Heroines, I'm Really not the Devourer
Chapter 31: Zhulan

Chapter 31: Zhulan

He propelled himself onto a branch, executed an acrobatic backflip, and, in a perfectly controlled movement, landed directly on the back of one of the armored birds.

The next instant, he violently gripped one of its wings and tore it off effortlessly.

A scream pierced the night.

The armored bird shrieked in pain, flapping its remaining wing violently in an attempt to break free. Its massive body wobbled, its balance shattered by the loss of one of its wings. BaiShe leaped backward and landed softly on the ground, while the creature crashed with a deafening roar.

The young woman came to an abrupt halt. Her sword trembled slightly in her hand as she observed the intruder.

Her hazel eyes widened.

"Who are you?" she asked in a wary voice.

BaiShe ignored her for a moment, assessing the remaining eight armored birds. They were enraged by the loss of their companion and began to encircle the two humans.

He then looked at her, his emerald gaze glowing with a strange light.

"Do you need help?"

The young woman clenched her teeth.

"I can handle it alone."

BaiShe raised an eyebrow, amused by her pride.

"That’s what I see," he said, nodding at all the wounds on her body.

She frowned and tightened her grip on her sword, but had no time to respond. A bird lunged at BaiShe, its sharp beak aimed directly at his throat.

With a simple sidestep, he dodged the attack with disconcerting fluidity. His fingers closed around its massive neck.

With a single squeeze, he crushed the beast’s vertebrae.

The bird’s body collapsed, dead instantly.

The young woman’s eyes widened even further.

BaiShe sighed and raised his hand. His Qi exploded.

An overwhelming aura suddenly spread, causing the air around him to tremble.

The armored birds hesitated.

Too late.

BaiShe vanished from his position.

In a fraction of a second, he reappeared behind a bird, his hand piercing directly through its armored chest. The creature let out a final cry before collapsing.

Two others attempted to attack him simultaneously, but with a fluid movement, he avoided their assaults and calmly placed his palms on their skulls.

A pulse of Qi surged through his body.

With a dull thud, the two birds exploded into a rain of blood.

The last five retreated, their survival instincts taking over, and flew into the night sky to escape.

BaiShe sighed, looking up at the sky. Two moons were partially veiled by clouds, casting a pale light on the scene of carnage.

Then, slowly, he turned his gaze toward the young woman.

She hadn’t moved.

Still frozen, her sword trembling slightly, she stared at him with absolute astonishment.

"So how should I address you? Lady...?"

"Uh... You can call me Zhulan."

"You can call me BaiShe. So, Miss Zhulan, what are you doing in this dangerous area?"

"It’s none of your business!"

She turned abruptly, as if she wanted to end the conversation immediately. BaiShe slightly raised an eyebrow, then flashed a barely perceptible smile before pivoting on his heels to leave.

He had barely taken three steps when a dull sound caught his attention. He stopped, watching the young woman’s slender body wobble dangerously before collapsing heavily onto the rocky ground.

"Qi exhaustion, I suppose."

He scrutinized her, studying her weary features, erratic breathing, and the involuntary trembling of her fingers.

’Should I kill her?’ He absentmindedly tapped his chin with his fingertips, weighing the pros and cons.

Finally, he sighed inwardly.

’She’ll serve as my alibi for a while... Plus, I like women with spirit.’

Without further ceremony, he squatted beside her and lifted her. Her clothes, torn from the previous battle, revealed bruises and scratches on her porcelain skin. But her face remained impassive, even unconscious. BaiShe observed her for a moment before slowly unleashing his Qi. A gust of wind stirred the dust around them, and he rose into the air, holding Zhulan firmly against him.

...

Zhulan slowly opened her eyes, feeling the gentle warmth of the sun caress her skin. She blinked several times, trying to understand where she was. Her gaze fell on a cyan ceiling of the sky, occasionally hidden by a mist of Qi. The sensation of silky fabric beneath her fingers indicated she was lying on a luxurious bed, far too comfortable for a simple makeshift shelter.

She sat up abruptly, her heart racing. Her gaze landed on a figure sitting nearby, motionless, bathed in a soothing glow. BaiShe, in a meditative position, eyes closed, seemed completely indifferent to her awakening.

"You—You didn’t do anything weird to me, did you?"

Her voice trembled slightly, but she tried to mask her unease with a stern expression. BaiShe didn’t react immediately. For a moment, she thought he hadn’t heard her, but finally, without even opening his eyes, he replied in a calm tone.

"Shh, don’t you know you don’t disturb someone who’s meditating? And you should at least be grateful."

"Huh?"

She frowned, but as she scanned her surroundings, she felt her breath catch in her throat. All around the campsite, hundreds of monster carcasses lay strewn about, gutted, charred, or sliced into pieces. The trees themselves bore evidence of a fierce battle: some were scorched, others cleanly severed.

"What happened?"

"The monsters were particularly violent last night."

His voice was neutral, as if it were a simple observation, but the scene before her testified to the brutality of the fight. Zhulan felt a shiver run down her spine. She had faced fearsome creatures before, but the level of destruction here surpassed anything she had ever seen.

"Wait... how long have I been unconscious?"

"About three days."

Her eyes widened. "Three days? How could she have been unconscious for so long?" A wave of anxiety overwhelmed her.

"Wh-what! I’ll repay your kindness, but I have to go."

She tried to get up hastily, but her still-weak body refused to obey. Her legs buckled immediately, and she collapsed back onto the bed, gasping. BaiShe finally opened his eyes and fixed her with a calm, almost amused gaze.

"You’re not fully recovered yet. You should sit and meditate."

She clenched her fists. She knew he was right, but the idea of staying here and wasting time was unbearable. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to get up again, mustering the little energy she had left. As soon as she tried to summon her Qi, her vision blurred instantly, and a violent dizziness made her stagger.

"No... I can’t... I don’t have much time... I..."

She stumbled, feeling her strength abandon her. A powerful arm caught her before she crashed to the ground. BaiShe supported her effortlessly, his gaze still impassive.