Chapter 497: Chapter 496: Your Beast Form is Black, and You’re an Easy Target

Si Shuo’s male companions were all famous on the Southern Continent. Between the new High Priest in Golden Lion City, Zhi Li and Xia Ming’s resurrection, and the special Secret Realm trial favored by the Beast God, their family had been attracting a lot of attention.

At the very least, everyone knew who they were. Miao Juan and Ying Lan knew Si Shuo’s male companions like the back of their hands.

Each one was more handsome and powerful than the last, and none of them were pushovers.

Ying Lan pressed her lips together and added, "Before, when Dao Yuan’s double was exposed, I suffered a backlash. I’m still a bit weak even now.

Those males are high-Level, and their spiritual power isn’t weak, either. To control one of them, I would have to expend a great deal of Spiritual Power and Divine Essence to suppress him. Moreover, there’s a seventy to eighty percent chance I wouldn’t be able to control my strength properly and would end up destroying the male’s mind.

In other words, when he’s no longer under my control, he’ll have become an idiot! Of course, if he’s vigilant enough, not only would I fail to control him, but I’d also likely suffer another backlash!"

"I understand." Miao Juan had suffered three consecutive backlashes within a single year. ’Her abilities were far weaker than before, but so what? She could win through quantity.’ "Don’t worry. I know what I owe you. We’ve worked together so many times. When have I ever let you get the short end of the stick? If it weren’t for me, you’d probably still be in a female cave, welcoming and seeing off men just for a bite to eat, right?"

Ying Lan thought for a moment and nodded. "Fine, but I have one condition."

"What is it?"

"This will be our last time working together. After this, we go our separate ways and don’t bother each other again." Ying Lan was a little afraid of Miao Juan. ’A female who would even plot against her own flesh and blood... just how ruthless could she be?’

’She was terrified of the day she’d become Miao Juan’s next target.’ "We must face the Southwest and swear an oath to the Xiezhi!"

Miao Juan raised an eyebrow and sneered, "What, are you taking precautions against me now, too?"

Ying Lan didn’t shy away from it and nodded. "Yes. I believe a person can be wicked, but they can’t be without a bottom line. You’d even move against your own flesh and blood. For the sake of my own life, I have to resort to this."

As if she’d heard a joke, Miao Juan laughed with her coarse, gravelly voice. "And who are you to talk? We’re two of a kind. Fine. I don’t want my business getting out, either!"

The two faced the Southwest and made their promises to each other.

"Let’s choose Ji Liang. He’s a Snake Beastman. His personality is cold and selfish, making him hard to control. Plus, he’s exceptionally smart, which could easily ruin our plans. I don’t like him. I don’t care if he becomes an idiot!" Miao Juan said with a light laugh.

With their business concluded, Miao Juan didn’t linger and returned the way she came. At that moment, Si Shuo was being carried by Xu Chi, slowly walking back down the street.

Si Shuo ground her teeth in anger. "The Beast God gave Female Saints life-saving Skills, but they abuse them to do selfish things that harm others. The Beast God must have been duped by them to be so foolish!"

Beast God: Don’t @ me, thanks!

Xu Chi hugged her. "Shuo’er, don’t be angry. A superpower isn’t inherently good or bad; it all depends on the person using it. Since they’re using their superpowers for evil, we’ll intervene on the Beast God’s behalf and find those powers an upright, kind master who knows how to use them well."

Si Shuo sighed and pulled at his cheek. "Sigh... why is it so hard for us? If we aren’t outstanding, everyone wants to walk all over us. But if we are, we get targeted by disgusting people."

’The more outstanding a person is, the more unimaginable the evil they might encounter. One wrong move and the whole game is lost. But so what? They couldn’t just stop moving forward because they were afraid of being targeted by rats in the gutter, could they?’

Xu Chi smiled. "I’m very unassuming. No one ever targets me!"

Si Shuo fell silent. It was true. The Invisibility Technique Xu Chi practiced was incredibly powerful. He was like a shadow living among people. Even if he stood right in front of you, you would look right through him unless he chose to start a conversation. He existed as naturally as a wall, a tree, or the flowers along the roadside—something you wouldn’t spare a second thought for.

Usually, it was only in front of her that Xu Chi would reveal his presence, bustling about in a way that was impossible to ignore!

Si Shuo had the distinct impression that he was only bustling about for her to see.

She wrapped her arms around Xu Chi’s neck. "It seems our Cultivation still isn’t up to par. We’ll all have to learn from you for a while. Once we get to the Southern Continent, our ability to become thin air will save us a lot of trouble."

Xu Chi kissed her on the cheek. ’The little female was soft, fragrant, and tender, like a peeled egg. He could never get enough of her.’ "Mm, in that case, I’ll have to set a higher standard for all of you."

When they got home, the two of them finally revealed their forms. Hearing the noise they made, the other males came out of their rooms one after another.

Si Shuo glanced around. Her gaze fell on Ji Liang, her expression complicated.

Ji Liang hissed. He raised an eyebrow, walked forward, and ruffled her hair. He smiled and pulled her into his arms. "What’s wrong? You’re looking at me like you’ve never seen me before."

"Mm, Ji Liang, I’ve discovered something," Si Shuo said, nodding emphatically. "Your beast form is black, and you sure do attract a lot of shade!"

"Little Shuoshuo, the more you say, the more unsettled I feel. I haven’t done anything to make you angry, have I?" Ji Liang’s heart pounded nervously as he thought hard. ’He’d always conducted himself with integrity, never giving other females the wrong idea. In his dealings with others, he always thought three steps ahead. He hadn’t left any hidden dangers or trouble behind, had he?’

Si Shuo shook her head and snuggled against him. ’The moment she thought of Miao Juan’s venomous intentions, she wanted to tear the woman to shreds.’

’What had her Ji Liang ever done to them? Just because he was a Snake Beastman, cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and exceedingly clever, did he deserve to be used as their puppet, turned into a drooling idiot, and then abandoned by everyone?’

Her heart ached with sorrow, and she tightened her arms around him. "Ji Liang, I was scared of snakes, and I didn’t want to get close to you at first. But you were shameless and kept pestering me.

From the moment I allowed you to stay with me outside the cave, I started to like you. And I’ve only liked you more and more since then!

It wasn’t just you who chose me; I chose you, too. I would never give a male I don’t like even the slightest chance..."

Ji Liang’s pupils contracted. ’What on earth happened outside to upset the little female so much? It was rare for him to be the one being confessed to, instead of just being an observer.’

His heart burned with warmth. He chuckled softly and kissed her earlobe. "I know. I’ve always known that my Little Shuoshuo likes me very much.

You’ve fulfilled all the hopes I ever had for a home. All those years of loneliness and wandering have become the strength I use to protect you. I’ve always been grateful."

Si Shuo couldn’t help but recall the last time Ji Liang was plotted against. Combined with the male’s gentle coaxing, sentimental tears began to fall—tears of anger and heartache.

At first, the other males had been watching from the side, feeling a bit jealous. ’Why weren’t they the one getting all the attention?’ But when the little female started crying, they all turned anxiously to Xu Chi. "What on earth happened?"