Seeing the meat slices nearly done, Leyang immediately took out his portable seasonings. He sprinkled them bit by bit over the meat. Instantly, a rich, enticing aroma filled the air, making appetites surge.

"Not bad," he murmured.

Leyang picked up a skewer of grilled meat and took a bite. Juice dripped from his mouth; it was incredibly fragrant.

Woe was just an energy entity. It couldn’t share the delicious food with Leyang—after all, it had no nose or mouth.

Soon, Leyang finished one skewer. As he reached for a second, a hungry gurgle sounded. He froze, then snapped his head up.

There, standing before distant bushes, was a girl with snow-white hair and crimson eyes like exquisite rubies. She clutched her flat stomach, her gaze burning with intense desire as she stared at the grilled meat before Leyang. Faint swallowing sounds could be heard.

"Demon Race?"

Leyang was slightly surprised. Seeing the two prominent horns on her head, he silently murmured to himself.

Suddenly, Woe swiftly flew toward the white-haired, crimson-eyed girl. It circled her as if inspecting her. The girl wasn’t afraid; she quietly watched the mysterious black mist.

The next moment, she slowly reached out her hand, cradling Woe in her palm. A trace of a smile appeared on her face.

Then, Woe left her palm and returned to Leyang.

Seeing this, the girl didn’t know what to do. She stood rooted to the spot, conflicted.

"You’re hungry, right? Come join me," Leyang said after a moment’s thought. He waved at her.

She was Demon Race; he was human. The two races were sworn enemies. He didn’t expect her to come—but to his disbelief, she walked straight toward him at his call. She glanced at him, then at the grilled wolf meat beside him. Her stomach growled louder.

"Sit down."

Leyang pointed to a nearby rock.

The white-haired, crimson-eyed girl said nothing and silently sat.

Up close, she looked about twelve. Her delicate face carried a hint of innocence, like a girl who knew nothing of the world.

Leyang couldn’t understand how such a child could be in the dangerous Monster Woods. Didn’t she fear being eaten by monsters?

"What’s your name? Can you tell me?"

"...?"

"Language barrier? That’s troublesome. I don’t understand Demon Race speech."

"Louise."

"Hm?"

Leyang was slightly taken aback.

"Name. Louise."

The girl repeated flatly.

"So your name is Louise. It’s a good name. Why are you here? Don’t you know it’s dangerous?"

Unconsciously, Leyang forgot he was just an eight-year-old child—his real appearance looked even younger than hers.

Gurgle~

Louise instinctively covered her stomach. Her expression barely changed; she just stared quietly at the skewers emitting an enticing aroma.

"Come, eat something."

Leyang scratched his head, pulled out a skewer, and handed it to her.

Louise immediately took the meat and silently began eating. She looked very quiet.

"Aren’t you afraid I might poison it?" Leyang chuckled softly.

Louise glanced at him but said nothing. She continued savoring the food. Soon, she finished the wolf meat and stared at the other grilled skewers.

"If you like it, help yourself. I’ll make more if needed. There’s plenty of meat."

Leyang didn’t harbor hatred toward the Demon Race. Every race had good and evil individuals. To kill someone just for being Demon Race, without discerning good from evil—that was something he couldn’t and wouldn’t do.

Just like humans: countless evil people did terrible things yearly. Could you say humans should be exterminated because of them? Don’t be so brainless.

After dinner, Leyang took a sip from his water flask and handed it to Louise.

"Water?"

Louise took the flask, examined it briefly, then imitated his sip. She accidentally choked, spilling water over herself and soaking her clothes.

"Ah! So careless."

After a while—

"Now, can you tell me? How did you end up in the Monster Woods? Where’s your family?" Leyang sighed softly.

"Family? What is that? Always alone. Living. Don’t understand."

Louise tilted her head, confusion on her pretty face.

Leyang fell silent. From her words—was she an orphan? Or abandoned by the Demon Race, wandering here? Either way, it was pitiful. She was just a child, living alone all this time. How lonely that must be.

He couldn’t help recalling his past life’s dark days. He sighed heavily.

"The Monster Woods are dangerous. Leave as soon as possible. If you don’t know the way out, follow me. I’ll take you out."

After that, Leyang said nothing more. He silently cultivated his magic power.

The next day, Louise indeed followed behind him. Wherever he went, she followed. When danger appeared, she hid on her own. After he dealt with it, she reappeared—never slowing him down.

Two days later, Leyang finally found the cave where the speckled snake resided. Using smoke, he forced out a huge snake about three meters long. Seizing the chance, he plunged his dagger into its head. Soon, the speckled snake lay dead.

Thus, Leyang obtained its two venomous fangs and stored them carefully.

"Heh heh. Twelve Small Yala Coins in hand. Easy peasy."

After removing the fangs, he also extracted the snake’s gallbladder—the most valuable part. He didn’t put the rest into his Spatial Magic Tool to avoid contaminating its space.

A Spatial Magic Tool differed from a cultivator’s storage treasure. The latter was like a vacuum where items never spoiled or spread odors. But Leyang’s tool was a ten-cubic-meter space inside a cloth bag. Blood smells could still spread, risking contamination. So monster flesh couldn’t go inside.

"Louise, come here. Let’s leave the Monster Woods."