To be honest, Miao Xiaocui didn't know if she was a human, a ghost, or the evil spirit the 'it' spoke of.
She was truly dead, yet not entirely. She knew with certainty that her body was buried in the earth, without breath, and without the need for it.
It wasn't until a strange voice intruded into her mind, telling her how to absorb the spiritual energy of plants, that Miao Xiaocui, with her slow mind, finally grasped the knack after much effort. She truly broke through the soil three months after her death.
Her body was covered in corpse spots, unable to see sunlight, only able to move at night. She couldn't even stride, only hop with her legs together, and she didn't need to eat.
'It' was astonished, surprised that her body did not decay.
Miao Xiaocui was terrified. During the day, she hid in the soil, only daring to come out at night. Every few days of absorbing plant spiritual energy, her fingernails would grow a little longer, until by chance, she encountered a dead prey and drank her first blood after death, as if she had undergone an sublimation.
From then on, she no longer absorbed plant spiritual energy but drank blood. Her body felt no pain, was not afraid of bites; even if wild beasts took chunks out of her, it was fine. After a few days of sleep, she would recover.
She didn't know what she had become, living in a daze, driven by instinct to find blood to drink, until half a year later, when Ayong came to visit her grave and discovered she was still alive.
At this point, 'it' taught her a new ability, and she eagerly sought out Ayong to test it. That time, Ayong nearly died, and she finally shed the corpse spots and the awkward hopping.
Everything was going so smoothly. Ayong found her a place where sunlight could not reach, and he would come every day for their intimacy. Her body became softer day by day, and gradually, Ayong alone could no longer satisfy her needs.
She didn't know how 'it' managed it, but Ayong brought her several drugged males. She devoured them to death in front of Ayong. To her surprise, the next day, Ayong had completely forgotten what had happened. Miao Xiaocui thought: 'Its' abilities are truly extraordinary!
A sharp voice sounded again, "We are one. Your current skin is unstable, only just able to tolerate sunlight. Revenge is not urgent; there will be plenty of opportunities in the future!"
Miao Xiaocui's gaze was stubborn, "I didn't say I would seek revenge now. I just told Ayong to look for opportunities. I was just an ordinary person over a decade ago, and now, am I still afraid of a small female?"
She wasn't even afraid of Went, she was immortal, unkillable, and indestructible. When she had absorbed enough vital energy and drunk enough blood, she would make the entire Warrior City pay for her two children!
'It' made no further sound, quietly hiding in Miao Xiaocui's soul sea.
'It' was Lan Bei, and also not Lan Bei; Lan Bei was merely a part of it.
It had intended to find a soul with heavy resentment to nourish itself, but unexpectedly discovered a pleasant surprise. The birth of every evil spirit required at least several hundred years of tempering before it could seek a suitable body in its soul form.
It was also delighted to find another 'child,' and this 'child' had given it a big surprise: a dead body that didn't rot, didn't need to eat or drink, and could grow stronger by drinking blood.
However, this body did not satisfy it. Evil spirits rejected all ugliness. This ugly thing, covered in corpse spots and stiff all over, was not only ugly but also couldn't see sunlight. Was it to hide in the soil like a stink bug forever!
Thus, that foolish beastman appeared, allowing it to seize the opportunity. It believed that before long, its 'child' would give these people a big surprise.
More than ten years was too short for it. Perhaps this 'child' truly had great potential...
—
The rain passed, autumn arrived, and time always slipped by in the blink of an eye. Bidding farewell to the scorching heat, they welcomed the crisp autumn air.
Shu An propped her elbow on her head and said expectantly, "I'll be meeting Big Horn brother soon. I wonder if Big Horn brother has grown any bigger?"
Shu Yue replied with a smile, "He definitely will. Big Horn is the leader of the Triceratops, so he must be getting stronger every year!" Her tone was filled with undisguised pride. Big Horn had not disappointed her; it had lived its own splendid life!
"I remember last year, I didn't dare to go head-to-head with Big Horn." Shu Ke, who was rarely home, also chimed in.
Big Horn's iron horn technique was invincible. Listening to what it said last year, it had even injured a ferocious beast. Under its leadership, the herd had secured a place among the herbivores.
Shu Bei also felt proud of this brother, "Big Horn brother came of age last year. If nothing unexpected happens this year, we'll see Big Horn brother and Weng Weng's cubs."
The thought of Big Horn's cubs being born made Shu Yue's heart soften, "Yes, Big Horn is going to have cubs."
Thinking back to how they had found Big Horn all those years ago, Shu Yue frowned again, "No, I need to hurry and sew a large animal skin bag for Weng Weng to carry them. That way, they won't lose their eggs."
In a sense, she was going to be a grandmother. Letting nature take its course was one thing, but she had to consider the children.
Shu An got down from the chair, "Mom, I'll help you."
Shu Bei: "I'll help too." She was going to be an aunt, and since she had no suitable gifts to give, she would start by sewing a little pouch.
The mother and daughters enthusiastically went to sew the animal skin bags, carefully selecting sturdy yet breathable hides. After sewing the pouches, they added long straps so Weng Weng could hang them around its neck, preventing them from breaking easily.
Two animal skin bags were made. They laid many eggs at once, so Big Horn and Weng Weng would each have one.
With all preparations made, they waited for the migratory herd to arrive. When the migrating herbivore herd appeared, Went's family was already waiting on their path.
After waiting for about a week, they still hadn't seen Big Horn's herd. Xia Xia pouted, "Isn't Big Horn brother coming?"
Shu Yue frowned with worry, "That's not right, Big Horn comes back every year."
Went's gaze swept across the herbivore herds, "Let's wait a bit longer. Perhaps Big Horn is just late this year."
Who knew that their wait would last until the migration ended? Other than barren ground, there was no sign of Big Horn's herd.
Shu Ke worried, "Big Horn didn't come this year, did something happen to it?"
The family's mood was grim. Anything could happen in nature, and it was hard not to imagine that Big Horn had met with misfortune.
Otherwise, why wouldn't it have migrated?
Shu An said sadly, "I'm very worried about Big Horn brother."
Shu Yue put her arm around her second daughter's shoulder, comforting her as well as herself, "Don't worry. Big Horn is the leader. There must be something that delayed its migration. Big Horn is smarter than ordinary Triceratops. Perhaps it found a favorable location for the herd to rest and recuperate, so it no longer needs to migrate."