Chapter 553: Chapter 347: The Young Man in the Midst of Battle
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"Who are you?" she asked the young man who had grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the middle of the battle.
They were everywhere, the ground soaked with blood. Streams trickled over the earth as both humans and beasts fell in combat. At this point, the sides seemed evenly matched—yet Yan Xiaobao knew better.
When the sky rose high above, Wan Qiao soared upwards, and the bald man cursed as the bird unleashed strike after strike of golden attacks. He made no attempt to hit her, and a mocking smile could be seen on the face of the Single-Horned Jasmine Hawk.
"I am Yan Xiaobao, nice to meet you. Now follow me and stay low," Yan Xiaobao whispered, as he discovered a small patch of unspoiled vegetation and immediately moved toward it. He hoped to use the tall grass to shield himself and his new companion.
"Why did you save me?" she asked. Although the situation was dangerous, the woman didn’t seem overly concerned about her own safety. Though many divine beasts surrounded the area, most were at the King level—ones she could easily handle. However, being rescued by someone from the magical beast faction was unexpected. Thus, driven by quiet curiosity, she followed the young man who walked steadily forward.
Hearing her question, Yan Xiaobao did nothing but glance at the woman before shaking his head. This indicated he wasn’t going to answer now but instead instructed her to stay silent, ensuring the nearby beasts wouldn’t overhear them.
Hidden within the tall grass, Yan Xiaobao didn’t let his eyes pause for a moment. They constantly scanned the surroundings. His ears tightened and his eyes remained alert, endlessly tracking the movements of both humans and beasts. Finally, the thing he dreaded happened.
The battle gradually shifted from a roaring head-to-head clash, where both sides collided like two massive waves fighting for dominance, into one-on-one skirmishes. The battlefield’s transformation was clear. Humans fell into a disadvantage; although they still fought fiercely, they were forced to retreat. This caused the fight to inch closer and closer to Yan Xiaobao’s position.
While Yan Xiaobao stayed focused on the battle surrounding them, Li Meilin had her attention on the young man leading her into this patch of grass, away from the conflict itself.
As she gazed at the youth, he appeared to be no older than twenty. His skin was soft and pristine, his long, snow-white hair cascading like fresh-fallen snow. His eyes were an intense blue, reminiscent of the clearest summer skies. His face was delicate, and rather than describing him as handsome, his beauty made his appearance strikingly ethereal.
Power-wise, his aura was that of a Duke’s. However, there was a mysterious force about him—a strange, enigmatic energy that made her feel as though she couldn’t see through him fully.
"What are you?" she finally asked softly as she studied the young man. Yet when the youth turned to her, all she received was a complicated smile. He shook his head before turning his gaze back toward the battle unfolding before him.
It wasn’t that Yan Xiaobao didn’t want to answer her—it was that he couldn’t. Even he didn’t know what he truly was. He had been born human, yet these phenomena within his body were part of his soul—a fragment connected to the magical beast within him. At least some parts of him were beast, while others were human. He had also entered into a soul contract with a divine beast, which had altered his soul. As a result, he was no longer human, nor was he entirely a magical beast. Yan Xiaobao belonged neither completely to the human realm nor entirely to the magical realm—yet paradoxically, to both.
Li Meilin was confused by the young man’s response, but she said nothing. She considered telling him that she didn’t need his protection, since she was an Emperor, and that only Captain Song or the Single-Horned Jasmine Hawk above could truly pose a threat to her. However, upon seeing the seriousness etched on the young man’s face, she chose to remain silent and patiently wait for his explanation of the unfolding events.
As she continued to observe the youth, Li Meilin’s eyes gradually widened. She noticed his gaze zeroed in on a particular beast—a creature that seemed to be one of the horned eagle species dominating this battle.
This One-Horned Eagle wasn’t targeting humans in combat, but instead zeroed in on Yan Xiaobao and Li Meilin. When its gaze met theirs, its lips curved into a sinister smile, and it began making steady strides toward the pair’s hiding spot.
"How irritating," Yan Xiaobao muttered, his tone clipped. Suddenly, his snow-white hair and alabaster skin transformed into crimson fur. His sapphire-blue eyes turned blood-red, his hands morphed into clawed paws with razor-sharp talons, and long, gleaming fangs protruded from his mouth.
Just moments ago, this woman, who had until now assumed that this young man was human due to his low rank and appearance, now found herself utterly reevaluating his strength and his identity as she stared at the red wolf standing before her.
"You disgusting creature!" the horned eagle snarled the moment it spotted Yan Xiaobao. Extending its arms into wings, it soared upward. Rising high into the sky, it twisted downward, shrieking as it descended in a lethal dive toward Yan Xiaobao. Like an arrow, it shot toward its target. Yet the red wolf’s crimson eyes narrowed in response, showing neither fear nor panic as the creature charged toward him.
Lurking in the tall grass, Li Meilin remained intrigued, watching every moment of the unfolding scene. She was thoroughly curious about this young man and his association with the beast tribe—seemingly doing whatever he could to ensure her safety.