Take the small stick, flee the big one

Papal Palace, confinement room.

The conditions here were far worse than in the side hall last time. Thick obsidian walls enclosed all four sides, with only a tiny ventilation window high above.

Xuan Hao sat cross-legged on the cold, hard stone bed, staring dazedly at the blood-red Soul Ring pulsing at his fingertips.

Level 35.

Ah Rou's sacrifice had not only given him a hundred-thousand-year third Soul Ring unlike any other on the continent, but had also forcibly raised his Soul Power by thirteen levels, taking him straight from Soul Grandmaster to the middle ranks of Soul Elder.

Not to mention the hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit Left Leg Bone, which radiated warmth as it fused perfectly with his left leg.

This was a chance to ascend to heaven in a single step.

Yet all Xuan Hao wanted to do now was cry.

"This time... I really went too far."

Xuan Hao withdrew his Soul Power and slumped against the wall.

It had been a full half month since he returned to the Papal Palace.

After throwing him in here, Bibi Dong had never shown her face again.

No scolding, no beatings, not even a word from the maid who usually brought his meals—she had turned mute, too.

This deathly silence was ten thousand times more terrifying than last time.

Before, if he caused a little trouble and Bibi Dong scolded him or even gave him a beating, it was no big deal.

But this time?

Because of his "tip-off" and "meddling," the two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts practically in Bibi Dong's mouth had flown away, along with two sets of Soul Rings and Soul Bones.

A loss like that would drive anyone mad.

Xuan Hao rubbed his left leg and shuddered.

Although Bibi Dong had treated him quite well over their two years together, how much was their bond as teacher and disciple really worth in the face of overwhelming gains?

He dared not gamble.

If he won, he could continue being her favored disciple.

If he lost, his little life would be forfeit.

So he had to run!

As long as the green hills remained, there would always be firewood to burn.

Once he made something of himself out there, or became a Titled Douluo, it would not be too late to return bearing thorn branches to beg forgiveness.

Staying here now meant being a fish on the chopping board!

The hundred-thousand-year Left Leg Bone Ah Rou had left him granted him two very useful Soul Skills.

The first was Dream's Other Shore. This top-tier mental illusion skill could force an opponent into their sweetest dream or most terrifying nightmare. Unless their Spiritual Power far surpassed his, escaping would be extremely difficult.

The second was Teleportation.

Now that was a divine escape skill!

He could move instantly anywhere within a hundred meters, regardless of terrain. There was no cooldown, either; as long as he had enough Soul Power, he could teleport endlessly in succession. Each teleport consumed only one percent of his Soul Power.

In other words, he could even teleport several kilometers in one go!

Moreover, although his Silver Dragon Spirit had yet to receive any Soul Rings, he was born with an exceptionally strong affinity for the elements.

And over these past two years, the cultivation methods Bibi Dong had given him had helped him develop strong control over his Spiritual Power.

As his Spiritual Power spread outward, the surrounding wind, light, earth, and other elements became tiny informants, clearly relaying the Papal Palace's layout and the guards' positions to his mind.

"Route planned."

Xuan Hao opened his eyes and pulled paper and a pen from his Storage Ring.

Although he had decided to run, they were still teacher and disciple. He could not leave too heartlessly.

He chewed on the pen for a moment, then sent it dancing across the page like dragons and serpents, composing an extraordinarily heartfelt farewell letter:

[To my beloved sister:

Seeing these words is like seeing me in person.

By the time you read this letter, I will already have flown far away.

I know I caused a terrible disaster on this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, inflicting tremendous losses on you. Your disciple is overwhelmed with guilt and cannot sleep at night. Whenever I recall the disappointment in your eyes, my heart feels as though it is being cut by knives.

But I'm even more afraid that, in your anger, you'll tear me apart to vent your frustration.

As the ancients said: take the small stick, flee the big one.

That means when parents or teachers hit you with a small stick, it's discipline, and you should take it.

But if they bring out a big club, someone could die. You have to run quickly, so you don't lead your parents or teachers into wrongdoing.

I think your current anger probably falls into the super-sized club category.

To preserve my little life, and to keep you from gaining a reputation for killing your disciple, I've decided to go out and lie low for a while.

Xuan Hao will forever remember the kindness of your teachings and would never dare forget it.

Once you've calmed down, or forgotten all about this, your disciple will certainly return to toil like an ox or horse for you, care for you in old age and see you to your grave (crossed out)... honor you!

—Left by your disappointing, death-fearing wicked disciple: Xuan Hao.]

Once he finished, Xuan Hao blew the ink dry, folded the letter, and respectfully placed it in the most conspicuous spot on the stone bed.

Then he stood up, walked to the ventilation window, and peered through the gap at the sky outside.

It was noon, and the sunlight blazed.

At this time, the Papal Palace guards were changing shifts, and most deacons and bishops were eating or taking their midday rest. It was the least vigilant hour of the day.

Besides, the Papal Palace was full of people and prying eyes.

Running in the middle of the night would be courting death. Even the slightest ripple of Soul Power would stand out like a beacon in the silent darkness.

Only at the busiest, brightest hour was there the perfect chance to hide in the darkness beneath the lamp.

"Whew..."

Xuan Hao took a deep breath, calming his nerves.

"Sorry, sister. This is emergency self-preservation."

The next second, silver light flashed in his eyes. He activated Elemental Perception to its fullest and instantly locked onto a blind spot in the patrolling guards' field of view outside the confinement room.

"Teleportation!"

Bzz—

Space twisted slightly. The confinement room stood empty, leaving only a sheet of letter paper tucked beneath the pillow, fluttering gently in the breeze.

Outside Spirit City, the night was black as ink.

When darkness completely swallowed the last lingering rays of sunset, a somewhat bedraggled figure appeared in a patch of untamed woodland ten li beyond Spirit City's northern gate.

"Huff... huff..."

Xuan Hao leaned against a dead tree trunk, gasping for breath, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

Although Teleportation consumed very little Soul Power, even that added up when he cast it nonstop at high frequency all afternoon.

To avoid the omnipresent patrols, he had to calculate every landing point precisely, keeping his mind tightly wound the entire time.

For a whole afternoon, he had flitted through Spirit City's shadows like a ghost. Finally, at the very last moment before the gates closed, he slipped out beneath a wagon in a merchant caravan, then ran all the way here without stopping.

"Finally... I'm out."

Xuan Hao looked back at distant Spirit City, still ablaze with lights in the night, and a flicker of complicated emotion crossed his eyes.

"Sister, don't blame me."

Xuan Hao cupped his hands toward Spirit City.

"I'm a coward, and I treasure my life. We have plenty of time ahead of us. Once I feel my neck's tough enough that no blade can cut through it, I'll come back and honor you."

After resting briefly and recovering some strength, Xuan Hao checked his bearings, then turned without hesitation and disappeared into the night to the northwest.

Destination: Nuoding City, Fasinuo Province.

He had not chosen this destination on a whim, but after careful consideration.

First, it lay near the border between the two great empires. Remote and underdeveloped, it was somewhere Spirit Hall's control was relatively weak—the ideal place to hide.

Second, and most importantly—for Xiao Wu.

Three days earlier, while he was half asleep in the confinement room, his Left Leg Bone had suddenly heated up, and the Soul Skill called Dream's Other Shore had activated on its own, beyond his control.

But he had not fallen into an illusion. Instead, amid an ocean of pink dreams, he had met Ah Rou again.

A hundred-thousand-year soul beast's sacrifice was extraordinarily potent and unique. While burning away her life, Ah Rou had lodged her soul inside this Soul Bone.

And Dream's Other Shore, a Soul Skill involving the mental realm, happened to provide a nurturing haven for her soul.

In the dream, Ah Rou's figure was so insubstantial that she seemed liable to disperse at any moment. Her only request was that Xuan Hao find a chance to check on Xiao Wu.

Although Xuan Hao did not want to be a babysitter, he had taken the Soul Ring and Soul Bone bought with her mother's life. If he refused even this little bit of after-sales service, he would be utterly shameless.

According to Ah Rou, before Xiao Wu took human form, she had already planned their next destination: Fasinuo Province.

Over the years, Ah Rou had stayed on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, occasionally leaving the forest to interact with humans in nearby towns and thereby advance her cultivation.

She had also gathered plenty of information about the human world. Fasinuo Province was remote, far from Spirit City, and an agricultural region with little Soul Master activity. For them, it could be called the safest place of all.

Only after Ah Rou reached level 70 had she allowed Xiao Wu to take human form, intending to bring her into the human world. But then...

Nuoding City. If the timing is right, Tang San should be starting school now. Tang Hao, the Blue Silver Emperor...

Riches and honor are found amid danger.

I'll try my luck when I get there.