Chapter 1, Wood Spirit: Li

A beam of blue light shot out from the parasol tree, converging in the air into a mass, as countless petals floated up into the sky, covering that mass of blue light

The delicate calves swayed slightly as the girl pointed her finger towards the ground. Instantly, a small fruit tree sprouted, laden with red fruits. The girl picked one of the fruits and took a big bite, rolling her eyes at her teeth and said, "I don't look good at all, do I?"

A faint sound of breathing came from nearby, and two cream-colored leopards with dark green stripes emerged from the woods, affectionately pouncing at the girl's feet and licking her small hand vigorously

After running deep into the mountains for a long time, roughly the duration it takes to consume five meals, Ya, slightly out of breath, came to a halt.

In the vast mountain forests, flowers are in full bloom, with dense blossoms everywhere. Even on the rocks and tree trunks, numerous flower stems have sprouted, producing large clusters of flowers.

He puffed out his chest, his solid muscles bulging with effort, and mustered the courage to say loudly: "I will turn fourteen in three days. I want to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony of our tribe. Once I am an adult, I will be a warrior of the tribe, and I will be able to marry a woman. Li, will you be my woman?"

With a strong tug, the tooth that usually hurriedly followed her around at the slightest pull remained completely still.

Li's small face was scrunched up, her two light green eyebrows raised high as she pointed at Ya's nose and exclaimed, "Ya, do you dare not to listen to me? I will make sure you can't leave this forest for a whole month!"

Suddenly, Li fell from the sky and nearly collided with Ya's head. She shouted loudly, "But your coming-of-age ceremony! I will not allow you to hunt the animals of the mountains and forests!"

Even if his soul is taken away, Ya is not afraid. The shaman of the clan will ensure that his soul returns to his body

Hello, you are beautiful. Ya Daida looked at her blankly and said, You are more beautiful than the aunts, older sisters, and younger sisters in the village

With a firm nod, Ya tightly grasped Li's hand and said, "The shaman said you are a mountain spirit, but you are also a good mountain spirit. Whether or not you are human is not important; as long as your heart is good and you are beautiful, I want you to be my woman"

Li tilted his head and asked somewhat foolishly, "So, what are you planning to bring back as your coming-of-age hunt?"

He shook his head vigorously and said, "You are beautiful, you are the most beautiful in the forest."

Li's shoulders suddenly slumped down, her small face twitching as she weakly looked at Ya and said gloomily: "Do you know I am a mountain spirit? Do you still want me to be your woman?"

The girl closed her eyes and ignored him, deliberately turning her back to Ya. Ya simply smiled foolishly, gazing at her with a dazed expression.

Li Xiao, laughing joyfully, smiles radiantly. She dances, countless green light spots flying from her. Flowers are blooming, flowers are in full bloom, covering the mountains and fields with blossoms.

The young girl let out a lazy hum and casually sat down. Countless flower stems quickly spread over, forming a comfortable soft couch beneath her. Her pale, slightly bluish little feet gently swayed as she lazily stretched out on the soft couch.

"You are a mountain spirit," Ya said with utmost seriousness. "You are the essence of all the spiritual energy gathered from the plants and trees in this forest. You are not human; I knew you were not human the first time I saw you."

Hmph! Li's nose twitched, and suddenly she jumped up, reaching out to grab Ya's hand, saying with a smile: "Come, follow me. Two little bears were born in the spotted valley behind the mountain yesterday, and I will take you to see them"

Although I have witnessed such scenes countless times, I still took a deep breath and laughed out loud

With a silly grin, he vigorously patted his sturdy chest and vowed loudly, "If you become my woman, I will protect you. In this lifetime, I will never leave you"

Here lies a clearing in the woods, surrounded by twelve towering sycamore trees. The ground is covered with dragon beard grass, its supple blades gently swaying in the mountain breeze, while countless flower stems in the grass also sway in unison. The flower stems are adorned with buds the size of grains of rice, in various colors, yet not a single one is in bloom.

Li suddenly burst into laughter. She twirled gracefully, her long hair, which cascaded down to her ankles, gently swayed, and countless specks of green light shot out from her hair.

"I don't believe it." The girl tossed the bitten fruit onto the ground, sighed, and said, "I have a bad temper and like to take my anger out on you. I won't allow you to hunt the animals in the mountains, and I often lead you astray, making you spend five or six more days in the mountains than others. I am so terrible, and I don't look good either"

With a crooked mouth, the girl shook her head and said: "I am not good-looking. Hmph, it is my fault that you have never been able to bring back a single prey, and each time you return with a large pile of fruits, they all call you 'Foolish Tooth'"

Several true specters were hiding beneath a fallen tree, continuously calling out Yaa's name. Yaa paid them no mind. These creatures, fortunate enough to have a lifespan of no more than one day, were not worth his attention. There was nothing to worry about; these specters knew Yaa's name, but as long as he did not respond to them, his soul would not be drawn away.

He nodded firmly and resolutely said, "I will not hunt the animals in the mountains to prove my adulthood. I have a better goal!"

I am happy! Li laughed loudly: "I am very happy! Hee hee! Ha ha! Hee hee!"

Do not shout so loudly. Calling out at such a volume early in the morning has startled them all. The young girl rolled her eyes at Ya.

No, I will listen to you. However, I have something to say about hetushucomcom. "Ya" grasped Li's small hand and said earnestly: "I have something to tell you"

Lowering her head to look at her small hand tightly grasped by the teeth, Li twisted her waist and rolled her eyes, saying impatiently: "Then hurry up and speak, hurry up."

The bare soles of the feet are covered with a thick layer of calluses, protecting them from the harm of sharp stones and wooden splinters. The crushed grass and plants emit a crisp sound, and the shadow of the teeth is cast upon the milky mist in the morning light, appearing faintly like a ghostly figure

Twelve sycamore trees emitted a dense green glow, while wisps of light green mist brushed over the grass. The flower stems, tall as a thigh and with jagged edges, nodded in unison, and countless flower buds opened in an instant. Flowers of various colors, each the size of a palm, instantly covered the entire clearing, vibrant and colorful, as the morning light cast a golden sheen upon them.

Ya walked cautiously to the center of the clearing, set down his bow and arrows, and shouted loudly: "Li! Li! It’s dawn! Li!"

The girl had not heard Ya speak for a long time, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, suddenly sitting up straight. She pointed at Ya and said, "What are you looking at me for?"

Carrying the birch bow passed down from his father, Ya moved swiftly through the mountains and forests

Ya turned his head to look at the highest mountain deep within the forest, pointing at the mountain peak as he said: "I want to collect the dragon pearl from beneath the cloud dragon's jaw. There is nothing better than using a dragon pearl as a trophy for the coming-of-age ceremony"

Li's face turned pale, and two white leopards suddenly sat down on the ground and the books, staring at each other with wide eyes, their mouths drooping down.

The two leopards frolicking suddenly crashed into a tree stump. Li rolled his eyes and, glancing sideways at Ya, who was looking up and down, said in astonishment: "You want me to be your woman? Do you know what I am?"

After a long, delicate yawn, a beautiful young girl desperately rubbed her eyes and fell from the sky. Dragon beard grass formed a short little garment on her upper body, while countless petals wove a colorful long skirt for her. Several slender vines emerged from her dark long hair, entwining around her ears, with a few small pink flowers blooming beside them. She had two slender eyebrows, a delicate little nose, and a mouth that seemed to be painted. In short, she was very beautiful, beautiful as if she were a dream

Ya Hanhans smiled gently, walked to the soft couch, and gazed dreamily at the young girl

There is nothing to be afraid of

Touching the somewhat aged birch bow, Ya smiled confidently. The bow was imbued with the spirits of ancestors. With the protection of the ancestral spirits, there was nothing to fear

"No, Li, you are the best to look at." Ya smiled, puffing out his chest as he said, "I am not afraid of them calling me a fool. I know my archery skills are the best in the clan, and you know my archery skills are the best in the mountains and forests, and that is enough. You are not bad at all; you are very good."

The mountain breeze has swept across this open space

Li danced joyfully in the air, while two white leopards called out with a "howl" as they playfully pounced back and forth.