"Chou…"

He grumpily puffed out his lower lip. "But what if something happens to Master while Chou's away? Master is silly and always gets into trouble. Chou can't leave Master's side!"

A small smile crept across Li Meirong's face. "I have Ben Mo here to protect me, and you saw what he did, right? Besides, I'm stronger now. It'll be more difficult to take me down, and I need you to do this for me."

Chou's gaze darted to the shivering mushroom nestled in Li Meirong's palms, looking entirely unimpressed.

"Chou, please."

Chou made a grim face, folded his small arms together, and let out a deep breath. "Fine. But Chou will be back swiftly even if it means that the human, Mo Jing, won't be found!"

"Chou is the best." Li Meirong said, and Chou's baby cheeks turned a little pink.

"Now you notice?! Humph." Chou haughtily reproached. He sent out a pair of vines and leapt a long distance away, back towards the cave's direction.

A cool draught of air swept through the jungle, coating Li Meirong's long, tangled hair and milk-white skin with a light, salty mist. A few birds hopped on the tree branches, greeting the newly dawned morning with their sweet, dulcet chirps.

Following a brief period of time, Ben Mo stopped shivering at last. He stirred and pushed against Li Meirong's palm, gaining her attention.

She cast her eyes downwards and silently paid attention to him. A layer of moisture coated her lush, curled lashes, which glistened slightly in the light of dawn.

Ben Mo sighed wistfully and telepathically transmitted his tale to Li Meirong.

'My original name was Liu Wei. I was once a child born into a poor family with many siblings and little food to spare. More often than not, I had to steal scraps just to get by through the day, but as luck would have it, I was born with a special power. I possessed the rarest of all attributes in this world, the lightning vein."

Li Meirong let out a short gasp, connecting the dots together.

Ben Mo continued, 'Even though I had a special physique, it didn't mean that I would be granted wealth or position in the cultivation world. Actually, I came across Forgotten Waters sect by sheer accident, or maybe it was the hands of fate? I was never really sure, but it felt as though it was my destiny to reach the sect. Everything seemed to have gone perfectly for me. I passed through all the obstacles. I had the necessary talent… I was even accepted by the Bestiary Division's Grandmaster to become a direct disciple! Riches beyond anything I could have ever possibly imagined as a boy were showered upon me. I was able to provide for my poor family with ease.'

'Everything went well. Too well, in fact. I even… I even thought I met someone I could love forever.'

Ben Mo's voice cracked, trying to hold back invisible tears which he was unable to shed.