Chapter 141 The Strangely Quiet Jungle

“ this way.” After evolving, the Bone Dragon’s greatly increased speed did not escape Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s notice. Sensing an intense danger ahead, she began to trust her instincts and turned, flying in another direction—even though it took her away from their original destination.

“Xiaoyuan, think of something quickly! It’s getting closer!”

They flew through the air at full speed, yet still could not shake the Bone Dragon behind them. It should have grown heavier after absorbing the metal element, but its flying speed had actually increased instead.

“What can I do? Do you think I’m Zhuge Liang?”

Although she secretly regretted the situation herself, Zhuang Xiaoyuan would never show it. A young lady had to maintain her dignity—though in truth, that dignity had already fallen almost as far as her sense of propriety.

“Who’s Zhuge Liang?”

“Xiaohui, get out of the way!”

A powerful sense of danger surged into Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s heart. It was as though she had glimpsed the completely dark end of their fate. Her blood-red eyes flickered faintly. She thrust Wen Hui aside with all her strength, interrupting her words, and used the recoil to dodge to the right.

“Roar!”

The rapidly approaching Bone Dragon suddenly let out a furious howl and opened its cavernous maw.

A jet-black shockwave burst from its mouth. The dragon breath, mixed with countless tiny black metal particles, shot straight through the space between Zhuang Xiaoyuan and Wen Hui. If not for Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s quick movement, the two of them would probably have taken the full force of the attack.

The black metal dragon breath passed through the gap between them and streaked into the distance. At its end, a dense forest suddenly appeared in the wilderness, as if it had always been there. Under the dragon breath’s power, all the trees around the forest’s perimeter turned black before finally crumbling into black dust. When the dragon breath ended, the strange forest quietly vanished as well.

Something was wrong with that place.

“What was that just now?” Wen Hui’s eyes were filled with surprise and curiosity. Even while being pursued by a ferocious Bone Dragon, she still could not suppress her curiosity.

“Some kind of illusion barrier. Let’s go take a look.”

After exchanging a glance with Wen Hui, Zhuang Xiaoyuan saw the same thought reflected in the other girl’s eyes. A smile of agreement curled at the corner of her lips. She beat her wings and rushed toward the forest that had just disappeared. The trees there might be able to hold the Bone Dragon back temporarily and buy them a chance to escape.

Wen Hui followed close behind.

It felt as though they had passed through the surface of water. When Zhuang Xiaoyuan and Wen Hui recovered from their momentary daze, they found themselves standing in a dense jungle.

Towering trees rose all around them, blocking part of the sky. All kinds of flowers and grasses covered the ground, making the place seem like the only quiet paradise left in the mortal world.

Normally, upon entering a place deliberately concealed and surrounded by illusions, Zhuang Xiaoyuan and Wen Hui should have been filled with caution. Yet, unexpectedly, this tranquil place inspired no suspicion at all. Instead, it gave them the feeling of returning home, wrapped in warmth and peace.

The situation was abnormal, yet irresistibly alluring.

Even Zhuang Xiaoyuan, whose behavior was currently dominated by the young lady’s personality, could not summon the slightest ill feeling toward this region.

“Roar!”

The Bone Dragon circled back and forth in the sky, occasionally spitting a mouthful of metal dragon breath in one direction or another. It seemed that it could no longer find Zhuang Xiaoyuan and Wen Hui.

And with the Bone Demon’s utterly witless mind, it would never wonder why the two of them had suddenly disappeared.

“This place is really strange,” Zhuang Xiaoyuan said calmly as she looked up at the Bone Dragon circling overhead.

She should have been wary of such an uncanny place, yet her heart was just as calm as her expression.

“It really is strange. It feels like we’ve come home. So warm…”

Wen Hui stroked her chest with her right hand, seeming deeply attached to the sensation. That was understandable. As an orphan, she had never experienced genuine affection from parents. Although it was impossible to tell from her appearance, deep down, she must have envied those who enjoyed happiness with their families.

“It isn’t only affecting us. Look—the Bone Dragon can’t see us.”

Zhuang Xiaoyuan pointed toward the creature above them, a trace of doubt in her eyes. Normally, Bone Demons possessed neither intelligence nor vision. They located their targets through a special life-detection ability. Yet now, the creature could not detect her at all.

The illusion barrier here was clearly no ordinary one.

“Why is it strange that it can’t see us? This place is enveloped by such a massive illusion barrier.”

Hearing Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s words, Wen Hui came back to herself from the warm emotional experience. A trace of confusion appeared in her eyes as well, though the source of her confusion was entirely different.

“Stupid Xiaohui, I told you to use your brain. Could it be that your intelligence has dropped in a straight line because you grew these two unnecessary lumps of fat?”

Zhuang Xiaoyuan frowned slightly and glared at Wen Hui. Her gaze shifted to Wen Hui’s ample figure, and a flash of darkness passed through her eyes. An inexplicable impulse suddenly seized her. She reached out, placed her hand against Wen Hui’s chest, and gave it several firm squeezes.

The corner of her mouth lifted, revealing a tiny canine tooth, lending the young lady’s face a strangely mischievous charm.

“Ah! What are you doing?”

Startled by Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s sudden action, Wen Hui leapt back while clutching her chest with both hands. Her face flushed faintly, though it was impossible to tell whether she was embarrassed or angry.

“Haha, the texture really is excellent. Xiaohui, have you gotten bigger again? Did your breasts absorb all the nutrients meant for your brain?”

Zhuang Xiaoyuan casually withdrew her hands and teased her with an unconcerned expression. If not for the slowly reddening tips of her ears, no one would have noticed how nervous she actually was.

She herself had no idea what had come over her. She had simply felt the sudden urge to do it.

“That’s the second time! I absolutely won’t forgive you this time. Prepare yourself, Xiaoyuan!”

Wen Hui stamped her foot angrily. Whether she was upset because Zhuang Xiaoyuan had taken liberties with her or because of the teasing, she released the arms shielding her chest and lunged at Zhuang Xiaoyuan.

She had been attacked twice now. This time, she was determined to get even all at once.

“Haha, I was prepared for that.”

Zhuang Xiaoyuan sidestepped Wen Hui’s “attack,” a smug look appearing on her face. But she did not remain pleased for long. The instant she dodged, she realized that she had been trapped in place.

“You’re cheating! You actually used your ability for something like this? That’s completely unfair!”

“It isn’t unfair. You’re simply too naive. Take this!”

Using a verdant breeze to bind Zhuang Xiaoyuan in place, Wen Hui lunged forward once more. She placed both hands directly on Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s waist, and her fingers began to dance nimbly.

“Hahahaha! Haha—wait, hahahaha! Stop! I surrender, I surrender! Hahahaha!”

Whether in her former life or this one, Zhuang Xiaoyuan had always been extraordinarily ticklish. Wen Hui’s unexpected attack had struck her weakness perfectly.

To be continued…

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