Bai Ye looked helpless. He was actually quite protective of women.
But if they didn't give him the chance to be protective, what could he do?
Clang!
Bai Ye held up his Frosty Sword horizontally, parrying another of Zi Yuan's slashes.
Zi Yuan appeared ferocious. Blocked by one strike, she unhesitatingly raised her sword again, slashing down continuously.
Clang, clang, clang!
The crisp sound of metal clashing rang out repeatedly, but Bai Ye blocked them all. Moreover, Bai Ye could clearly feel Zi Yuan's strength diminishing. She had likely gone from a healthy state to an injured one, affecting her physical attributes.
"Beauty, stop fighting!" Bai Ye said again, trying to persuade her. "You're no match for me!"
Zi Yuan gritted her teeth and retorted, "Shut up!"
"Damn it, I'm giving you good advice," Bai Ye said. "It's just two extra glances. You can't even button yourself up properly, and you're blaming me for looking?"
"Shut up, shut up, shut up..."
Zi Yuan was furious. Her sword dance became a bit faster. However, possibly due to anger, her slashes became even more erratic as she lost her composure.
"If talking doesn't work, don't blame me!" Bai Ye sighed. "Phoenix Flame!"
Bai Ye suddenly raised his Frosty Sword and swung it.
Accompanied by a gust of sword wind, flames ignited on the blade of the Frosty Sword. It struck Zi Yuan's broadsword, forcing her back.
Then...
Bai Ye took out Gengar's Beast Ball and threw it forward!
With a flash of white light, Gengar appeared from the Beast Ball, looking ferocious.
"Gengar!" Bai Ye commanded. "Shadow Ball!"
Receiving Bai Ye's order, Gengar immediately leaped up, tucking its short arms at its waist.
A black orb of light was quickly condensed by Gengar. Before Zi Yuan could recover, Gengar raised the Shadow Ball high and hurled it in Zi Yuan's direction.
Boom!
The Shadow Ball landed in front of Zi Yuan, followed by another deafening explosion.
The ground shattered again, and layers of air waves pushed outwards, sweeping Zi Yuan away once more. She slid three to four meters through the air before falling to the ground.
Bai Ye walked forward, then suddenly felt something was wrong and spun around.
Under the sunlight, Bai Ye saw something flash. Then...
Screech!
Extremely fine threads appeared in the air, entangling the Frosty Sword and rubbing against it, emitting a faint sound.
"Cang Ying, stop!"
A childlike voice suddenly rang out. Immediately after, a figure flew from the treetop and landed in front of Bai Ye.
Dark robes, bronze skin, and a white horn on its forehead.
Without needing to scan, Bai Ye knew this person was likely allied with Zi Yuan, a member of the Oni tribe.
Then...
Another shadow fell from the sky. This time, it wasn't humanoid but a ball, bouncing twice like jelly. Seen from the front, one could see eyes and a mouth.
"What is this..." Bai Ye asked. "A Slime?"
Zi Yuan knelt on one knee, apologizing sincerely, "Lord Rimuru, I apologize for embarrassing you."
The Slime bounced twice on the ground, then exploded in a burst of white smoke. Soon, a young boy emerged from the smoke, wearing a dark blue trench coat, a white scarf, waist-length light blue hair, and a short sword hanging from his back.
The Slime from before?
Bai Ye hesitated, then whispered, "Scan."
Rimuru Tempest (Slime) (Healthy) (Evolving): A Slime possessing the potential of a Demon Lord, King of Monsters in the Jura Tempest Forest.
Strength: 218
Speed: ??
Stamina: 322
Spirit: 258
Intelligence: ??
Weakness Detection: ??
Held Items: ??
Magic: Elemental Magic
Skills: ??
Resistances: Pain Nullification, Electric Resistance, Corrosion Nullification, Paralysis Resistance, Temperature Fluctuation Nullification.
Bai Ye gasped. Strength over two hundred, stamina over three hundred, and spirit over two hundred...
With these stats, Bai Ye wanted to turn and run.
What was the point of fighting!
Engaging would absolutely mean no chance of survival. He would be asking for a beating.
Bai Ye felt he had been impulsive. This area seemed not to be for casual exploration, as it contained such formidable beings.
However, as Bai Ye considered retreating, Rimuru seemed to have no intention of attacking. Instead, he asked, "Are you from the Human Empire?"
He could communicate?
More importantly, he was willing to communicate?
Bai Ye's eyes lit up. As long as they could communicate, it was manageable, meaning he might not have to get beaten.
Bai Ye spread his palms. "I think my appearance speaks for itself."
Zi Yuan gritted her teeth. "Lord Rimuru, he's a scoundrel! He, he, he... looked at me..."
As Zi Yuan spoke, she crossed her arms over her chest. The action of doing so...
Made them look even bigger!
Bai Ye licked his lips, swallowing hard. But what felt strange to Bai Ye was that he seemed to hear a gulping sound from the other side as well?
Bai Ye glanced at Rimuru and found his cheeks flushed.
Good heavens, so he was a kindred spirit!
Rimuru seemed to notice Bai Ye looking at him and quickly coughed. "Zi Yuan, his strength is superior to yours, but you are still alive. This means he harbors no ill will."
"Impressive!"
Bai Ye gave Rimuru a thumbs-up, then tossed out Goodra. The next second, Bai Ye was instantly embraced by Goodra, his entire body becoming drenched.
Gengar, standing nearby, was not to be outdone. It bared its large mouth and bit down on half of Bai Ye's head, starting to spit at him.
Bai Ye felt like crying. While both his spirit companions were useful, their hobbies were a bit perverse—making their trainer wet!
Bai Ye wearily wiped the slime off his face and said, "See? If I wanted to kill her, I really could have."
Let alone Bai Ye, Goodra's strength was already superior to Zi Yuan's. If Bai Ye had truly intended to kill her, Zi Yuan wouldn't have survived.
Rimuru nodded. "I understand. Let me introduce myself. I am the ruler of the Tempest Kingdom. However, humans probably prefer to call us a Monster Kingdom, and I am what you call the Lord of Monsters, Rimuru Tempest. May I know your name?"
"Bai Ye..." Bai Ye thought for a moment, then added his race. "Human!"
Rimuru said, "Although humans occasionally enter the Jura Tempest Forest, few come alone. May I know your purpose for being here?"
"You might not believe me if I told you," Bai Ye said, spreading his hands helplessly. "I'm just passing by. I have no intentions whatsoever, but that lady misunderstood me, probably thinking I was plotting something."