Xiao Tian carried the girl to a nearby cave. As he lit a small fire, he observed her delicate features. Her icy-blue hair shimmered like frost under the firelight, and her skin was as pale as snow. But what caught his attention was the faint glow of a spirit beast mark on her wrist.
"She's not human," he muttered. "A soul beast in human form?"
Before he could ponder further, the girl's eyes fluttered open. She stared at him with a mix of caution and gratitude.
"Thank you," she said softly. "My name is Xue Ling'er, a Snow Empress soul beast. I was attacked by hunters…"
"Hunters?" Xiao Tian's expression hardened. Despite being new to this world, he knew the bond between soul beasts and humans was fraught with tension.
"Stay here. I'll protect you," he promised, a sudden surge of determination filling his heart.