Annoyed, he stepped out of the carriage to confront the driver, only to be shocked by what he saw.
A massive figure emerged from the shadows, its eyes glowing menacingly in the moonlight. It wasn't a person at all! It was a spiritual beast! That's right! A spiritual beast! It was a big bear-like creature, towering 8 feet tall. Its fur bristled with energy, and it had the aura of a 3rd Rank Qi Condensation.
The spiritual beast roared, a sound that reverberated through the forest, sending shivers down the man's spine. The driver screamed in terror, but it was too late. With a single swipe, the beast killed the driver, and the horse broke free, galloping away in panic.
As soon as he saw the spiritual beast, the middle-aged man's knees went weak. He had never encountered a creature like this so close to the valley, where spiritual energy was scarce. His bravado quickly dissipated, replaced by sheer terror.
"Roar!!!"
The spiritual beast turned its attention to him, its eyes burning with rage. As the beast lunged to claw him, he barely managed to dodge. That was all he could do, for it was far stronger than him. The aura of a 3rd Rank Qi Condensation suffused the air, making it hard for him to breathe. He ran as fast as he could, using his spiritual powers, and never looked back. He thought the beast would surely chase him, so he fled for his life.
Contrary to his belief, the beast didn't pursue him. Instead, it stopped as soon as the man started running away. The beast turned back towards the carriage and peeked inside. There, lying unconscious, was a beautiful girl. The beast's eyes softened as it gently picked up the girl in its massive claws, carefully avoiding scratching her delicate skin. It wasn't an easy task for sure, but the beast managed. When it finally got her out of the carriage, it placed her on its back and darted towards the forest, moving with surprising agility for its size.
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As soon as the middle-aged man realized that the beast didn't follow him, he stopped behind a huge tree and tried to calm down. Why is there a spiritual beast in this area? No spiritual beast can be found near the Valley. This is because there is hardly any spiritual energy. No spiritual beast lingers if there isn't any spiritual energy nearby. This puzzled him. Why? he thought.
And then the idea hit him! The girl! He instantly peeked behind the tree. No one was there.
"Did someone try to get the girl away from me again?" It was absurd. But it was more likely!
He ran back towards the carriage again, cautiously; in case the beast was still there. When he noticed that it was too quiet, he dashed towards it. He didn't see anyone inside the carriage. This made him infuriated!
"I was right! Someone stole my bride away! Damn it!" His face was unsightly. He didn't dare think that it was the beast that stole the girl. In his mind, someone was controlling it to divert his attention.
He couldn't believe his luck! Five years ago, she managed to escape. Now, this happened! That girl really must be a fairy!
"Wait till I get my hands on you, little girl! I will surely devour you!" He smirked.