At the entrance of the Soul-Hunting Forest.
Romantina took out her Adventurer's ID and mission scroll.
To enter the Soul-Hunting Forest, you either needed a certificate issued by the Spirit Hall or valid proof from the Adventurers' Guild—such as an Adventurer's License or a registered soul beast hunting mission.
"You may enter."
After verifying her documents, the Spirit Hall guards at the gate stepped aside.
"Thank you," Romantina replied politely.
Say what you will, but as the daughter of a deputy city lord, Romantina still maintained impeccable manners. Despite her overly imaginative tendencies, she remained courteous and proper—never provoking discomfort in others.
"Completely different from that spoiled brat, Xiao Chenyu," Tang San noted. He couldn't understand how the son of a city lord could act so arrogantly at the academy, while the deputy lord's daughter—though quirky—at least behaved like someone well-raised and educated.
"Agreed," Xiao Wu echoed.
Hearing their comments, Romantina frowned. "Don't lump me in with Xiao Chenyu. That guy's just a brat rotten with privilege. Hmph! Just wait—karma's coming for him."
Zhou Qing silently agreed.
The nobles of the Douluo Continent followed a hereditary system. Judging by how Xiao Chenyu often bullied commoner and work-study soul masters at Nuoding Academy, it was unlikely those graduates—if they couldn't enter an intermediate academy—would stay loyal to him if they remained in Nuoding City.
On the other hand, Romantina's conduct painted the deputy city lord as someone approachable and connected with the people.
Was it just an act?
Perhaps. But judge the actions, not the intentions. No one is perfect. Even if her father's real aim was to eventually drop the "deputy" from his title, as long as his actions benefitted the people and he could keep up the act for life—it was good enough.
"Anyway, let's move on," Romantina said, pulling out a map of the Soul-Hunting Forest. The area had long been charted by generations of soul masters. The habitats of various soul beasts were clearly marked—finding specific types was just a matter of following the map.
Crushing dried branches and leaves underfoot and breathing in the pungent, earthy scent of decay, it only took half a day before Romantina led Zhou Qing and the others to a clearing filled with Wolf Bristle Grass.
The clearing formed an irregular circle. At its center stood a single towering stalk of Wolf Bristle Grass—nearly two meters tall. Its leaves were thin and dense, and the top was crowned with tufts of fur resembling a wolf's tail. Tiny green seeds, about the size of sesame grains, were interspersed throughout.
Those were the plant's seeds.
"That's the Wolf Bristle Grass," Romantina explained. "The only one in this forest that's evolved into a soul beast. It's about 300 to 400 years old. The surrounding grass all sprouted from its fallen seeds. They're just regular plants—not soul beasts—so even if you kill them, no soul rings will appear."
"Got it," Tang San acknowledged and stepped forward with a dagger.
But Romantina stopped him, her expression serious. "Even though the Wolf Bristle Grass doesn't have true offensive abilities, this clearing might be hiding small creatures—ants, field mice, snakes—or even some ten-year soul beasts. I'll go first and check."
With that, she gripped her Phoenix Sycamore Staff and boldly strode into the half-meter-tall grass, swinging her staff to carve a path forward.
For common animals and minor ten-year soul beasts, sudden movement or noise would scare them away. Romantina's "beat the grass to scare the snake" approach was perfectly appropriate in this case.
However—
Zhou Qing had a strange feeling that Romantina had an ulterior motive.
And sure enough!
After forging a path toward the 300–400-year-old Wolf Bristle Grass, she suddenly swung her staff and smacked it directly!
Swish!
Startled, the Wolf Bristle Grass trembled—its leaves and fluffy tufts quivering—then whipped toward Romantina in retaliation.
To say the plant lacked offensive power didn't mean it couldn't attack—it just meant its attacks were harmless. It would entangle passing creatures with its leaves and slap them repeatedly with its soft tufts.
Its binding strength was weak. In theory, even a six-year-old without soul power could break free. However, the repeated slaps from those fluffy tufts were… intense. Not exactly painful. Not exactly itchy. Somewhere awkwardly in between.
Researchers at the Spirit Hall still hadn't figured out the purpose of this plant's behavior, and no soul master who had acquired its soul ring ever inherited this ability.
But Zhou Qing, with his modern knowledge, understood:
It was survival instinct.
The plant used its leaves to trap animals, then slapped them with its tufts—so the seeds would stick to their fur or skin. When the creature eventually broke free and fled, it would unknowingly carry the seeds far away—helping the plant propagate.
This was the natural way the Wolf Bristle Grass spread its offspring. Of course, soul masters wouldn't inherit such a trait. After all, no one needed to "sow seeds" using their martial soul.
Right now, Romantina was fully ensnared by the grass—being slapped repeatedly. Her clothing was covered in sticky green seeds, and her exposed skin bristled with uneven strands of fluff.
"Ah~"
"Oh~"
She let out ambiguous moans, cheeks flushed. When Zhou Qing and the others moved to help, she shouted, "Don't come closer! This Wolf Bristle Grass is dangerous! Let me handle it alone! I can take it! Oh~ yes~"
With that, Romantina tore away the leaves binding her and began to remove her armor…
Sensing its prey trying to escape, the Wolf Bristle Grass reacted instinctively—its tufts slapped faster and harder, desperate to spread as many seeds on her as possible…
Romantina's body rocked rhythmically under the plant's attacks—
A truly eye-catching sight of hills and valleys rising and falling in motion.
Zhou Qing's face turned red.
Tang San looked away.
Xiao Wu stared at her own feet and muttered, "I thought Romantina's perversion was limited to words and gestures… but this? No wonder the other adventurers in Nuoding Guild avoid her…"
This level of madness?
Even soul beasts aren't safe.
Even a lustful ghost would only dare watch from afar—because at that point, who's preying on who becomes a real question.
By evening, as night fully fell, the Wolf Bristle Grass finally released her. Romantina collapsed into the surrounding grass, panting heavily, her chest heaving and her face still flushed.
The once-thriving stalk of Wolf Bristle Grass looked withered its formerly upright leaves now limp and lifeless.
"…Suddenly, I don't feel like claiming this soul beast anymore," Zhou Qing said.