Released

"Do you want to know more about that tool you took? I could also show you more cool things outside, that is if you will let me go that is."

"Hmm.. Okay."

'Huh, That was easy. What happened to her caution about letting me go? It didn't even take a minute before she agreed.'

"On one condition, that I will always be with you, no matter what!"

'Oh I see, it would only makes sense that there would be some kind of condition for me to leave the forest.'

"How are you going to do that? Outsiders aren't allowed past the gates."

"Hehehe, I have another form I've yet to show you!" As she ends her sentence her current human form quickly shrinks down while changing into a small spider.

[Hey, extend out your hand out for me.]

The voice came from my head, but wasn't mine. It was Li Lian who probably used some kind of mental communication. Although I was a slight bit shocked, but I quickly recovered and complied sticking out my left hand.

After doing so a small brown fuzzy jumping spider hopped onto it. Her entire body size was bigger then the average jumping spider, but still not bigger than my thumb. I've never been a fan of spiders, but after looking at this adorable one in my hand my opinion might change.

[So, What do you think? Isn't this form perfect for coming along with you? I could just hide in your robes or its pockets when you need me to be concealed. I'll also make sure to hide my cultivation.]

"Yeah, it's perfect." Lifting up my other hand and raising a finger I gently stroke the the top of her little spider head.

[What are you-Mmm...Oh.. that was nice, but you can't just do that to me without any warnings.] Quickly hopping up my arm to to sit atop my left shoulder.

[This is the perfect spot for me! I'll oversee everything from here!] Turning my head over I could see her excitement from her little movements. Her front two legs acted like arms as she waved them around while raising her little head in the air.

"Should we go now?"

[Alright, make sure you take your sword.]

"Don't worry I will. Wait, where is it? Oh never mind I found it." Picking up the sword and once again strapping it to my side. I some how feel a little complete as the sword on my side is slightly swaying back and forth from my movement.

Exiting the cave I take a deep breath as I relish in my reacquired freedom or at least part of it. Taking the first few steps I realize there's still a good amount of time I need to spend walking over before coming back into contact with another person.

…

I finally exited the forest and started to the sect. Luckily, I still had the herbs required and it was one without a time limit so I should be fine.

I was getting close to the sect, but before I could reach the gate I saw a figure rapidly approach me from my side. Turning my head over for a closer look, I hadn't had the chance as when I did so the figure tackled me to the ground. I could feel a pair of arms wrapping around me as a familiar feminine voice was heard.

"Where have you been!? I was so worried about you!"

Looking down at the owner of the voice who was on my chest a pair of gleaming green eyes were staring back at me. It was of course Yao Ya.. wait how did she know I was even missing?

"Could you get off of me?"

"No! You're going to tell me what you've been doing the last three days and maybe I'll consider it."

'I can't tell her that I was forced into a friendship or was basically a captive for a spider lady in the woods. Besides she was currently hiding somewhere on my body.'

"I was just um.. training, that's all."

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me "Hmm.. then why did you leave when you could of just done it in your room?"

"How did you even know I left my room?"

She seemed slightly flustered when I brought up that question as her cheeks gained a tinge or redness to it "That.. um.. well I just so happened to check up on you that day.. and noticed that you were missing from your room. Let's go back to the sect together, you can tell me what happened while you were in the forest!"

Pushing herself up off my chest she extended her hand out to help me. I took the hand and once I was back on my feet she grabbed ahold of my right arm and hugged it like she had found some kind of precious lost item before starting our walk.

[Who is this female? Do you know her? What is her relationship with you? Why is she so friendly with you? Why is she touching you so much? Hey answer me! If you don't I'll-]

"𝘐 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸." whispering into my left shoulder which seemed to anger her a bit into giving me a little bite. It caused me to wince a little but that was all.

"Did you just say something?"

"Oh, it was nothing, don't worry about it!"

"Okay, so tell me about your journey in the forest. Did anything exciting happen?"

"Well nothing in particular happened. All I did was kill a few beasts of the forest that's all. Then I came back here after I couldn't find anything to fight."

"How far in did you go?"

"I went in pretty far, but didn't seem to find anything of note so don't worry about it."

…

"Thank you for taking me back, but I should go back to my room now see you later."

"Let me walk you there."

"I'll be fine on my own, thank you."

"I'm going to walk you back."

"Huh, uh okay."

While walking back towards my room I felt stares for some reason. Looking around I saw a few small groups looking at me with what seem to be negative emotions like hate, jealousy, and envy.

'Wait.. is it because I'm with Yao Ya? No, no, no, no, no, no I'm not ready yet! I haven't even reached the part where the protagonist of these stories get sudden strength, I can't deal with this yet!'

Quickening my pace to reach my residence. Turning around to say my goodbyes to Yao Ya, she instead speaks before I could get a word in.

"Do you mind if I come inside? I'm a little tired from our walk and would like to rest."

"What about my roommate?"

"What do you mean roommate. He's never shown up at the house and you've never even seen him before."

"How do you know this?"

"I uh.. just heard about it from somewhere."

"Well I suppose if you're really tired you can come in for a small break."

Jumping at the chance she immediately responds "Yeah, I'm really tired let me go sleep on your bed for a bit."

"Why my bed?"

"Because its comfortable."

Leading her to my room she instantly jumped onto my bed, seeming to relish in it's... smell? Nah it can't be, she probably must be really tired from all that walking that just being on my bed can create so much comfort for her.

Laying down next to her it seems she really fell asleep. Closing my eyes I really wanted to fall asleep like she did after had happened. Hopefully tomorrow she will start to help me advance and reach the second stage. Opening my eyes once more I felt a sudden wave of drowsiness and closed my eyes once more, this time my conscious was actually drifting as I started falling asleep, forgetting about any stresses the day had brought me for the time being.