Trouble at Home—What About Outside?

Hearing Xiao Wu's words, the Titan Giant Ape rumbled:

"Big Sister Xiao Wu! The Transformation Early Stage is very dangerous, and if you don't become a god, you won't be able to live that long!"

"Why do both Aunt and you want to transform?"

Xiao Wu fell silent for a moment before softly saying, "A Hundred Thousand Years... is enough!"

"Although transforming may mean a short lifespan, I can experience a different kind of life!"

The Titan Giant Ape did not understand. "Huh? Isn't life right now good?"

"It is, but..."

"But what?"

Seeing how dense the Titan Giant Ape was, the Sky Azure Bull Python hurriedly poked his butt with the tip of its tail.

"Why did you poke me?" The Titan Giant Ape glared at the Sky Azure Bull Python and hurriedly covered his butt.

The Sky Azure Bull Python closed its eyes helplessly.

This humanoid creature really had nothing but muscles in his head!

Lucifer understood.

Xiao Wu and her mother had grown tired of life as Soul Beasts and wanted to experience how humans lived.

Thinking about it, he found it reasonable.

Although they had lived for a Hundred Thousand Years, they had probably never even left the Star Dou Great Forest.

The wonders of Douluo Continent did not belong to them.

Even within the Star Dou Great Forest, they probably had not lived all that freely.

Not only did they have to deal with the mutual slaughter among Soul Beasts, they also had to avoid powerful Soul Masters who came seeking Spirit Rings.

Lucifer smiled. "If it were me, I'd choose a brilliant hundred years over ten thousand years of stifling misery!"

He was that kind of person too.

It could only be said that they made different choices.

The Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape were quite content with their current lives and had no plans to transform for the time being.

Of course, perhaps they planned to transform one at a time. Transforming simultaneously was far too dangerous.

This heavy topic came to an abrupt halt among the three Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.

They began discussing the matter at hand again.

"What should we do next?" the Sky Azure Bull Python asked.

Xiao Wu decisively said, "Same old rules. Er Ming, go catch a myna!"

"Okay!" The Titan Giant Ape received the order and left immediately, sending dust trembling across the ground.

"Da Ming, let's retreat a little. Don't let the humans suspect Mom!"

"Mm!"

Elsewhere, Ah Rou sensed the three little ones moving farther away and understood.

This was not the first time they had dealt with such a situation. They had a tacit understanding.

"They really left!" Qian Renxue let out a sigh of relief and admired Ah Rou greatly.

Ah Rou smiled faintly. "Let's keep going!"

She gathered Qian Renxue into her arms again and continued on her way.

After some time...

"That is..."

Lucifer looked up and spotted a Parrot-Type Soul Beast in the sky.

"Is that the myna they mentioned?"

"It probably has less than Ten Thousand Years of cultivation."

"So they wanted to gather intelligence!"

Lucifer ignored it. That Parrot-Type Soul Beast would never be able to discover him anyway.

Ah Rou merely glanced up at the Parrot-Type Soul Beast before continuing onward with her head lowered.

Qian Renxue nestled against her chest, enjoying herself comfortably.

The sun gradually sank, and the sky slowly darkened.

Although Ah Rou could have continued traveling, she also had to consider Qian Renxue.

"Let's set up camp and rest for a while!"

"Mm!"

Ah Rou set Qian Renxue down. The little girl reluctantly released the hands she had wrapped around Ah Rou's neck.

Standing on the ground, Qian Renxue felt an emptiness after satisfaction.

That gentle embrace had been far too wonderful!

Leaving it behind actually made her feel a little lost!

Ah Rou gathered some firewood and lit a bonfire.

"Rest for now. I'll go find something to eat!"

"This area is relatively safe, and I won't go too far. Don't worry!"

Ah Rou patted Qian Renxue's head, then turned and left.

Watching her retreating figure, Qian Renxue suddenly feared that she would leave and never return.

"Mom!"

"Mm?"

Ah Rou turned around in confusion.

"Will you come back?"

So that was it!

Ah Rou smiled. "I won't leave you alone. Don't worry!"

"And..."

She had wanted to say that Qian Renxue could call her Aunt Rou, but after thinking it over, she decided against it.

If this form of address could make Qian Renxue feel safer, then she could call her that!

She would correct her after getting her somewhere safe.

"What do you like to eat?" Ah Rou finally asked.

"Anything you make... I like it all."

"Alright!"

Ah Rou's figure disappeared into the darkness.

Qian Renxue sat beside the bonfire with her knees hugged to her chest, staring blankly in the direction Ah Rou had left.

At that moment, she unconsciously compared the two people who looked exactly alike.

They were far too different!

One was cold and cruel!

The other was gentle!

Their attitudes toward her were worlds apart as well!

She thought of that earlier dream and the scene before Douluo Hall.

Bibi Dong had never responded to Qian Renxue calling for her from behind!

Yet Ah Rou turned back the moment she heard her call!

How ridiculous that her own mother was the one who treated her badly!

A stranger she had only met once treated her even better than her own mother!

Drip!

A tear slipped from Qian Renxue's eye without her realizing it.

In the darkness, Lucifer did not believe Ah Rou had merely gone to find food.

He quietly followed her.

Sure enough!

He discovered Ah Rou meeting up with Xiao Wu and the others.

"Aunt, you saved another human!" the Titan Giant Ape began with an obvious statement.

Ah Rou nodded and briefly explained what had happened.

However, she concealed Qian Renxue's identity and background because she did not want Xiao Wu and the others to worry.

In fact, she had never even told them that Qian Renxue looked identical to the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall.

After all, Xiao Wu and the others had not transformed and did not interact with human society. Even if they knew, it would be useless and would only make them worry for nothing.

The Sky Azure Bull Python noticed something suspicious. "Aunt, but... you found her in the west. Wouldn't heading west be faster?"

"A group of powerful Soul Masters came from the west. I don't want to run into them." Ah Rou stopped there.

The Sky Azure Bull Python did not press further.

Ah Rou turned her gaze toward Xiao Wu, only to find that something was off about her.

Xiao Wu lowered her eyelids and stared at the ground, refusing to look at her.

"Xiao Wu, what's wrong?" Ah Rou stepped forward and stroked Xiao Wu's snow-white fur.

The Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape both knew that Xiao Wu had been sulking for quite a while!

Xiao Wu turned her head away. "Why are you acting like someone else's mother out there?"

Ah Rou glanced at the Parrot Soul Beast dangling from the Titan Giant Ape's hand and sighed softly.

She knew it!

"Do you not want to be my mother anymore?" The pink in Xiao Wu's eyes deepened slightly. "Because I'm not well-behaved?"

"Xiao Wu, listen to me!"

Ah Rou hurriedly soothed her. "That girl calls me that because I look very, very much like her mother!"

"She got lost alone in the Star Dou Great Forest and was very frightened!"

"She probably just feels insecure and wants someone to rely on!"

Xiao Wu did not accept that explanation. "Then why didn't you refuse?"

"I was only comforting her. Once I get her somewhere safe, I'll correct how she addresses me!"

"You enjoyed her calling you Mom?"

"No! Absolutely not!"

"..."

"..."

After the mother and daughter talked it out, they finally reconciled.

Xiao Wu forgave Ah Rou on the condition that she had to correct Qian Renxue's form of address when she returned.

Ah Rou agreed without hesitation!

With trouble brewing at home, she could no longer worry about what was outside!