"Calling you 'Devouring Thorny Flower' feels oddly peculiar; let's name you Lulu," Su Xiaobai mused aloud, a half-smile playing on his lips.
Indeed, it was a living creature, that much was clear to him, but its purpose remained a puzzle.
He had swiped it on a whim, drawn by its prominent display.
"Eh?"
From behind, the sound of gentle footsteps signaled Xiao Lu's awakening.
She tiptoed closer, ready to embrace Xiaobai from behind, but halted, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of the thorny flower.
She leaned in, her voice a hushed whisper tinged with astonishment, "Mr. Feng... What is this?"
Su Xiaobai's demeanor shifted, his voice deepening with a note of solemnity, "Don't delve into matters beyond your reach," he advised, cloaking his tone with an air of mystery.
"Ah, I am sorry," Xiao Lu quickly apologized, her voice a soft murmur.
Unperturbed, Su Xiaobai was lost in thought.
The ache in his heart of losing his home and family had dulled considerably over the past thirty days.
He strolled to the window, observing the lively scene below. "Is something special happening today?" he queried.
"Oh, indeed... Fairy Lian is expected to depart from the city today," Xiao Lu replied, her voice carrying a hint of envy. She fluttered her lashes thoughtfully, her silhouette framed by the window light.
"She came into our city months ago, and rumor has it that Young Master Li, heir to the Red Flames Fortress's Li family, has been utterly smitten by her. This departure of hers must surely be linked to that affair." Her tone lingered on a wistful note, her mind wandering to what life might be like with Fairy Lian's ethereal charm.
"Fairy Lian? Is she strong?" Su Xiaobai inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Xiao Lu shook her head, her eyes wide with uncertainty. "No idea. She must be formidable, but her origins are unclear. Even the patriarch of the Li family doesn't dare offend her—ahh?"
Su Xiaobai's attention snapped back from the bustling crowd as a piercing scream echoed through the air.
He whirled around, his brow furrowing deeply in alarm.
"Damn it...!" He couldn't help but curse as a horrific scene before him.
The thorny flower had unfurled its gaping mouth and was mercilessly devouring Xiao Lu, the thousands of teeths chewing at her flesh.
Blood splattered in a arc, painting the room crimson.
"..."
His expression darkened into a grimace of revulsion and fury.
"What kind of abomination is this?" His voice was tinged with shock and disbelief.
"Do you feed on humans?"
Although Xiao Lu's constitution was ill-suited for high-tier cultivation, merely hovering at the Qi Awakening realm, he never anticipated she'd fall prey so effortlessly.
Whoosh!
The next moment held an even more ghastly sight.
The Devouring Thorny Flower, its tendrils now slick with blood, swelled in size, having consumed Xiao Lu.
Burp...
A deep, unsettling sound rumbled from it as it settled into a sinister slumber.
"Its aura... it's intensified after devouring Xiao Lu," Su Xiaobai mused to himself, a twisted smile playing at the corner of his lips as he stroked his chin thoughtfully.
In truth, he had been moments away from drawing Xiao Lu into his cauldron ring.
His numerous attempts at dual cultivation had all been in vain; his body stubbornly resisted transforming the true Yin essence into the potent true Yang essence necessary for his cultivation path.
Still, just thinking about growing stronger by engaging in constant dual cultivation was very appealing.
However, he possessed profound Yin Veins, unsuitable for forming an 'Evil Heart' through the path of dual cultivation.
Ning Gufan had mentioned this before, but at the time, Su Xiaobai hadn't grasped its significance.
Now, it became clear—he needed to find another path!
Although he couldn't engage in dual cultivation, he considered maintaining a group of maids as fodder beneficial, given his possession of the cauldron ring.
But now, it seemed he also had to manage the voracious appetite of the devouring thorny flower.
"Little Lulu, don't disappoint your master... Feeding you humans is going to cost me dearly..." Even though Su Xiaobai was unaware of the beast's origins, he had no intention of abandoning it.
Its ability to grow by consuming humans was extraordinarily terrifying!
If cultivated correctly, Su Xiaobai would have a strong ally at his side!
As he caressed the devouring thorny flower, it did not attack him at all; instead, its bloom quivered in what seemed like a nod, as if in response, making Su Xiaobai pause before breaking into a smile.
"There's so much blood... Never mind, I should just leave the city," Su Xiaobai decided, and promptly returned the devouring thorny flower to his spatial ring, quietly escaping through the window.
No one in the inn should discover Xiao Lu's demise until nightfall, when they would likely come to investigate.
He didn't want them to think she was still alive and initiate a search; it was better for them to assume she had died and abandon their search.
_____
Outside the Inn!
As Su Xiaobai made his way towards the heart of the gathering, his attention was captured by the majestic sight of a magnificent red horse that commanded the admiration of those around.
Its fur gleamed with a vibrant, fiery hue, and its powerful wings were slightly unfurled, displaying a mesmerizing blend of beauty and strength.
While Su Xiaobai admired the stallion's muscular build and the fiery brilliance of its coat, a striking figure approached, drawing an astonished gasp from the crowd.
The city guards acted quickly, parting the spectators to clear a path for her.
The horse's owner was surprisingly— a beautiful girl!
Her heroic aura perfectly complemented by her physical charm.
She wore fiery red, skintight armor that traced the shape of her curvaceous figure, accentuating her form and feminine charm.
The armor gleamed like molten lava, reflecting her fiery spirit and indomitable will.
Resting casually on her shoulder was a colossal sword, its blade a matching fiery red, exuding a aura that proclaimed her a warrior of unparalleled powers, one not to be trifled with.
Her golden hair cascaded around her shoulders in waves of sunlight, adorned with dark blue ribbons that danced in the breeze like ethereal whispers.
Each strand shimmered as if touched by the light of a thousand dawns.
Her eyes, a vivid blue, sparkled with a blend of boldness and a touch of innocence, reminiscent of the clear, boundless sky.
Her appearance was not just stunning; it was captivating, blending the essence of a warrior's strength with the charm of enchanting femininity.
Though her beauty might not be enough to topple a country like Matriarch Su, it possessed an irresistible heroic charm that commanded attention and turned heads wherever she went.
As she moved to claim her steed, the air around her vibrated with a potent mix of authority and charm, her gaze commanding the space with regal confidence.
Su Xiaobai stared in admiration at the twin peaks of her chest, the shape truly profound, as if sculpted by the smoothest dough.
Feng Lianhua was about to depart when she suddenly felt as if thousands of ants were crawling on her chest.
She turned her head, her eyes narrowing at the crowd with the intensity of a hawk spotting its prey.
Her eyes instantly met brazen Su Xiaobai's, and a delicate frown formed on her face, a storm cloud briefly staining her serene beauty.
However, she didn't wish to kill this man for his lewd stare.
She was aware of her body and merely surprised by the boldness of the junior.
Her eyes glinted with a mix of disgust and annoyance.
Even before Su Xiaobai realized it, he had been branded with the title of lewd man.
Feng Lianhua considered him a junior merely due to his lower cultivation; in the world of martial arts, it is the fist that decides status.