Sisi and Brother Tao Visit, Heading to the Soul Hunt

Sisi explained their purpose to Su Yuntao.

They had come specifically to take Qi Lin and Xiao Wu to obtain their first soul rings.

After all, hiring others to hunt soul beasts outside not only cost a great deal of money for a specialized soul-hunting team, but also offered no guarantee of safety.

So Sisi had decided that she and Su Yuntao would personally take Qi Lin and Xiao Wu soul hunting.

Upon hearing this, Qi Tian and Xu Qian immediately thanked them profusely.

Xiao Wu, however, went pale the moment she saw what was happening.

As a Shapeshifting Soul Beast, she condensed her own soul rings.

So if Sisi and Su Yuntao took her to obtain a soul ring, her identity would definitely be exposed.

And once she was exposed, she did not even need to think about it—she would be dead for sure!

I have to find a way not to go!

Xiao Wu's mind raced wildly, but with her intelligence, she could not think of a good way to refuse.

At that moment, Qi Lin noticed the tension on her face and poked her waist with a finger.

"What's wrong?"

Xiao Wu looked at Qi Lin with watery eyes and whispered, "Brother Qi Lin, I don't want to go!"

Qi Lin froze slightly, then immediately remembered Xiao Wu's identity.

Right, the little rabbit was a Shapeshifting Soul Beast. If she went soul hunting with them, wouldn't she be exposed?

Seeing how anxious she looked, Qi Lin even came up with an excuse for her.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

The moment Qi Lin said that, Xiao Wu's big eyes lit up.

Right, I can say I'm not feeling well!

She hurriedly nodded and looked at Qi Lin pitifully. "Mm-hmm, I feel really awful today."

When Qi Tian and Xu Qian heard Xiao Wu say she was unwell, they immediately stepped forward with concern.

"Xiao Wu, where do you feel unwell?"

Qi Lin chimed in, "Where do you feel unwell?"

"Is it a headache? You insisted on sleeping in the same bed as me last night. I told you I like to steal the blankets in my sleep. See? You caught a chill."

As he spoke, Qi Lin reached out and touched Xiao Wu's forehead.

"Good, you don't have a fever. Just rest for a couple of days."

Qi Tian and Xu Qian had long grown used to Qi Lin acting like a little adult, so they said nothing more. They only earnestly reminded her, "Xiao Wu, listen to your Brother Qi Lin and rest properly these next two days."

"Mm-hmm!"

Xiao Wu nodded repeatedly, looking perfectly well-behaved.

Qi Tian watched her from the side with an amused smile. Heh, you usually aren't like this. Looks like she really was scared.

Then he looked at Sisi beside him.

"Sister Sisi, Xiao Wu isn't feeling well, so she won't be going this time. Otherwise, you'd have to divide your attention to take care of her during the soul hunt."

Sisi had been about to say that she and Su Yuntao could manage two children just fine.

But on second thought, she and Su Yuntao were only Soul Grand Masters at around level twenty-five or twenty-six. If they had to split their attention between two children, they might truly find themselves stretched thin.

It would be one thing if they were hunting ordinary soul beasts, but Sisi wanted to help Qi Lin obtain a soul ring that was over three hundred years old.

A first soul ring over three hundred years old was absolutely rare among soul masters. Ordinary commoners almost never had one.

Take Sisi and Su Yuntao themselves, for example. Their first soul rings had both been white ten-year soul rings.

Precisely because she had suffered that disadvantage herself, she hoped to help Qi Lin, a younger brother she rather liked, obtain a stronger first soul ring.

After thinking it over briefly, Sisi agreed.

Still, she walked over to Xiao Wu, crouched down, and said gently, "Then, little sister, Big Sister can only come back next time to help you obtain your first soul ring!"

Xiao Wu nodded repeatedly like a pecking chick.

But inwardly, she thought, You still want to come back?

Su Yuntao frowned slightly at the sight and wanted to speak.

Though he liked Qi Lin as well, he still wanted to tell Sisi something.

Helping once of their own accord was already more than enough. There was no need to promise anything to this child named Xiao Wu.

But seeing Sisi's gentle expression, Su Yuntao sighed softly and suppressed the thought.

Forget it. If Sisi wanted to help, then they would help!

At most, they were just helping two children obtain their first soul rings.

With their levels, what danger could they possibly encounter in the Soul Hunting Forest?

It would just be a little troublesome!

After Sisi and Su Yuntao had sat at Qi Lin's home for half a day, they left with Qi Lin.

The Soul Hunting Forest lay four hundred li northeast of Nuoding City, and it was more than five hundred li away from Radish Village.

So Sisi and Su Yuntao had rented a carriage in advance.

Since this soul hunt would take ten days to half a month, Qi Lin brought two changes of clothes.

Other than that, he only brought some dried soul beast meat to snack on during the journey.

This soul beast meat was no ordinary fare. It came from a soul beast over two hundred years old.

As for where it came from, the young daughter of Nuoding City's city lord had specially sent someone to deliver it during the New Year.

While the carriage traveled along the road, Su Yuntao acted as the driver while Sisi and Qi Lin sat inside.

After hearing where the dried soul beast meat had come from, Sisi teasingly pinched Qi Lin's cheek.

"Little Qi Lin, I couldn't tell. You're so young, yet girls already like you this much."

Su Yuntao, driving the carriage, added sourly, "I heard that the city lord of Nuoding City dotes on that precious daughter of his terribly."

"Little Qi Lin, at this rate, even if you don't make it in the world of soul masters, you'll still live a life of wealth and prosperity."

Sisi shot Su Yuntao a half-smiling glance, her tone unfriendly.

"Su Yuntao, why does it sound to me like you're envious of Little Qi Lin?"

"Why don't you go find yourself a young lady from a noble family to latch onto?"

The moment Su Yuntao heard that, a chill ran down his spine and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

He gave an awkward smile and said ingratiatingly, "Sisi, you know that I, Su Yuntao, will only ever love you."

Sisi gave a flat "Mm" and glanced at Su Yuntao.

"At least you know better!"

Watching from the side, Qi Lin wore a gleeful smile.

Interesting!

So Brother Tao was afraid of his wife.

Sister Sisi had him completely wrapped around her finger.

The time on the road passed quickly, and the three of them arrived within the bounds of the Soul Hunting Forest.

After getting down from the carriage, they found themselves facing a bustling, prosperous-looking market.

Rows of houses and shops lined both sides of the road, hawkers cried out everywhere, and most of the goods were related to soul beasts.

Qi Lin also heard soul-hunting groups loudly promoting their teams, hoping to draw in some business.

After Su Yuntao found a place to leave the carriage, he rejoined Sisi and Qi Lin. The three passed through the market together and arrived at the true entrance to the Soul Hunting Forest.

A ring of iron fencing over ten meters tall surrounded the area. Outside the fence, a full contingent of one hundred armored soldiers patrolled back and forth with spears in hand.

Su Yuntao and Sisi were already accustomed to this sight. They led Qi Lin straight to the entrance gate and displayed a pitch-black token.

The captain of the soldiers responsible for checking permits at the Soul Hunting Forest entrance took one look and immediately raised a hand.

"Let them through!"