In the Beast Forest, a figure appeared, blade in hand.
What kind of man? A dashing, heart-stealing hero.
What kind of blade? A special alloy steel sword.
Of course, this is none other than the charming, beloved, pear-blossom-crushing protagonist—yours truly, Makino Feitian, the ultimate hunk. It's my second day in the forest, heh. Aside from a few clueless critters, I haven't met any challenging beasts. I thought the Beast Forest would be crawling with them. Guess I need to head deeper. No one's ever crossed this forest, its size rivaling Earth's Asia, per our satellite scans—massive, right? It's home to ferocious high-level magical beasts, ranked from Level 1 to 9. From Level 4, they gain some smarts; the higher the level, the sharper they get. Level 9s supposedly match human intelligence, just mute. The magic wolf I met yesterday was Level 5, Tier 1. The forest also houses a small elf clan, their only shared trait being stunning looks—no cutesy winged fairies like in fantasy novels. They're tall like humans but frail, able to hover freely and wield wind magic without chants. For other spells or big wind magic, faint energy wings appear on their backs, like demon horns, to channel energy.
Where there's forest, there's elves. They keep ties with other races but live apart, preserving their culture. When demons invaded, they fought alone, their population crashing from 20 million to 6 million—a brutal loss. Demons wanted their innate magic control for war, but the peace-loving, freedom-craving elves refused, nearly getting wiped out.
I trekked south from the north, deeper into the forest. My GPS showed I was still thousands of kilometers from the center. Can't blame me—strolling leisurely, I've only covered about 100 kilometers in two days. Time to pick up the pace.
Meilina bathed blissfully by an underground hot spring. She'd planned to hide in Wudu, but her pursuers seemed to know she was back, raiding every inn. She settled her group and fled to the Beast Forest with two maids. All because of that damned guy—no one else would guess she'd double back. Meilina seethed, itching to kill Makino. No, death's too easy. She'd make him her slave, doing her bidding—maybe washing her clothes? No, too embarrassing; he can't touch her underwear. She'd humiliate him endlessly. The proud princess couldn't stand her talents being overshadowed by Feitian. Finding this perfect bathing spot in the forest was a bonus—future baths would be divine. Suddenly, the air's energy shifted sharply. Demons, with their keen energy sense, felt it stronger with higher power. A lightning bolt struck from above. She dodged, but the water conducted the shock, numbing her body. Damn, forgot I'm in water.
As Meilina lay paralyzed, a massive beast roared into view—an electric tiger. (Electric Tiger: A key Beast Forest species, Level 6, adept at lightning magic.) Its drooling maw loomed closer, and despair hit. Escaping assassins only to fall to a beast—was this her fate? "Ah!" At the critical moment, her two maids appeared, each hurling a dark fireball at the tiger. They lunged, barely saving their princess's head from its jaws. Disaster averted, just.
Meilina sighed, but dread returned—her maids were no match for the tiger. In a blink, they were battered, their attacks useless against its electric web. The tiger, enraged at being interrupted mid-meal, was unforgiving. Lightning crackled on its long horn, signaling doom to all who crossed it, even horned humans like demons. No mercy—just food. "Die!" Meilina, regaining movement, charged the tiger.
Munching a tasty lunch, I heard a girl's scream. Another adventure team ignoring elders' warnings, thinking they're invincible, dreaming of heroics? Fourth group today. Fine, I'll check—my subjects, after all. As emperor, I can't ignore a damsel's cry; it'd violate my "Four Loves" code. Save them first, then lecture these reckless kids. Training needs adult supervision, stepping in only when danger hits—perfect plan. Genius, I am; maybe I'll charge for it.
Damn, that's near-forbidden-spell-level energy! I zipped to the scene, finding three women with hair spiked like porcupines, faces charred. I wanted to laugh, but no time. My two-minute transformation's a last resort to boost cultivation, but saving lives comes first. Gotta use it.
Meilina's trio grimaced. Her strike had repelled the tiger, but its lightning left her numb, strength sapped. In their despair, a stronger aura emerged behind them—more powerful than the tiger. Heavens, was this death? Meilina hadn't even loved yet. If she must die, she'd see the beast clearly—dying clueless was too bitter. Turning, her face flushed, heart pounding. A man hovered in trendy survival gear, waist-long white hair billowing in his energy surge, sharp nose, and a wicked smirk—her dream prince. Meanwhile, Feitian sprayed about two pounds of nosebleed, sweat dripping. Meilina, rushing to save her maids, had leaped from the spring naked, her body fully exposed as she turned. No normal man could stay calm.
Gods, she's perfection! Heaven, you're too kind, knowing I'm lonely battling beasts, arranging this "hero saves beauty" scene. Thank you! My perfect pose collapsed. Meilina, puzzled as his gallant image vanished, saw him gawk like a lech. Following his gaze, she unleashed her loudest scream ever—she was buck naked before a stranger. Would he think her shameless? She tried covering up, but two hands weren't enough. Feitian burst into laughter.
"Roar!" The tiger, charging its aura, couldn't hold back. Just as it neared success, this annoying human appeared. Its beastly instincts knew escape was futile, let alone a fight. When the human's aura faded, it relaxed, but his leering gaze screamed lust. Mating? With Level 5 intelligence, it knew male from female, but this female's figure baffled it—only two teats? Tiger sisters have six! Still, it hated being ignored. As it prepared to unleash its energy, a blur appeared, a fist slamming its jaw, hurling its massive body far. "Humans are as sneaky as Mom said," it thought, fainting. Too late. Wind magic swirled, lifting fallen leaves in a spiraling dance.
Meilina's trio gaped at Feitian. Was this human strength? The energy wasn't huge, but that speed—neither demon nor god king could match. "Miss, why go that far? Like me, just say it. No need to strip—you're tempting me to sin," I teased, noting she's a demon girl.
"No looking, close your eyes!" Meilina yelled, hiding behind her maids. "One glance won't cost you flesh. I've seen prettier, no big deal," I taunted.
"Rogue, filthy wolf!" Meilina sobbed, wronged. The man she'd just fancied spoke so cruelly. Tears flowed. My transformation time up, I reverted. "Ah!" The trio's jaws dropped, egg-stuffable. Their savior was the demon realm's public enemy, human emperor Makino Feitian. Meilina felt drained.
"What, my handsomeness got you three smitten?" I boasted. They stared, eyes screaming, This is the wise, unmatched Feitian Emperor? Probably self-proclaimed. Heaven played a cruel joke.
"Who's into you?" a maid snapped. "Sigh, my mistake. I'm off—don't miss me. It's dangerous, go home," I said, feigning disappointment. Disappointed? Pigs would fly. Just my usual trick to milk sympathy.
"Who'd miss you?" Meilina thought fiercely, unaware her tone sounded like a lover's pout. She never expected meeting Feitian, let alone finding him witty. He didn't expect saving his would-be assassin.
I strolled forward, then plopped on the tiger. Comfy—real tiger-skin sofa, warm too. Perfect for winter. Could I take it back? "Why'd you stop?" a maid asked. "Stop? I'm wondering if I should take this tiger. Its pelt's worth a fortune," I said.
Meilina's trio nearly short-circuited. A filthy-rich emperor pinching pennies over a tiger pelt? No master's aura—just a street bum. Unknowingly, their view of him softened, no longer hostile.
"Live's better," I decided, pulling an iron chain from my space ring. Too small for the two-meter beast—such a waste. "Got it!" They watched me mutter, pulling out a chain and… a saddle. Minutes later, the tiger was my mount. I'd envied Journey to the West's immortals—now I'd live the dream.
The tiger woke, startled by my face inches away. It leaped back, recognizing me as its knockout artist, and tried to bolt. A tug revealed it was tethered, accepting its fate. I patted its head. "You're my mount now. Stick with me, you'll eat well, drink fine, and have all the lady tigers you want. Got it? I know you understand. Nod for yes, shake for no—but I can't promise those girls won't mess you up." The tiger nearly died of despair—this human's sly. No choice, it nodded. "Great, you're 'Dopey' from now on!" It bristled, but a head-smack cut its protest. "Deal, or you think my name's bad?" Facing my glare, it complied—no more fainting.
I leaped aboard, patting Dopey. "Let's roll." "You can't leave!" a voice shouted. "Reason?" I turned. "No reason." "No reason, I'm gone. Women, ugh." "No reason's the reason—you saw me naked!" Meilina's voice softened, face red.
I paused—responsibility? I eyed her. Face too sooty to judge, but her features and curves weren't bad. A demon wife sounded fun. "Fine, be my woman." (Per the classics: "Kid, she's a princess! Such a tactless man. Why don't I, a perfect guy, get these chances? Heaven!")
Meilina's face burned. What kind of proposal was that? But staying close was her only shot to assassinate him—otherwise, her mission was doomed. Feigning shyness, she nodded. "Hop on." Now dressed, she climbed aboard, my hand on her chest. "I'm bad news, think hard—no regrets." "Wolf, I'll kill you," she thought, but blushed, "No regrets."
"Really?" I confirmed. "Mm," she nodded. "Call me Feitian or Brother Tian—your pick. You?" "Meilina," she murmured. "Nice name. Can I call you Nana?" Only an idiot wouldn't seize this chance, and I'm the ultimate lady-killer. (Per the classics: "Bro, tone down the ego. I'm tempted to swap protagonists.")
"Wife—shameless, calling her that already—why no beasts after all this walking?" I asked Nana. "Hubby, aren't you a genius? Riding Dopey, low-level beasts smell him and bolt—why'd they come to die?" she analyzed. Duh, I'm a genius who missed the obvious.
Per Meilina, I had her maids take Dopey to the forest's edge tomorrow, letting me train. The trio agreed. They'd split for a bit, so I slept alone tonight. Don't get ideas—Nana shares my tent, but I've been a gentleman.
"Princess, we're leaving tomorrow. Can you handle him alone?" a maid asked Meilina. "No worry, his strength's overwhelming. Even with you two, we might not win," she said. They nodded. "But together, we're safer," another fretted. "Relax, fewer of us lowers his guard, easier to strike. At the forest's edge, tell the others to stay away—his senses would catch them," Meilina ordered. "Got it," they replied.
Next morning, the trio parted. "Miss, we're off. Stay safe!" the maids sobbed. Geez, with me here, who'd harm her? "Chill, this hunk's got her covered," I boasted. "Get lost, I don't need you," Meilina teased, playfully smacking me. Women—made of water, as some sage nailed. They cried for ten minutes over a 20-day separation. I hugged Meilina. "Don't cry, it'll break my heart. You'll see them soon." "We've never been apart since childhood," she said sadly. Wow, my wife's a demon noble? I didn't dig deeper—else I'd suspect their identities.
"Cheer up, wife," I said. Since the split, she'd been silent. "Without them, what'll we eat? I can't cook," she sighed. I nearly fainted—that's her worry? "Relax, your hubby's got food covered—no starving my wife." I pulled heaps of food from my ring. "Yes, food!" she cheered. "Plenty more, eat what you like," I said, seeing her glee. "You don't know how tasty human food is—never gets old. Ugh, your emperor's the worst, spying on us innocent demon folk. Our realm's harsh—who'd fight here otherwise?" Ouch, slamming me to my face. Human-demon hatred isn't easily fixed, especially after demons' atrocities. Flying Dragon Star's 200 million population dropped to under 80 million post-invasion—over half slaughtered. No humanity in that. Good demons? Rare. Killing millions takes time.
"Demon realm's tough, sure, but that's no excuse for murder. Your kind killed 120 million here—more than your entire population. That's invasive slaughter. If it's 'not the common folk,' could your demon king and generals alone kill that many? Armies are civilians too. And it's always demons invading humans—never the reverse. History's clear on that," I told Meilina.
"No, it can't be!" Meilina realized the human-demon rift's depth. In army camps, she rarely dwelt on her kind's massacres—normal in the demon realm.
"Think I'd lie? Without demons leaving, humans might've been extinct. I swear, demons will pay," I vowed. "No, you can't!" she cried. If I hit the demon realm now, it'd be history—her homeland. "Why not?" I snapped, rarely angry. "I don't know!" she said, pained. "Enough, it's not our business. Just stating facts. Let's train," I softened, pulling her along. Meilina, rarely hearing such truths, had strived to prove to her father, the demon king, she wasn't a jinx. Poor thing. It took a while for her to recover. In her world, thinking like I suggested needed time.
Lush, green forest, strolling with a beauty—what a trip. But this is training, not a vacation. Why no high-level beasts? "Comrade wife, why no beasts? They napping?" I asked.
"I don't get you. With your strength, you've no rivals—why come here? Boring, no?" Meilina asked, curious.
"People always want more. Call it greed, but why waste what's within reach? If I can grow stronger, I won't pass it up. Power's no harm," I explained.
"But these are way below you—how's that growth?" she puzzled. "Plenty of ways. I'll fight with just physical strength," I grinned. She nodded, "Oh."
The fire python, a Level 6 forest beast, was a big shot. Freshly fed, it basked in the sun, cozy. Footsteps approached—humans, rare for a 300-year-old python that knew man from beast. Last human meal was 200 years ago with Mom—her small bites, my big ones. So tasty. Even full, it drooled, vowing to savor that flavor again.
Birds scattered from branches. "Hold up, Nana, danger," I grabbed her. "What danger? Birds flee humans," she scoffed at my caution. "My gut's as sharp as a girl's," I smirked. The python slithered stealthily, nearing human scent—so fragrant. It waited, venom ready, for the perfect strike.
"Watch out!" A thin black liquid shot at Meilina. Her reflexes saved her, dodging with a sidestep. A massive green python lunged out. Damn, smart beast. Meilina, barely up, froze as it charged—girls' snake fear kicking in, face pale. I swooped in, a flying kick deflecting its head, saving her.
The python hadn't expected such tough humans. Its never-failing venom missed, and that man's kick nearly cracked its skull—first time in 300 years. It hadn't sensed his strength, yet he exploded with power. No matter, it'd eat him. Coiling, tongue flicking, it faced Feitian.
I yelled for Meilina to run—time for fun. "Come on, beast!" I flipped it the middle finger. It didn't know the gesture but sensed the insult with its Level 6 smarts. My cocky grin screamed disdain. "Boom!" A long flame blasted from its mouth. Hell, that's a Sun Tzu surprise attack! I underestimated its wits, but this won't hit me.
Teleporting to its side, I dodged the flames, landing an uppercut, then a left hook. In agility, it couldn't match me. The python, livid at this human's gall, retracted its flames. Its green body turned red, blazing like a fire snake, scorching nearby grass. Smoke billowed—damn, chemical warfare?
You underestimate me. With my magic-martial fusion, dispersing smoke's a breeze. A massive water dragon hit the snake, dousing its flames, steam rising. Water beats fire—now what?
The beast was pissed. A red scale on its forehead glowed, gathering energy. Damn it, a Level 6 beast with a forbidden spell? No one warned me! (Per the classics: "Bro, you're too strong. Gotta spice things up so you're not lonely at the top!")
Before its energy peaked, I transformed into Dragonman, piercing its throat's weak spot. At lightning speed, it couldn't dodge. I yanked out a red crystal—its magic core, vital for mages. Without it, the python couldn't channel energy. Not fatal, but half its life gone. I cast a water healing spell to seal its wound. "Scram, I'm sparing you. Just took a small gift," I cursed. The python glared, vengeful, hoping for payback. Feitian spoke lightly, but a beast's core, built from lifelong energy, was everything. Without it, it's powerless, starting from zero. It botched its hunt and lost big. Thanks to my love for nature, it lived. Whether weaker beasts eat it later? Not my problem.
Reader's Corner: Yo, readers, what a wild ride, right? Feitian's out here taming tigers and charming demon princesses—think he's falling for Meilina's act, or is he playing her? Drop a comment with your guess on what's next—more beasts, or a twist with Meilina's assassination plot? Let's chat and keep the adventure rolling!