Obedient and Adorable

Sophie Sun led him away to a thicket of dense vines, whispering about something unknown.

The Spirit Alliance supplies elixirs to the army and palace, so Miss Sun must interact with Evan Xiao often. It's normal that she's close with Louis Lin too.

Grace didn't think much of it and simply waited where she was.

She tossed the Antler Serpent into her Sanctum.

The little creature seemed super curious, exploring everywhere before finally burrowing into the Sanctum Tower and not coming out for ages.

While waiting for Louis Lin, Grace darted into the tower and found the Antler Serpent coiled right on top of the Alchemy Cauldron lid, peering around.

"Hey, cutie!" Grace grinned. "Are you wondering what this place is?"

The Antler Serpent looked at Grace and nodded.

"It's my secret!" she said. "And guess what? You're the only one who knows!"

Evan Xiao immediately felt left out.

You actually have a pocket dimension? Why would you tell a snake, but not me?

"I'm heading home soon," Grace said. "Are you planning to stay in the forest or come with me?"

He turned away, ignoring her.

"Oh, I keep forgetting you can't talk," Grace said, pulling his head back to face her. "You know what? I really like you! Wanna come home with me?"

He neither nodded nor shook his head.

He looked seriously displeased.

"Hmm... If you come with me, I'll make you delicious food every day!"

Evan Xiao: Childish!

"And I can protect you too!"

Evan Xiao: You? Really?

"Don't worry, I won't take away your freedom!" Grace tried to persuade him. "You can leave whenever you want! How about it?"

Evan Xiao: Why do you have to drag a snake home to keep you company? Isn't having me enough?

"Not interested?" Grace looked disappointed. "Alright then! I'll let you go, just take care of yourself and don't get caught!"

Saying that, she grabbed him by the neck, ready to let him out.

Evan Xiao struggled, then nodded at her.

Grace stopped in her tracks. "Huh? Did you just nod? You want to come home with me?"

Evan Xiao nodded again.

"Haha! Awesome!" Grace scooped him up and tucked him into her arms, affectionately stroking his head.

Evan Xiao lay contentedly on her soft chest.

A little small... If only it were bigger...

Grace stroked him for a while, then set him down. "Go explore if you want, but don't go behind the tower. I keep a few fierce high-level spirit beasts there, and if you get too close, they'll eat you."

The Antler Serpent nodded again, looking super obedient, super well-behaved, and ridiculously cute.

Grace felt her heart melt, so she patted his head one more time before heading out.

In front of her, a patch of wild marigolds was blooming beautifully.

She picked one and sniffed it, really liking the scent.

Just then, the flower in her hand suddenly shattered into pieces.

Grace's eyes flashed, and she dodged to the side as fast as she could.

But before she realized it, a surge of force had already hit her chest.

She didn't dodge it completely—the force pierced through her shoulder, blood splattering onto the marigolds.

She rolled on the ground, dodging several more blasts, and hid behind a boulder.

"Kill her!" Sophie Sun commanded coldly. "Leave no survivors!"

Several guards closed in on Grace.

Grace's Sanctum was stocked with plenty of hidden weapons, grappling ropes, and all sorts of spy gear.