Chapter Five: Anxious Heart, Beastly Form Revealed

Aside from two or three pieces of clothing faded from countless washes, Shen Luo had little to pack. He cast a long, deep gaze at the small courtyard where he had lived for ten years, his hands hanging at his sides slowly curling into fists.

"Sister Tuan, what kind of place is the Spirit Garden?" As they prepared to leave, Azure Bird was reluctant to part with this place.

Su Li’s eyes darkened, but she did not answer. In the comic, Shen Luo entered the Spirit Garden a year later after a great victory in the family disciples’ secret realm competition. Because of her intervention, the timeline had shifted, and from here on, the events would be difficult to predict according to the original story.

Soon, the martial artist leading the way stopped beside an ordinary lotus pond. It was early spring, yet lotuses were blooming in profusion, dewy and vibrant.

Without warning, the martial artist leapt forward, his toes tapping haphazardly on the lotus buds. As if some hidden mechanism had been triggered, a low humming rose from within the pond. In moments, stone steps emerged from beneath the lotus leaves.

The martial artist returned and explained to Shen Luo, “The Spirit Garden has always been a forbidden ground for the family. For thousands of years, only the most outstanding beast tamers have earned the right to enter. This is as far as I go, Seventh Young Master. Please proceed.”

Already, Azure Bird, drawn by the abundant spiritual energy, had darted through and disappeared above the lotus pond.

Su Li’s heart was as clear as a polished mirror: ahead lay the Shen family elders’ ultimate trial for Shen Luo.

This spiritual array was designed solely for beast tamers—immune to demon beasts. Su Li had no intention of challenging the trial alongside the protagonist, so she vaulted onto the stone steps herself.

Suddenly, the scenery shifted dramatically.

A chill ran through Su Li’s heart—she sensed trouble ahead.

Thick, white mist rose in all directions, the space around her twisting and warping. The world spun as her body rapidly sank downward.

Splash!

She plunged into a deep pool.

Rushing currents from all sides forced their way into her mouth and nose, water pressure mounting with every moment. The icy water pressed in relentlessly, as if alive, squeezing the very flesh from her bones until she was utterly immobilized.

Pain seared through her, and Su Li’s eyelids grew heavy. She lost consciousness.

It was impossible to tell how much time had passed.

“Hey, wake up.”

Half-opening her eyes, Su Li seemed to glimpse Shen Luo’s anxious face—his delicate features etched with worry, lips moving as he spoke words she could not make out. She mumbled something, then slipped back into a deep sleep.

That slumber was unusually long.

When her senses finally returned from the haze, it was already dusk. She opened her eyes and was momentarily stunned.

The setting sun dyed the clouds in vivid hues, the distant sky radiant as a vast indigo tapestry. Beneath the heavens, mountain peaks lay serene; wild geese traced their path south... What a breathtaking scene!

Amid her wonder, a heavy scent of blood drifted through the air.

That was the protagonist’s scent.

Summoning strength she did not know she possessed, Su Li forced her aching, heavy body upright, only to see a frail young boy burst from the forest. Behind him, ancient trees crashed to the ground in succession, and a giant python shot out from the dense foliage with a thunderous roar.

The python was dozens of meters long, its girth as thick as a water barrel, eyes blazing red as it lashed out with its tongue, rampaging madly—clearly on the verge of frenzy.

It was the first time Su Li had ever seen such a colossal demon beast. As the giant serpent slithered toward her, her breath caught in her throat.

“Run!” the boy cried, grabbing her hand and pulling her into a desperate sprint.

His palm was broad and strong, radiating a reassuring warmth.

Ahead lay a winding, narrow ravine, lush with overgrown vegetation and sprawling vines. In the dying light, it looked especially ominous and eerie.

Within moments, Su Li’s mind cleared. She called to the boy, “Quick, into the ravine!”

She watched as they dashed into the shadowy gorge, the relentless python halting at the entrance, unwilling to give up. It reared its head and howled at the sky, its massive tail pounding the earth, shaking the ground and making the mountains tremble.

Seeing this, neither of them dared to pause. They ran until they vanished from the python’s sight.

As the last rays of sunlight slipped below the horizon and the moon rose above the branches, the two fugitives collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath.

Exhausted, Su Li’s face was deathly pale. She raised her middle finger skyward, cursing the unreliable plot in her heart. This was supposed to be the protagonist’s solitary adventure—why drag a beast along...

Wait.

She suddenly leapt to her feet, looking down at her hands and legs, then touching her face...

At last, she confirmed a startling fact—she was now a living, breathing human!

Su Li was both shocked and overjoyed.

But in Shen Luo’s eyes, her astonishment meant something entirely different. Hesitating for a moment, he finally confessed, “I’m sorry, I was the one who changed your clothes.”

“What?” Su Li’s lively, cunning eyes flew wide with surprise.

“It was an emergency. When I found you, you were lying by the pool. I couldn’t find your clothes anywhere, so I used some of my own from my spirit ring...” Shen Luo, his gaze fixed on her half-open, rose-tinted lips, flushed redder with every word, his voice growing softer.

He couldn’t help but recall the scene by the cold pool—the swirling mist, the beautiful girl’s hair cascading like a waterfall, her skin snowy and luminous, like a fairy lost in the mortal world... His heart pounded wildly. Flustered, he averted his gaze, the tips of his ears burning red.

Su Li’s body went rigid, her mind echoing a single thought.

“Beast form, all exposed.”

A heavy silence fell.

Shen Luo rummaged through his spirit ring, then presented two spirit fruits in his cupped hands before Su Li.

Each fruit was about the size of a thumb, golden yellow, exuding a rich, sweet aroma laced with dense spiritual energy. The fragrance alone sent Su Li’s soul stirring, her beast blood surging. It took all her will to restrain herself.

“These are for me?” Su Li managed to shift her gaze onto the boy.

Shen Luo nodded. “Night is falling, and you were still unconscious, so I went into the forest to find something to eat. By chance, I stumbled into the python’s lair and found this spirit fruit just as it ripened.”

Who knows how many years the python had guarded that fruit, only for Shen Luo to steal it with ease at the last moment—it was no wonder the beast had flown into a rage.

Feeling the intensity of her gaze, Shen Luo grew a bit flustered. “I kept one for myself,” he explained.

Survival of the fittest was the law of the universe, and besides, this opportunity rightfully belonged to the protagonist.

Looking into those bright, dewy eyes, Su Li’s heart softened. She reached out, almost involuntarily, to pat the boy’s hair and encouraged him, “You did very well.”

A faint blush crept up Shen Luo’s ears. “You’re still weak—eat them both,” he said, hands sweaty with nervousness. He didn’t know why, but something deep within his soul felt a natural kinship, drawing him closer to her.

Su Li hesitated, then took only one of the spirit fruits. Meeting the boy’s surprised look, she fluttered her long lashes and smiled radiantly, “Let’s share them.”

A gentle evening breeze played with the strands of her hair, caressing her cheek. In her limpid eyes, Shen Luo saw his own reflection—and his heart trembled violently. Flustered, he turned away. He thought: no matter what happens, this girl has already left an indelible mark on my heart.

Su Li stared after him, utterly bewildered. She lowered her gaze to the spirit fruit in her hand, happiness sparkling in her eyes, and took a hearty bite.