Chapter 30: Bond

A spiritual radiance emerged over Little Little Bangde's body, growing ever brighter until it became impossible to look at.

Rod took a few steps back.

He watched expectantly for the child about to come tumbling down.

"Transform into human form" didn't sound like a centaur, but at least it would be a helper who had mastered many skills!

A low call came from Little Little Bangde in the stable.

It seemed the transformation couldn't be completed all at once.

Restless and unable to sleep anyway, Rod simply sat cross-legged on the ground and waited.

"What are you doing?"

A crisp, alert girl's voice rang out.

Rod had actually noticed long ago that the Ye Hu Xi Fa sensed the night breeze a little more strongly.

It was just that the other party was an old acquaintance, so he hadn't called her out on it.

"Good evening, Miss Xiao Ke."

The half-deer girl leaned against the tree behind her, her cute, delicate face full of wariness.

This was her first time meeting Rod alone.

Honestly, Xiao Ke was a little scared.

She feared the human's beastly nature would flare up and he would savagely tear open her freshly tailored clothes.

But!

The truth that human nature was that of a lecher had not changed.

Even faced with a polite greeting, she did not approach lightly.

"The evening is not good! Look at the ruckus you've caused!"

The light from the stable leaked outward, illuminating nearly half the wooden cabin.

"Sorry, I was just a little uneasy."

"Humans get uneasy too?"

"Of course. When faced with something beyond one's control, any race feels uneasy."

"Is that so? I always thought humans were the kind of race whose brains only thought about how to pour milk."

Xiao Ke said earnestly.

She didn't seem to be teasing; her expression was one of having genuinely learned something.

Then she saw the expectant, worried look on Rod's face.

It had to be said, this was a face very much in line with the continent's aesthetic.

Kind-hearted Xiao Ke felt her heart tugged by his expression too.

In the end, like Vivian, he had been guarding the forest all along.

Then.

Rod sensed the half-deer girl coming to a spot not far behind him.

She sat down cross-legged.

Squeak, swish, squeak, swish—who knew what she was doing.

He looked back and saw Xiao Ke drawing something on a sketchboard.

"Thank you for liking my gift," Rod said with a smile.

Both the sketchboard and the brush had been given to Xiao Ke through Vivian by him.

Under Little Little Bangde's radiance, her small, perked deer ears twitched, and a blush flew across Xiao Ke's face.

"Hmph."

There was always a kind of streamlined, harmonious beauty about Xiao Ke.

Beneath her neatly tailored clothes, a pair of gently swelling hills; meticulously combed, orderly hair; skin on her nose and cheeks so delicate it glowed a translucent pink.

The lower half of her deer body was gracefully coiled on the ground, and on her slightly raised rear, a small tuft of fluffy tail made the onlooker's heart tremble.

Rod wrenched his gaze back with great effort.

He felt something strange, an itchiness in his heart.

No need to think about it—it had to be the Second Heart playing tricks.

After all, it was a succubus's creation.

"I heard half-deer people can prophesy. Miss Xiao Ke, could you give me a prophecy?"

"I haven't learned it yet," Xiao Ke said without looking up. "I can't prophesy on my own—I can only see the future unconsciously through sleep."

Rod nodded.

It didn't really matter.

About an hour passed.

The light in the stable gradually dimmed.

The spiritual fluctuations also calmed down.

Little Little Bangde's enormous figure had vanished. In the half-covered pen, two pale, tender human legs could be faintly seen curled up.

Rod stepped forward to check, and Xiao Ke behind him was startled too; she approached while keeping her distance from Rod.

On the pile of grass on the ground.

A naked girl of twelve or thirteen was curled up.

Her eyes were tightly shut beneath long lashes.

Right now she looked like a malnourished child, all skin and bones.

There was nothing about her body that could be connected to a horse, except for a long horse tail at the coccyx.

Rod wrapped her up in a blanket he had prepared long ago.

Transforming into human form had consumed most of Little Little Bangde's energy, so at this moment she was extremely weak.

"What race is this? How did you make her appear?"

Miss Xiao Ke asked, puzzled.

There were many races on the continent, and she didn't think she could recognize them all.

Rod opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing.

He vaguely felt that 【Growth Spirit】had forcibly shaped a new race into existence.

Fortunately, Little Little Bangde's outward features weren't very distinctive.

Beastman races like cat-people and half-wolf-people all resembled her.

He hesitated for a moment.

Rod still decided to imprint the slave-curse sigil of Nu Yi Zhou onto Little Little Bangde.

This child was destined to be someone rich in adventurous spirit, yearning for freedom. Rod didn't expect her to stay by his side forever, but at least he could gain assistance from her.

【Slave Target 3: Little Little Bangde】

【Race: Sangri Warhorse (Human Form)】

【Age: 3】

【Submission: 58】

【Evaluation: A shape-shifting horse-girl who can briefly transform into a centaur. The warlike and brave blood in her veins has fused her life's destiny with battle — but don't forget, in normal human form she is still just a timid girl.】

【Submission has broken through to 58, unlocking shared skill with Little Little Bangde】

【Beginning extraction.】

【Extraction Successful】

【Shared Skill: War Trample】

【Details: Viciously slam the ground; the intense shockwave can damage and stun enemies.】

"Let me see."

Miss Xiao Ke said warily.

The way humans hugged was far too suggestive — this little thing was a girl after all.

"…You can't hold her."

The upper half of the half-deer person looked only about three or four years older than Little Little Bangde's current age; without the lower deer body adding to it, she'd look like a child too.

"Don't worry about it — hey! Your hand! Don't put it on her butt!"

"Please… I have to support her, and that's her thigh."

Without waiting for an argument, Miss Xiao Ke came over and with great effort carried Little Little Bangde away, retreating several cautious steps.

"Tonight she has to stay with me. I don't feel safe leaving her in the same house as the pervert and the succubus."

Rod had to admit it.

Her lack of trust was indeed very convincing.

Anyone who heard that sentence would agree with her.

Rod thought carefully — Vivian and Miss Xiao Ke lived together, so it should be safe.

"Then I'll escort you two back."

"No need! Go away! Milk monster!"

"…Then remember to come pick her up early tomorrow morning."

Whether she heard or not, Miss Xiao Ke ran off without looking back.

Rod was of course not at ease, so he followed them the whole way, only relaxing once he saw Vivian use 【Tree Walker】to lead them into the great tree.

The next morning.

Rod entered Shi Ying Town early in the morning and bought some girls' clothes that Little Little Bangde could wear.

"Did your sister-in-law give birth?"

David said with a smile.

"Who gives birth already able to wear clothes this big?" Rod retorted helplessly.

The guy still thought to this day that Rod had married an ordinary farm girl, even though Tally appeared before his eyes in a different guise every time.

"One piece of good news, one piece of bad news — which do you want to hear first?"

David smiled, not minding, and flipped a copper Jin Along in his hand, pretending to catch it again.

"The good news first."

"The good news is, Young Lady Daphne sent a letter — for you."

He handed over a stiff black paper envelope.

The envelope felt thick and substantial, with exquisite, noble lines — at a glance one could tell it was a high-class item.

Not to mention the Argyle family crest on the red sealing wax.

(End of this chapter)