders of the other spirit beasts.” Xueji then briefly outlined the purpose of their visit.
“I understand your plan, my lady. But even if everyone agrees to help in the fight, we… we can’t actually leave to assist you,” Scar-eye said. His growth seemed to have granted him knowledge of some of the secret restrictions within this sanctuary.
Xueji nodded confidently. “Don’t worry about that. We humans will take responsibility for solving those issues.”
Only then did Scar-eye agree.
“Little bro, you’ve grown so big!” Shaya caught up and leaped onto Scar-eye’s head. “And your fur is quite handsome now. You’re going to be the most dashing one in our Cloud Wolf tribe.” She ran all over him, thoroughly pleased with her brother’s growth.
“Sis, stop pulling my fur! I’m big now, and it’s a hassle to smooth it all out by myself,” Scar-eye pleaded, feeling the disturbance on his back.
“Your big sister finally comes back, and you’re being stingy like this?”
A hint of anger in Shaya’s voice made Scar-eye reflexively shut his mouth.
“As long as you’re happy, sis,” Scar-eye conceded helplessly. Even with a demon god’s heart under his control, he was still Shaya’s little brother.
When Scar-eye led Xueji and Shaya back to the territory, the Cloud Wolves raised their heads and howled to the sky, welcoming their return.
“The Boss is back!”
Although Shaya had left, and Scar-eye was now the true leader of the Cloud Wolf tribe in practice, her prestige remained undiminished.
Now, she was the unruly princess of the Cloud Wolves. And even within the ancient forest, with Scar-eye and Xueji as her formidable allies, plus her own considerable power, she could practically walk sideways if she wanted.
Returning to this place, Xueji and Shaya stood by the lakeshore together, looking at the small island in the center. It lay shattered into pieces, a lasting impact of their past battle.
“It feels like so much time has passed, yet it’s only been just over a month,” Xueji mused.
“Yeah. Even though it’s only been a little over a month, so much has happened out there. It’s not like here, always so peaceful.” For the first time, Shaya reflected on life in a very human way.
“Do you think… our home here will become like the outside world someday?” Shaya continued, looking at Xueji with great seriousness.
There was no fear in her eyes, just like when Xueji first met her.
“The world is changing so fast. Who’s to say what might appear in the future to threaten this place?” Xueji paused before continuing, “But… you won’t let that happen, will you?”
“And what about you?” At this moment, Shaya’s gaze met Xueji’s, and a flicker of unease surfaced in her eyes.
This scene reminded Xueji of her old master’s teachings.
“Master, if you passed the trial, why didn’t you accept the title of Sage?”
“Boy, what makes you think I passed the Sage’s trial?” the old mage countered with a voice full of worldly experience.
“Well… the records in the Mage Tower list you as the only one who ever passed the trial.”
“The Mage Tower? Hahaha! They’re just a bunch of fools. They actually think the Sage is just a title!”
Speaking of this, the old mage laughed until he coughed.
“Foolish boy, magical power originates from nature. Even if people call you a Sage in the future, don’t for a second think that a title bestowed by humans is anything to be proud of. Only when recognized by magic itself are you a true Sage.”
Xueji had never fully understood those words back then. But now, she felt a glimmer of comprehension.
Looking at Shaya, who awaited her answer, Xueji responded, “I will. I’ll stay with you.”