The moment Xue leapt into the air and the ground vanished beneath them. A rush of wind swept past, cool and sharp, tugging at Ziqian's hair as the world opened wide around them.
Ziqian gasped, instinctively tightening his grip on Xue's fur—not out of fear, but pure admiration.
The plains stretched endlessly below them, painted in shifting hues of red and green beneath the setting sun. In the distance, a boundless mountain range could be seen, and on the other side, a blue shimmered faintly—perhaps it is the sea. Clouds drifted close enough to touch, soft and luminous.
"It's… incredible," he breathed, his voice carried by the wind.
Xue didn't answer. He just angled his wings, gliding effortlessly in the sky, the air around them rippling in smooth waves.
For Xue, the flight felt different this time. He had flown countless times before, but never like this, never with someone pressed close to him, warm and trusting. The weight on his back was light, yet it settled heavily on his chest in ways he couldn't explain.
Ever since meeting Ziqian, Xue's beliefs and principles had changed again and again.
Before, his only goal was the prosperity of the tribe—for the good of everyone. He had always lived for the tribe, every decision made for their survival and peace.
But now, that same goal had narrowed into something more personal. He still wanted the tribe to prosper… but this time, it was for the sake of the sub-beast resting on his back.
"Xue!" Ziqian called over the wind, laughter bright in his voice. "Promise me we'll do this again!"
"Yes," Xue answered softly. He glanced back just enough to catch a glimpse of Ziqian's smile, bright as sunlight against the endless sky.
Yes, he thought silently this time, as his wings carried them forward through the open air. As many times as you want.
Behind them, fifteen men in their winged beast forms followed in silence, quietly witnessing the exchange between the two.
Some of the men exchanged knowing glances mid-flight, faint amusement flickering in their eyes. Others simply smiled to themselves.
Tul, one of Gio's husbands, found himself thinking about what Gio had said before. His wife had never stopped mocking and belittling the new sub-beast, accusing him of trying to seduce every beast in the tribe.
Tul knew his wife's nature all too well. That was why he couldn't fully believe his words without seeing the sub-beast personally. Even then they could only listen in silence whenever his tirade began.
Now, watching their young patriarch with the new sub-beast, Tul finally understood—Gio was angry out of jealousy. It was no secret to everyone that Gio harbored feelings for Xue. All her accusations had been lies born from envy. Ziqian was nothing like he had claimed. He was simply different, making him stand out from the rest.
Tul wearily sighed.
~
Even with the wind rushing past him, Ziqian couldn't stop looking around, completely entranced by the mesmerizing view beneath them. Of course, he didn't forget to guide Xue toward the direction of the hunting group, but most of his attention was lost to the vast beauty.
I've never ridden an airplane before, he thought with a soft laugh. I never imagined I'd still get to experience flying in the sky after transmigrating to this world.
"This is way better than an airplane, Ah-Zi!" Ero said cheerfully. "No window is blocking your view. It's just open air and a perfect, three-hundred-and-sixty-degree look at this beautiful, unpolluted scenery!"
"And it's free!" Phi chimed in, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "You don't even need a ticket. Just ask Xue or Huo—they'll be more than happy to fly you wherever you want!"
At the mention of Huo's name, Ziqian's expression changed instantly. His smile faded, replaced by worry.
Can you tell what Huo's condition is right now? he asked.
The two guardians' fur dimmed faintly as they shook their small, furry, round bodies in unison.
Like Ziqian, they were worried about Nia. None of them knew what kind of punishment awaited their friend, and the uncertainty weighed heavily on their hearts.
"We can only track Nia's location because he used his power," Ero explained. "But we have no way of knowing their current situation."
"Why don't you use the recall button, Ah-Zi?" Phi suggested brightly. "You can call Nia back and ask him directly!"
Ziqian's eyes lit up as he remembered the small heart-shaped icon on the blue interface. Can Nia return to Huo's side afterward? he asked eagerly.
"No..." Phi whispered, his voice soft and low. All of the guardians can only teleport back and forth within a 100-meter radius, with the ward as the center. The heart button is used to recall guardians that are out of range, but they can't teleport back to the place they had been after being called back.
Ziqian exhaled softly.
I think it is better if Nia stays beside Huo for now. I will feel more at ease knowing that Nia's there to protect him. All I can do is pray that the medicine Lia gave will be enough to save Huo's life. He thought, clutching tightly the pouch.
"Ah!" Phi suddenly exclaimed.
Ziqian looked up, startled. What's wrong?
"Ah-Zi! Check the interface!" Phi replied, his round body quivering with excitement. "After completing your side quest, you've earned enough points to open the shop!"
The shop? Ziqian asked in confusion but was already swiping the interface open in a hurry.
Ero, realizing what Phi meant, began bouncing in the air. "Yes, yes! The Guardian's Shop is truly exceptional, Ah-Zi! It contains items from every universe! As long as you have enough points, you can get anything you want!"
"Of course, there are some restrictions," Ero added, his tone suddenly more serious.
Ziqian blinked, glancing back at the interface. The once-greyed shop icon is now glowing, blinking like a heartbeat.
What kind of restrictions? He asked, curiosity edging into caution.
"Let's say we're now in a primitive world, but you decide to buy a bazooka from the modern era or maybe a laser beam from an interstellar civilization. You can still buy it, but once the gods or the realm's protective laws detect it, its power might even be reduced, and the item will be disintegrated after using it once," Ero explained, his round body bouncing as he spoke.
Ziqian stared at him. Who would spend points on bazookas and lasers that can only be used once?
Phi tilted his round body thoughtfully. "Collectors?"
Ero floated beside him, his red fur puffed up in indignation. "Show some respect, Ah-Zi! Some people buy bazookas and lasers just because they're cool!"
Ziqian sighed, half exasperated and half amused. Remind me not to shop while you two are around.
He then pressed the shop icon.
He blinked as the interface expanded before him, a shimmering window of light unfurling in the air. Lines of symbols and images began to form, rearranging themselves into neat, glowing grids.
For a moment, Ziqian could only stare. This… He was speechless.
The entire setup looked like the online shopping platforms he used back on Earth. It had everything—categories, item thumbnails, even a search bar at the top. There were also flashing banners advertising limited-time sales and bundle promotions that looked suspiciously familiar.
"Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath. I travel to another world and still can't escape online shopping.
Ziqian scrolled through the shop, his eyes darting over the endless stream of items. No matter how long he scrolled, the list never seemed to end.
Ero had said the shop contained items from every universe, and each one had countless worlds and civilizations. That meant the number of items available was practically infinite.
Each item showed only a name at first, but when Ziqian tapped on one, a detailed window appeared. It displayed the item's origin planet, its functions, and, of course, its price.
Above the list was a search bar where he could type the name of a specific item. Next to it is a filter bar that allowed him to narrow things down by category—or even by price range, which, in his current state, was very necessary.
He sighed as he looked to the upper right corner of the screen, where his remaining points were displayed.
[Points: 370]
Ziqian had been proud of himself for earning over a hundred points with just a few quests. He already imagined filling his inventory with all sorts of useful items. But one look at the shop's price tags shattered that illusion, and his initial excitement turned to disappointment.
"Ah-Zi, don't look too much at those items," Ero said quickly, sensing Ziqian's dampened mood. "Most of the ones at the top come from the highest realms. The shop is used by the Gods too, after all. Naturally, the best stuff gets shown first."
Ziqian blinked. The Gods?
He couldn't help but feel incredulous. The image of divine beings browsing an online platform felt absurd.
Tch. Even the gods couldn't resist becoming slaves to the convenience of online shopping.