The elevator-like tunnel opened with a low hiss as Han Soi stepped out first, carrying Yue Yue's small wrist gently so she wouldn't wander.
They had reached the 19th floor, which was a polluted zone far below the safer levels...and the moment Yue Yue saw the swirling grey mist, cracked earth, and eerie silence, every hair on her body stood up.
This place looked like a horror movie where the main character dies first for no good reason.
Instinctively, without even thinking, she pressed closer to Han Soi's side. The poisonous dust floating in the air made her eyes widen in fear, and the entire zone felt like it wanted to eat her alive.
Han Soi didn't comment on how she stuck to him; he simply adjusted his stance so she fit comfortably by his side, like he was shielding her with his entire frame. He moved forward slowly, letting her follow along while keeping her within the circle of his safe aura.
Yue Yue kept looking around in shock. "Where are the beasts?" she whispered. "Last time I was here, there were hundreds. Everywhere. On the walls. On the ground. On the ceilings. Why is it suddenly empty?"
Han Soi didn't even blink. "Smaller ones ran away. Bigger ones are sleeping," he said calmly, lying through his teeth without a single change in expression.
The truth was quite different, because the moment these beasts sensed him, they had fled like terrified chickens, diving into holes, cracks, tunnels, anywhere they could hide.
Not a single creature dared to appear. But Yue Yue didn't know that. All she knew was that the silent, dead atmosphere made her cling even harder to his sleeve, her small fingers holding tightly like a frightened little squirrel.
Han Soi glanced down at her and froze. He physically winced when he saw her bare feet touching the cracked, toxic ground. Her toes were on dirty rocks, sharp edges, unknown poisonous materials, and she was just walking like this was her backyard.
Without warning, he reached down and picked her up in his arms.
Yue Yue shouted so loudly the empty zone echoed. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
He didn't answer immediately; he gave her a cold, sharp look instead. "Your feet will get injured. This place is dangerous. Look."
He tilted her slightly so she could see the ground she had been walking on. Jagged stones, toxic residue, and strange glowing moss that looked like it wanted to chew skin.
Yue Yue's mouth slowly closed.
"Oh," she whispered in a tiny voice, realizing she had almost sacrificed her feet to the pollution gods.
She didn't argue anymore. Instead, she clung to his arm and stayed perfectly still, suddenly becoming a soft, obedient little bundle.
It made Han Soi's heart strangely warm. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips without him noticing.
He continued walking with her held securely in one arm, and with the other hand free, he waited for any sign of beasts.
It didn't take long. Three different creatures peeked from a large crack, trembling in fear as they noticed him. Yue Yue gasped as Han Soi's calm expression didn't change at all.
A metallic sound rang through the air as his sword materialized from his bond wear. Before she could blink, he slashed once, twice, and thrice. The moves were clean, perfect, and almost artistic. The beasts didn't even have time to make a sound.
Yue Yue stared with stars in her eyes. "Wow… you're so good…"
Han Soi didn't respond, but her admiration made his tail, which had currently materialized, long and pitch black...give a tiny proud flick.
He gathered the dead beasts casually, hooking them with the end of his tail as if he were picking up groceries.
Then, with Yue Yue in one arm and three beasts dangling from his tail, he walked back toward the lift leading to the upper floor.
The entire time, Yue Yue's eyes kept drifting to his scales. They were dark, sleek, and beautiful, glowing faintly under the dim polluted light.
When he was still, they looked cold and powerful, but when he moved, they shifted like liquid black metal. She couldn't help comparing him. Her father...back in her original beast world was the most powerful snake she had ever known.
Her brother wasn't bad either. But this man… this Han Soi… he was actually comparable. Not as powerful as her father, but definitely second place in her heart's ranking of impressive snakes.
She blinked, suddenly thinking about her brother. "I wonder if that lovely idiot is bad-mouthing me right now…" she muttered under her breath.
Han Soi glanced at her. "What?"
"Nothing," she said quickly.
They reached the 20th floor soon, and as soon as they stepped inside the safer zone, Yue Yue immediately started wiggling in his arms like an impatient little worm.
Han Soi ignored it at first, pretending he didn't understand why she was squirming. But when she wriggled even harder, he reluctantly lowered her down to the ground.
The moment her feet touched the clean floor, she exhaled with relief, stretching her toes like a freed prisoner.
Han Soi watched her, a strange longing flickering in his chest. She had been so warm in his arms. He didn't want to put her down at all.
Yue Yue immediately pointed at the pile of beasts Han Soi had carried back with his tail. Her eyes sparkled like she had just found priceless treasure. "Okay! Let's eat these!"
Han Soi blinked slowly, like he was really not sure that she was going to eat this bloodied raw meat.
"Yes!" she said with full confidence. "But first… do you have a dagger? Or a small knife?"
Han Soi's soul nearly left his body.
This tiny female who barely reached his chest… who first wanted to eat bloodied meat and now wanted a blade?
He stared at her, stunned. "You want to use a knife?"
She nodded innocently.
His heart clenched as if someone stabbed him instead. She wasn't afraid of polluted beasts, wasn't afraid of blood, and now she wasn't even afraid of accidentally slicing her fingers off. It was the first time in his life he had met such a courageous...no, terrifyingly brave...female.
"No," he said immediately. "You will not touch it."
Yue Yue pouted like a disappointed child. "But I want to cut the meat."
"Just tell me what to do," he said firmly. "I'll do it."