Chapter 124 - 123: The Amnesiac Crane

With a loud SPLASH, Chu Liangyu leaped from the water. Her light green fishtail, suspended mid-air, resembled the finest jade—lustrous and vibrant. Against its color, her bare skin seemed even fairer and more radiant.

But just a moment later, the Mermaid form faded. A light green robe materialized around her, cinched at the waist by a matching silk ribbon. Her waist was slender, yet conveyed a sense of strength.

Though her ink-black hair was not as long and flowing as it used to be, it now looked crisper and more businesslike, giving her a strikingly fresh appearance.

Chu Liangyu had no idea a crane had been watching her for a long time. After coming ashore, she was still pondering the cause of the unusual Thunder and how she would get to Void Island.

After all, the meridians in her body were still being continuously ravaged by the Thunder. Purging its energy would take a great deal of time.

Until then, she could only rely on her own two feet to reach Void Island.

At this rate, it would likely take her three months to return to her tribe, perhaps even longer.

At this thought, Chu Liangyu felt a surge of relief. Thankfully, she had left a clone in the tribe. This way, she wouldn’t be completely in the dark about the tribe’s progress and could prevent a repeat of what happened with Jiang Li.

Water droplets still trickled from her hair, but Chu Liangyu paid them no mind. She set off, walking in the direction of Void Island as she remembered it.

She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when a sharp pain suddenly shot through her head, as if she had been pecked by something pointed.

Turning around, she saw a disheveled Red-crowned Crane standing behind her. From his posture, it was easy to tell that he had been the one to peck her.

Anyone would be annoyed after being pecked for no reason, and Chu Liangyu was no exception. "What do you want?"

Her tone was unfriendly. The only reason she didn’t resort to violence was that she was in a hurry.

"You completely ruined my look."

The Red-crowned Crane’s small, glossy black eyes were filled with grievance, as if this were a matter of grave importance.

His voice was refined and elegant. Although his tone was dissatisfied, his posture as a crane exuded a gentlemanly air, albeit one tinged with suppressed frustration.

Chu Liangyu eyed him suspiciously. She felt this Red-crowned Crane looked familiar, but she couldn’t quite place how.

"If your look is messed up, just fix it. Besides, I wouldn’t know how. You’re not expecting me to help you, are you?"

Chu Liangyu spread her hands helplessly and turned to walk away.

"You female, how can you be so rude!"

He blocked her path and chided, "I’m not asking for compensation. Can’t you even manage a simple apology?"

Chu Liangyu paused. ’This really isn’t a big deal. Besides, I’m in a hurry; I don’t have time to waste bickering with him.’

But from the look of him, he wasn’t going to let her leave until she said something.

"I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have ruined your look."

Chu Liangyu offered the apology, but there was no sincerity in her voice, and she didn’t stop walking.

"That apology wasn’t sincere at all."

He followed behind her, his face a mask of dissatisfaction. For a long moment, he looked like he wanted to speak but kept hesitating, unsure of what to say.

Chu Liangyu raised an eyebrow and shot him a cool glance. "Then what do you want?"

The way she said it made it sound like he was the one deliberately picking a fight.

A sudden anger flared in him. Shedding his beast form, he grabbed Chu Liangyu’s hand. "It was clearly your fault, yet you ask what I want and even use such an aggressive tone with me."

"With a temper like that, do you have any idea how easy it would be for a male to beat you up out here?"

The Red-crowned Crane had finally revealed his human face, and Chu Liangyu at last knew why he had seemed so familiar.

He Yushu, her third Beast Husband. His beast form was a Red-crowned Crane.

Chu Liangyu hadn’t heard any news of his whereabouts since their original tribe was destroyed. At first, she had assumed he was long dead, and after a brief, silent lament, she had put him out of her mind.

But now it was clear he wasn’t dead. In fact, he seemed to be doing quite well for himself here.

The feathers that were once somewhat dry were now as glossy as silk. But the look he gave Chu Liangyu was that of a complete stranger, as if he didn’t recognize her at all.

At the same time, another question surfaced in Chu Liangyu’s mind. ’How did this guy... end up here?’

"Do you know my name?"

He Yushu gave her a strange look. "This is our first time meeting. How would I know your name?"

That confirmed it for Chu Liangyu—he really had lost his memory. She probed further, "Well, do you know your own name?"

"He Yushu." After answering, he felt something was strange and questioned her in return, "Why are you asking these things? Do you know me?"

Aside from his own name, his memories were a complete blank. The possibility that someone might actually know him made him visibly excited.

"I know you now," Chu Liangyu said with a small smile, not pursuing the topic further. Instead, she changed the subject. "I heard there’s a place nearby called Void Island. They say it has countless grass carp, and their meat is immeasurably better than the fish here. Even the Beast God loves them."

"I happened to find a map leading there back in my tribe, and I’m thinking of checking it out. Want to come with me?"

’My walking speed isn’t slow, but my stamina is limited. If I had a free mount, I could get to Void Island much sooner.’

She had her own selfish reasons, but what she’d said was true, so it wasn’t really a lie.

"Is all that you said true?"

If it was, he wouldn’t have to worry about finding food anymore.

Seeing the man who had just been agonizing over his identity get so easily distracted, the corners of Chu Liangyu’s mouth lifted slightly. "It’s true."

"Then I’ll go with you."

He Yushu’s eyes brightened. He shifted back into his beast form and offered, "It’s too slow for you to walk. Why don’t I fly you there?"

"Would that really be okay?" Chu Liangyu stood her ground, feigning hesitation.

The Red-crowned Crane’s long beak gently tapped the crown of her head. His tone was cheerful. "I’m not like one of those arrogant Phoenix Beastmen. I don’t mind carrying you. Hop on."

Chu Liangyu’s hesitation was just an act. Now that He Yushu had insisted, she no longer demurred and vaulted onto his back.

"From what you said, does that mean you’ve met a Phoenix before?" Chu Liangyu asked, studying his expression. "I hear they’re incredibly powerful, and their feathers are beautiful. If you’ve really seen them, could you tell me about it?"

He Yushu was stunned by her question. He had just blurted out the comment subconsciously. If asked what a Phoenix was actually like, his mind drew a complete blank. He couldn’t answer her at all.

Frankly, it was not a pleasant feeling.

"What’s so great about a Phoenix, anyway? You’ve seen my beast form. I bet it’s every bit as good as a Phoenix’s!"