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Chapter 26: Into the Poison Forest
The sun was just starting to set, painting the sky orange and pink. The trees in the Poison Forest looked scary, like monsters with sharp claws. The air was thick, and weird animal sounds echoed through the forest.
Ling Huai walked in front, looking serious. She had her hair tied up, and her sword was strapped to her back. Bai walked ahead of them, quiet and focused like always. Behind her, the Omen walked with his hands in his pockets and a tired look on his face.
Ling Huai looked back at them. "Alright, everyone," she said, "don't forget why we're here. This is an S-Ranked mission. We came to the Poison Forest to find rare herbs. We find them, we get rich. Simple."
Omen groaned. "Ugh… I forgot," he said. "All I've been thinking about is your crazy transformation. And how fast you're training. It's honestly freaky."
Ling Huai smirked. "Jealous much?"
"Pfft. As if," Omen muttered, looking away.
Suddenly, something plopped right onto Omen's back.
"AHHH! What the—GET OFF ME, YOU FURRY DEMON!"
A tiny laugh echoed in the air, but no one could see who it was. "Hehehe! I'm your conscience now!" the voice squeaked.
It was Tu Tu.
The invisible white rabbit-beast had jumped on Omen's back for fun. He giggled, bouncing up and down like a hyper gremlin.
Omen's hands lit up with red and black energy. "I swear, I will teleport you into space."
"You can't touch me with that!" Tu Tu said proudly. "Elemental powers don't work on me, remember?"
With another giggle, Tu Tu leaped off and landed on Ling Huai's back.
Ling Huai nearly dropped her bag. "TU TU! I told you not to jump on me!"
Tu Tu leaned into her neck and sighed. "I'm horny."
The forest went dead silent.
Bai stopped walking.
Omen turned around slowly.
Ling Huai blinked.
"…Excuse me?" she said.
Tu Tu blinked back. "What?"
"You just said you're horny," Omen said slowly, looking like he wanted to vanish from the planet.
Tu Tu tilted his head. "No, I didn't. I said I'm hungry!"
Bai looked away, trying not to laugh.
Ling Huai turned red. "YOU PERVERT RABBIT!"
Before Tu Tu could say another word, she grabbed him by the fur—he was still partly invisible, but now his muddy fur made it easy to see him—and she yeeted him to the ground.
"OW!" Tu Tu shouted, his invisibility glitching out as he hit the dirt. "Why did you throw me?!"
"Because I should've turned you into stew ages ago!" Ling Huai snapped.
Tu Tu sat up, rubbing his head. "I just said I'm hungry! You guys seriously need to clean your ears!"
The three of them—Ling Huai, Bai, and Omen—looked at each other… then all facepalmed at the same time.
"Ugh. Never mind," Omen muttered. "We're the perverts now."
Tu Tu stood up proudly, his white fur now dirty brown. "Thank you."
Ling Huai rolled her eyes. "You're lucky you're cute."
Suddenly, Tu Tu disappeared again.
"Where'd he go?" Bai asked.
Ten seconds later, Tu Tu reappeared, dragging a freshly killed jungle beast almost twice his size.
"Nope," Bai said. "Not asking questions."
Tu Tu skinned the beast so fast that no one even saw his hands move. Before they could blink, there were meat pieces neatly sliced and seasoned.
Ling Huai tossed him some spice. "Use this. Less gamey."
Tu Tu grinned and got to work. In five minutes, a mini fire was burning, and meat skewers were sizzling on sticks.
The smell was delicious.
Tu Tu handed one to each of them. "Dinner is served!"
Omen bit into his skewer. "Hmm. Not bad."
Bai nodded. "Tastes good."
Ling Huai took a bite and gave Tu Tu a small smile. "Thanks."
Tu Tu puffed his cheeks. "Aren't you all tired of meat skewers?"
All three shrugged at the same time.
"Nope."
"It's food."
"Better than mushrooms."
Tu Tu sighed dramatically. "You people are so boring."
He sat on a rock, ears drooping.
Then he suddenly perked up. "Next time, I'm making poison pie!"
Everyone froze.
"NO." they all shouted at once.
Tu Tu grinned like the chaotic bunny he was.
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Chapter 27: Glowing Trouble
The meat skewers were long gone. Tu Tu had eaten six all by himself and was now rubbing his round belly, waddling beside the others like a full, smug bunny. The forest ahead was thicker, darker—but oddly quiet.
Ling Huai wiped her hands on her robe and took the lead beside Bai, who was silently munching on the last meat stick like a squirrel guarding treasure. The Omen trailed behind, black-red eyes scanning the trees lazily.
Then they saw it.
A cloud of glowing golden butterflies appeared ahead—soft, warm, and sparkling like living lanterns. They floated gently in the air, lighting the path like a dream.
"Oooh… pretty…" Tu Tu mumbled.
"Don't touch them," Ling Huai warned, but her voice sounded distant—even to herself.
The butterflies floated closer. Everyone stood still, caught in the strange peaceful glow.
Tu Tu, being Tu Tu, closed his eyes and spread his stubby arms. "I'm flying… I'm one with nature…" he whispered dramatically.
Then—
"AAAAHHH!!"
He yelped in pain. Sharp stings pricked his paws. His eyes flew open.
No butterflies.
Just dozens of tiny red bite marks.
And the forest… was suddenly empty.
"Ling Huai?" he called.
No answer.
"Omen? Bai?!"
Still no answer.
His fuzzy white fur was now blotched with red. The "butterflies" had been bloodsuckers—disguised as golden illusions. They'd attacked him when his guard was down. Worse, one had poisoned him with a mind-trick, leading him away from the group.
Meanwhile…
Ling Huai blinked rapidly. Something felt wrong. She shook her head and snapped her fingers in front of Bai's dazed face.
"Snap out of it, handsome idiot!" she hissed.
He blinked. "...Did the butterflies kiss me?"
"No!" she shouted.
Omen rubbed his temples. "Where's Tu Tu?"
They looked around.
He was gone.
Ling Huai's breath hitched. "Tu Tu?! TU TU!!" She turned in every direction, panic rising fast.
"Calm down," Omen said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Can you sense him through the blood pact?"
She tried. Her fingers trembled. Her heart pounded too loud.
"I—I can't feel him!"
Bai, now fully alert, looked worried too.
Ling Huai took a deep breath. Another. And another.
Ten minutes later, she gasped, eyes glowing faintly.
"I found him!"
They dashed through the trees, ducking vines and swatting weird bugs, until they reached a clearing.
Tu Tu was stumbling toward them, covered in red bite marks, fur matted and dirty, ears drooping. His tongue lolled out like he'd been running for hours.
"Tu Tu!" Ling Huai ran forward.
Tu Tu smiled weakly. "The butterflies lied…" he mumbled.
Then—he fainted.
Face-first into the dirt.
Bai blinked. "Well. He's alive."
"Barely," Ling Huai snapped, already lifting Tu Tu in her arms.
Tu Tu groaned. "Are those butterflies still single…?"
Omen sighed. "He's definitely alive."