48 I cannot live in cities anymore

Chang Xiuying arrived in front of the shack in the Cold Plains. There was the white tiger she met earlier, resting in front of the infrastructure. When she approached closer, the tiger purred as if it was welcoming her home.

Suddenly, lots of monsters arrived in their vicinity and were asking for her attention. She could only stare at them with wide eyes.

"Alright… alright, line yourself!" She said and the monsters immediately lined themselves according to their strength.

She patted their heads one by one.

She suddenly felt regret for killing those Primordial monsters.

However… there was something bothering her… why was there an influx of Primordial monsters in the Cold Plains? Was it because of her other body? That person with the Blanche was attacked when they were in this exact location. There weren't any signs of violence in front or on the glacier.

In her hypothesis, those monsters are only protecting her other body. It might be the truth since those monsters were flocking her.

When she finished, they lined themselves again and waited for their turn.

Chang Xiuying deadpanned, "No more pats."

Then they whimpered.

She approached the white tiger, who didn't join the fray, then said, "I'm going now. I'll be sure to come back here."

It growled softly then returned sleeping.

Chang Xiuying smiled then rubbed its head.

She contacted Flora through her mind, "Flora, are they gone?"

"Ah, Master. They're still here. Do you want to come here personally? I think they'll leave tomorrow morning."

"I don't think I could join them… I might be even scary to you."

"Eh? What are you saying, Master? Where are you now? I'll go there."

"I'll just meet you on the main road."

"Understood," then it ended.

Chang Xiuying sighed then went to the main road. People were passing by when they felt an ominous aura. They reflexively looked at the source, which was Chang Xiuying, as they readied their weapons. Some ran and called the knights.

"Ah..."

How could she forget?! She immediately ran to the forest to hide. However, she was being chased.

"A demon is here!"

"Kill that demon!"

"Where did it go?!"

"There! You see that bunch of adventurers at the front? They are chasing that demon."

"We lost it!"

"What?!"

"Where did that demon go?!"

"Just alert all the people that there is a demon on the loose!"

Flora, who was wearing a rather… seductive attire, was confused as she saw how chaotic the main road had become. Even her stunning beauty was ignored.

"Excuse me, what's happening?"

"Ah! Miss Flora! If you're going down this road, you better not. There was a demon lingering in Avira."

"But… Master is..."

"Xiuying? She's in the forest?!"

She avoided those adventurers and arrived at the junction of the snow and forest grass.

"Master! It's me! Flora! Where are you?!" She screamed her heart out.

"Master!" She yelled once again.

"I'm here," a small voice, rather, a whisper responded. But Flora heard it and could even determine where it was. She jumped and then met eye to eye with Chang Xiuying on a branch of a big tree.

"Master… are you okay?"

"You're… you're not scared?"

"Why would I be scared of you? You're our beloved master. The one who saved us."

"Look into my eyes."

And Flora did just as told. However, instead of being scared, she was mesmerised with the new color of her eyes. It was intimidating, but beautiful.

"It's… beautiful..."

"..."

"I… suddenly have the urge to kiss your eyes..."

"..."

"I'm not asking for permission," then she kissed Chang Xiuying's eyelids one by one. Her soft lips grazed her skin and she thought, 'Girls aren't that bad...'

No, no, no. Everything is bad!

"Come now, Master. Let's go back."

"But Flora, the people..."

"They'll understand. They know you and you know them. They'll accept you."

"... if you say so..."

Flora jumped down and glanced up at Chang Xiuying. She reached out her hands as if inviting the other to go to her; and that was what Chang Xiuying did. She jumped down beside her and took her hands.

When they were out of Avira, they were met with glares from the people. However, their eyes traced on their joined hands.

"Flora?! What are you doing?!"

"This is our master! Look at her! She's the one who established ChangHao firm and restaurant! She has been living in Avarice for two years."

"Look at her eyes! She's a demon! How can we let a demon live in our city?!"

"No! My master has been living peacefully in Avarice! She didn't put you all in danger and even provided food for the slums!"

"She's still a demon!"

"She never hurt you, right?! In the span when she was living here, she did not hurt anybody. She did not kill anybody!"

"You have been blinded! Get away from that cursed woman!"

"My master is not cursed! You ungrateful wench!"

"Flora," Chang Xiuying heavily called.

"Master! Why are you just standing there doing nothing?!"

"Flora!"

"..." Flora went silent.

"It's fine. I'll go now."

"But Master��� you're leaving us?"

"No… I don't know..."

"Ying!" Gaius suddenly appeared from the crowd.

"Even the prince? What kind of conspiracy is this..."

"Xiuying!" Aron appeared.

"Even the leader of the knights?!"

"Don't tell me you all are thinking of conspiring for the throne?"

"No! She's my friend," Gaius replied.

"..." But Aron was silent. Once he saw that Chang Xiuying's eyes were red, that resembled a demon, he turned around and disappeared in the crowd.

Chang Xiuying expected that.

However, upon closer look, Gaius was trembling under Chang Xiuying's gaze. But he never left nor attempted to.

"She provided for the slums, I heard," Gaius started. "She gave work to the people who had no work. She improved the conditions of the slum… and yet, this is what you're going to repay her for?"

Someone stepped out from the crowd. "I implore. Even if she did great things in Avarice for two years, her presence alone could put ordinary citizens under extreme threat. I know you know this, Prince Gaius."

"Ugh..."

"She needs to be out of the city in order to protect the citizens."

"I understand," Chang Xiuying said.

"But Master!"

"Flora… even if you are not affected, they could still feel the threat of my existence. I don't want the people to be scared out of their wits when they sleep."

"..."

"I cannot live in cities anymore, you know that. Even ordinary monsters are scared of me."

"Ordinary?" That person who represented the crowd asked.

"Ah. Primordial monsters are surprisingly pliant to me," she honestly said. After all, she needed to be honest in this time to prove her being trustworthy to the people.

The crowd looked at each other as if they couldn't feel the pressure emanating from Chang Xiuying.

"You are a demon!" Someone yelled.

"Banish! And never come back!"

"Don't come back! You'll get our family killed!"

They threw insults after insults as they watched Chang Xiuying walk into the forest of Avira.

Gaius glared at the crowd but they didn't pay mind.

"I'm sorry, your highness," the representative said with a glint in his eyes.

"It's fine," he said through gritted teeth then followed Chang Xiuying into the woods.

Flora did the same too, stomping her feet.

"Master!"

"Ying!"

They shouted.

"Yeah?" She suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Her face was calm as if the situation was within her expectations.

"Thank goodness..." Flora said as she hugged Chang Xiuying.

"What's wrong now?" Chang Xiuying asked.

"We were worried if you might be crying," Gaius said.

"Pfft… Master won't cry. I've never even seen her cry."

"That's quite rude, Flora."

"But it's true, Master! To be honest, I wanted to see you cry. Anyway… are you really okay?"

"I'm fine. Why?"

"You're… not even affected?" Gaius asked.

"I'm not. That was kind of a common denominator in my life."

"Denominator?"

"I'm used to it."

"Ah."

"Mhm."

"Master?"

"What?"

"I want to cook something for you."

"Is this your way of cheering me up?"

"Yes."

"Can I come too?" Gaius slightly raised his hand.

"Of course," Chang Xiuying immediately said, grinning as she looked at Flora's frowning face.

They arrived in front of the shack in the Cold Plains. The two were shivering as they rubbed their clothed arms vigorously. When they entered the shack, Chang Xiuying let out heat waves from her body and it provided enough warmth for the two people with her.

Then they enjoyed a delicious meal.

"By the way, Gaius," Chang Xiuying started.

"Yes?"

"Where's the others?"

"I let them go first. I had a bad feeling of reporting things to the academy, to be honest. I don't know what they'll do to you. So, I decided to come here and take the ores and I'll take care of the paperworks of your leave."

"Why are you doing so much for me?"

"You're my only friend. I want to protect you from them."

Chang Xiuying smiled then said, "I'll repay your kindness someday. I'll watch over you too, if you want to."

"Master?!"

"I accept."

"Eh?!"

"Deal, then."

"Wait… Master?!"