Chapter Fourteen: Rosa of the Three Eyes (Part Two)

“Who are you? Why did you come up here yelling about fighting and killing?” Shi Jun asked, rubbing the several large bumps on his head left by the blows, his tone full of dissatisfaction.

“You! You! Give me back my pet!” The girl, though she had acted first, was so furious that she couldn’t help but shift all her anger onto this stranger who had appeared alongside Lanpo, throwing a tantrum without caring about anything else.

Stamping her feet, she swung her scepter again. The arrows of light circling her trembled and shot at Shi Jun once more.

“She’s really wild!” Shi Jun thought, quickly dodging to the side.

No sooner had he moved than Lanpo, standing before him, transformed a portion of itself into a massive blue barrier. The arrows of light struck the blue shield as if flying into a bundle of cotton, sinking deep within. The blue curtain shifted back to its original form, wrapping around the arrows and tearing the small green bolts to shreds in an instant.

The rest of Lanpo swiftly attacked the girl, who, clearly unprepared, was instantly bound tight by Lanpo’s threads, unable to move.

“Ah! My immobilizing scepter arrows!” The girl screamed, her heart aching, but unable to move, she could only watch as her precious protective magic, painstakingly refined, was destroyed by Lanpo.

Though Lanpo ruined her magical treasure, it seemed to show mercy, merely binding her tightly without taking further aggressive action.

Shi Jun watched the rapid exchange, his eyes dazzled by the action. Seeing the girl struggling, her face flushed, refusing to yield, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: this girl’s temper is truly explosive!

As Shi Jun pondered, he suddenly sensed Lanpo chattering to him, passing on messages.

“This nasty woman is so bad!”

“That’s right! She’s always causing trouble for us!”

“She even came to the Underworld to stir things up, saying she’d catch us as pets!”

The little beings conveyed their outrage to Shi Jun, who found himself both surprised and amused—so even the Underworld had mischievous children who randomly caught things as pets?

Shi Jun had intended to let Lanpo teach the wild girl a lesson, but seeing her face redden, tears about to fall, his heart softened. Nodding, he said to Lanpo, “Let her go. She didn’t really hurt you... She’s just a child, no need to hold grudges.”

Though Lanpo protested, after a moment’s chorus of dissent, it obeyed Shi Jun’s command, releasing the girl and returning to his side.

Shi Jun watched as the girl rubbed her arms, still defiant, glaring at him with big, bright, black eyes. He couldn’t help but laugh. “Still want to fight? You started it—I’ve never wronged you.”

“Who says I started it? Who saw it? Do you have proof?” The girl retorted unreasonably.

Shi Jun, unwilling to argue further, smiled and said nothing more.

Shi Jun let the matter go, but the swarm of little monsters, just freed from captivity, weren’t so forgiving. They hated the wild girl who had robbed them of freedom, and as soon as their strength returned, they rushed at her all together, as if with tacit understanding, surrounding her and launching an attack.

* * * * * * * * *

Shi Jun was amazed: slender purple vine-like plants lashed at the girl with whip-like branches, whistling through the air; bowl-sized floral creatures shot countless spiked petals at her exposed arms and thighs; several frog-like animals leaped, spraying streams of blood-red venom...

A motley array of monsters, each with its own shape and size, used every trick, leaving the girl flustered and, within moments, sporting several small wounds.

Though he barely knew her, Shi Jun felt sympathy seeing her so battered, while the monsters were relentless, determined to avenge themselves. He quickly told Lanpo, “Help her out!”

Lanpo, reluctant, moved only a little. Seeing the girl accumulate more wounds, it finally floated over, separating her from the monsters, but did not attack—merely hovered quietly, as if waiting for Shi Jun’s next command.

“Hey! Who are you? Why do these Lanpo listen to you?” Before Shi Jun could decide what to do, the girl, newly out of danger, angrily jumped in front of him, demanding answers.

“Me?” Shi Jun smiled wryly. “You don’t even know who I am, yet you come up trying to fight?”

“….” The girl was momentarily speechless, but quickly regained her spirit. “Why are you with Lanpo? Are you strong?”

“I’m not the strong one—they are!” Shi Jun gestured toward Lanpo standing before them. “They’re my friends.”

“Liar!” The girl was unconvinced, eyeing Shi Jun suspiciously. “They’d be friends with you? I don’t believe it! How about another fight, see what makes these creatures so obedient to you?”

“Again? Why?” Shi Jun was baffled by her behavior—she was truly extraordinary.

“How else would we know who’s stronger?” She pouted. “They never pay attention to me, yet they’re so close to you? I don’t like it! And you let my pets escape—I want compensation!”

She was certainly unique—her destroyed magical treasure barely bothered her, but she was fixated on her lost pets, acting much like a child who’s lost a favorite toy.

Shi Jun had no other option, raising his hands in surrender. “You’re strong! I admit you’re the strongest!”

“Why?” The girl was puzzled. “We haven’t fought—how would you know?”

“Really, you’re strong!” Shi Jun put on a serious expression. “Look, I can’t fly, I don’t know magic, and I don’t have powerful treasures or pets like you. Obviously, you’re stronger—it’s clear without fighting!”

The girl was delighted. “You’re quite honest—I like you now!” She laughed, her mood brightening.

Shi Jun could only smile bitterly to himself: I saved your life and you didn’t warm to me, but a few compliments and I’m suddenly honest? What a child! But he dared not show his thoughts, only smiling and saying, “Little sister, thank you for going easy on me!”

A simple phrase, but the girl was surprised, her eyes wide. “You called me little sister? Aren’t you afraid of me?”

Shi Jun asked curiously, “Why should I fear you? Are you going to eat me? You look younger than me, so calling you little sister is right.” Then he suddenly realized—this was the Underworld! The girl was at least a century-old demon; who knew who was older?

Unaware of Shi Jun’s thoughts, the girl blushed with joy, liking him even more. She had already felt grateful when he rescued her from the monsters, but her pride and her disbelief that Shi Jun could command Lanpo made her unwilling to admit it aloud.

In all her years, everyone in the Underworld either flattered her, ingratiating themselves, or were terrified, eager to avoid her after exchanging a few words. Her adoptive father indulged her but always wore a stern face. Among peers, none ever treated her as an equal, calling her “sister” or “little sister.” No one ever spoke to her as Shi Jun did—calm and gentle, neither servile nor arrogant—so she was instantly delighted.

* * * * * * * * *

“You’re really nice!” she thought, then blurted out, “Actually, I am grateful you saved me just now!”

“Grateful, but you still wanted to fight?” Shi Jun mused. “What a peculiar way to show thanks!”

At this moment, Shi Jun was worried about Hu Hai’s safety and didn’t want to waste time. Seeing the girl seemed to have lost interest in causing trouble, he quickly said, “Little sister, I must go now!”

“Why?” The girl, having finally met someone she liked, was reluctant to let him leave after so few words. “No, you’re not going to fight me anymore?”

Still wanting to fight? Shi Jun was nearly dumbfounded, then shook his head. “I really can’t. I have something very important to do.”

“You can’t just leave like that—we haven’t fought yet!” The girl, unable to think of another reason, clung to the idea of fighting to keep him around a bit longer.

“I really can’t!” Shi Jun looked troubled. “My best friend and I got separated—I have to find him quickly!”

“Looking for someone? That’s easy! Tell me who you’re looking for, I’ll help you!” she exclaimed enthusiastically.

“His name is Hu Hai…”

Shi Jun had barely finished speaking when a shadow flashed before him, and a palm struck his chest.