The Beast's Beloved: Sickly Beauty with Many Children and blessings

Si Shuo had been busy looking for a hiding place, weaving a makeshift cover and listening to the noise outside, so she hadn't noticed that there was already an orc hiding here!

Needless to say, this must be the third-level orc that the group outside was chasing.

The orc had porcelain-white skin, delicate and sharp features, fluffy flaxen hair, and a pair of pure, cold brown eyes. He stared at her without expression, as if she were a wall, showing no reaction to her striking appearance.

Si Shuo blinked, feeling puzzled. She was looking straight at him, but her other senses couldn't detect his presence at all.

However, she felt no malice from him, so she relaxed a little.

The two of them squatted side by side. Si Shuo kept sneaking glances at the stranger.

How could he be so close without her sensing him?

Si Shuo adjusted her breathing and tried to calm herself: I am a grass, I am a flower, I am a small, unnoticed tree spirit!

They stayed hidden for a long time. Si Shuo's legs were numb, and she was starting to feel drowsy when the group of beasts outside finally left, cursing as they went.

She let out a deep breath of relief and pushed off the escape basket.

The male paused, his gaze lingering briefly on the few wildflowers that had bloomed on top of her makeshift cover. Then, he stood up.

Si Shuo quickly got to her feet as well. She noticed the three orange beast markings on his neck and felt a little more at ease.

Good, he's a low-level orc. That means I'll have a better chance of escaping if I need to.

For now, she decided to stick with him, gather information, and avoid danger.

The male had a hide bag slung over his back and walked forward with his head down. When he reached a small river about three meters wide, he jumped over it easily.

Si Shuo took off her shoes, hissed at the cold water, and splashed through the rocky shallows to catch up.

Even though he wasn't walking fast, his long legs covered more ground. One of his strides was three of hers, and she quickly fell behind.

After more than ten minutes, Si Shuo was gasping for air. She called out, "Hey, big brother! Where are you going? What kind of orc are you?"

She hesitated to ask why he wasn't transforming. In this forest, traveling in beast form would be easier.

But she couldn't keep up with his human form as it was—if he transformed, she'd have no chance. She briefly considered offering him a crystal to carry her, but that was the fastest way to get robbed and killed.

The male paused and turned his head slightly. His voice was clear and cool, like a mountain spring.

"I'm not going anywhere. My father told me not to tell you."

Si Shuo blinked, thinking for a moment. His two short sentences actually answered both her questions.

Where was he going? His father said not to tell.

And why didn't he shift forms? His father told him not to.

She decided to be more direct.

"I have nowhere to go, and I don't want trouble." His eyes met hers, serious and straightforward.

Si Shuo put her hands on her hips, still catching her breath. She saw her own messy reflection in his clear eyes and immediately straightened up, embarrassed.

Her hide clothing was torn by branches, and some tufts of her hair had been pulled loose. Her hair was a wild, tangled mess with weeds, leaves, and even flowers stuck in it. Her face was streaked with dirt and handprints.

Si Shuo had never looked this disheveled in her life.

Following his gaze, she yanked the weeds and leaves out of her hair, then pulled a water bottle and cotton cloth from her bag.

She moistened the cloth and wiped her face clean, then scrubbed her hands. Finally, she combed her hair, making herself a bit more presentable.

Suddenly, the male reached out, plucked a flower from her hair, and tossed it aside.

Si Shuo froze, her body stiff. By the time she realized what had happened, the moment was already over.

The male's expression remained blank, but he tilted his head slightly and asked, "What about you?"

The emotionless question felt like a simple checkmark on a to-do list.

Si Shuo pursed her lips and answered, "I'm a female from a nearby tribe. I got lost while gathering. Can you help me find my way back?"

The male's eyes flicked to her slightly red ears. He said calmly, "Liar."

Si Shuo chuckled softly. "I do want to reach the tribe, but I can't explain why I'm here. Let's leave it at that."

The male gave her a brief look, then turned and started walking again—this time, toward the direction of the tribe Si Shuo had seen from the sky.

Si Shuo smiled to herself and followed.

The people in this beast world are refreshingly simple. Most wear their emotions on their faces or show their intentions through their actions.

Well, except for Ji Liang—his face is a mask, and his heart is a riddle.

"My name is Si Shuo. What's yours? Also, can you slow down a bit? I can't keep up!" she called out, slightly embarrassed by her own chatter. She was finally relaxing after so much tension, and when Si Shuo relaxed, she talked. A lot.

The male replied, "Shuchi." He shortened his strides to match hers, their steps falling into a synchronized rhythm.

"Do you have a destination in mind?" she asked curiously.

"No."

"Why not?"

Shuchi's brown eyes flashed briefly with something—perhaps confusion. "My father said to leave and not look back."

Si Shuo's brows furrowed. That didn't sound good.

Being told to leave and never look back?

Either he was driven out, or something terrible had happened at home, forcing him to flee.

"You can't tell me where you're from, can you?"

Shuchi shook his head. "No."

"Can you tell me anything about yourself? Are you especially good at hiding or something?"

"Yes," Shuchi nodded. "Concealment is a secret art of my clan."

Si Shuo sighed wistfully. Learning that art would be invaluable. She'd been relying on makeshift tricks like her basket cover and stinky bug grass for protection, but they only worked for so long.

If she could learn concealment from Shuchi and combine it with her own tactics, she'd have a fighting chance at survival in this dangerous world.

Especially since most males here had beast forms, raw strength, and level advantages that she couldn't overcome with hard work alone.

After walking for over an hour, Si Shuo's legs were ready to give out. She called out weakly, "Shuchi, I can't walk anymore. Can we rest for a bit?"

Shuchi nodded silently and walked over to the riverbank. He sat on a smooth bluestone, washed his hands, and drank a few handfuls of cool river water.

Si Shuo followed suit, washing her hands and face. The sun, now starting to angle toward afternoon, warmed her cheeks under the bright spring sky.

She groaned softly, rubbing her sore arms and legs. She had never walked this far in her entire life.

Suddenly, Shuchi stood up. His gaze sharpened toward the forest. "I'm going hunting," he said simply before leaping into the woods, disappearing from sight.

Si Shuo stayed by the river, raising her eyebrows in curiosity.

With a grin, she pulled out a sheet of kraft paper and an eyebrow pencil from her space inventory.

Then, lying back on the warm bluestone, she began to draw.

Guess what kind of orc Shuchi is!

If you guess correctly, I'll post a bonus chapter! One guess per reader!