Chapter 84
At the sound of the voice, Nina turned her head—and found herself facing two more breathtakingly handsome males.
One had silver hair and wore flowing silver garments. His features were refined and luminous, his eyes bright as stars beneath a calm sky. A gentle, warm aura surrounded him, like jade polished smooth by time—exquisite, yet without sharp edges.
The other had striking red hair, brows dark and perfectly shaped, phoenix-like eyes brimming with emotion. His skin was pale and lustrous like fine jade, and the slight upward tilt at the corners of his eyes lent him a captivating allure. His gaze shimmered like spring water under sunlight, and his crimson lips were full and inviting. Dressed in red, he radiated a natural, devastating charm.
Nina’s brows drew together slightly. “And who are you p>
“We p>
Finch was about to reveal their identities when Kith stopped him with a subtle shake of his head.
“We’re just passing through,” Kith said gently. “We wanted to help p>
As he looked at Nina’s battered figure, a strange ache stirred in his chest. The words he had originally intended to say suddenly felt impossible to speak.
Not yet, he told himself. Wait a little longer.
Yinny and Didi looked at Kith and Finch with faint recognition flickering in their eyes. They exchanged a glance.
Didi: Brother… those two look like our lousy fathers.
Yinny: Mm. Mama doesn’t want them. Then neither do we.
They nodded silently and burrowed deeper into Nina’s arms, ignoring the two males entirely.
Nina frowned slightly. “Why should I go with you p>
Wouldn’t it be faster to go with the ones who had wings?
Kith opened his mouth, then hesitated.
Yes… why would she go with them?
He didn’t even know why he had blurted that out.
Finch was confused. What was Kith doing? Not revealing their identities, yet asking her to come with them?
Nina no longer paid them any attention. Her thoughts were already with Sal and the others. She didn’t know how they were faring.
Worry tugged at her heart.
Turning to Odian, she asked, “Could you take me to find my friends p>
She didn’t know these phoenixes either—but that was still better than walking back alone. They didn’t look like bad people, and she had no better option.
“Of course,” Odian replied immediately. “You guide me p>
Nina nodded and stood up, intending to collect the mutated beast’s corpse to sell to the system.
But Odian spoke first.
“Little female, may I purchase this mutated beast from you p>
He had sensed a strong trace of dark witchcraft lingering within the corpse and wanted to take it back for research.
Nina hesitated.
He wanted to buy it?
She had scanned it earlier—it was worth five million in the system!
Well… she could at least hear his offer. If it was too low, she wouldn’t sell.
“How much beast crystal are you offering p>
Odian calmly withdrew a yellow crystal from his storage space and handed it to her.
“Is this enough p>
Nina’s eyes lit up instantly.
Jackpot!
“That’s more than enough,” she said quickly, then gestured at the other mutated beasts. “Do you want those too p>
Odian arched a brow slightly. “All of them p>
He handed her another yellow crystal.
Nina accepted it happily, her eyes curving into crescents with delight.
What a generous beast world tycoon!
At least something good had happened today.
Seeing her smile so brightly, Odian’s lips curved faintly as well.
Behind him, Ridan and the others stared in disbelief.
Did their High Priest just… smile?
The legendary ice-cold High Priest had smiled?
They rubbed their eyes to make sure they weren’t hallucinating.
And he was being so generous to this little female! They had worked under him for years and had never earned that much.
Odian instructed Ridan to store the mutated beasts.
“Let’s go,” he said softly.
“Alright p>
Nina gathered Yinny, Didi, and the remaining eggs into her arms, holding them carefully against her chest.
“You’re injured,” Odian said gently. “Shall we carry the cubs for you p>
She shook her head.
He offered her the merfolk silk cloak again. “Then at least wear this to keep the rain off p>
“Thank you, but I have something for that,” Nina replied politely.
It was far too valuable—what if she damaged it?
She pulled out her raincoat and draped it over herself and the cubs.
Odian examined the transparent material with mild curiosity but didn’t question it. It appeared waterproof indeed.
When she finished adjusting it, Ridan stepped forward to carry her—but Odian moved first, wrapping a steady arm around Nina’s slender waist.
“For flight, it’s safer if you hold onto me,” he said, his ears tinged faintly red.
Nina blinked in surprise.
She had assumed they would carry her like baggage, as other guards once had.
Blushing slightly, she wrapped an arm around his waist. “Okay p>
Odian unfurled his magnificent wings and lifted them swiftly into the sky.
It was Yinny and Didi’s first time flying. They peered out eagerly through the clear raincoat, eyes wide with wonder.
Ridan and the others were stunned.
Their High Priest had voluntarily embraced a female?
He usually disliked even accidental contact!
And he wasn’t bothered by the blood staining her body—wasn’t he someone who disliked even a speck of dust?
Was this really their High Priest?
Snapping out of their shock, they spread their wings and followed.
Below, Kith watched Nina fly away with Odian, a flicker of disappointment passing through his gaze. He transformed into a massive white tiger and ran beneath them, with Finch following close behind.
After Nina had been carried away by the mutated beast, Sal and the others had fought like madmen.
Yanai had successfully used the immobilization talismans to kill two ninth-tier mutated beasts, though he himself was gravely injured.
Ignoring his wounds, he managed to immobilize a third beast. With only one left blocking him, he broke through the encirclement and sprinted toward the direction Nina had been taken.
Sal carved a bloody path through the horde and chased after her as well.
Ghost Wolf and the others followed close behind.
But the sudden downpour washed away all traces of Nina and the beasts.
After running for a long time, they lost the trail entirely.
They could only rely on instinct and split up.
The mutated beasts had never intended to pursue Sal’s group for long. After a short chase, they dispersed elsewhere.
The rain drenched them completely.
Sal and Yanai stood in the pouring storm, staring into the hazy, unknown distance, anxiety clawing at their hearts.
Nina… where are you?
“Split up and search,” Sal said hoarsely.
Yanai nodded and sprinted off in one direction.
Sal assigned directions to Ghost Wolf and the others, then ran toward another path himself.
Meanwhile, Nina and Odian had returned to the place where the battle had begun.