Tang San

Before long, the two arrived at the village entrance, where Old Man Zhang had already hitched up the ox cart and was waiting for them.

"Grandpa Zhang, long time no see!"

Faced with Xiao Wu's greeting, Old Man Zhang nodded repeatedly. "Ah, what a lovable little girl."

When it was Ye Qiu's turn, Old Man Zhang's face had already fallen before he could speak.

Still, Ye Qiu greeted him. "Village Chief, good morning!"

Hearing him speak, Old Man Zhang's expression worsened. "Oh, I wouldn't dare! You're a future Lord Soul Master who's already drawn such a clear line between us with money!"

"Uh..." Ye Qiu froze, then gave a bitter smile, understanding that it was because of the money he had secretly slipped him. "What are you saying, Village Chief? That was a token of filial respect."

"Grandpa Zhang, how did Ye Qiu make you angry?" Xiao Wu asked curiously.

"Nothing. Here! This is the living allowance Grandpa prepared for you two. Keep it safe!" Old Man Zhang pulled out a small pouch of coins from somewhere and placed it in Xiao Wu's hand.

"Then thank you, Grandpa!" The little rabbit did not seem to know how to refuse and accepted it directly.

Only after seeing her take it did Old Man Zhang proudly glance at Ye Qiu. "Hmph! Get on the cart."

"Hehe." Ye Qiu scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly. He really was an old child.

Their means of travel was simple: a sturdy yellow ox pulling a two-wheeled cart. Straw covered the bottom, carrying the fresh scent of nature.

The cart was open on all sides, sunlight pouring in as the scenery along the road unfolded before them.

Biyou Village was not far from Nuoding City. Well, at the ox cart's speed, they should arrive by afternoon.

Near noon, Old Man Zhang drove the cart while Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu sat facing each other.

The rabbit, who had been full of excitement at first, was now listless. She was dozing off even as she nibbled on a carrot.

She shifted her backside and slowly moved closer to Ye Qiu, hugging his arm. "Ye Qiu~ I'm a little sleepy! Ugh~"

She yawned as she spoke, though her eyes remained bright.

"If you're sleepy, get some sleep." Ye Qiu, his eyes covered, responded casually.

"Okay then!"

The moment she finished speaking, Ye Qiu felt his shoulder sink. Xiao Wu had rested her head against it, her arms still wrapped around his.

After one glance, Ye Qiu looked away.

When we reach Nuoding City, Tang Hao should discover Xiao Wu's identity as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, right?

It was not as though Ye Qiu had never considered taking her away, but where could they go?

He only had Level Four Innate Soul Power. Even if he could join some small faction, there was no guarantee that nothing unexpected would happen.

For Xiao Wu, perhaps following the original path was the safest option for now.

At the very least, it would give him enough time to grow stronger. Besides, he had his own plans for coming here!

Outside Ye Qiu's line of sight, Xiao Wu secretly opened her eyes and watched his profile, her brows curving with delight.

Then, noticing Old Man Zhang looking over, her face flushed red, making him chuckle.

Time passed slowly. In the distance, pointed rooftops emerged. Most buildings on Douluo Continent were Western in style.

"Wow! Ye Qiu, look, it's so pretty~" Xiao Wu excitedly shook Ye Qiu's arm. Having never seen much of the world, she was brimming with energy again.

"It really is beautiful." Ye Qiu was somewhat moved as well. After all, he was just as much of a country bumpkin.

"Haha. I was just like you two when I came here for the first time." Old Man Zhang began reminiscing about the past as the mood struck him.

The ox cart stopped outside the city gates, and the three entered the city on foot.

When they reached the Soul Master Academy gates, they did not receive the same treatment as the protagonist Tang San. Perhaps someone had already taught them a lesson.

The procedures were handled quickly. The two were assigned to the same dormitory—the place where it all began, Dormitory Seven!

At the entrance to Dormitory Seven, the two, having already said goodbye to Old Man Zhang, arrived carrying their luggage.

The first thing they saw upon entering was a dozen or so boys with bruised and swollen faces.

Only one person was an exception. Though he looked somewhat malnourished and was not particularly handsome, his clothes were neat, and he carried himself with confidence and composure.

This should be Tang San, right?

Looking at the so-called protagonist before him, Ye Qiu could not help feeling a ripple in his heart.

"Are you two students from Dormitory Seven as well?" Wang Sheng, the background character, began introducing them.

"I'm Wang Sheng, and this is our boss, Tang San. Whoever beats him can become our new boss!"

"Becoming the boss? Sure, Sister Xiao Wu likes that!" Xiao Wu had long grown used to being the big sister around Da Ming and Er Ming, so she was especially interested in this sort of thing.

Wang Sheng then looked at Ye Qiu, the boy. "What about you?"

"Sorry, my strength is limited." With an apologetic smile, he silently chose a bed and placed his belongings on it.

"Ye Qiu, just wait! Once Sister Xiao Wu becomes the boss, I'll look after you! Hehe."

"Then I'll thank you in advance."

Watching the smug little fool of a rabbit, Ye Qiu responded with a smile. He wondered whether she could still be this lively if she learned that her identity might already have been exposed.

"Hey! You there! What are you staring at me for? Get over here and take a beating!"

She provocatively called out to the skinny, dark boy standing before her in a daze.

"Boss, boss!"

"Huh?" Only after Wang Sheng called out did Tang San finally come back to his senses.

They hit it off that quickly? Ye Qiu curled his lips. After living two lives, this is all it takes?

"Hello, I am Tang San! My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, and I have Innate Full Soul Power!" He gave Xiao Wu a proper cupped-fist salute as he introduced himself, inwardly praising her. This girl is truly adorable.

"Blue Silver Grass? That thing can have Innate Full Soul Power?" Though Xiao Wu found it strange, she merely teased him a little before introducing herself. "My name is Xiao Wu, Wu as in dancing! My Martial Soul is the Soft Bone Rabbit, and I also have Innate Full Soul Power!"

"Let's begin!"

Whoosh! The moment the introductions ended, Xiao Wu kicked off like a rabbit and shot toward Tang San.

The fight began. Ye Qiu stopped what he was doing, his Sharingan quietly activating as he fixed his gaze on Tang San's movements.

The Sharingan combined the abilities of an insight eye, copying eye, and hypnotic eye. It could copy ninjutsu and taijutsu, cast Illusion Techniques, and grant exceptional visual perception for close combat.

Tang San's fighting ability was certainly not weak. There was still much Ye Qiu could learn from him at present.

Facing the charging Xiao Wu, Tang San focused himself as well. Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!

His figure flickered as he dodged Xiao Wu's attack, then he used a grappling technique to seize her ankle and throw her flying.

"Ah!" The onlookers cried out, thinking that such a delicate girl was about to have an intimate encounter with the floor.

Yet Xiao Wu twisted her body and landed steadily, not forgetting to wink at Ye Qiu.

Tang San had originally been worried and was about to catch her, but he had not expected Xiao Wu's flexibility to be the real deal.

Seeing her land safely, he remained where he was. "Amazing!"