Chapter 20: Melancholy

"Oh, you can't blame me for that! This forest is so vast, with no map or coordinates. I got lost all night, and it was a struggle to find this place. And now you're mad at me!" Emily pretended to be angry.

Sure enough, Sophia turned her head, her mood instantly brightening. Then she looked at Emily with a hint of concern. "You shouldn't wander around in this forest. It's filled with all kinds of monsters. You have to be careful!" She disappeared into the tree for a moment and reappeared holding a small and delicate wooden stick, reminding Emily of a mini magic wand.

Sophia handed the small wooden stick to Emily and said, "Next time you come, this will guide you here."

Emily didn't hesitate and accepted it, tucking it into her pocket, allowing a portion to stick out. She glanced at the wolf's den, noticing the overwhelming stench that indicated the presence of wolves.

"There are jackals and wolves here," Emily pointed to the den.

To her surprise, Sophia blushed and muttered, "I... I... I need fertilizer..."

Emily burst into laughter. Of course, Sophia was a tree, and trees naturally needed nutrients. It's just that raising a pack of wolves for that purpose was quite smelly.

"Don't laugh!" Sophia stomped her foot. "In this forest, my kind keeps a den of wolves. Each type of tree requires different types of fertilizer. Some need animal carcasses, others need manure, and some simply consume any living creature that passes by."

Emily nodded, thinking it was similar to a carnivorous plant. She looked up at "Sophia," the tree with its dense foliage. From below, she couldn't see the top, but the branches were thick. However, she didn't know the specific species—it resembled a type of fir tree.

"And these wolves are very obedient," Sophia said, winking at Emily. Then she let out a howl towards the wolf den, a howl that sounded exactly like a wolf. Soon, the wolf king emerged and lowered its head in front of Sophia, allowing her to touch its head. "They are my only playmates."

Emily stared in astonishment. It was the first time she had seen wolves behave so obediently, almost like dogs. She finally understood that the world was full of wonders. Remembering the day she killed a wolf and turned it into barbecue, Sophia must have been saddened. A slight trace of guilt surged within Emily, albeit fleetingly. But it quickly vanished because in this world, it was a matter of survival of the fittest. If she didn't kill, she would be the one to die.

"Come over and touch it too. They are actually quite friendly," Sophia called out to Emily.

Emily hesitated for a moment and approached. The fur on the wolf king's body bristled, and its facial expression turned fierce as it let out a low growl.

"It's afraid of you," Sophia looked up at Emily and smiled.

Emily wryly smiled. Even wolves were afraid of her. Did that mean she had truly become a devil?

Sophia howled at the wolf king for a while longer until its emotions settled. Only then did Emily dare to approach and touch its head. The wolf king seemed to enjoy it, and before long, it lay down at Emily's feet, acting like an affectionate dog.

"I named it Hu Zi!" Sophia's eyes gleamed.

Emily burst into laughter. Hu Zi, such a name. Sophia truly treated it like a pet. If the rest of her wolf pack knew that their king had such an adorable name, they might die laughing.

"Why do you call yourself Sophia?" Emily asked, tilting her head. The name was ancient and poetic, piquing her curiosity.

"Many years ago, before I took human form, it must have been at least a thousand years ago, there was a couple who bid farewell by my side. The girl's name was Sophia," Sophia's gaze became distant, as if lost in memories. "I could tell from their expressions that they were in love, but I didn't understand why they had to part ways. Eventually, the boy left, and the girl hung herself on my branches."

"What happened next?" Emily looked at Sophia's expression, knowing there must be more to the story. The bunned face seemed to evoke a sense of sorrow.

"Afterwards, the girl's body was carried away by her family. Not long after, I think the boy found out, so Charlotte came to my side and played the flute, yearning for the girl," Sophia continued, her sparkling eyes shimmering with tears.

Emily nodded knowingly and continued Sophia's words, "You liked that boy, didn't you?"

Sophia blushed instantly, shyly hitting Emily a few times. Then she spoke with a hint of melancholy, "Big sister Emily, do you think he will be reincarnated?"

Emily, who had intended to immerse herself in Sophia's sorrowful memories, lost all traces of emotions upon hearing this question. She promptly tapped Sophia on the head and said firmly, "First, how would I know something that even an ancient fairy like you doesn't know? Second, my name is Emily! Not 'big sister' or 'devil.' Well, let's just say I'll endure a little disadvantage and let you call me Sister Emily."

Sophia pouted with her bunned face, not because Emily had tapped her head, but because Emily didn't get into character, refusing to go along with her sadness.

Seeing Sophia's angry expression only made Emily want to laugh more. She held back her laughter and said, "Come on, let's go and see the sunrise above your head!"

Without waiting for Sophia's response, Emily leaped up the tree trunk, branch by branch. Sophia stomped her feet in frustration, but when she glanced up at the treetop, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of anticipation. She hid within the tree trunk and reappeared beside Emily.

The sky started with a pale light, then turned into a vibrant red, a completely different feeling from the evening glow. Emily stood on the treetop, gazing into the distance. The entire Miaoshan Mountain lay before her eyes, and not far away, a faint light flickered, alternating between brightness and dimness. It must be the light that had attracted Emily here that day.

Emily glanced at Sophia beside her, and the light was similar to the one she had encountered. It must be another kind of spirit, but perhaps it was fate that led this girl to drag her along.

Drag her along!

The phrase struck Emily's mind, and she suddenly looked at Sophia. "You little brat! You intentionally made me fall, didn't you?" Upon reflection, it was indeed strange. All the other trees were stable, but when she climbed the thickest tree, she ended up falling.

Sophia was taken aback for a moment but quickly put on a conciliatory smile. "Emily, I know you don't mind!"

"Damn it! I don't mind my ass! What if I got eaten by wolves, do you mind then?" Emily rubbed Sophia's face, as if she wanted to rub off a piece of tree bark.

"Emily... Sister..." Sophia's words were muffled by Emily's grasp, her mouth unclear. "I wouldn't really let Tiger and the others harm you. You've killed Ghosthead, so don't be angry anymore!"

Emily released her grip on Sophia, remembering the roasted wolf she called Ghosthead. Regardless of its name, it couldn't come back to life now.

The sun had fully risen, and the air in the forest was damp yet refreshing. But Emily had to leave. "Little bun, I have to go back. I'll come to see you another day."

Emily leaped down, and Sophia appeared on the ground again, looking at Emily eagerly. "When will you come back?" Her eyes were filled with anticipation.

Emily pinched her face. "Whenever I have time. I can't have Charlotte coming out, and I still have to live a normal human life."

Sophia's eyes were watery, but she had to nod reluctantly, watching Emily leave with a sense of longing.

Back at school, the dormitory door was already open. The dormitory manager, a middle-aged lady, caught sight of Emily returning from outside and gave her a discreet glare. She couldn't help but sigh in relief that her own daughter wasn't pretty. Good-looking girls like Emily were prone to trouble!

Emily clearly noticed the disdainful gaze from the dormitory manager but paid it no mind. She turned and went upstairs. Opening the dormitory door quietly, she saw that all three of her roommates were still asleep. She had left them stranded in the pool hall last night and ran off on her own. Explaining her absence now would be a hassle. That damn Benjamin, he always showed up at the wrong times and bothered her when he shouldn't!

Emily lay on her bed. Despite not having slept all night, she felt no trace of sleepiness. That mysterious man, he seemed powerful and definitely not someone to be trifled with, despite his constant smile. Just looking at how he trapped Alexander in his created environment, she knew he was no ordinary person.

But who exactly was he, capable of creating illusions? Boris probably couldn't do that. If he could, he wouldn't need to feed the ten vampires to test himself and sacrifice the power of Lysenba.

And then there was Alexander, who should now be torn to pieces.

Emily had no affection for Alexander. Whether he became a pile of debris or not, she didn't care. But if his death provoked the anger of the Lysenba clan, it would be a bit of a loss for her.

Emily suddenly sat up in bed. She had left with Alexander, and the Lysenba clan could easily find out about that with a little investigation. If she ended up alive while Alexander died, given Boris's usual fondness for her, she understood it was because she had some value to him. Alexander, on the other hand, was the true prince. As a half-breed who suddenly emerged, she couldn't compare to Alexander's nobility. If Alexander really died, it would undoubtedly implicate her in the eyes of the Lysenba clan!

The more Emily thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. She quietly left the dormitory and called Benjamin, but she made a dozen calls in a row without anyone answering. Emily sensed that the situation was not good.