The young man's fingers suddenly tightened around her wrist, pulling her toward him with surprising strength for someone so gravely wounded. His eyes, half-open and unfocused, locked onto her face—onto those dark, blood-red eyes glowing beneath the moonlight.
"W-Who... who are you?" he whispered hoarsely, struggling to see her clearly.
Before Bai-Xue could answer, she heard hurried footsteps approaching through the forest.
"Search there! You look that way—I'll check this side!"
"Hurry! His Highness must be nearby. He's seriously injured!"
Bai-Xue let out a soft sigh.
"Looks like your people have come to rescue you," she murmured. "I should leave. And... I've already taken my fee for helping you."
She turned to walk away, but after a few steps, she paused and glanced back at him—still unconscious, still gripping the ground as though reaching for her.
"I hope we meet again," she whispered, then disappeared into the shadows of the forest.
The man stirred the moment she left, his voice weak and desperate.
"W-Wait... wait...
Where... are you going...?
Tell me... who are you...?"
He tried to rise, but his legs trembled and he collapsed once more.
Just then, several people burst into the clearing.
"Your Highness! Are you all right?"
"Don't just stand there! Quickly—carry His Highness back to the carriage!"
After walking for a while, Bai-Xue reached a lake so still and clear it looked as though the moon itself had descended into its waters. A tall tree full of white blossoms leaned over the lake, its branches heavy with bright red berries.
Bai-Xue's stomach growled.
She plucked a handful of berries and ate them—sweet, fragrant, delicious. After satisfying her hunger, she stepped toward the water to bathe.
Moonlight kissed her fair skin, soft and smooth like carved jade. Her long black hair floated behind her like a dark waterfall. In that moment, she looked like an immortal who had descended from the heavens to bless the lake with beauty.
As she bathed, a faint melody drifted through the night air.
Bai-Xue opened her eyes sharply.
A song?
She looked around, but the trees stood silent.
"An illusion?" she whispered.
She resumed bathing—but the melody returned, clearer and closer this time.
Bai-Xue quickly stepped out of the water and dressed in the clothes she had taken from the wounded young man. Then she moved toward the sound, her footsteps silent, her senses sharpened by her awakened vision.
The music lingered in the air, yet no musician could be found. Bai-Xue narrowed her eyes, activating her divine sight. Animals appeared in her vision—deer, birds, insects—but among them stood one creature unlike any other:
A tiny white rabbit... with violet eyes radiating immense spiritual energy.
A smile tugged at her lips.
"Well, little white rabbit," she said softly, "why don't you come out now? I've already caught you. The game of hide-and-seek is over. Why don't you show yourself and sing your enchanting little song for me?"
The rabbit froze—then lifted off the ground.
In a flash of black light, its small body transformed. Those violet eyes grew larger, gleaming like polished amethysts. Its fur turned pitch black, shimmering like the night sky, with a single glowing violet stripe across its throat.
The creature spoke, its voice sharp.
"Human... how did you recognize me?"
Bai-Xue tilted her head.
"Hmm... let me guess. Because you're very cute. Even if you're an evil black rabbit—you're still a cute one."
She smiled sweetly.
The rabbit's ears twitched violently.
"C-Cute?" it hissed. Its violet eyes flared with rage. "You dare?! I won't let you leave here alive!"
The rabbit glared, and suddenly all the leaves around them trembled—then exploded into the air, transforming into razor-sharp needles and dagger-like shards.
They shot toward Bai-Xue in a deadly storm.
She sprinted to avoid them, but wherever she moved, even more sharpened leaves formed and chased her like guided blades.
With no escape left, Bai-Xue gritted her teeth.
"Fine... if I can't run, then I'll fight!"
She grabbed a dry branch from the ground and swung it fiercely, shattering a portion of the leaf-blades—but the branch snapped in half under the relentless assault.
The broken branch fell from Bai-Xue's hand, splintering against the forest floor.
Dozens of razor-sharp leaf-blades were still racing toward her, slicing through trees and stone like butter.
Her breath hitched.
These aren't ordinary leaves... this demon rabbit's spiritual energy is terrifying!
Bai-Xue kicked off the ground, rolling to the side just as a storm of needles pierced the place she'd stood seconds ago. A boulder behind her exploded into dust under the force.
The rabbit hovered above the clearing, violet eyes glowing with cold amusement.
"Hmph. Weak human," it sneered. "You think you can escape the wrath of the Nightshade Mystic Rabbit?"
Bai-Xue wiped a trickle of blood from her cheek.
"Escape?" She smirked. "I wasn't trying to escape. I was just warming up."
The rabbit's ears twitched.
"You dare talk back?!"
It released another wave of spiritual energy. Leaves trembled violently, turning into thousands of shimmering blades that circled Bai-Xue like a deadly sphere.
She had only seconds to react.
I need a weapon... now!
Her eyes darted around—then locked onto a thick branch with a sharp, broken edge.
She grabbed it and spun just as the leaf-storm shot inward.
WHSSHHHH!
She deflected some, dodged others, but several sliced across her arms and shoulders, leaving thin trails of blood.
The rabbit let out a cruel laugh.
"Die, foolish girl!"
The leaves fused together, forming a massive spear of green and silver energy, aimed straight at her heart.
Bai-Xue's pupils narrowed.
At the last second, she threw herself forward, rolling beneath the spear's trajectory. The leaf-spear slammed into the ground behind her, carving a deep trench through the earth.
Dust burst into the air.
Bai-Xue coughed, clutching her bleeding arm.
Tch... this little demon is strong.
The rabbit floated closer, its violet eyes gleaming.
"You should have run while you could. Humans who see my true form must die."
Bai-Xue looked up at it... and smiled.
"Then come and try."
The rabbit hissed.
"Arrogant human!"
It began gathering energy—more than before—vines and leaves pulling from every corner of the forest to form a swirling vortex overhead.
Bai-Xue felt her skin prickle.