The duo met more than just one group of experts on their way. Every time they encountered a group, Xue Wei's face would become a picture of innocence, his voice would be filled with emotion, and he would trick every single group.

Sweat was beading on Xue Wei's back every time they encountered such a group, but his acting did not display any such emotions.

"Why are you going this far to protect me?" Hei Gou finally asked after they had met the seventh group on their way.

Xue Wei gave him a long glance and pondered for a moment. "Why indeed," he said after a bit of time.

"I told you, I think it is because you are like me, all alone in a world of pain and danger. Also, right now, your life depends on me. What kind of person would I be to let you die when I hold your life in my hands?"

"You are an insane person," Hei Gou could not help but chuckle. "Every other human would love to have my life in their hand and end it personally, but you are doing everything in your power to keep me alive."

"You know that every single group we meet poses a great threat to us. You know that even if my cover isn't blown, the fact that I am this wounded means that basically anyone can kill us right now. We are only alive so far because of luck."

Xue Wei shrugged his shoulders as he steadied his grip on Hei Gou. "I don't care. My life is on the line no matter what I do, so traveling together with you might even prove to be beneficial to me," he said after a bit of thinking.

Hei Gou looked at Xue Wei, his eyes filled with complicated emotions. It was clear that he was having a hard time understanding what exactly Xue Wei meant, and why this human went out of his way to assist him.

"Perhaps you can answer a question for me," Xue Wei suddenly asked as they were moving further away. "Fierce Beasts avoid me, no matter what. The few times I have encountered them, they have done everything in their power to avoid me; some even committed suicide when confronted by me. Back when I was merely an Ordinary Warrior, a few of those beasts had fear creeping into their eyes, and there was even a time it happened when I met the eyes of a beast equivalent to a Sky Warrior."

"They fear you?" Hei Gou was surprised as he looked over Xue Wei once more. The youngster nodded his head seriously, "I have been in contact with the Ice Harpy a few times," he continued. "Could it be that her scent or something got attached to me, making them fear me?"

"Hmm," Hei Gou paused and looked at Xue Wei. His face went closer and closer until he was almost touching Xue Wei's face before he sniffed.

"This is odd," he said, puzzled. "My senses are weakened right now because I used my secret technique, but there is indeed some sort of strange scent to you."

"I myself have never met the Ice Harpy so I do not know if she smells like this, but it does not smell like a Primordial Beast I have ever met before. Nor does it smell human."

Hei Gou continued to sniff, which made Xue Wei feel increasingly uncomfortable, until he could no longer stand the strange black dog in his handsome human form being that close to him and pushed him away.

"Hey! I'm an injured person," Hei Gou called out frantically as he staggered backwards and fell to his butt. "Ugh," he winced in pain when he landed, but his eyes when looking at Xue Wei were filled with wonder.

"So did you