Night had fully descended upon the camp.
Bonfires burned dimly, their orange glow reflecting across the weary faces of the beastmen who had just endured a long day of battle. The night wind carried faint scents of soil and blood drifting from the distant forest beyond the defensive perimeter.
Xiang Shuai returned from the direction of the woods.
In his hand were several soul cores still emitting a gentle glow—the results of his hunt that night. He had gathered them carefully, intending to give them to Xue Yunxue as a token of gratitude.
But the moment he arrived at the Medical Division—
his steps slowed.
His gaze swept across tent after tent.
The black-haired girl was nowhere to be seen.
His brows slowly furrowed.
"Have you seen Xue Yunxue?" he asked a beastman guard standing near the entrance of the medical area.
The guard looked puzzled.
"Wasn't she looking for you earlier? Haven't you met her? She hasn't come back yet."
Hasn't returned?
An uneasy feeling immediately spread through his chest, sharp and cold like a hidden thorn. His beast instincts trembled faintly—a premonition that was rarely wrong.
That girl… would not leave without reason.
He immediately activated his chakra computer. Runes of light shimmered in the night air, forming a transparent screen before his eyes.
First call.
No connection.
Second call.
Silence.
Third call—
complete failure.
Xiang Shuai's gaze slowly darkened.
A severed signal in this region meant only two possibilities: an energy interference zone… or something far worse.
Suddenly—
hurried footsteps echoed from outside the camp.
A soldier from another unit rushed in, breathing heavily.
"Emergency report!" he shouted. "We've lost contact with the northern expedition group! Their communication has completely cut off. It's estimated they encountered a high-level mutant force!"
The atmosphere of the camp instantly turned tense.
Anxious whispers spread like wildfire.
Xiang Shuai froze for a moment.
The northern group…
Yun Wu was there.
Was that wolf in danger?
His jaw tightened. The night, which should have been calm, suddenly felt unbearably heavy, as though the air itself carried invisible omens of disaster.
The group leaders quickly gathered. After a brief discussion, a decision was made.
The search would be postponed until morning.
Nighttime belonged to the mutants.
Even the strongest beastmen chose to recover their energy when the yin energy of the night reached its peak. After an entire day of fighting, forcing movement now would only increase casualties.
The order was logical.
But for Xiang Shuai—
logic could not calm the unease in his chest.
He stared at the still-dark screen of his chakra computer.
If something had truly happened to that girl…
he wasn't sure he could remain calm until dawn.
Xiang Shuai immediately activated his chakra computer again.
Light runes rotated through the air, forming a transparent screen that slowly split into three sections. The group call connected, revealing the faces of Luo Shixin, Lu Xiao, and Lin Yuan simultaneously.
Each of them appeared to be in different locations, yet their expressions were identical—tense after receiving news about the northern expedition's lost contact.
"What is it?" Luo Shixin asked first, his voice calm yet sharp like an unsheathed blade.
Xiang Shuai wasted no time.
"Xue Yunxue hasn't returned to the camp."
Silence.
The air between them seemed to freeze.
Lu Xiao's gaze darkened instantly, his crimson pupils narrowing sharply. Even Lin Yuan, usually relaxed, straightened his posture.
"What do you mean she hasn't returned?" Lu Xiao's voice came out low, almost like a growl.
Xiang Shuai briefly explained—their dinner, their separation in the forest, and the fact that the girl had never made it back to camp.
"Do you have any clue where she went?" Luo Shixin asked.
Xiang Shuai shook his head slowly.
"Her chakra computer isn't receiving my calls," he said.
The next words came before anyone could think further.
"I'm going to look for her now," Lu Xiao said.
Without hesitation.
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, staring at the vampire with disbelief.
"You're really willing to risk your life for that girl?" he said quietly. "This is high-level mutant territory. Even elite troops are waiting until morning."
Lu Xiao's red eyes flashed coldly.
"She is my partner."
That short answer plunged the virtual space into silence once more.
There was no hesitation. No military logic.
Only absolute resolve.
Lin Yuan clicked his tongue softly but did not argue further.
Xiang Shuai lowered his head slightly, guilt tightening around his chest.
If only he had escorted her back earlier…
If only he hadn't left her alone after seeing how exhausted her spiritual energy had become from calming him…
That girl—with her energy nearly depleted—could not possibly survive long in the mutant forest until dawn.
"I'm coming too," Xiang Shuai finally said.
The other three men looked at him.
"I was the last person to see her," he continued quietly. "If something happened… it's my responsibility."
His voice was low, yet the determination within it was unshakable.
Luo Shixin exhaled slowly before crossing his arms. The aura of a grand general radiated clearly from his posture.
"Then I'll join as well."
The others turned toward him.
As a general, he understood the risks of such a decision. But as her partner—
this was no longer merely a rescue mission.
"If my partner is taken while her husbands simply wait until morning," he said coldly, "it would be the greatest disgrace of my military career."
The corner of Lin Yuan's lips twitched faintly.
"You've all truly lost your minds," he muttered.
A few seconds later, however, he let out a long sigh.
"Fine. If you all die, who's going to explain this to her later?" he said with a lazy smile. "I'm in."
The four screens faced one another.
They shared only one objective.
To find a missing black fox girl within the forest of death.
The communication runes slowly faded.
------
The four beastmen gathered at their previously agreed meeting point—a rocky clearing at the edge of the dark forest. Night fog hung low in the air, carrying faint traces of blood and mutant energy.
Lin Yuan stepped forward. His long hair swayed in the night wind as a gentle blue aura belonging to the merfolk race slowly spread from his body. The energy rippled outward like invisible waves of water, sweeping across the surrounding trees and earth.
He closed his eyes, attempting to capture the trace of Xue Yunxue's aura.
Several moments passed.
Then he opened his eyes, his brows tightly furrowed.
"There's no trace," he said quietly. "Her aura is… cut off."
Xiang Shuai's expression immediately stiffened.
A severed aura meant only two possibilities—either the distance was too great… or she had entered a region with powerful energy interference.
Without further discussion, they quickly made a decision.
"We split up," Luo Shixin said firmly, his voice carrying the authority of a seasoned general. "If anyone finds something, activate the emergency signal."
No one objected.
As for Yun Wu, they were not overly worried. The wolf was a natural-born fighter—even among beastmen, his combat ability was terrifying.
The four figures vanished in different directions, their auras blending into the darkness of the night.
Meanwhile…
Xue Yunxue slowly opened her eyes.
Pain instantly spread throughout her body. Her back felt stiff from sleeping on hard grass and cold earth. She groaned softly as she sat up.
The sky was still dark, moonlight filtering through the leaves above.
It seemed she had only slept briefly.
But her spiritual energy had recovered slightly.
Suddenly, a small green light flickered on her chest.
Moa awakened.
The tiny tree-shaped spirit appeared, its expression filled with panic.
'Sister Xue! What did you do to end up in such a terrifying place?!' it cried.
Xue Yunxue let out a long sigh.
'It's a long story,' she replied while rubbing her temples. 'Right now, the important thing is finding a way out.'
Moa blinked several times before crossing its tiny arms in annoyance.
'I thought you were having a good time with Xiang Shuai, so I shut myself down to avoid disturbing you,' it grumbled. 'I only slept a few hours and you already got into trouble this big!'
Xue Yunxue rolled her eyes.
This little tree was truly too talkative.
'Alright, great navigator,' she said flatly. 'So where should we go?'
Moa immediately became serious. Tiny roots of energy extended from its body, merging with the ground beneath them.
A few seconds later, it spoke again.
'We're about two hundred miles away from the camp,' it said. 'To return, we'll have to pass through a high-level mutant forest.'
Xue Yunxue frowned.
That distance, in her current condition, was far from good news.
But before she could respond, Moa suddenly exclaimed—
'Wait!'
The green glow around it pulsed brighter.
'I detect the energy of one of your beast husbands… not far from here.'
Xue Yunxue's heart immediately began pounding.
'Who?'
'Yun Wu.'
Her eyes widened.
'Really? Is there another expedition group here?'
'Yes,' Moa answered quickly. 'There are several other auras with him. Their energy is strong… but chaotic. It seems they're fighting—or just came out of battle.'
Xue Yunxue immediately stood up, her fatigue swept away by renewed hope.
'Then we need to go there now.'
The night wind blew gently, carrying a faint scent of blood from afar.
Xue Yunxue crossed a wide plain filled with tall grass swaying softly under the night breeze. Moonlight fell like a silver curtain across the land, making the world appear silent yet alive.
Her steps gradually slowed.
Something felt different.
The air trembled faintly, as if hiding an unseen pulse of energy.
'Moa… I feel a strong energy around here,' she said inwardly.
The small spirit appeared beside her in a flicker of light.
'I feel it too,' Moa replied softly. 'This energy… pulses in a strange way.'
Xue Yunxue sharpened her senses.
'Is it dangerous?'
Moa hesitated before answering.
'No… it doesn't feel hostile. But… this energy is very similar to the energy from my home world.'
Its voice carried barely concealed unease.
Xue Yunxue immediately remembered.
The world of Fleur—the paradise of the plant race, destroyed five thousand years ago by the power of darkness.
Could it be… something from that world still remained?
'Sister Xue, can you check it for me?' Moa asked carefully. 'If this truly comes from Fleur… it might be extremely useful to us.'
Xue Yunxue nodded without hesitation.
'Of course. Let's take a look.'
She followed the direction of the energy until she stopped before a large pond hidden within the grasslands.
Its surface was calm like a mirror, yet a faint green glow shimmered from its depths.
'The energy is coming from here,' she murmured. 'There's something below.'
'The pond looks deep… are you going in?' Moa asked worriedly.
The night air was cold, turning her breath into mist. Xue Yunxue crouched and dipped her hand into the water.
She froze.
The water was warm.
Not merely warm—it felt comforting, like life energy embracing her skin.
'Strange… it's not cold at all,' she whispered. 'I think I can enter.'
She took out the Breathing Pearl given by the Great Sea Guardian Lin Tianhai. As its energy fused with her body, her lungs felt light and expansive, as if she could breathe anywhere.
Without hesitation, she dove in.
Ten meters… fifteen… nearly twenty meters deep.
Yet the pond's bottom was not dark.
A gentle green light illuminated the underwater space.
At the bottom lay a small stone the size of a baby's fist, pale green like fresh leaves after rain. Natural light radiated from it, tinting the surrounding soil emerald.
Xue Yunxue approached slowly.
The moment her fingers touched it, warm energy flowed into her body, washing away lingering fatigue.
She grabbed it and swam back to the surface.
But the instant the stone left the pond—
the once-warm water turned ice cold.
The night wind pierced to the bone.
Shivering, she quickly dried herself with spiritual energy and changed her soaked clothes.
The green stone now glowed softly in her palm.
Moa suddenly shouted excitedly.
'That's a Healing Stone!'
'A Healing Stone?' Xue Yunxue asked.
Moa's voice trembled with excitement.
'If you absorb its energy, not only will your power increase—you'll gain healing abilities! Even in Fleur, that power was extremely rare. Only a few members of our tribe possessed it.'
It paused, still in disbelief.
'How could something this important exist in this world…'
Xue Yunxue stared at the stone in amazement.
'Is it really that powerful?'
'More than that!' Moa replied quickly. 'Even a fragment can be turned into anti-mutant serum. As long as someone hasn't fully transformed, they can still be saved.'
Xue Yunxue fell silent.
The value of this stone far surpassed any rare treasure—it could save countless lives.
Carefully, she stored it inside her storage space.
'Then we should meet Yun Wu immediately,' she said firmly.
Her body moved at once.
With the speed of a black fox, Xue Yunxue shot through the dark forest, her figure flashing between trees toward the aura Moa indicated.
As she drew closer, the scent of blood in the air grew heavier.
Her steps slowed.
Her heart pounded.
Were they still fighting…? Were they badly injured?
From afar, violent impacts shook the forest. The ground trembled each time something struck the earth.
She accelerated—
then stopped as the scene before her unfolded.
A fierce battle was underway.
Yun Wu stood at the front line alongside several beastman soldiers. Facing them was a gigantic mutant—towering, muscles grotesquely swollen, gray skin like dead stone. The oppressive dark aura it emitted made breathing feel heavy.
A high-level mutant.
At least… Level Eighty.
The soldiers were exhausted, bodies covered in wounds.
But Yun Wu still stood.
The wolf attacked relentlessly.
His right arm hung uselessly at his side, severely injured, yet he advanced as though he felt no pain. Every movement was brutal and decisive—the fighting style of a former high-ranking officer accustomed to facing death.
A low roar escaped his throat as he charged again.
The soldiers behind him watched with respect.
His fighting spirit refused to fade.
But when Xue Yunxue looked closer, her breath caught.
His body was drenched in blood.
Not a single part remained truly uninjured.
Even his steps had begun to falter.
"Yun Wu…" she whispered unconsciously.
At that critical moment, Yun Wu gathered his remaining strength and launched a savage attack, his energy claws striking toward the mutant's head.
But—
the mutant moved faster.
BOOM!
Yun Wu was seized and hurled dozens of meters away, crashing violently into the ground.
The earth cracked. Dust exploded into the air.
Xue Yunxue's pupils shrank.
This was her only chance.
Her spiritual energy erupted.
The ground trembled violently.
Dozens of gigantic vines burst from the earth like living serpents, instantly binding the mutant's body. Poisonous thorns pierced deep, restraining its movements.
An enraged roar shook the forest.
The soldiers froze in shock.
Plant element… a rare ability!
Without wasting time, Xue Yunxue rushed toward Yun Wu.
"Leave now!" she shouted.
She knelt beside him. His eyes were still open but unfocused. Shock flashed within them upon seeing her face—as if he couldn't believe she had appeared in such a deadly place.
"You… why are you here…" he rasped.
"Don't talk," she replied firmly, though worry filled her voice.
She quickly examined his injuries.
Far worse than she expected.
Without hesitation, she lifted Yun Wu. A young soldier hurried to help support him, and they retreated at once.
Behind them, massive vines continued erupting from the earth. Giant carnivorous plants rose, opening enormous petals to slow the pursuing mutant.
Roars and destruction faded into the distance.
They had escaped.
Eventually, they found a hidden cave behind a rocky cliff.
The entrance was narrow, but inside was spacious enough to hold the survivors—about fifty people remained.
Several soldiers collapsed immediately upon entering.
Xue Yunxue gently laid Yun Wu down.
Without delay, she took out several potion bottles from her storage space. Her hands moved quickly yet steadily as she cleaned his wounds and poured healing elixir over the worst injuries.
A gentle medicinal fragrance filled the cave.
She also distributed recovery and healing potions to the wounded soldiers nearby.
"Drink slowly. Don't stand up immediately," she instructed softly but firmly.
The soldiers accepted the bottles with astonished expressions.
They secretly observed the young woman before them.
Yun Wu's partner… was not only beautiful and captivating. She dared to enter the battlefield, could fight, and even carried abundant medical supplies. In a life-and-death situation like this, her presence felt like hope itself.
But Xue Yunxue paid no attention to their gazes.
All her focus remained on Yun Wu.
His condition was far worse than it appeared.
His right arm was badly broken, the bone displaced unnaturally. Carefully, she poured a specialized bone-mending potion.
A faint sound of bones reconnecting echoed softly.
Yet her brows furrowed.
The healing wasn't perfect. Tiny fractures remained… fragments not fully aligned.
If only she had surgical tools…
She could repair it completely.
'Sister Xue… let's use the Healing Stone's power,' Moa's voice sounded gently in her mind.
Xue Yunxue hesitated.
She had absorbed only a small portion earlier. The healing ability had awakened—but remained weak and unstable.
Her gaze fell on Yun Wu's face.
Even half-conscious, he endured the pain silently. His jaw was tight, breathing heavy, yet he did not complain once.
Her heart tightened slightly.
The stone's existence had to remain secret. A treasure of such power could easily place her life in constant danger.
Pretending to examine another wound, she secretly channeled healing energy into his body.
Warm energy flowed softly, entering damaged meridians and wrapping around fractured bones.
Slowly…
Color returned to Yun Wu's pale face.
His breathing steadied.
The pain lines on his brow gradually relaxed.
Xue Yunxue released a quiet breath of relief. Cold sweat dampened her temples.
Only one night had passed…
yet her energy was nearly exhausted.
Looking around the cave, she finally noticed something else.
The soldiers looked exhausted—and hungry. Some trembled as they leaned against the walls.
They likely hadn't eaten since morning.
Without a word, she opened her storage space again and took out supply boxes. The aroma of dried meat quickly filled the air as she distributed food.
"Take only what you need. We still have to last until morning," she said.
The soldiers accepted the food in disbelief.
Their admiration deepened.
Beautiful… skilled in medicine… brave… and even thinking of their hunger in such circumstances.
Someone whispered quietly to his companion.
Yun Wu was truly fortunate to have a partner like her.
Unconsciously, some compared her to Hu Shui—Yun Wu's former partner—but none dared say it aloud.
In a corner of the cave, Xue Yunxue finally sat beside Yun Wu again.
Fatigue crashed over her like an unstoppable tide.
She took out a simple sleeping mat from her storage space and laid it beside him—almost unconsciously wanting to remain within reach if his condition worsened.
After confirming his breathing was stable, she finally lay down.
The steady breathing of resting soldiers filled the cave.
Outside, the night remained dark and dangerous.
But within that small refuge, for the first time since the battle began, they felt a fragile sense of peace.
Before long, Xue Yunxue drifted into sleep…
one hand unconsciously resting near Yun Wu's arm, as if making sure he was still alive.
-------
Yun Wu's consciousness slowly returned, like someone rising from the depths of dark water.
The first thing he felt was warmth.
Not pain. Not the chilling cold of the battlefield.
But a gentle warmth that wrapped around his body, seeping deep into his bones.
His brows faintly furrowed.
He should have been gravely injured.
His last memory was a violent impact—his body thrown away, bones breaking, and pain so intense it nearly shattered his consciousness.
Yet now—
That pain remained only as a distant shadow.
He slowly opened his eyes.
The stone ceiling of a cave greeted his vision. A small fire burning in the corner cast a dim, comforting glow. The quiet breathing of soldiers echoed faintly around him.
Then he felt something near his arm.
Warm… and light.
Yun Wu turned his head.
His breath halted.
Xue Yunxue was asleep beside him.
The girl looked utterly exhausted. Her black hair was slightly disheveled, several strands falling across her cheeks. Her face was pale, faint shadows of fatigue lingering beneath her eyes.
Her hand still rested near his arm—as if even in sleep, she had never truly moved away.
As though she had been keeping watch.
Yun Wu's heart pounded.
Once. Twice.
Then faster.
He did not understand why his chest felt tight.
His gaze slowly lowered to his own body. The wounds that should have been severe had already partially closed. Even his fractured bones felt far more stable than they should have.
He was no fool. No ordinary medicine could produce recovery like this.
His eyes returned to the sleeping girl.
He vaguely remembered… her gentle spiritual energy flowing into him, carefully guiding his recovery.
His fingertips trembled slightly.
She… had used her power again.
Foolish girl.
A truly foolish girl.
She had clearly been exhausted before.
Yet she still came to that dangerous place… still fought… still saved him.
Without realizing it, Yun Wu's gaze softened.
After years living on the battlefield, he had seen countless people approach him for power, status, or personal gain.
But never had anyone stayed by his side when he stood at the brink of destruction.
Never had anyone… fallen asleep beside him from exhaustion just to make sure he survived.
His heart began to pound again.
This time, far more chaotically.
Slowly, he lifted his left hand—the only one still able to move. He hesitated for a moment before gently brushing aside the strands of hair covering Xue Yunxue's face.
His movements were extremely careful.
As if afraid of waking her.
Or perhaps… afraid of breaking this moment.
When the hair moved away, her peaceful face became clear beneath the firelight.
So close.
Soft and serene.
Yun Wu's chest tightened.
Something unfamiliar began growing within him—something he had long ignored, something he had never allowed to exist.
A feeling far more dangerous than any wound.
"…Why do you always leave me indebted to you…" he murmured softly.
The words were barely more than a whisper.
Unconsciously, he shifted slightly, adjusting his position so Xue Yunxue could lean more comfortably without waking.
The small movement caused her head to naturally rest against his shoulder.
Yun Wu instantly froze.
His heartbeat thundered loudly.
Too close.
A faint fragrance of roses mixed with the gentle sweetness of peaches filled his senses.
Strange…
A man who was normally wary of everyone felt not the slightest urge to pull away.
Instead—
he wished time would linger here just a little longer.
Outside the cave, the night wind blew softly.
But inside, the wolf known for his cold and unshakable nature sat silently, allowing a girl to sleep upon his shoulder… while his heart pounded far more wildly than it ever had before any enemy.