Where Did Qing Mu Go?

"Thank you for comforting me."

After crying for quite a while and receiving Qing Mu's constant reassurance, Meng Yiran finally calmed down.

"Qing Mu, I plan to wait here for one night. If Grandpa and Grandma still haven't come out alive by tomorrow, I'll enter the Star Dou Great Forest to search for their bodies."

Meng Yiran's tone was very calm when she said this, but Qing Mu clearly knew that she had already made up her mind.

If Dragon Duke and Snake Dowager had not emerged by tomorrow, she truly would enter the Star Dou Great Forest.

But then, Meng Yiran suddenly looked at Qing Mu, her eyes full of hope. "So, before then, could you stay with me? Just here is fine!"

The living had to be seen, and the dead had to be found. No matter what, she could not bear the thought of the grandparents who had loved her since childhood leaving their corpses in the wilderness.

But Meng Yiran also knew clearly that the Star Dou Great Forest would be extremely dangerous even tomorrow. She could die, but Qing Mu was not her, and there was no need for him to take such a risk.

Hearing this and seeing the anticipation in Meng Yiran's eyes, Qing Mu fell silent for a moment before slowly nodding.

When Meng Yiran saw Qing Mu agree, a bright gleam appeared in her eyes, and she seemed very happy inside.

Meng Yiran felt relieved. Having someone by my side before I die means I'm quite fortunate after all.

"I'll go into town and buy you some food. Even Spirit Masters need to eat."

After saying that, Qing Mu quickly headed toward the town.

Meng Yiran remained where she was, because she believed Qing Mu would not deceive her over something like this.

If he wanted to run away, there was no need for him to agree to her request just now.

Sure enough, after a short while, Qing Mu returned with Bulbasaur. Various delicious-looking foods hung from Bulbasaur's Vine Whip.

Looking at the mountain of food before her, Meng Yiran did not know whether to laugh or cry. "So much food—are you sending me off?"

Though Meng Yiran said that, she still accepted the food Bulbasaur offered with its Vine Whip and began eating in small bites.

After all, if Dragon Duke and Snake Dowager still had not emerged tomorrow, this would be her last meal.

Time passed second by second, and soon the entire night had gone by.

As the orange-red sun rose over the horizon, Meng Yiran stood up and took one deep look at Qing Mu.

"Goodbye, Qing Mu!"

After saying that, Meng Yiran headed toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

However, before she had taken more than a few steps, two sounds of rushing wind came from the distance.

Two familiar figures then flew out of the Star Dou Great Forest, rapidly approaching Meng Yiran.

Moments later, the two figures stopped in front of Meng Yiran. They were Dragon Duke and Snake Dowager!

At this moment, Dragon Duke and Snake Dowager looked extremely disheveled, and even their auras were weak. It was obvious that they had been seriously injured.

"Grandpa, Grandma, you're all right?"

Seeing this, Meng Yiran immediately rushed forward excitedly and hugged Dragon Duke and Snake Dowager.

Dragon Duke stroked Meng Yiran's head and smiled. "Yiran, aren't we fine?"

"Grandpa, weren't you targeted by that Titan Giant Ape? Why...?"

Hearing this, Meng Yiran wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and looked at Dragon Duke in confusion.

Dragon Duke sighed. "We owe the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a great debt of gratitude this time. If we hadn't happened to encounter them, we might truly have perished in the Star Dou Great Forest."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Meng Yiran was startled when she heard that name.

Dragon Duke nodded. "Yes. They had also come for that Titan Giant Ape, because the young princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect happened to be in the Star Dou Great Forest hunting Soul Beasts with her classmates. One of her friends was captured by the Titan Giant Ape, so she summoned nearby members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

If they hadn't helped us, we wouldn't have been able to drive back the Titan Giant Ape either."

But as he said this, a trace of confusion flashed through Dragon Duke's eyes.

Although they had received help from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Titan Giant Ape had still held an overwhelming advantage at the time. Yet for some reason, it had retreated on its own in the end. Could it have been worried about drawing more human experts here?

But that was unlikely. Given the strength the Titan Giant Ape had displayed, unless several Titled Douluo joined forces to besiege it, it could not possibly face much of a threat, let alone be killed!

"Then we really have to thank the people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"

After hearing Dragon Duke's explanation, Meng Yiran also revealed a hint of relief. Fortunately, they had encountered people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Otherwise, given Dragon Duke and Snake Dowager's condition at the time, they basically could not have survived.

"We'll pay a special visit to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect later. It's just a pity about that Thousand-Year Man Faced Demon Spider. I originally wanted to use it as your Third Soul Ring."

As he spoke, Dragon Duke sighed. He had even offended some people for the sake of that Man Faced Demon Spider, yet he had never expected it to die at the hands of the Titan Giant Ape.

But fortunately, on the way back, Snake Dowager had told him that Meng Yiran had absorbed the Soul Ring of a Thousand-Year Phoenix Tail Chicken Crown Snake. Compared to the Man Faced Demon Spider, it was no worse and perhaps even better, so there was no need to worry about Meng Yiran's Soul Ring.

At this moment, Snake Dowager suddenly asked, "Yiran, where is that boy who was with you?"

"Qing Mu? He's right..."

However, Meng Yiran froze halfway through her sentence. Behind her, where were Qing Mu and Bulbasaur's figures?

Elsewhere, Qing Mu was bathed in the morning sunlight as he ran rapidly alongside the Star Dou Great Forest with Bulbasaur.

Qing Mu's senses were far sharper than Meng Yiran's. The instant Meng Yiran stood up, he had sensed Dragon Duke and Snake Dowager's arrival and immediately left the area.

He had many secrets. If he traveled with Meng Yiran's family, not only might he be exposed, but he would also be unable to act freely.

Encountering Meng Yiran and her group this time had completely exceeded his expectations. Naturally, Qing Mu could not continue on with Meng Yiran's family to Exotic Beast Academy.

Although Exotic Beast Academy's cultivation experience regarding Exotic Beast Martial Souls was highly appealing to Qing Mu, it was not as though he had to attend Exotic Beast Academy. After all, his Bulbasaur was no ordinary Exotic Beast Martial Soul.

"Roar!!"

At that moment, a Honey Badger-like Soul Beast leaped out of the nearby forest and pounced directly at the seemingly weak Qing Mu.

"Courting death!"

Seeing this, Qing Mu's gaze flashed. The Second Spirit Ring on his body lit up, and green energy transformed into several green beams that connected directly to the Honey Badger.

A great amount of energy was immediately drawn from the Honey Badger, flowing back through the green beams into Qing Mu's body and restoring the Soul Power he had expended.