"G-Grandpa…"
Bai Chenxiang had come over to offer Yang Fan some water—but the moment she looked up, she caught sight of his youthful chin beneath the hood.
An aged voice paired with a half-glimpsed, tender face shattered the worldview of the five-and-a-half-year-old girl in an instant.
Dazed, she shuffled back to Bai He and whispered something into his ear—too softly for Yang Fan to hear.
"How rude!" Bai He muttered, glancing sideways at Yang Fan.
He should maintain proper boundaries—especially in the soul beast forest.
He'd only invited Yang Fan into their group because of the boy's act of saving Chenxiang in town.
Of course, this was only possible because Bai He could clearly sense that Yang Fan posed no threat whatsoever to the Speed Clan.
Just then, a middle-aged man approached.
"Brother Yao Chen, have something to eat."
Though poor, the Speed Clan was never stingy—though what they offered wasn't exactly gourmet.
"Thank you." Yang Fan accepted the slightly stale flatbread and gently warmed it with a touch of soul power.
A rich aroma immediately filled the air.
The man swallowed hard. "Looks like Brother Yao Chen is hunting a fire-attribute soul beast. Don't worry—we'll help you find one."
The Speed Clan might not be a prestigious clan, but they were far from amateurs—especially with their patriarch personally leading the hunt. Securing a soul ring for Yang Fan was practically guaranteed.
Seeing Yang Fan fall silent, the man wisely returned to his group.
Their plan was simple: help him obtain a soul ring as thanks for saving Chenxiang, then part ways—no debts owed.
"Third Uncle, what's this guy's real strength?"
"I heard the chief say he's a Soul Elder."
"Oh, just a Soul Elder!"
"You three brats are barely Soul Masters yourselves—don't mock others."
"But we're young!"
"Enough chatter. Tomorrow, keep an eye out for fire-attribute soul beasts."
The group nodded—they understood Third Uncle's unspoken meaning perfectly.
…
Yang Fan had just settled in for the night when Bai Chenxiang trotted over, clutching a piece of flatbread.
With wide, pleading eyes, she asked, "Could you help me warm this up?"
The little girl had been lured by the scent of Yang Fan's earlier bread.
Without a word, Yang Fan channeled soul power into his palm and gently pushed it toward her hand—carefully heating the bread without touching her skin.
Bai He had started to intervene—but seeing the precision of Yang Fan's control, he relaxed back into his seat.
To heat bread without burning a child's skin required soul power mastery none of the Speed Clan's Soul Elders could match.
"Thank you, big… uh…" Chenxiang struggled with how to address him. She tried peeking under his hood, but the shadows deepened further.
"Chenxiang! Doesn't the bread taste better now?" called a clan member. "Come back to the center—this forest isn't safe!"
The Speed Clan remained uneasy about her lingering near Yang Fan.
After all, what luck for a wandering Soul Grandmaster to latch onto a family team as his personal escort?
No one else could've pulled her away—but Bai He's single glance sent Chenxiang scurrying back obediently.
At just five and a half, she didn't belong in this forest. She'd only joined by throwing a tearful tantrum—and even then, only after agreeing to her grandfather's "Three Sacred Rules."
…
Midnight.
Veteran soul beast forest dwellers knew this was the most dangerous hour—when exhaustion peaked and vigilance waned.
Night-active soul beasts shared one trait: treachery.
They struck silently from darkness, delivering fatal blows unseen.
Shhhhk—!
A sharp, piercing cry split the night.
Bai He shot upright first, followed by the Speed Clan elders, then Yang Fan.
Intelligence gathering had been the Speed Clan's specialty for generations. Hyper-vigilance was their survival doctrine—honed to perfection during years of Spirit Hall persecution.
"Chief, trouble?"
"It's here!"
Bai He's eyes flickered toward Yang Fan even as he spoke.
Though the beast's species was unclear, its terrifying speed was evident from the night's howl. Given their location in Sunset Forest's outskirts, its age could be roughly estimated.
"I'll handle it!" boomed the middle-aged man the youths called "Third Uncle." His five soul rings pulsed rhythmically.
Needle-Tailed Swifts excelled in speed—but that didn't mean they lacked killing power.
When skill gaps were vast, sheer velocity could slice throats clean open.
"Chief, it's coming!"
Before the scout's warning finished, a black shadow exploded from the trees.
Without careful observation, one might miss the beast entirely.
"A Lightning Panther—about 1,500 years old!"
"Second kid, your soul ring has arrived!"
In a flash, Third Uncle—a Soul King—charged forward.
True to its name, the panther moved like lightning. Speed clashed against speed, leaving trails of afterimages.
Yang Fan's head spun—he couldn't follow their movements at all. It felt like his brain was overheating.
All he could think was: "I don't get it, but it's awesome!"
While Third Uncle battled the panther, the rest of the Speed Clan formed a protective circle around their Clan Princess Chenxiang—eyes scanning the darkness.
This was the difference between family teams and temporary groups.
"Brother Yao Chen," someone called proudly, "this is how our Speed Clan fights. What do you think?"
"Amazing!" Yang Fan breathed.
His awestruck reaction delighted the Speed Clan's youth.
Raised under Bai He's influence, they too believed the Needle-Tailed Swift was a noble martial soul.
"Rest easy! Tomorrow, pick a suitable soul beast—we'll handle it for you."
The young clansmen, though proud, meant no malice.
They simply wanted this old-looking, low-ranked wanderer to witness professional soul beast hunting.
…
Meanwhile, Third Uncle's battle concluded.
Though Needle-Tailed Swifts weren't brute-force fighters, a mere 1,000-year soul beast couldn't "accidentally" defeat them.
The panther now lay motionless, awaiting its fate.
Suddenly, another group burst from the forest, shouting: "That soul beast is ours!"
Bai He's face turned ashen at the sight of them.
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