Lory's eyes were glued on the gemstone as she thought, 'Protecting soul, huh, maybe…?'

[Don't even dream about it!] Girsha's voice warned through her head.

​​

[What? I didn't think anything…] Lory pursed her lips.

[Your soul is not the same as a beast's soul. Do you think your Lucient soul is like cabbage that is easily found anywhere? Do you think a simple stone could protect you after you made a contract with the fallen God? We would never have fallen into this situation if it was that easy!] Girsha spoke with exasperation as he needed to discourage Lory from running with a stupid idea.

Lucient souls were more precious than the other souls in the world. They were strong, clean, and pure. It was the reason God chose the first Lucient and his heirs to rule the world. Her lustrous soul could only be seen by powerful beings like him or Huo Long, the red dragon. Intelligent beasts like the sacred beasts, only felt like they were soaking in a hot spring during winter when they met such souls.

The ancient blood in the Lucient veins also gave beasts a sense of familiarity. It was the reason sacred beasts could ignore Shin Jiu, the supposed blessed child, and attach themselves to Lory instead. Beasts that lacked power and intelligence, on the other hand, had a strong urged to devour Lory when they met her, while demons like Lazarus saw Lory's soul like an addictive drug.

In Harland, beasts would always attack Lory relentlessly and even ignore other prey to chase her. At the time, Lory thought the beasts were always angered by something she did. Only a few people, including her father, knew the true reason but no one took the time to explain it to Lory and Lucas as they had their own agenda. Marcus never told them because he thought it helped train his children to be strong and more aware, while Girsha thought it was funny to watch Lory being chased by the hordes of beasts.

[I know-I know! Geez…! Calm down, oldie. I was just a little curious] Lory rolled her eyes. She knew nothing was that easy to solve.

"How does the stone work?" Lory directed her curiosity to Zhao Li Xin.

"The stone will give the beast's soul protection at the very moment I kill Nan Yu Qi. The crucial moment is the time before her last breath as it is when the contract reacts. We will only need to preserve the beast's soul until Nan Yu Qi's soul moves to the afterlife.

This little beast would survive and live on without her once the contract breaks automatically," Zhao Li Xin explained patiently since Lory seemed to care about the little beast's wellbeing. The thought slightly annoyed Zhao Li Xin.

"So, the contract is the bomb and Nan Yu Qi's soul is the detonator," Lory pinched her chin in contemplation. His explanation sounded like two people handcuffed with the same bomb. The destruction of Nan Yu Qi's soul would activate the bomb and the little beast's soul would be freed from it if he was protected from it in time.

"Deto...what?" The term confused Zhao Li Xin.

"Okay, I get it!" Lory clapped her hands. Her eye's shifted to the small gemstone in Zhao Li Xin's palm, "What should we do with it? Should the cub wear it or what?"

"He has to swallow it after a contract is established between him and Nan Yu Qi," Zhao Li Xin said.

Lory squinted as she thought. The cub eating the gemstone didn't sound healthy to her. Won't the little guy get constipated instead? She did not think there were veterinaries in this world. She pulled the little cub closer and asked with reluctance, "You are sure about this? Won't he get a stomachache?"

Zhao Li Xin watched her concern with jealousy as she never seemed very concerned when something involved him. He was a little dejected.

If Lory would have read his thoughts, she would have asked Zhao Li Xin if he was sure he wanted to be treated like a dog, and if the little cub heard Lory's thoughts, he would have reminded her he was not a dog but a powerful shadow tiger!

"Do you trust me?" Zhao Li Xin asked in a low voice.

"I do!" Lory quickly reply.

"It is settled then…" Zhao Li Xin sighed heavily and went quiet as he was still annoyed.

Lory worried when Zhao Li Xin went quiet as he rarely got mad at her. She could literally count on one hand the number of times he had gotten mad at her and it was mostly because it was her fault. She placed the little cub on the ground and reached for Zhao Li Xin's hand.

"Are you mad?" Lory anxiously bit her lips.

Zhao Li Xin glanced at Lory for a second and averted his eyes, "No…"

Lory pursed her lips, "You lie! Why won't you look at me?"

Zhao Li Xin turned to her as he couldn't handle her pleading. His voice was flat, "I'm looking at you now…"

"I'm sorry. I was a little worried but don't be mad, okay…?" Lory leaned forward and pecked his cheek.

Zhao Li Xin's anger subsided without a trace like a stream of cold water. He was even ashamed of how easily he could be persuaded by her. He exhaled as he submitted to his fate as a henpecked husband. Lory, on the other hand, was relieved once she was able to coax him.

[Lory… This little one… I smell something on him…] Girsha suddenly perched on the little cub's head. The little tiger was once again scared as he pressed his head to the ground and covered his face with his tiny paws.

Lory glared at Girsha, pushed him off the little cub's head, and lifted the little tiger into her embrace [What do you mean?]

There was a glint in Girsha's green eyes as he sniffed [It's a faint smell. It could be because he hasn't fully awakened yet… Hmm, this is Interesting…]

[Hey, birdie, what are you thinking?] Lory asked with impatience.

"What are you talking about?" Zhao Li Xin couldn't resist jumping in.

Lory shrugged. "I don't know. Girsha says he smells something from this little one?"

"Is it beast poop?" Zhao Li Xin's face turned dark as he grabbed the beast from Lory. The little cub immediately became anxious when Zhao Li Xin held him.

The little cub growled softly while his little body trembled. Lory took the cub away from Zhao Li Xin as she felt bad for it. "No, not that… Calm down, baby. It's fine. This big man won't hurt you. Why is this guy so scared of you and Girsha?"

"Maybe because he is a coward," Zhao Li Xin said with indifference.

"Psst, don't say that! What if you embarrass this little guy?" Lory quickly covered the tiger cub's ears.

"Why are you keep holding him?" Zhao Li Xin's anger returned.

"Because this little guy is so small and cute~" Lory's face flushed as she rubbed her cheek on the cub's furry head.

"...." Zhao Li Xin's anger peaked. He wrapped his hand around her shoulder and pulled her close to his chest.

Lory was stunned. She almost dropped the little cub as her head hit Zhao Li Xin's chest. She complained, "What are you doing?"

"I also like holding small and cute creatures," Zhao Li Xin casually answered.

Lory blushed and pretended to be angry, "Stupid!"

Huo Long and Girsha watched the play with dark faces.

'The dammed couple flirt anywhere and anytime, huh?' Girsha twitched his non-existent eyebrows.

'Ancestor, I think they forgot we are here'. Huo Long thought. Although he was happy for Zhao Li Xin, he also couldn't help but feel sad for himself. He also wanted to find a female dragon but he first needed to find a mortal body to do that. He gave a long sigh. It did not matter anyway as dragons no longer existed in this world. He was destined to be lonely.

"Li Xin, wait don't touch there… It tickles ~"

"Oh! How about here?"

"No…hehe, stop it!"

Huo Long coughed awkwardly 'Get a room, guys'.

[HEY, do you want to listen to me or not?!] Girsha shouted with anger.