"Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, return to your homeland with your people."
Chen Zoe spoke calmly as he applied medicine to Bai Lu's wounds, his movements careful and precise.
The beast men exchanged glances. None of them had any reason to refuse. Yet just as they prepared to leave, one of them stepped forward.
"Our entire village will forever be in your debt," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "If you ever require our help, come to our tribe at any time."
He extended his hand and placed a pendant into Zoe's palm—an intricately crafted token engraved with the symbol of their tribe.
Zoe lowered his gaze to the pendant for a brief moment before closing his fingers around it.
"I'll accept it… for now."
It was an unexpected gain. Still, deep down, he hoped the day would never come when he needed to use it.
At that very moment, a streak of red light pierced the sky—a signal used to summon nearby sect members in times of emergency.
Zoe's expression shifted instantly.
"An emergency signal… damn it."
The unease in his chest deepened. What he had feared… was finally happening.
He turned to the beast men without hesitation. "Move. Quickly. Once we get there, explain everything to your people. We need to stop the battle before it gets worse."
By the time they reached the village, chaos had already taken hold.
A fierce battle raged between the beast men and the humans. The clash of steel and the roar of anger filled the air, drowning the land in violence.
The human side was clearly at a disadvantage.
Due to the lack of experienced warriors, their formation was beginning to crumble. Xi Shen, along with a few senior disciples, struggled to hold the line—but it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed.
Zoe's eyes hardened at the sight.
"What are you waiting for?" he snapped, his voice sharp with urgency. "Go—stop them!"
The beast men beside him froze for a moment, stunned by the sheer scale of the battle. They hadn't expected such a large force… nor that it had gathered because of them.
But there was no time to hesitate.
One of them stepped forward, quickly handing the children he was carrying to his comrades before rushing ahead.
The beast man suddenly let out a thunderous roar, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
Startled, those nearby turned toward him. One by one, the others followed, the clash of weapons gradually faltering as attention shifted.
"Stop it! Please, stop!" he shouted, raising both hands as he ran between the two sides.
His actions threw the human fighters into confusion.
A beast man… trying to stop the battle?
Even though Xi Shen and the others couldn't understand his words, his desperate gestures made his intentions clear—he was pleading for the fighting to end.
Xi Shen frowned, his grip tightening around his weapon.
What is going on…?
Then his gaze shifted—and landed on Zoe, standing at a distance with two beast men and the rescued cubs.
Understanding dawned instantly. A relief spread across his face.
A brief pause settled over the battlefield as the beast men caught sight of the children—the very ones who had been taken from them.
The moment hung heavy in the air.
Then—
A powerful presence descended.
The stillness shattered as an imposing figure appeared before them—the lord of the beast men, a shapeshifting fox.
He stood in human form, yet made no attempt to hide his nature. Behind him swayed nine pure-white tails, and foxlike ears rose from his head. Draped in resplendent red robes adorned with golden ornaments, he radiated authority and overwhelming power.
"My lord, please show mercy," the beast man pleaded as he dropped to his knees. "This is all a terrible misunderstanding. Just like us, they were only trying to protect their people."
"Misunderstanding?"
The fox lord's voice was cold, laced with anger.
He swept his gaze across the battlefield—the fallen bodies, the wounded, the blood-stained ground.
"These lifeless bodies… are a misunderstanding?" he said slowly. "The injuries on these children… are a misunderstanding?"
The air grew heavy with killing intent.
Before the kneeling beast man could respond, the distant sound of hooves broke through the tension.
All eyes turned toward the entrance.
A group of riders approached swiftly—Chen Zeon and his troops, answering the emergency signal sent by one of Xi Shen's disciples.
They came to a halt at the edge of the battlefield.
"Are you all alright? Where is Chen Zoe?" Chen Zeon called out, his voice filled with urgency.
But the moment his eyes fell upon the fox lord, his expression froze.
Shock flickered across his face.
"…Zhihao."
The name slipped from his lips, heavy with recognition.
…
However, the moment Lord Zhihao saw Chen Zeon's face, his expression darkened—and his temper flared.
"Kill them all." His cold command rang out without hesitation.
At once, the beast men surged forward, their killing intent reignited.
...
A quiet sigh echoed from above.
"…Still as stubborn as ever." Standing atop a nearby building, Zoe watched the scene unfold, a trace of helplessness in his gaze. "This uncle-in-law of mine…"
With a soft exhale, he finally drew his sword. Mana surged into the blade. With a single motion, he slashed through the air.
The effect struck the ground.
A violent shockwave tore across the battlefield. Dust exploded into the sky as the earth split apart, carving a deep, jagged scar through the land. Nearby buildings crumbled under the force, collapsing into ruins.
Silence followed.
Everyone looked up.
A lone figure stood above them, his presence suffocating. His face remained obscured, but his eyes burned with a chilling intensity. In his hand, the sword blazed with brilliant blue flames, casting an otherworldly glow.
"Zoe…" Xi Shen whispered, recognition flashing across his face. Shock overtook him. 'How is this possible…?
Had Zoe truly been this powerful all along…?' If a single strike could tear open the earth itself, then if it had been directed at the beast men… Not one of them would have survived. A cold realization crept into his mind. 'Is he even human…?'
Meanwhile, on the beast men's side—
"Ian… Tian…"
Zera called out, her voice tinged with confusion as she noticed Long Tian standing motionless.
His gaze was fixed on Zoe, unwavering—filled with a quiet, almost unguarded admiration.
"Long Tian…"
Hearing her voice, he finally stirred, as if pulled back from a distant place. He blinked, trying to regain his composure and understand what had just happened to him.
He had never felt anything like this before. His eyes refused to leave that figure.
A strange connection tugged at him—an unfamiliar sensation that settled deep within his chest. It carried with it a faint, aching sense of longing that he could neither explain nor ignore.
Why…?
He didn't understand.
But one thing was certain— It was because of that human.
Zera folded her arms, glancing between him and the battlefield.
"Looks like you're just as shocked as I am," she remarked. "I never thought someone this powerful could exist in such a lowly realm."
"…Who is he?" Long Tian murmured, his voice distant, almost absent-minded.
"How would I know?" Zera replied with a slight shrug. "It's my first time here too."
But her words barely registered. Long Tian's thoughts had already drifted back—to Zoe. And no matter how hard he tried… He couldn't pull himself away.
…
"Ahem… First, I would like to sincerely apologize for our thoughtless actions toward you and your people."
After descending from above, Zoe stepped forward and stopped before Zhihao. Knowing that Xi Shen and the others would not be able to hear whatever he was about to say, he spoke in the language of the beast men.
"We were unaware of the truth and acted without proper understanding."
His voice remained calm, yet firm.
"Our actions were not driven by malice, but by our duty to protect our people. Please understand—we had no choice but to respond to what we perceived as a threat."
Chen Zoe's gaze shifted, sweeping across the frightened human villagers and the captured beast men. His expression was earnest.
"We understand that you attacked us to protect your own people."
He paused briefly.
"And we did the same. This conflict arose from a misunderstanding… can't we end it without shedding anymore blood?"
The beast man who had witnessed everything stepped forward and supported Zoe's words, vouching for him without hesitation.
Zhihao fell silent.
After hearing the explanation—and witnessing Zoe's power firsthand—he began to reconsider.
He could win this battle through sheer strength.
But the cost…
If he were to fight someone like Zoe, the losses would be far from insignificant. He doesn't want to risk his people's lives.
"My lord, he is not a bad person," the beast man added. "He even brought justice to us by executing the criminals responsible."
A faint flicker of satisfaction passed through Zhihao's eyes.
Then, his gaze shifted—falling upon the fox cub in Zoe's arms.
"Why is the cub in your hands?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity. "Are you planning to take responsibility for this injured child?"
"They didn't want him," Zoe replied calmly. "So I decided to take responsibility for the life I saved."
Zhihao's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Do you have any idea, why they abandoned him?"
Zoe gave a small nod.
"And even knowing that… you still wish to keep him?"
Zoe met his gaze without hesitation. "Is there a problem?"
For a moment, Zhihao simply stared at him.
Then, a faint, unreadable smile touched his lips.
"You are indeed… different from the others."
His voice carried a subtle weight.
"But if your words ever prove to be a lie…" His expression turned cold.
"…do not blame me for being ruthless." Giving a clear warning, Zhihao turned away, and the beast men followed, retreating from the battlefield as swiftly as they had arrived.
As the tension gradually eased and the threat of battle faded, relief swept across the crowd. Cheers rose into the air, replacing the chaos that had once consumed the land.
Yet amidst the celebration, Chen Zeon stood apart.
His expression remained solemn, a quiet sense of loss lingering in his eyes.
Zoe noticed.
A faint ache stirred within his chest at the sight of his uncle like this. But he knew—things would change. They had to.
With that thought, a gentle smile touched his lips as he began walking toward him.
Then—
He stopped.
A strange sensation tightened around his heart.
His heartbeat echoed loudly in his ears.
"…Yuzhen."
The name slipped from his lips almost unconsciously.
Zoe turned sharply, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings, searching—grasping at the sudden instinct that had taken hold of him.
But no matter where he looked… he found nothing.
What am I thinking? How could he be here?
Letting out a quiet breath, Zoe dismissed it as nothing more than a passing thought and turned away.
Unaware—
That the one he was searching for… had been there all along.