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 the Frost Sword horizontally, deflecting another slash from Zi Yuan.
Zi Yuan appeared fierce. Her slash blocked, she unhesitatingly raised her saber again, and began to hack down continuously.
Clang, clang, clang!
The crisp sound of metal clashing echoed repeatedly, but all were blocked by Bai Ye. 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 here," Bai Ye said. "It's just a couple of extra glances. You can't even button your clothes properly, and you blame me for looking?"
"Shut up, shut up, shut up..."
Zi Yuan was furious, her saber movements becoming even faster. However, perhaps due to her rage, she lost her reason, and her saber swings became more erratic.
"If reasoning doesn't work, then don't blame me!" Bai Ye sighed. "Phoenix Flame!"
Bai Ye suddenly raised the Frost Sword and swung it.
Accompanied by a gust of sword wind, flames ignited on the Frost Sword's blade. It struck Zi Yuan's broad saber, forcing her back.
And 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 forward, 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 towards Zi Yuan.
Boom!
The Shadow Ball landed in front of Zi Yuan, followed by a thunderous explosion.
The ground was pulverized again, and waves of energy spread outwards, once more flinging Zi Yuan away. She slid several meters in the air before falling to the ground.
Bai Ye walked forward, then suddenly felt something was wrong. He spun around abruptly.
Under the sunlight, Bai Ye saw something flash, and then...
Screech!
Extremely thin threads appeared in the air, entwining around the Frost Sword and making a screeching sound as they rubbed against it.
"Cang Ying, stop!"
A tender voice suddenly rang out. Immediately, a figure flew from a treetop and landed in front of Bai Ye.
Dark-colored robes, bronzed skin, and a white horn on its forehead.
Without needing to scan, Bai Ye knew the newcomer was likely allied with Zi Yuan, belonging to the Oni race.
Then...
Another shadow fell from the sky. This time, it wasn't humanoid but a ball, like jelly, which bounced twice. Seen from the front, one could discern eyes and a mouth.
"What is this..." Bai Ye said. "A slime?"
Zi Yuan knelt on one knee, looking apologetic. "Lord Rimuru, I'm sorry for embarrassing you."
The slime bounced twice on the ground, then exploded in a cloud of white smoke. Soon, a young man emerged from the smoke, wearing a dark blue trench coat, a white scarf, and long, waist-length light blue hair. A short sword hung from his back.
The previous slime?
Bai Ye hesitated, then whispered, "Scan."
Rimuru Tempest (Slime) (Healthy) (Evolving): A slime with the aura of a Demon Lord. King of the monsters in the Jura Great Forest.
Strength: 218
Speed: ??
Stamina: 322
Spirit: 258
Intelligence: ??
Weakness Detection: ??
Items Held: ??
Magic: Elemental Magic
Abilities: ??
Resistances: Pain Nullification, Electric Resistance, Corrosion Resistance, 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 the heck was he going to fight?
If they actually fought, there would be no chance of survival. He would definitely be asking for a beating.
Bai Ye felt he had acted impulsively. This area seemed too dangerous to explore carelessly, as it contained such formidable individuals.
However, as Bai Ye considered slipping away, Rimuru showed no intention of attacking. Instead, he spoke, "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. This meant he might not have to get beaten up.
Bai Ye spread his palms. "I think my appearance speaks for itself."
Zi Yuan gritted her teeth. "Lord Rimuru, he's a hooligan. He, he, he, look at me..."
As Zi Yuan spoke, she crossed her arms in front of her chest, and with that slight lift...
It became bigger!
Bai Ye licked his lips and swallowed. Strangely, he heard a similar sound of swallowing from the other side.
Bai Ye glanced at Rimuru and noticed his cheeks were flushed red.
Good heavens, he was a kindred spirit!
Rimuru seemed to notice Bai Ye looking at him and quickly coughed. "Zi Yuan, his strength is above yours, but you are still alive. This indicates he has no malicious intent."
"Impressive!"
Bai Ye gave Rimuru a thumbs-up, then released Goodra. In the next second, Bai Ye was instantly hugged by Goodra, his whole body becoming drenched.
Gengar, standing by, not to be outdone, grinned and bit down on half of Bai Ye's head, beginning to spit saliva at him.
Bai Ye felt like crying. While these two familiars were useful, their hobbies were a bit perverted – making their summoner wet!
Bai Ye helplessly wiped the slime from his face and said, "See, if I wanted to kill her, I really could."
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. To introduce myself, I am the ruler of the Tempest Kingdom, though humans likely prefer to call us a monster kingdom. I am what you would call the Lord of Monsters, Rimuru Tempest. May I know your name, sir?"
"Bai Ye..." Bai Ye thought for a moment, then added his race. "Human!"
Rimuru said, "While humans occasionally enter the Jura Great Forest, very few come alone. May I ask your purpose here?"
"You might not believe me if I told you," Bai Ye said, spreading his hands helplessly. "I'm just passing through. I have no intentions whatsoever, but that lady misunderstood me, thinking I had ill intentions."