160 An Unpleasant Forest Guardian Beast 3 (1/2)
For that single moment, that single moment only, the Wu Ji Forest feared for its survival from an unforeseen and unstoppable threat.
Be it the trees, plants, or animals trekking across the earth, all inhabitants visible froze as their souls quivered from the immense pressure forcing them to prostrate onto the ground and beg for the slightest hint for mercy.
The fiercer creatures dove into their burrow with their claws clutching their body in fear, and the weaker-minded were directly executed without being granted the chance of appeal.
The forest hummed with a disconcerted and genuinely concerned atmosphere, its core throbbing with the anxious intent of uprooting its settlement and fleeing to the corner of the earth.
Of course, the threat's source was not the numerous transference arrays that besotted the earth; the humans of Great Yong had achieved a successful negotiation with the Wu Ji Forest prior to constructing their effective transportation system exclusive to Jiang'an.
It neither originated from an external entity separate from the forest.
A rouge cultivator did not threaten to exterminate the Wu Ji Forest, nor had a past enemy knocked on its doorstep demanding vindication from the heavens.
”Dear heavens, what is that batty old dragon thinking!?”
The Wu Ji Forest seethed as its inhabitants suffered to the completely unleashed and condensed aura of its own guardian beast, the core running amok from tree to tree as it attempted to discern the circumstance.
Each perished carcass that it witnessed alongside its journey was mutilated and pummeled into a pool of blood and mangled flesh; a direct circumstance of a Mortal Tribulation Realm cultivator's aura.
As for the grumpy old dragon responsible for the forest's greatest genocide as to date…
”You still haven't told me your name, little human girl.”
The flood dragon coiled its body and sunk back into the lake's immeasurable depths, leaving behind a spectacularly large dragon head to float atop and stare at the young girl.
With An Fei directly before its sights, the old vengeful dragon decided to determine itself on the age-old path of vindication, musing with delightful satisfaction at the young girl squirming under its eyes.
”You're still really unpleasant.”
Being stared at by two suns of golden light brimming with a petty malice… was nowhere near acceptable or comfortable.
An Fei shot back at the prideful dragon with an equal bemusement, her eyebrow shooting towards the heavens at the dragon's noticeable scowl of discontent.
”Name!” the jiaolong growled, the deafening rumble of thunder nearly shaking the young girl into blissful realm of unconsciousness.
An Fei snorted at the rude behavior of the protector of the Wu Ji Forest, before revealing an unpleasant expression as she clutched at her stomach with both hands.
The young girl desperately stopped herself from retching, the squirming of her insides manifesting an immeasurable torment to strike her consciousness.
”My name -urgh! – is An… An Fei.”
The young girl gasped between clenched teeth, beads of sweat gracing her brow to drip onto the suffering grass below her body.
A moment later, An Fei released a long sigh of relief, her inner organs singing with joy at the reduced suppression imposed on her body.
Her internals were still being jostled by the vibrations in the air when the dragon's throat undulated, but it had subsided to a tolerable extent.
”…that's an interesting name.”
The flood dragon's whiskers brushed across the young girl's head with a surprisingly gentle arc, the anticipated pain replaced by an unusual warmth.
The completely unaccounted for sensation thoroughly roused An Fei's downed consciousness, and she glanced at the jiaolong with befuddlement in her gaze.
”What are you doing?”
”Ah?”
The guardian beast of the Wu Ji Forest blinked in surprise, before pinching his side with his claws underneath the surface of the lake.
As the sear of pain flashing through his nerves sobered his unusually intoxicated soul, the flood dragon berated itself with a sufficiently deadly quantity of curses before returning its gaze onto the young girl.
”Why have you come to my forest, human girl?”
An Fei bristled at the nonexistent use of her name that had been coerced from her body, temporarily managing to quell her disgruntled anger.
Puffing her cheeks, the young girl glared at the exquisite surface of the lake, her hand raised to the sky to brush off the annoying flood dragon's whisker laid on her head.
”I came with a group of people through a… a transference array.”
The young girl racked her mind in an effort to recall Luo Xi's description of the fearful gate that night, the scarlet irises reflecting a glum mood at the thought.