Adorable
Xu Shulou watched the bustling half-human, half-beast creatures for a moment before turning her gaze to Shen Zhuang.
Sensing her scrutiny, Shen Zhuang smiled faintly. "Let me guess. You want to ask if they’re suffering—maybe even demand to know why I, as a fellow human, can’t understand their pain. Am I right?"
"..."
"No need to ask. I’ll save you the effort," Shen Zhuang chuckled. "I know they’re in agony, that they’d rather die than live like this. But you see, I don’t particularly care how these mortals feel."
"..."
"Hey, why aren’t you saying anything?" Shen Zhuang stared at Xu Shulou. "Want me to explain my creative process?"
"No," Xu Shulou refused. "My only job is to kill you. I don’t particularly care about your thoughts."
"Hahaha!" Shen Zhuang burst into laughter. "You’re still young. You don’t see my worth. If someone more discerning were here, they’d probably be treating me as an honored guest by now."
"What worth?"
"Think about it." Shen Zhuang tapped his temple. "Combining mortals with ordinary beasts might not mean much to some, but what about cultivators and spirit beasts? With this method, what couldn’t be achieved? What power couldn’t be built?"
"What happened to 'benefiting the cultivation world'?"
Shen Zhuang shrugged. "Fine, I lied. I don’t particularly care about the cultivation world either."
"You have wealth, that’s true. But if you set your sights on cultivators..." Xu Shulou recalled the tales of his friendship with Lu Beichen. "You’d need a backer—preferably a major sect."
"Exactly. Without support, cleaning up afterward would be troublesome. Otherwise, I’d have already experimented on those spectators in the fighting pits." Shen Zhuang looked at her. "Got any sects to recommend?"
"Ah—!" A piercing scream echoed from a cave in the mountain wall. "What have you done to me? Shen Zhuang! Shen Zhuang! Come out! I’ll haunt you as a vengeful ghost if it’s the last thing I do!"
For the first time, a trace of frustration crossed Shen Zhuang’s face. "I’ve tried eagles and vultures, but humans and birds just won’t fuse properly. They keep regaining consciousness. What’s the solution here?"
Xu Shulou’s mind stirred slightly. "Do the other beast-humans regain awareness too?"
"A bit of spiritual energy stimulation can briefly wake them up," Shen Zhuang mused. "When I’m bored, I poke their brains to chat."
"..."
"Pity they either try to kill me or just beg for mercy." Suddenly, Shen Zhuang brightened. "Hey, Xu Shulou, why don’t you stay and keep me company?"
"No."
"Let’s negotiate. I’ve got plenty of treasures. Stay with me for a day, and I’ll give you one. How about it?"
"No negotiation."
"You’re no fun," Shen Zhuang yawned. "Well, to keep you from blabbing, I’ll just have to make you my plaything."
Xu Shulou gripped her sword hilt. "That depends on whether you’re capable."
At Shen Zhuang’s whistle, the half-beast creatures surrounding them growled menacingly, closing in on Xu Shulou.
With a gesture from Shen Zhuang, the creatures bared their claws and lunged. Their padded feet made no sound against the ground, but their attacks were swift and brutal. Xu Shulou leaped into the air, dodging effortlessly—though some of the beasts jumped just as high, pursuing her midair.
Shen Zhuang watched with amusement. "They can’t be restored anyway. Why not just kill them?"
Aim for the leader first. Xu Shulou kicked off the mountain wall midair, redirecting her momentum toward Shen Zhuang. Her sword gleamed like a shooting star, aimed straight for his heart.
"Coming for me?" Shen Zhuang remained seated, legs crossed. "Did you think I only make leopard-men and wolf-men?"
He flicked a hidden mechanism with his left hand. Silver needles shot toward Xu Shulou like streaks of light. "Perfect timing. Let’s test these toys on you."
Xu Shulou twisted her wrist, her blade dancing in a fluid arc to deflect the needles.
"Useless." Shen Zhuang tossed the device aside and pulled out another. "Now this one’s interesting."
A beam of white light erupted, targeting Xu Shulou. Unfamiliar with the contraption, she dodged rather than risk blocking it. The light reflected off the polished jade walls, crisscrossing until the entire cavern became an inescapable net.
The half-beasts, trained for this, had already hidden behind rocks. Xu Shulou, however, was trapped. The blinding whiteness left her unable to see, let alone reach Shen Zhuang.
Though her vision was obscured, her resolve was clear: Shen Zhuang had to die today. Not even imprisonment on Dustless Island was an option—if word got out, someone might attempt a rescue.
If possible, she’d have preferred him to experience becoming a half-beast himself.
But hesitation had no place in killing. That was a lesson Xu Shulou had learned long ago.
She hurled her sword. The blade shot forth, its edge radiating lethal intent.
At the same moment, the device in Shen Zhuang’s hand flared brilliantly.
———
"What’s taking Xu Shulou and the others so long at that wedding banquet?"
Back at Xuan Cang Academy, Teacher Li sighed in exasperation.
Teacher Xue stroked his beard. "Why so impatient? I’m not even worried. Or are you just that fond of Xu Shulou?"
"Who’s fond of her?" Teacher Li huffed. "I’m criticizing their lack of dedication to studies!"
Teacher Xue laughed. "Stop pretending. You’re just jealous I found the perfect successor."
"Ridiculous!"
As the two bickered, Master Zhou hurried in. "I just met someone from Qingcheng Sect delivering supplies. They brought news from the mortal realm."
"What news?"
"Xu Shulou got into a fight, blew up half a mountain, killed some people, and saved others."
"..." Teacher Li stared at him blankly. "Who taught you to summarize like that? Where’s the context?"
Master Zhou sipped his tea leisurely, savoring his friends’ anticipation before recounting the full story. "Xu Shulou may seem reckless, but she’s sharp. She knew Shen Zhuang couldn’t be left alive."
Teacher Li sighed. "Every time we let her out, she stirs up some major incident."
Teacher Xue, however, clapped in delight. "Excellent! My successor in the Path of the Mortal Sword should have such boldness!"
"...Boldness in causing trouble?" Teacher Li grumbled, though inwardly, he envied his friend for finding such a disciple. Few young cultivators nowadays had both the will and the ability to uphold justice. "Ah, if only she’d taken up talisman-drawing instead..."
———
Mortal Realm, Sheng Estate.
"Senior Sister sent a letter!" Bai Roushuang rushed into the courtyard, waving the missive as everyone gathered around.
Bai Roushuang hastily unfolded the letter and read the first line: "Senior Sister says that Miss Errong has been found. She was frightened but unharmed and will return soon."
Sheng Wuyou let out a relieved sigh, and Sheng's Mother patted her chest. "Thank goodness."
Sheng's Father pressed, "Who took her? Kidnappers?"
Bai Roushuang continued reading but frowned. "It was the beast-fighting arena. They treated mortal women like animals, forcing them to fight each other!"
The Sheng family exchanged bewildered glances. "How could such a thing exist? What kind of twisted mind would devise such cruelty?"
Sheng's Mother urged Sheng Wuyou, "Errong must be terrified. When she returns, you must comfort her properly."
Sheng Wuyou nodded.
Bai Roushuang read further but hesitated before speaking, glancing at Sheng's Mother. The latter shook her head. "I’m not so fragile. Speak freely."
"There was also a cultivator named Shen Zhuang. He stitched together mortals and beasts, creating half-human, half-beast abominations..."
The Sheng family gaped, rendered speechless. Song Ping and the others wore expressions of horror.
"Senior Sister... didn’t kill Shen Zhuang in one strike. She wounded him, and when the half-beasts smelled blood, their animal instincts took over. They ignored his commands and... tore him apart while he was still alive. Before he died, he screamed at Senior Sister, offering wealth and power if she’d save him..."
A heavy silence fell. It was a fitting end for Shen Zhuang. Yet they had assumed such a heartless madman wouldn’t fear death—only to see him beg for his life at the end.
Bai Roushuang mused, "Senior Sister failed to kill him in one strike? What happened?"
The others gave her a look.
She quickly continued, "Senior Sister sent word to Dustless Island. The sect arrived soon after and used spiritual energy to briefly awaken the half-beasts. Most... chose death."
The tender-hearted Sheng family wept.
Feng Yi sighed. "I’d likely make the same choice. Is it truly living without consciousness?"
No one could answer.
After a long silence, someone asked, "By the way, if Senior Sister sent a letter, where is she now?"
"I’m right here." A melancholic voice came from beneath them.
Startled, everyone looked down—and gasped.
On the ground stood a tiny, exquisite figure no taller than a teacup, dressed in a delicate moon-white gown. With her stunning features and painted brows, there was no mistaking her: it was Xu Shulou, the very person they’d been asking about.
Jiang Yan cautiously crouched to peer at her. "S-Senior Sister?"
"It’s me." Xu Shulou kicked a small pebble mournfully—it nearly reached her knee.
"You... you..." The group suddenly seemed afflicted with stutters. "How? Why?"
"Who knows what abomination Shen Zhuang created?" Xu Shulou sighed. "When I threw my sword, I was affected too."
Everyone stared in disbelief. Seeing their usually dignified senior sister so tiny and adorable was... unsettling.
"Are you hurt?" Song Ping pressed.
Xu Shulou tilted her head up. "No, not even my strength is diminished."
"Really?" Ji Ci asked.
"Want to test it?"
"..." They sobered instantly.
Bai Roushuang patted her shoulder. "Senior Sister, don’t stand on the ground! What if someone accidentally steps on you?"
Xu Shulou considered this, then flew up to perch on her junior sister’s shoulder. "Don’t worry. The sect leader and our master are already working on a solution. Once we return to Xuan Cang Academy, we’ll consult the teachers too."
"Senior Sister, in this state... you’re going back to Xuan Cang?"
"Why not?"
Bai Roushuang hesitated. "If word spreads, won’t your enemies come after you?"
"Come after her"? Did she have that many foes? Xu Shulou shot her a weak glare.
Bai Roushuang met her gaze carefully. "Why not stay here? We’ll take good care of you."
The juniors chimed in eagerly. "Yes, Senior Sister, we’ll look after you!"
"Look after me?" Xu Shulou paused. It had been years since anyone had said that to her.
An indescribable emotion welled up inside her—before she could decide if it was touched, Bai Roushuang added, "If you really want to go out... Have you seen those fluffy rabbit-shaped hats mortal children wear? I could sew you one. You could pretend to be a spirit beast!"
"?"
