"Aiya, even though I am an empress, I am still your woman," Xue Ke said coquettishly, clinging to Su Bai. "Won't you pamper me a little?"
Seeing Xue Ke's spoiled expression, Su Bai couldn't help but feel delighted.
Su Bai extended his pinky finger, hooking it with Xue Ke's. "Come on."
Seeing Su Bai indulging her, Xue Ke smiled happily.
She shook their intertwined fingers and said, "Pinky promise, hang on tight, for a lifetime, never to change!"
"Alright, I won't change," Su Bai replied with a smile, following it with a passionate kiss.
Xue Ke immediately responded with her fragrant tongue.
They embraced each other tenderly for a while.
"Alright, I really must go now," Su Bai said, gently tweaking Xue Ke's delicate nose.
Though reluctant, Xue Ke knew that not letting Su Bai leave after making a pinky promise would make her seem unreasonable.
"Okay," Xue Ke said, fighting back her reluctance. She extended her pinky finger again, "Brother Bai, remember our promise."
Su Bai responded by hooking his pinky with hers again.
"Got it, I know," Su Bai reassured her.
"Mm~" Xue Ke smiled sweetly.
Then, Su Bai got up and left Xue Ke's room.
He was planning to return to the Dragon God Palace.
However, he intended to pass through the Star Dou Forest on the way.
Su Bai initially just wanted a brief look, as there were many matters to attend to at the Dragon God Palace.
But as he flew over, he heard a cry for help.
"Help! Is anyone there? Help me!"
The voice sounded familiar to Su Bai, so he looked down.
He saw Ye Leng Leng fleeing in panic, her clothes disheveled.
Behind her, a 30,000-year-old soul beast was chasing her.
This soul beast looked fierce, seemingly intent on devouring Ye Leng Leng as its meal.
Su Bai found it amusing. He had just thought about her, and now he encountered her in the Star Dou Forest.
...
"Damn, I'm going to die here today..." Ye Leng Leng thought frantically as she pushed through the underbrush.
The soul beast's relentless pursuit and wild roars made her legs feel even more unsteady.
Though she had reached the 60th level of her cultivation, she lacked combat ability as a support-type soul master.
So Ye Leng Leng sensibly chose to form a team.
Her teammates seemed very strong, giving her confidence as they entered the Star Dou Forest.
But not long after they entered, this 30,000-year-old soul beast ambushed them while they rested.
Despite their efforts, their strongest member was instantly killed, causing the team to scatter.
Her teammates urged Ye Leng Leng to escape while they tried to hold off the beast.
In the face of life and death, she couldn't waste their sacrifice.
So Ye Leng Leng fled, knowing that staying would only result in death.
However, the 30,000-year-old soul beast had marked her.
Just as Ye Leng Leng saw the forest's edge and thought she would escape, the soul beast reappeared, blocking her path.
With no other option, Ye Leng Leng turned back into the forest's depths.
Though she knew the deeper she went, the slimmer her chances of survival, it was better than dying in the soul beast's jaws.
But before encountering stronger soul beasts, she was already exhausted.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Ye Leng Leng tripped over some tangled roots and fell.
As she tried to get up, the soul beast appeared, looking at her with a predatory gleam.
A foul-smelling saliva dripped from its mouth, sizzling as it hit the ground, like strong acid.
Ye Leng Leng felt hopeless.
"It's over, I shouldn't have entered the Star Dou Forest so hastily..." she cried, "I'm done for."
The soul beast opened its mouth wide, lunging at Ye Leng Leng.
Seeing the gaping maw, Ye Leng Leng closed her eyes in fear, awaiting death.
"Don't point that filthy mouth at a lovely girl," a teasing voice suddenly rang out.
Ye Leng Leng opened her eyes to see a blue protective shield in front of her.
"A savior!" Ye Leng Leng's heart raced.
She saw a man standing before her.
The soul beast let out a pained screech and backed off.
Its teeth had broken against the shield.
The beast glared at the man in agony.
"Are you...?" Ye Leng Leng looked at the man, finding him familiar.
But then she mocked herself for imagining she'd met someone so powerful...
However, the man's response stunned her.
"Don't you recognize me? I'm Su Bai."
Su Bai's profile shone brightly in the sunlight.
Ye Leng Leng was mesmerized.
"Roar!"
Enraged at losing its prey, the soul beast charged at Ye Leng Leng.
The shield had vanished.
The beast knew it couldn't defeat Su Bai, but it was confident in its speed.
It planned to grab Ye Leng Leng and flee, believing Su Bai couldn't catch up.
"Watch out!!" Ye Leng Leng cried in terror as the beast lunged.
But Su Bai casually glanced at the beast, then punched it.
"Boom!"
The seemingly ordinary punch produced a sonic boom.
The soul beast had no time to change course.
In an instant, it slammed into Su Bai's fist.
The beast flew back, crashing through several trees before stopping, blood gushing like a fountain.
It lay there, unconscious, its fate uncertain.
Ye Leng Leng stared at Su Bai, astonished by his strength.
A single punch had incapacitated the soul beast that decimated her team.
"Su Bai..." Ye Leng Leng repeated, her mind recalling a face she had longed for.
The image merged with Su Bai's.
"Ah! Brother Su Bai!" Ye Leng Leng exclaimed, recognizing him as Yan Zi's man.
She had always admired Su Bai but thought he had forgotten her over the years.
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This novel is completed on my Patreon page: patre on.com/Betek