Chapter 30 - Xiao Wu [2]

"Little plum! You are so mean!"

"Hahaha.."

After the laughter faded, Xiao Wu puffed her cheeks, clearly annoyed but still playful.

She wriggled one last time in Xuan Yan's grasp before giving up. "Fine, fine! You win this time, Little Plum," she huffed, crossing her arms even as she dangled in mid-air.

Xuan Yan smiled and gently placed her back on the ground. "Good..."

Xiao Wu stuck her tongue out at him before skipping a few steps ahead, her braid swaying behind her.

Suddenly, she turned around, her face lighting up with excitement. "Wait here, Little Plum! I have something to show you!"

Without waiting for a reply, she dashed into the trees, disappearing among the thick foliage.

Xuan Yan raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is she up to now?"

Moments later, he heard rustling sounds, followed by a series of high-pitched squeaks and chirps.

When Xiao Wu returned, she wasn't alone.

Following closely behind her were three small animals... an adorable rabbit with snow-white fur, a golden squirrel clutching a tiny acorn, and a chubby little raccoon with bright, curious eyes.

"Little Plum, meet my friends!" Xiao Wu announced proudly, crouching down to pat each of them on the head.

"This is Xiao Bai, Jin Jin, and Shin Yin. They're all 100-year-old spirit beasts, but don't let their small size fool you... they're really smart and super brave!"

Xuan Yan knelt to get a closer look.

The rabbit, Xiao Bai, tilted its head curiously, sniffing at his hand before hopping closer.

The squirrel, chattered excitedly, holding up its acorn as if offering it to him.

Meanwhile, the raccoon waddled forward and pawed at Xuan Yan's robes, clearly interested in the shiny buttons.

"They're... quite lively," Xuan Yan said with a soft chuckle, stroking Xiao Bai's silky fur.

The little rabbit leaned into his touch, clearly enjoying the attention.

"Aren't they the cutest?" Xiao Wu smiled with her hands on her hips.

"They're my family here in the forest. Whenever I'm lonely, they always keep me company."

Xuan Yan smiled. "They seem very loyal to you. It's rare to see spirit beasts act so close to humans."

"That's because I'm not just any human..." Xiao Wu said with a wink, quickly changing the subject before Xuan Yan could press further.

"Anyway, they brought us some treats!"

Xiao Wu turned to her animal friends and clapped her hands.

Instantly, the three little beasts scurried off, returning moments later with an assortment of fruits... plump berries, juicy peaches, and a strange, golden fruit.

"Here, Little Plum!" Xiao Wu said, giving him a peach.

"This is the sweetest peach in the whole forest. Try it!"

Xuan Yan accepted the fruit, looking at it before taking a bite.

The flavor burst in his mouth... sweet, juicy, and with a hint of floral fragrance. "This... is amazing,"

Xiao Wu grinned triumphantly. "Told you! Forest fruits are the best. You humans with those fancy food you said don't know what you're missing."

They spent the next hour sharing the fruits and laughing as Xiao Wu told stories about her adventures in the forest with her animal companions.

She exaggerated every detail, making Xuan Yan chuckle as she acted out some of the more dramatic parts, like chasing off a "giant" snake (which she later admitted was only a foot long).

...

As night fell, the duo made their way to the Lake of Life.

The water shimmered under the moonlight, its surface reflecting the stars above like a mirror.

Xiao Wu spread out a soft blanket she had brought, gesturing for Xuan Yan to sit beside her.

"This is my favorite spot," she said, gazing out at the lake.

"It's so peaceful here. Whenever I feel sad or scared, I come here to think."

Xuan Yan sat down beside her, the cool night air brushing against his skin. "It's beautiful. I can see why you like it here."

Xiao Wu leaned back on her hands, her braid trailing behind her as she looked up at the stars. "Little Plum, do you think the human world has places like this? Quiet and safe?"

Xuan Yan thought for a moment before replying. "There are places like this, but they're rare. The human world is loud, chaotic, and often dangerous. But... there's beauty there, too. You just have to look for it."

"Hmmm..."

As the soft melody of Xiao Wu's hum faded into the night, the two lay side by side on the soft grass near the Lake of Life.

Xiao Wu turned her head slightly, gazing at Xuan Yan.

For a moment, she hesitated, her heart wavering as she wondered if she could truly trust him.

He is kind, strong, and has a calmness about him that makes her feel safe.

But could he really protect her? Could she risk revealing her secret to him?

"Little plum," she said softly, breaking the silence.

Xuan Yan tilted his head to look at her, "What is it, Xiao Wu?"

She hesitated, biting her lower lip. "Do you... do you think I'm someone you can trust?"

The question caught him off guard, but he answered without hesitation. "Of course. Why do you ask?"

Xiao Wu sat up slightly, hugging her knees to her chest.

She looked down at her hands, fidgeting with a strand of her long braid. "It's just... humans aren't always trustworthy. And I've... I've been deceived before."

Xuan Yan frowned and sat up as well, leaning slightly toward her. "Xiao Wu, I don't know what you've been through, but I promise you this: I'm not like the others."

Her heart warmed at his words, but a part of her was still cautious.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "You say that now, but... what if you knew my secret? Would you still protect me?"

He tilted his head curiously "Secret?"

Xiao Wu nodded slowly, her hands tightening around her knees. "Little plum, I... I'm not like you. I'm not fully human."

She took a deep breath, her fingers brushing against her braid for comfort. "I'm a spirit beast. A 100,000-year-old spirit beast who took human form." 

Spirit beast? Xuan Yan blinked his eyes in surprise but then with a sigh, he spoke "Go on."

With a nod, she continued "That's why I live here in the forest. It's the only place where I feel safe. But even here, I have to be careful. If the wrong people find out what I am, they'll hunt me. My kind is rare, and humans... they see us as tools to make themselves stronger."

Leaning close to him, she spoke "There are some people called.. Spirit Hall in the human world. They killed my mother. My mother sacrificed herself for me so that I could escape."

A heavy silence fell between them.

Xiao Wu's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked out over the lake. "That's why I've always been afraid of humans. But... when I met you, I felt something different. You don't look at me like I'm just... prey."

Xuan Yan sighed in his heart and he knew what should he say at this moment "Xiao Wu, I don't care if you're a spirit beast or human. What matters to me is who you are now."

"I only see you as a kind little girl... who loves carrots."

Hearing this, Xiao Wu chuckled and for the first time in a long while, she felt a weight lift from her heart.

She reached out and held his hand tightly. "Thank you... That means more to me than you know."

After a moment, she continued, her voice quieter. "The Titan Giant Ape you saw earlier, Er Ming... he's my protector, like an older brother to me."

"He and Da Ming, have watched over me ever since my mother died. They're the only ones I've ever trusted. But even they think I should stay hidden. That's why I've never told anyone else about me... until now."

"And by the way, Da Ming is another 100,000 year old beast... he lives under the Lake."

"Da Ming and Er Ming are strong, but even the strongest can't protect everything. That's why I have to stay cautious."

Her grip on his hand tightened "Can I trust you... Little plum."

He reached out and gently patted her head "Of course you can, your secret is safe with me."

Her lips quivered for a moment before they curved into a small smile, and then she broke into a soft laugh. "Hahaha… Little Plum, you're too good to be true. Are all humans like you?"

Xuan Yan chuckled, shaking his head. "Not quite. You just got lucky meeting someone as trustworthy as me."

Xiao Wu's laughter grew louder, and she playfully poked his chest. "Hmph, so full of yourself! But… I guess I'm glad it's you."

The tension eased as they both smiled, the heaviness of their earlier conversation dissipating.

------------------------------------------------

I hope you guys liked this chapter!

I know slow chaps, but from next month there will be consistency :)