The forest remained quiet after the beast's death.
Blood spread slowly across fallen leaves beneath the corpse while the jagged earth spike protruding through its skull stood motionless beneath the moonlight.
Nearby—
the young boy still knelt trembling on the ground.
His yellow hair clung messily to his face while tears mixed with dirt and blood across his cheeks.
The invisible white lizard remained partially emerged from the earth several meters away.
Watching silently.
Golden eyes calm.
The boy's frightened gaze darted around the forest repeatedly.
Searching.
But he saw nothing.
No cultivator.
No hidden expert.
No spiritual aura.
Only dark trees and drifting wind.
Yet the beast had died instantly.
An earth spike.
A cultivator technique.
The boy swallowed nervously afterward before quickly lowering himself completely onto all fours.
His forehead pressed against the dirt.
His body trembled while his voice shook weakly.
"T-This lowly one thanks the immortal for saving this useless life…"
He bowed lower.
"This lowly one is eternally grateful…"
Silence answered him.
The forest wind passed softly through the trees overhead.
Nothing moved.
The lizard remained exactly where he was.
Watching.
Immortal.
The word drifted quietly through his thoughts.
So that's what he thinks.
A cultivator saved him.
Reasonable.
The earth spike had resembled an earth-element technique.
The boy likely never even considered the possibility of a hidden beast nearby.
The lizard's golden eyes remained fixed on the child silently afterward.
Time passed.
One minute.
Then another.
The boy still remained bowed on the ground.
Trembling slightly.
Waiting.
The lizard became faintly thoughtful.
Why is he still there?
Shouldn't he leave now?
He's safe.
The beast is dead.
Another quiet moment passed.
Then finally—
the boy slowly raised his head.
Carefully.
Fearfully.
His red swollen eyes glanced around the dark forest once more.
Still nothing.
No response ever came.
The boy hesitated before slowly pushing himself upright while clutching his bleeding side.
"…The immortal must have already left a long time ago…"
His voice was quiet.
Weak.
Almost dazed.
"He most likely just saved me out of pity…"
The boy looked toward the dead beast lying beside the spiritual berries.
Then downward at his own shaking hands.
"…If he didn't…"
His throat tightened slightly.
"…I would have died."
The forest fell silent again afterward.
And hidden nearby—
the invisible white lizard continued watching the boy quietly beneath the shadows of the trees.
The forest remained dim beneath the moonlight.
Wind drifted softly through the trees while the scent of fresh blood slowly spread outward from the dead beast's corpse.
The young boy stood unsteadily nearby, one hand pressed tightly against the bleeding wound along his side.
His breathing remained uneven.
Painful.
But his eyes had steadied slightly now that immediate death no longer hung over him.
The lizard still watched silently.
Golden eyes calm.
The boy glanced between the glowing blue spiritual herb and the corpse of the slain beast.
Then spoke quietly to himself.
"…The immortal most likely had no interest in such a low-grade herb…"
His gaze shifted toward the beast afterward.
"…Or these remains."
A flicker of relief crossed his exhausted face.
That meant he could still take them.
Resources like this mattered enormously to someone like him.
The boy clenched his teeth suddenly as pain surged through his injured side.
A weak gasp escaped him.
"…I need to hurry…"
His voice shook slightly.
"If another beast comes…"
He swallowed.
"…I'll definitely die this time."
The lizard watched silently while the boy forced himself to move.
Slow steps.
Unsteady.
But determined.
A few meters away, partially hidden beneath leaves, the boy retrieved a worn dagger alongside a rough carrying bag that had likely been thrown aside during the earlier struggle.
Then he moved toward the spiritual herb first.
Carefully.
Very carefully.
Despite his injuries, his movements became delicate while harvesting the glowing blue berries along with their roots.
Experienced.
The lizard noticed immediately.
Not random gathering.
The child knew what he was doing.
Interesting.
After storing the herb safely inside the bag, the boy turned toward the beast corpse next.
The smell of blood had already begun thickening throughout the forest.
Dangerous.
The boy clearly understood that too.
"I can't take everything…"
He muttered weakly while kneeling beside the corpse.
"…Only what I can carry."
The dagger moved quickly afterward.
Fangs.
Claws.
Useful hide sections.
Chunks of meat.
The boy worked with surprising speed despite trembling hands and blood loss.
He packed only the most valuable portions he could manage before struggling to his feet again beneath the extra weight.
His face had grown even paler now.
The lizard's golden eyes remained fixed quietly upon him.
The boy glanced nervously into the surrounding darkness afterward.
"…I need to leave now before the corpse draws in other beasts."
Then—
before departing—
he hesitated.
The boy slowly turned back toward the silent forest behind him.
Toward nowhere in particular.
Then bowed deeply once more despite the pain.
"If the immortal is still present…"
His voice carried genuine gratitude.
"…thank you for saving this lowly one."
Afterward—
he turned quickly and began limping away through the dark forest carrying the blood-soaked bag.
The invisible white lizard watched him leave silently.
Then his gaze shifted toward the meat and beast remains the boy carried.
The smell.
Strong.
Fresh blood would absolutely attract predators before long.
The boy was weak.
Injured.
Slow.
The lizard could already sense distant movements deeper within the forest reacting faintly to the scent.
And strangely—
that same tightness remained within his chest.
The same unfamiliar sensation from earlier.
The lizard's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
Without another thought—
his body sank smoothly back into the earth beneath him.
Silent.
Invisible.
Then he began moving underground once more.
Following the limping boy through the forest from below.