The night passed without further interruptions. The protection array had hummed quietly in the darkness, its invisible threads of Qi acting as a silent, vigilant sentinel against the encroaching shadows.

When Bai Xifeng finally woke, her hand was buried deep in thick, luxurious fur. Having summoned Princess Huahua the night before, she had enjoyed a remarkably peaceful sleep, free from the typical anxieties of the wilderness. Stretching her limbs, she reached into her storage rune and retrieved a generous breakfast spread. The moment the savoury aroma hit Tao-chan’s nose, he bolted upright, his eyes wide with hunger.

"I want to eat, too!" Tao-chan chirped, his voice full of morning energy.

Anticipating this exact reaction, Bai Xifeng had already set out a portion for him. They ate quickly, savouring the flavours while enjoying the crisp, quiet morning air of the forest. Bai Xifeng finished her meal with efficient speed. Her mind was already drifting toward the cave, focused intently on the Xien stones and the daunting challenges that lay ahead.

Once finished, Bai Xifeng instructed Princess Huahua to enter the Mirror World. As for Tao-chan, he returned to rest within the contracted beast space. Now alone, Bai Xifeng continued her journey, stepping deeper into the heart of the Black Ridge Forest.

She walked steadily, following the map she had obtained from the school. However, the further she ventured, the more she felt a sense of displacement. The landmarks did not quite match the terrain, and a nagging feeling of being lost began to settle in. She clicked her tongue in frustration, her eyes scanning the dense foliage.

"Ahhh... I think I’ve truly lost my way." Bai Xifeng sighed, looking around at the identical trees.

Realising the parchment was doing more harm than good, she tucked the map away. She decided to stop overthinking and follow her own instincts instead. She began to walk aimlessly, letting her senses guide her through the brush. Suddenly, she sensed a presence up ahead. Intrigued and cautious, she moved forward to investigate.

When Bai Xifeng arrived at the clearing, she was startled to see what appeared to be a massive black cat. She approached the creature with measured steps. Upon closer inspection, she realised it was not a mere cat at all, but a formidable black panther.

The black panther seemed to notice Bai Xifeng’s presence almost immediately. He snapped his eyes open and let out a low, menacing hiss, a clear warning for her to stay back.

Bai Xifeng’s curiosity was piqued. Despite the aggression, the hiss sounded remarkably weak and strained. She observed the panther closely, and the beast, in turn, watched her with a mixture of fear and defiance. Only then did the metallic scent of blood reach her nose.

"You are injured." Bai Xifeng stated plainly.

She took a step forward, intending to offer help, but the panther hissed again, baring its teeth. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"I only want to help you..." Bai Xifeng insisted, then paused. "Ah... I forgot. You probably cannot understand human language."

Bai Xifeng hesitated, contemplating which of her companions she should call upon to translate her intentions. Should she summon Baishe? No... he would likely be annoyed at being called out for such a trivial matter. Should she call Cerberus? No... If the panther saw a creature like Cerberus, he would surely think she intended to fight.

After a moment of deliberation, Bai Xifeng decided to call Tao-chan back out. She did not realise at the time that this was perhaps the worst choice she could have made. The moment Tao-chan materialised, the black panther’s eyes went wide with sheer terror.

"Why are you calling me again?" Tao-chan asked, looking around in confusion.

At first, he assumed Bai Xifeng was offering more food, but he was disappointed to find the clearing empty of snacks.

"Help me speak to that black panther. Tell him that I can help him by healing his wound." Bai Xifeng commanded.

"Huh? Why me?" Tao-chan grumbled, clearly dissatisfied with the chore.

"You eat a great deal of my food, don’t you? Can’t you help me just a little bit?" Bai Xifeng said with a touch of disdain.

"Fine... Fine..." Tao-chan immediately relented.

The mention of food was a powerful motivator. He was genuinely afraid the girl might cut off his supply if he refused. To him, talking to a common panther was not difficult. It was just a matter of relaying the message.

The black panther continued to watch the pair warily, his body tensing when Tao-chan turned toward him. The beast knew that if Tao-chan chose to attack, he would lose the fight instantly. However, when he heard Tao-chan explain that the human wanted to treat his injuries, the black panther was stunned. He could not help but ask for confirmation.

’Are you telling the truth?’ The black panther asked telepathically.

’What do you think?’ Tao-chan replied, raising a judgmental eyebrow.

’I thought you wanted to eat me.’ The black panther blurted out honestly.

’Humph! Do you think you’re some kind of rare treat?’ Tao-chan said, rolling his eyes. ’I would not even bother to eat you because I know you would not taste good.’

’So, she really wants to treat my injuries?’ The black panther pressed once more.

’I already told you she did.’ Tao-chan snapped, losing his patience.

’Okay...’ The panther finally nodded, relaxing his posture slightly.

Tao-chan turned back to Bai Xifeng. "You can check him now," he said.

"Alright... just make sure he does not try to attack me when I get close." Bai Xifeng cautioned.

"Hmm... Don’t worry. He would not dare to move." Tao-chan said, casting a sharp glare at the panther to keep him in line, warning the black panther.

***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko*