"Ice Ring Armor!"
"Extreme Speed!"
A strange layer of ice armor rapidly condensed, blocking the space between the girl and the Cyan Wolf Bandit.
Bang!
Before the Cyan Wolf Bandit could do any harm, Zygarde, which had flown in at high speed, smashed straight into it and sent it flying.
"?"
The blue-haired girl turned her head in shock and saw a 1.2-meter-tall Dragon Hound pouncing onto the 2.5-meter-tall Cyan Wolf Bandit, biting fiercely into its neck.
"Ah—!"
The Cyan Wolf Bandit roared in pain. Unable to shake Zygarde off, it could only wildly slash with its wolf claws, trying to kill it.
However, Zygarde showed no fear. It used Great Snake Stare to paralyze the Cyan Wolf Bandit, then ignored everything else and bit down on its throat with full force.
Its white eyes flared with crimson light—it was clearly enraged.
Given the situation, the beautiful woman feared accidentally injuring them and found it difficult to provide support.
She raised her hand, cast an Ice Shield around Bai Mu and the girl, then diverted most of her attention and unleashed her full strength to wipe out the remaining Wolftaken.
"Little Soft, hold on!"
Protected by the Ice Shield, Bai Mu slowly stepped forward and activated Jungle Healing.
His body seemed to merge with nature as a strange ripple spread out, completely enveloping Zygarde and continuously healing it.
The Cyan Wolf Bandit was strong—extremely strong.
Even ordinary Spirit Masters between Rank 30 and 50 would find it hard to defeat it head-on.
But now, ambushed at a vital point, paralyzed, and further suppressed, it could barely bring out even one or two tenths of its strength.
Not to mention Bai Mu's external healing.
As time passed, its resistance and counterattacks weakened more and more.
"Ah—!"
Suddenly, a dark glow burst from Zygarde's mouth as its biting force surged again.
Crack—
The neck bone snapped, and the Cyan Wolf Bandit died completely.
Bai Mu's mind trembled slightly, and a piece of information flowed into his consciousness—
[Zygarde, after a life-and-death battle, has successfully learned a new Move: Crunch (Bites with sharp fangs, sometimes lowering the opponent's Defense).]
"Not bad. You learned another Move."
Bai Mu smiled in relief.
He had thought that with Jungle Healing restoring stamina and spirit power, he could grind the opponent down like a perpetual motion machine.
But the two minutes of full-power healing just now proved that idea somewhat naïve.
Spirit power and stamina were fine, but the mental strain was enormous.
If it had lasted two more minutes, he would have had a splitting headache afterward.
"So weak. Looks like I still need more training."
Bai Mu looked at the victorious Zygarde returning to his side.
"Well done, Little Soft. You actually beat such a strong opponent."
Zygarde snorted proudly, its expression full of disdain.
"You little brat."
Bai Mu was stunned for a moment, then laughed and rubbed its head hard.
At this point, the battle was nearly over, and the mountain road gradually returned to calm.
"Are you two alright?"
Bai Mu walked over and asked the two girls.
"Yes. Thank you for saving us. My name is Shui Bing'er, from Tianshui Academy."
Shui Bing'er nodded gently, offering a grateful smile.
"My name is Shui Yue'er! You're amazing—you actually killed that terrifying monster!"
The lively Shui Yue'er looked at Bai Mu with eyes full of curiosity and admiration.
"My name is Bai Mu. Just an ordinary Spirit Master who happened to pass by."
Bai Mu replied with a smile.
"Bing'er! Yue'er! Are you both alright?!"
At that moment, the beautiful woman who had finished off the Wolftaken landed and hurried over to check on them.
"Mom, we're fine."
Shui Bing'er finally relaxed. "It's all thanks to Bai Mu."
"Shui Yunxin of Tianshui Academy thanks you for your help, young friend."
Shui Yunxin's gaze lingered briefly on Bai Mu and Zygarde before she bowed solemnly.
Without Bai Mu's intervention, she truly might not have been able to fully protect her daughters just now.
"It was nothing, Auntie. Just a small effort."
Bai Mu waved his hand with a smile. "Wolftaken are vicious. Since I ran into them, I couldn't just ignore it."
"You don't look very old, and your spirit power doesn't seem high. How did you defeat the Wolftaken?"
Shui Yunxin asked as she carefully observed Bai Mu and Zygarde.
About ten years old, spirit power no higher than Rank 15, yet fearless in battle and capable of killing Wolftaken.
No matter how she looked at it, it was unbelievable.
"I'm nine this year, Rank 11 spirit power."
Bai Mu answered honestly. "As for defeating them, it was a mix of luck and effort."
"Only nine years old, Rank 11?"
Shui Yunxin was shocked beyond measure.
A Rank 11 Spirit Master killing multiple Wolftaken head-on—and even ambushing and killing a stronger Cyan Wolf Bandit?
"This child is not simple."
Her thoughts stirred as she asked, "Where are you from, and where are you headed? If we're going the same way, why not travel together? We can also repay you properly."
"I'm from Nuoding City in Fasinuo Province, heading to Heaven Dou City."
Bai Mu answered directly.
"What a coincidence. We're also going to Heaven Dou City."
Shui Yunxin smiled. "The carriage is damaged, but we can replace it in the next town. If you don't mind, come with us. We'll cover food and lodging along the way."
"Then I'll trouble you."
After a brief thought, Bai Mu accepted.
With a Spirit Saint escorting him, there was nothing to worry about.
"That's great! Let's chat properly later!"
Shui Yue'er cheered excitedly.
Bai Mu paid the coachman the remaining fare, recalled Zygarde, and boarded the battered carriage with the mother and daughters.
Along the way, Shui Yue'er kept talking nonstop.
Shui Bing'er, meanwhile, occasionally glanced at Bai Mu, clearly wanting to ask something.
"If you want to ask, just ask."
Bai Mu spoke first.
Shui Bing'er blushed slightly and asked softly, "That Dragon Hound… is it your Spirit? I've never seen anything like it."
"Zygarde. A mutated external Spirit with intelligence no lower than a human's."
Bai Mu explained.
"So it really is a Spirit! That's amazing!"
Shui Yue'er was thrilled. "I wish my Dolphin Spirit could separate too—I really want to play with it!"
"It's very strong."
Shui Bing'er said seriously. "Your commands were also extremely precise. Nothing like… nothing like a Spirit Master your age."
"Besides effort, I also have a bit of luck."
Bai Mu smiled faintly.
Listening from the side, Shui Yunxin's evaluation of Bai Mu rose even higher—calm, composed, and not arrogant at all.
"By the way, Bai Mu, at your age, you should still be studying at an elementary academy, right? Are you going to Heaven Dou City to visit family?"
Shui Yunxin suddenly asked.
"…Yes."
After thinking for a moment, Bai Mu decided to be honest.
"I graduated early from Nuoding Academy a few days ago. I want to see if I can enter Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Only by entering Heaven Dou Royal Academy could he get close to Dugu Yan and increase his chances of obtaining information about Dugu Bo.
He also knew it would be extremely difficult.
"Your talent and strength are excellent, but your age and Rank are still a bit low. Also, Heaven Dou Royal Academy rarely recruits commoner Spirit Masters. With your background, it'll be very hard."
After thinking, Shui Yunxin offered proactively, "How about this—I'll help you ask someone there to see if they can give you a chance."
"Thank you, Auntie! Auntie, you're truly beautiful and kind-hearted!"
Bai Mu replied sweetly.
"What a smooth talker."
Shui Yunxin smiled, then sighed.
"It's just a pity…"
"Pity about what?" Bai Mu asked, confused.
"Pity that you're not a girl."
Shui Yunxin sighed. "If you were a girl, even if your Spirit wasn't water-attribute, I'd still want to recruit you exceptionally."
"…"
Bai Mu: Not a pity. Not a pity at all.