Chapter 36 - The Story by the Pool

Editor: Atlas StudiosMorning.

Sitting cross-legged on the wooden bed, Richard opened his eyes, stretched his body, and walked out of the old castle.

Outside, a gentle breeze blew across the clearing, carrying a chill that refreshed Richard’s spirit.

The eastern sun was slowly rising, its rays shining upon the earth. Richard turned around, heading towards the back of the hill to survey the surroundings. After all, he might have to stay here for a significant period, so it was best to understand the area better.

Moreover, if he found a water source at this time, he might also encounter some early-rising wildlife coming to drink, possibly securing food for the day.

Thinking so, Richard descended the hill. After walking only a few hundred meters, he spotted a small stream meandering from afar, forming a pool about a dozen meters wide in a nearby low-lying area. It was an excellent water source.

At the moment, two black shadows were drinking there.

Taking a few steps forward, Richard squinted and saw that the two black shadows were a spotted leopard and a robust black bear.

Both beasts were clearly at the top of the food chain in this vast forest and considered each other as prey. Thus, they drank while cautiously eyeing each other, remaining very alert. However, it seemed that both intended to leave after drinking, avoiding a fight.

Richard’s eyes flickered, and he hesitated slightly, wondering whether to make a move.

With the help of his spells, he could definitely handle the two beasts’ attacks. However, breaking their defenses and seriously injuring them would be difficult. This was mainly because the spells he currently mastered lacked attack power, and he didn’t have any weapons with him.

Among his belongings in the castle, there were a set of dissection knives, some capable of directly dissecting the two beasts, but returning to fetch them might mean the beasts would be long gone by the time he returned.

So…

Richard pondered when suddenly he noticed the two beasts simultaneously lowering their bodies, a low growl emanating from their throats, a warning before an attack.

“Hmm? About to fight?” Richard wondered slightly. Just a moment ago, they were fine, so why did the two beasts suddenly want to fight?

Then Richard realized he might have misunderstood because the two beasts weren’t facing each other but rather him… behind him.

Hmm?

Richard was slightly shocked, ready to turn around when he felt a strong breeze pass by. A small purple figure dashed out at incredible speed. It leaped up near the pool, covering seven or eight meters, and landed heavily like a cannonball.

With a “boom,” the ground shook, and waves splashed from the pool.

The two beasts by the pool, like mice seeing a cat, tucked their tails and turned to flee in opposite directions, displaying some wisdom.

The petite purple figure watched briefly before decisively chasing after the fastest leopard, disappearing into the forest in the blink of an eye.

Richard’s eyes glinted as he was about to follow, but shortly, the leopard emerged from the forest at even greater speed, with the small purple figure riding on its back.

“Swish, swish, swish…”

Dust flew as the leopard galloped on all fours, carrying its pursuer and heading toward the direction where the black bear escaped. It seemed that within a short time, to save its life, it had already defected to the other side.

“This…”

Richard watched with twinkling eyes as the leopard disappeared into the forest again.

This time it took a little longer.

About a few minutes later, accompanied by the sound of footsteps “da da da,” Pandora walked out of the forest. The exhausted leopard followed her, panting as if taking three breaths for every step, and behind it was a black bear with a bruised body, as if trampled by a dragon.

At this point, the two beasts were utterly obedient, following Pandora to the pool’s edge, eagerly eyeing the water. After the wild run, whatever water they drank was long gone, leaving their throats parched, and the cool spring water was an enormous temptation. However, for them, they’d rather die than drink—because drinking could very well get them killed unless they got permission from the Little Demon beside them…

Ignoring what the two beasts were thinking, Pandora reached out a hand, grabbed the leopard by the neck, and dragged it to the pool, pressing its head towards the water. The leopard’s eyes lit up, initially startled by the sudden surprise, then unreservedly stretched out its pink tongue to lick the water surface.

Then…

“Bang,” a delicate yet powerful fist landed heavily on the leopard’s head, making the leopard feel as if the whole world was spinning. Only then did the leopard realize that what had just happened wasn’t meant for it to drink but was merely a test.

Barely understanding this, the leopard’s neck was grabbed again, its head pressed closer to the water. This time, no matter whether it risked being hit or not, it refrained from sticking out its tongue, keeping most of its head submerged, remaining still.

Pandora was satisfied, tossing the leopard aside and heading towards the black bear.

The black bear, weighing over 300 pounds and standing about 1.6 meters tall, was similar to an adult human in size. At that moment, the black bear stood straight as wood where it was. The 1.2-meter Pandora walked in front of it, trying several times without managing to grab its neck.

Becoming impatient, Pandora gave a barefoot kick, making the black bear immediately fall prone.

Expressionless, Pandora grabbed the black bear by the neck and dragged it toward the pool.

Successfully dragging the black bear to the pool, Pandora repeated the same action, pressing the black bear’s head towards the water.

Even though Pandora dragged it like a dead dog, the black bear felt it had lost all its dignity but didn’t lose its intellect. At least its head understood from watching what the leopard had just endured that drinking water meant getting hit, while refraining ensured safety. So, it stubbornly refused to open its mouth.

Then…

“Bang! Bang!” Two mighty, tender fists landed on the black bear’s head.

In an instant, the black bear was stunned.

It hadn’t drunk any water, so why was there still a beating?

Could it be…

The next moment, tentatively, the bear opened its mouth, sticking out its rough, red tongue, and noticed Pandora nodding in apparent approval.

Immediately, the black bear licked the water, its large eyes widening in disbelief.

How could this be…

“Bang!”

The next second, a spine-chilling sound halted the leopard’s thoughts, and a punch heavier than before mercilessly struck the black bear, toppling its massive body into the pool.

Pandora didn’t stop there. With two more “bangs,” the water surface erupted, and the black bear was utterly shattered before realizing what had just happened had merely been a test.

But this was unfair!

The leopard bowed its head, pretending as if it hadn’t seen anything.

After three punches, Pandora pointed to the side. Although the black bear felt wronged, it obediently climbed ashore.

Watching the black bear, Pandora gestured to the pool, and the black bear shook its head furiously. Another gesture prompted another shake. After the third, still a shake.

Pandora turned to the leopard, and this time, before Pandora could act, the leopard started frantically shaking its head, assuring it had no interest in the pool’s water.

Pandora finally nodded in satisfaction, then pointed to the forest. The two beasts, as if granted amnesty, scrambled into the forest, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Richard, watching on the side with amusement, genuinely wanted to ask Pandora why she did all this.

The next moment, Pandora turned to look in one direction within the forest.

Hmm?

As the sun gradually rose, Richard heard the sudden chorus of animal sounds from the direction Pandora was looking at.