Luo Shixin shot across the night sky like a streak of light.
Cold wind tore against his military cloak as he entered a region long marked as a high-level mutant contamination zone. The air there was heavy—thick with the scent of metal, blood, and lingering dark energy that had yet to fully dissipate.
His hawk-like eyes swept across the land below.
Then he stopped abruptly.
His figure descended slowly, combat boots touching down upon cracked, blackened earth.
Before him lay the aftermath of battle.
Bodies of mutant humans were scattered everywhere, some so thoroughly destroyed they no longer retained human form. The ground was ripped apart, trees lay toppled, and amid the devastation—severed poisonous vines were strewn across the battlefield like dead serpents. Several gigantic carnivorous plants still twitched weakly before finally withering, having lost their source of energy.
Luo Shixin's gaze hardened.
He crouched down and touched the soil with his fingertips.
Residual spiritual energy still pulsed faintly.
Warm… alive… and incredibly familiar.
"…Yunxue."
He recognized the aura almost instantly.
That unique plant-element energy—gentle yet lethally sharp—could only belong to her.
Without wasting a second, he activated his military chakra computer. A transparent blue projection unfolded in midair, mapping the surrounding terrain in precise detail. Unlike civilian models, this military device analyzed every energy fluctuation in real time.
He immediately transmitted the coordinates to Xiang Shuai, Lin Yuan, and Lu Xiao.
Location confirmed. A large-scale battle occurred here.
The message was sent within seconds.
Yet Luo Shixin did not leave.
As a general, he understood one truth—battlefields always held answers for those who knew how to read their traces.
He rose slowly, narrowing his eyes as he examined every detail.
Then he smelled it.
A sharp odor.
Rotten… yet mixed with a chemical scent that felt disturbingly familiar.
His steps halted beside a faint stain on the ground.
Moonlight reflected a nearly invisible neon-blue sheen.
His expression instantly turned cold.
He knelt and touched the mark.
The chakra computer immediately analyzed the residual energy.
Data appeared in the air.
Luo Shixin's pupils shrank.
"…Mutant serum."
His low voice sounded almost like a growl.
He recognized it without needing confirmation.
A military experimental compound.
An early-generation anti-mutant serum—a classified project that had ended in total failure. Instead of curing mutation, it accelerated it, destroying the victim's consciousness entirely.
Every batch was supposed to have been destroyed years ago.
And yet…
It appeared here.
Luo Shixin's gaze darkened.
This was no coincidence.
Someone had tried to use that serum to harm Xue Yunxue.
The night wind swept across the battlefield, carrying the piercing stench of death.
Slowly, he stood. The restrained aura of a war general now released a suffocating cold pressure.
He followed the traces of battle deeper into the dark forest, discovering more signs along the path.
Thorned vines coiled around tree trunks, some still carrying remnants of poison not yet fully dispersed. Giant carnivorous plants had been severed mid-movement, as though forcibly halted after completing their task.
Luo Shixin's eyes sharpened.
This was clearly Xue Yunxue's work.
The placement of those plants was not merely an attack—it was strategy. Layers of trap perimeters formed an orderly defensive pattern, proving she had been protecting herself while retreating.
And the direction of her trail…
North.
Far deeper into high-level mutant territory.
A faint crease appeared between Luo Shixin's brows.
The girl had truly entered a land of death.
But before he could move any farther—
The hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood on end.
The air around him grew heavy.
Combat instincts forged through hundreds of battles screamed a warning.
Something… was watching him.
The ground trembled faintly.
A dense, rotten aura crept between the trees.
"High-level mutant…" he murmured.
The chakra computer on his wrist activated instantly, scanning the surroundings. Lines of blue light swept across the forest before locking onto a rapidly blinking red point.
Analysis appeared.
THREAT LEVEL: 80
Luo Shixin narrowed his eyes.
A Level-Eighty mutant.
A creature that even an elite military squad would face with heavy casualties.
Yet the general's expression remained calm.
In an instant, golden light enveloped his body.
Layer by layer, war armor manifested, covering him in sacred metallic brilliance. Ancient engravings across its surface radiated immense spiritual pressure, as if a war god himself had descended upon the battlefield.
He did not move.
He did not retreat.
Instead, he stood upright…
Waiting.
Leaves rustled.
Then—
SHRREEET!
A long tongue shot out from the darkness, sharp like a barbed spear, striking from behind with lethal speed.
But Luo Shixin had already moved before the attack even arrived.
CLANG!
His arm spun swiftly, deflecting the strike with an energy shield that materialized in an instant. Sparks of light exploded into the air.
The ground cracked from the impact.
A sword of light appeared in his hand—formed from pure spiritual energy condensed into a deadly blade.
The mutant finally revealed itself.
Its towering body loomed grotesquely, flesh rotting yet hardened like stone. Its jaw split open all the way down to its chest, while its barbed tongue writhed endlessly like a starving living creature.
A low roar shook the forest.
The creature charged.
Yet Luo Shixin stepped forward.
Not to evade—
But to meet it head-on.
His sword flashed.
One strike.
Golden light split the night.
BOOM!
A shockwave erupted outward, toppling the surrounding trees. The mutant's tongue was severed cleanly, black fluid spraying into the air before instantly evaporating under the sacred energy radiating from his armor.
The black flesh at the base of the tongue pulsed violently—
Then, right before Luo Shixin's eyes, the rotten tissue regenerated at terrifying speed. Within a few breaths, a brand-new barbed tongue had fully formed, writhing hungrily once more.
Luo Shixin narrowed his eyes.
High-level regeneration.
Without giving him time to think, the mutant attacked again.
BOOM!
The ground beneath Luo Shixin shattered as he shot forward. His light sword flashed repeatedly, striking the monster again and again. Yet the creature's hide was as hard as black steel, leaving only shallow wounds that sealed themselves almost instantly.
Attack after attack rebounded.
For the first time, Luo Shixin's movements slowed slightly.
The mutant roared and swept its claws forward. Luo Shixin twisted aside, then in one precise motion thrust his blade toward the creature's neck—the softest point he had identified since the battle began.
SRAAK!
The blade pierced flesh.
The mutant howled in agony, its massive body trembling violently. Its roar shook the entire forest, the air vibrating like a raging storm.
But at that exact moment—
Wind blew from the west.
A far thicker stench of decay filled the air.
Luo Shixin's combat instincts screamed.
He turned.
Dark shadows emerged between the trees.
Dozens of mutants rushed toward the battlefield—mid- to high-level creatures, their crimson eyes blazing as they were drawn by the scent of blood and exploding spiritual energy.
And among them…
Two heavier auras appeared.
Two Level-Eighty mutants.
Now they surrounded him from three directions.
Luo Shixin exhaled softly.
"Tch… what a nuisance."
Chakra light burst from his body, forming a golden energy barrier around him. The first wave of attacks struck almost simultaneously—
CLANG! BOOM! CRACK!
Claws, barbed tongues, and massive blows rained endlessly against the shield.
The earth fractured.
Trees collapsed.
Shockwaves swept through the forest like a violent storm.
Luo Shixin moved with flawless precision, every swing of his sword severing limbs from approaching mutants. Golden light flashed endlessly, cutting through the night at nearly invisible speed.
But their numbers were overwhelming.
One-on-one, he had never lost.
But this—
Dozens against one.
A claw finally slipped through a gap in his defense.
BRAK!
His body was forced back several meters, armored boots grinding against the ground and throwing sparks.
The corner of his lips split.
A thin line of blood flowed downward. His handsome face tightened under the pressure of the encroaching mutants.
The chakra shield surrounding him began to crack, lines of light fracturing like glass on the verge of shattering.
The next assault came mercilessly.
Luo Shixin raised his sword, resisting the barrage with the last of his strength. The muscles in his arm tensed as his spiritual energy drained rapidly to maintain his final defense. The mutants continued to swarm him without mercy.
The cracks widened.
CRACK…
CRACK…
Damn it… Luo Shixin cursed inwardly.
His spiritual energy was rapidly depleting. He began considering retreat. Fighting one Level-Eighty mutant was still within his limits—but three at once, alongside dozens more, was nothing short of suicide.
But just before he moved—
WHOOSH!
Blades of ice descended from the night sky.
Cold light shimmered like falling stars, piercing through several mutants' heads at once. Their rotten bodies froze instantly before shattering into fragments upon the ground.
The pressure around Luo Shixin instantly lessened.
The suffocating air of death suddenly grew lighter.
He turned.
A pale-robed figure stood atop a high tree branch, long teal-blue hair fluttering gently in the night wind.
Lin Yuan.
Without a single word, the merman descended onto the battlefield.
Luo Shixin pushed his chakra shield forward and swung his light sword once more. Now they fought side by side.
If Luo Shixin's movements embodied war itself—firm, ruthless, sharp, and precise like a military killing machine—
Then Lin Yuan was the opposite.
Soft.
Beautiful.
Yet utterly deadly.
Each of his steps was light, like dancing upon water. His fingers moved gently, yet every motion summoned death itself.
The air trembled.
A spiritual formation formed in the sky.
In an instant—
Thousands of purple spiritual swords rained down from the heavens.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The blades pierced the earth with gravitational force, impaling mutants and splitting them in half. Purple light scattered everywhere, turning the night into an ocean of flashing energy.
The mutants' roars became cries of despair. One of the Level-Eighty mutants was effortlessly slain by Lin Yuan.
And amid the chaos—
A silver shadow shot forward.
Xiang Shuai had arrived.
His massive serpent form coiled through the air, golden eyes blazing wildly. The soul cores of fallen mutants rose under spiritual force and were instantly absorbed toward him like falling stars. He devoured even the Level-Eighty mutant's core, consuming everything without leaving a trace.
Spiritual energy surged violently.
A silver aura exploded from his body.
His cultivation level skyrocketed—one stage… two… three…
Until five levels rose at once.
Level Seventy.
The burst of energy swept across the battlefield, shaking the earth and forcing nearby mutants to stagger backward.
Xiang Shuai laughed softly, golden eyes gleaming with battlelust.
His massive tail slammed into the ground.
BRAAAK!
Dozens of mutants were sent flying like scattered leaves. From his silver scales, poisonous energy blades shot outward like a rain of swords, piercing through the creatures' bodies.
Every mutant struck began to rot instantly, collapsing into black ash.
The battlefield had changed.
Three fierce figures now stood together—
The unshakable War General.
The elegant yet deadly Son of the Sea.
And the power-hungry Snake Prince.
Before them, the battle was far from over.
Dozens of mutants above Level Fifty surrounded the battlefield, their bodies pulsing with dark energy. Behind their ranks, two Level-Eighty mutants let out low growls, the pressure of their auras slowly cracking the ground beneath them.
The air grew heavy.
The stench of death filled every breath.
Suddenly—
black mist seeped into the battlefield.
The fog moved like a living creature, sliding between the mutants' legs before abruptly coiling around their bodies. Shadows hardened into invisible chains, locking their joints and throats in place.
The mutants roared, struggling to break free.
But they could not move.
The opportunity lasted only a single second.
And the three men never wasted an opportunity.
"Now!" Luo Shixin shouted.
Golden blades materialized behind him, arranged like the wings of a war god. With a single swing of his hand, hundreds of swords of light shot forward, piercing through the mutants with ruthless military precision.
On the other side, Lin Yuan slowly raised his hand.
Thousands of ice swords formed in the air, gleaming like lunar crystals. With a gentle motion, the deadly storm descended, freezing and shattering the mutants into countless frozen fragments.
Meanwhile, Xiang Shuai coiled his serpent body through the air, golden eyes blazing. Purple spiritual blades burst from his silver scales, spinning like a poisonous tempest that tore apart everything remaining.
BOOM!
The mutants' bodies split apart simultaneously.
Thick black fluid splashed across the earth, releasing a nauseating stench before slowly evaporating into dark smoke.
The black mist gathered once more.
Shrinking.
Condensing.
And transforming into a tall man with glowing crimson eyes.
Lu Xiao.
His vampiric aura trembled coldly in the air. Several high-level mutant soul cores glowed faintly in his hand. He glanced at them briefly before storing them within his spatial storage.
His red gaze then shifted toward Luo Shixin.
"Well?" His voice was low, but unmistakably tense."Did you find any clues?"
To outsiders, Lu Xiao's expression might have appeared calm.
But they all knew—
the vampire was anxious.
This was a high-contamination zone. Even elite soldiers could perish here. It was difficult to imagine how a seemingly fragile girl like Xue Yunxue could survive.
Luo Shixin wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, his breathing still heavy from battle.
"Yes," he finally said.
His sharp gaze swept across the battlefield.
"She survived this place."
The other three men immediately turned toward him.
Luo Shixin pointed at the ground—the severed poisonous vines, the charred remains of carnivorous plants, and the lingering trap formations.
"She set up numerous traps. Clean strategy… even capable of slowing Level-Eighty mutants."
A trace of admiration colored his voice.
"She's clever."
Then he pointed toward the darker forest in the north.
"I tracked her energy heading that way."
Silence fell briefly.
Without further discussion—
the four men moved at the same time.
Their shadows shot through the night forest, the auras of four apex predators merging like a storm tearing through darkness.
None of them spoke it aloud.
But they shared the same thought.
They had to find Xue Yunxue… before something far more terrifying found her first.
At the encampment, chaos erupted as dawn arrived.
Orders ran from tent to tent. Soldiers rushed in and out with tense expressions, reports echoing endlessly through the air. Anxiety filled the atmosphere like invisible pressure.
Inside the main command tent, City Leader Bai Zhou massaged his throbbing temples.
Just last night, he had received terrible news—one expedition team had lost contact in the northern territory. And this morning, a new disaster struck.
Xue Yunxue… had disappeared.
Not only that—
the four high-level beastmen bonded to her had also left the camp to search for her.
The expedition had not even lasted two days.
Yet the situation was already spiraling out of control.
"Deploy aerial reconnaissance units immediately!" Bai Zhou ordered heavily. "All flying-type beastmen are to sweep the northern region. I want reports every hour!"
An officer saluted and rushed out.
Bai Zhou inhaled deeply, but his headache only worsened.
Then he added coldly,
"Dispatch elite tracking teams as well. Locate Xiang Shuai and his group."
He could not allow this situation to escalate further.
After all, Xiang Shuai was the Prince of Shelua. If anything happened to him within Wulong City's territory, the diplomatic consequences could destabilize the entire region.
And not only him—
a grand military general had vanished.
The son of the Eastern Sea Priest.
Even a member of the legendary vampire clan.
All of these influential figures had left the safety of camp… for the sake of a single girl of unknown origin.
Just how important was she to them?
Bai Zhou sighed heavily.
"This truly gives me a headache…"
Meanwhile, inside a private tent not far from the command center—
Bai Ling nearly lost control of her emotions.
The teacup in her hand trembled violently before being thrown to the ground.
CRASH!
Porcelain shards scattered everywhere.
"For that woman… they're really risking their lives!"
Her face flushed with anger and jealousy she could no longer conceal. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her nails nearly digging into her own palms.
To her, Xue Yunxue was nothing more than a lowly woman who appeared out of nowhere.
Yet reality—
those four extraordinary men had abandoned the safety of the camp just to find her.
The thought cut into her pride like a blade.
Slowly… the corner of Bai Ling's lips lifted.
Her eyes narrowed coldly.
The outer region was filled with high-level mutants. Even elite soldiers could die there.
An ordinary woman?
Survival was nearly impossible.
"Let her become mutant food," she murmured softly, satisfaction hidden within her tone. "If she dies… everything will return to how it should be."
If Xue Yunxue truly died—
then the five men would eventually belong to her.
But her smile slowly faded.
Because one thing still troubled her.
Yun Wu.
There was still no news of the wolf.
A faint worry appeared in her eyes—something she could not hide.
Beside her, Eyen silently observed the change in her expression.
His gaze darkened slightly.
Seeing Bai Ling worry about another man made his chest tighten, but he concealed everything behind a gentle smile.
He reached out and lightly held her shoulder.
"Don't worry," he comforted softly. "Yun Wu is strong. Nothing will happen to him."
Bai Ling nodded faintly, unconsciously leaning against him.
After all, Yun Wu was extraordinarily talented. Of course he could save himself easily.
Xue Yunxue slowly awakened.
Her consciousness returned along with a strange warmth beside her. Her head felt heavy, and when she shifted slightly, she suddenly realized—
she was leaning against Yun Wu's shoulder.
Her body instantly stiffened.
They were… far too close.
During the time they had lived under the same roof, Xue Yunxue understood one thing clearly about this man—
Yun Wu always kept his distance from women.
He was cold, disciplined, almost like an untouchable wall. No matter who the woman was, he never allowed closeness.
The realization made her face heat slightly.
Moving carefully, she slowly lifted herself, trying to pull away without making a sound.
What she did not know—
was that Yun Wu had already been awake for quite some time.
Since the moment he felt the weight of the girl's head fall onto his shoulder, he had already awakened.
He did not move.He did not open his eyes.Even his breathing remained steady…
All just to make sure the girl could rest a little longer.
But when he felt Xue Yunxue awkwardly pull away—
for some reason, a faint discomfort rose within his chest.
As if something had just been taken away.
His brows knit almost imperceptibly.
…Why did she move away?
Xue Yunxue did not notice the subtle change in him. She immediately began checking the severely injured soldiers one by one.
The healing medicine she had given them the night before worked well. Their wounds had begun closing, though some rough scars still remained on their skin.
But Yun Wu was different.
The healing energy she had secretly channeled directly into his body had perfectly restored his tissues. Broken bones fused flawlessly, and new skin formed smoothly as if he had never been injured.
Not even a single scar remained.
Moa had warned her before—
true healing abilities existed only among a small number of tribes in the World of Fleur. On Planet Qui, such power was nearly considered legendary. Even vampires, famous for their powerful regeneration, could only heal themselves—not others.
Xue Yunxue let out a soft breath. She had used that ability with extreme caution, ensuring no one noticed anything unusual.
She then took food supplies from her storage space and reheated them over the remaining embers of the fire.
The aroma of roasted meat slowly filled the cave.
One by one, the soldiers began to awaken.
"Are… you cooking?" one soldier asked hoarsely, his eyes still half-open.
Xue Yunxue smiled faintly.
"Yes. We need to restore our energy before returning to the city."
Soon, everyone sat around the small fire, waiting patiently despite their obvious hunger.
She distributed the food fairly before carrying a full plate toward Yun Wu.
The man was now seated against the cave wall.
Shy morning light slipped through the cracks in the stone, falling gently across his face. His black hair looked soft beneath the glow, his jawline sharp yet calm.
For no clear reason, Xue Yunxue's heartbeat quickened slightly.
"Eat something," she said, offering the plate.
Yun Wu accepted it and began eating slowly.
His movements were calm, yet his gaze occasionally fell upon the girl before him.
"Does it still hurt?" Xue Yunxue asked.
"No," he replied quietly. "Your treatment was very effective."
He raised his right hand, slowly moving his fingers.
Strong. Stable. Completely painless.
Yun Wu's gaze darkened slightly.
He knew his injuries last night had not been minor. Even the best military physician could not have restored him this quickly.
But he did not question her.
Instead, he looked at Xue Yunxue for a longer moment.
"How did you end up in this area?" he finally asked.
The question had troubled him since last night.
Her presence in such a dangerous place felt almost impossible.
Xue Yunxue scratched her cheek lightly.
"It's… a long story."
She began explaining the kidnapping—how someone had tried to kill her, then abandoned her in the forest when high-level mutants appeared. She spoke lightly, as if it were nothing more than an ordinary incident.
As if life and death were trivial matters.
Yun Wu listened silently.
His gaze gradually changed.
A strange sense of familiarity surfaced within him—a feeling he had experienced long ago… toward someone who continued smiling even while wounded.
This girl…
was far too accustomed to facing danger alone.
"Do you know who tried to harm you?" he asked softly.
Xue Yunxue fell silent for a moment.
She already had an answer.
The name nearly escaped her lips.
But without evidence, truth was nothing more than accusation—especially when the person involved stood within Wulong City's circle of power.
She only smiled faintly.
"I'm not sure," she finally said.
Xue Yunxue opened her chakra computer, hoping there was still a communication channel connecting to the outside world. The crystal screen glowed faintly against her face as her fingers moved quickly, searching for a signal.
Only empty lines appeared.
No connection.
She sighed softly and closed the device.
Beside her, Yun Wu watched with a slightly stiff expression. The chakra computer he had given her was an old model—practically outdated compared to modern devices. At the time, he had only wanted her to have something for communication, without thinking much about quality.
Now, seeing Yunxue still using that pitiful device—and even accepting it happily—an inexplicable discomfort rose in his chest.
After we return… I'll give her a new one, he thought silently. Something worthy.
Before the atmosphere could settle—
Rustle.
Footsteps sounded from the narrow cave entrance.
Instantly, every soldier froze.
Their battle instincts activated almost simultaneously. Conversation ceased. Breaths were held. Hands reflexively reached for weapons. Hearts pounded within the suddenly suffocating silence.
Had the mutants discovered their hiding place?
The footsteps drew closer.
A small stone shifted, its faint sound echoing deeply within the cave.
The soldiers immediately assumed combat positions. Energy auras gathered, ready to be unleashed at any moment. Even Yun Wu, whose body had not fully recovered, quickly donned his armor. His expression returned to cold decisiveness—the face of a battlefield commander.
Yun Wu pulled Xue Yunxue behind him.
The motion felt natural—
like a man protecting his woman.
Everyone held their breath.
The silence grew so thick that even the smallest sound became deafening.
The footsteps stopped just outside the cave.
Seconds stretched endlessly.
Weapons were raised. Attacks poised to strike.
Then suddenly—
a human voice sounded from outside, slightly hoarse yet clear.
"…Is anyone here?"
No one moved immediately.
The soldiers exchanged wary glances. In a dangerous region like this, a human voice did not necessarily mean safety.
Yun Wu narrowed his eyes, his hand gripping his sword tightly. He stepped forward halfway, instinctively raising one hand behind him—keeping Yunxue shielded behind his body.
The protective gesture came without conscious thought.
Inside the cave, the tension had yet to ease.
The footsteps approached again.
And everyone prepared for the worst.