Chapter 461: The Mysterious Beast

“This place is really hidden deep!”

Following the plot’s description, Li Yuan endured countless hardships to reach the bottom of the hidden cliff.

Gazing at the distant blue lake.

“Water-Fire Yin-Yang Herb… it only mentioned being near a lake…”

“It didn’t specify where the protagonist found it…”

Looking around, he didn’t see any suspicious plants.

But Li Yuan wasn’t discouraged, knowing that something as precious as the Water-Fire Yin-Yang Herb would be hard to find.

However, just as he was about to search carefully.

He suddenly heard movement from someone else at the quiet bottom of the cliff—

(Is that… Yun Xiaoxiao?!)

Seeing the figure by the lake, Li Yuan immediately recognized her as the Saintess of Qing Yun Holy Land.

(Why is she here?!)

She shouldn’t be; the plot never mentioned her coming here.

Moreover—

(According to the plot, my “lapdog villain” and her “heroine” only intersect during the Three Holy Lands Joint Trial next spring…)

(At that time, Yun Xiaoxiao mistakenly intrudes into a fierce beast’s territory.)

(Then, as she’s knocked unconscious by the beast’s sneak attack, I, passing by, save her and take her to a nearby cave to heal.)

(But when I go out to find healing herbs, the protagonist coincidentally arrives at the cave and, seeing the just-awakened Yun Xiaoxiao, immediately hatches a plan.)

(Claiming he risked his life to save her.)

(And because of this, Yun Xiaoxiao develops a strong affection for the protagonist.)

(Under the influence of the protagonist’s halo, this affection deepens step by step.)

(Until she willingly joins the protagonist’s harem.)

Seeing Yun Xiaoxiao by the lake, seemingly searching for something—

(Could it be… she’s also after the Water-Fire Yin-Yang Herb?!)

Thinking this, Li Yuan hurried over.

***

Actually, Li Yuan’s guess was correct.

Yun Xiaoxiao was indeed there to search for the Water-Fire Yin-Yang Herb.

She had seen information in her Holy Land’s intelligence library suggesting the herb might be here, so she spontaneously decided to check it out.

But after circling the lake, she found nothing.

So, looking at the calm lake surface, she decided to search the center more thoroughly—

“……?!”

Just as she was about to act, she suddenly sensed a presence rapidly approaching from behind.

She quickly turned, frowning as she looked.

“……Who is it?!”

However, the figure rushing over didn’t answer her, instead urgently shouting:

“Watch out!”

“Watch out for what…” Yun Xiaoxiao was about to ask.

But the next second, she heard a loud splash behind her.

“Crash—!”

Instinctively turning, she saw, emerging from the lake behind her.

A massive, bizarre beast!

Water splashed everywhere!

“This is… a fox demon?!!”

Seeing the beast, with only its upper body above the water, standing five or six meters tall, Yun Xiaoxiao was stunned.

The fox demon was not only enormous but also strangely formed, its body blue and translucent, flowing as if made of water!

“Roar—!!!” Violently swinging its nine tail-like water columns, the fox demon roared.

The roar, infused with terrifying spiritual energy, immediately left Yun Xiaoxiao, who was close by, mentally disoriented.

Then, it raised a giant claw, aiming to strike the dazed Yun Xiaoxiao.

“Dodge!”

The person rushing over urgently warned.

But Yun Xiaoxiao, her mind blank from the shock, couldn’t react, only watching the attack descend—

“Capturing Horse Bind!”

The newcomer gave it their all, hoping to save Yun Xiaoxiao from the terrifying attack.

***

Uncertain how long she had been unconscious.

Shaken awake by the shockwave, Yun Xiaoxiao finally groggily awoke.

“Miss Yun, you’re awake?”

She turned her head, finding a handsome man looking at her gently.

“You are…” Such a good-looking person, Yun Xiaoxiao naturally remembered him:

“You’re from Piao Miao Holy Land… Wang Haoran?”

“It’s me, I’m surprised you know me!” Wang Haoran smiled.

At this moment.

Though Yun Xiaoxiao’s mind was still a bit foggy, she remembered what happened before she fainted—

“Did you save me?”

“Yes, that strange beast was terrifying, but fortunately, you’re okay!”

Wang Haoran thus expressed his benevolence.

“Is that so… did you save me?”

However, Yun Xiaoxiao was skeptical:

“But I remember… the person who came to warn me…”

“Seemed to be your senior brother… Li Yuan?”

During the Piao Miao Holy Land competition, Piao Miao Holy Son Li Yuan’s “Capturing Horse Bind,” “Capturing Horse Cage,” left a deep impression on her.

So, recalling the wooden vine that blocked the attack, she immediately thought of Li Yuan.

“……”

Seeing Yun Xiaoxiao’s suspicious gaze.

Wang Haoran suddenly raised his right hand—

Before Yun Xiaoxiao could react, he slapped her face with a true energy-infused palm.

With a “slap—!” Yun Xiaoxiao fainted again.

“Sigh, you’re a brainless feel-good novel heroine, why bother thinking?”

Wang Haoran sighed helplessly.

***

After a while, Yun Xiaoxiao woke up again.

“Miss Yun, you’re awake?”

“You’re from Piao Miao Holy Land… Wang Haoran?”

“It’s me, I’m surprised you know me!”

“But I remember… at that time… it seemed to be your senior brother… Li Yuan?”

“……”

“Slap—!”

……

“Miss Yun, you’re awake?”

……

“Slap—!”

……

After repeating this a few times.

Yun Xiaoxiao woke up once more.

But this time, as soon as she awoke, she painfully rubbed her red cheeks, “It hurts…”

“Can’t be helped, that beast’s attack was too strong, getting caught in it was unavoidable.”

Wang Haoran sympathetically asked beside her:

“Miss Yun, are you alright?”

“A bit sore… but nothing serious…”

Yun Xiaoxiao turned, looking at the exceptionally handsome man beside her, hesitantly speaking:

“You are… Wang Haoran from Piao Miao Holy Land?”

“Did you save me?”

Wang Haoran smiled—”Yes, it was me!”

TLN : HAHAHA HAORAN FR FR LIKE ME, Playing hardest stage then fail, so i reset it again again and again hahaha. truly