"Hm? What did you say?!"
Ye Qiu froze for a moment. He hadn't heard clearly, so he leaned closer and asked again.
When Ye Qiu leaned toward her, Xiao Wu's heart skipped a beat. Her face flushed bright red as she remembered how he'd acted when he bullied her. She set down the carrot in her hand and swallowed the sweet, crisp mouthful. "Sister Xiao Wu said... would you kick me away?"
"Uh, haha." Ye Qiu paused, then laughed. He hadn't expected Xiao Wu to ask him something like that. His interest was piqued at once. Propping his cheek on one hand, he let a hint of amusement flicker in his dark eyes.
"You don't need to worry about that. I won't kick you away for now. We'll see when you're a little older. After all, you made me miss out on so much rabbit meat. Just do what you said earlier and make it up to me with yourself. Let me eat you."
After speaking, Ye Qiu smacked his lips and looked at Xiao Wu with a hint of anticipation.
Xiao Wu had often sensed the improper thoughts Ye Qiu had whenever he imagined her grown up, so she understood what he meant by "eat." Her heart suddenly raced. She gritted her teeth, her eyelids turning red with embarrassment, and cried out, "You—you're not allowed to think about those bad things!"
"Fine, I'll try not to. But are you still going to make it up to me with yourself?"
Ye Qiu chuckled and nodded. He was still a child, after all. Thinking about that kind of thing really wasn't good for his development.
Looking at her delicate, doll-like face and the strands of light brown hair swaying by her eyes, he gave her another teasing smile and reached out to pinch her soft cheek.
"Ah, you!"
Just as he was about to touch her, Xiao Wu cried out and dodged, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Not a chance! You just said you didn't like that!"
Ye Qiu smiled faintly and looked Xiao Wu up and down for a moment. He crossed his index fingers and thumbs to make a frame, then looked at her through it and said with a casual smile, "I never said I didn't like it. Of course, if you don't grow up to be pretty, I won't want you."
"What?! But you already..." Xiao Wu's expression changed, and a hint of panic appeared on her face. She stopped herself before finishing and looked at Ye Qiu aggrievedly.
He'd already kissed her, and she'd kissed him too. In Ye Qiu's words, they'd already sealed the deal. How could he say that?
Xiao Wu blinked, sniffed, and hurriedly cried, "Sister Xiao Wu will definitely be prettier when she grows up!"
Her eyes were reddish around the rims, their flushed color shimmering with tears. She looked so lovely that Ye Qiu's mood improved considerably.
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about it anymore. We can discuss that once you've grown up without turning ugly." Ye Qiu waved a hand, stopping while he was ahead. He'd only been joking, anyway. Once Xiao Wu grew up, he was sure she'd be beautiful, both in face and figure.
Ye Qiu reached into his clothes, took out several lollipops, and placed them on the table. "Here, just make do with these for lunch. I'll take the lunchbox back to Grandpa Jack and tell him not to prepare rabbit meat tonight."
"Ye Qiu, where are you taking all those bunnies?"
Looking at the lollipops on the table, then at Ye Qiu packing up the rabbit meat, Xiao Wu couldn't help asking.
"We can't let it go to waste. I'm taking it back to Grandpa Jack. Just pretend you didn't see it."
"Oh~"
Xiao Wu gave in and nodded.
With that, Ye Qiu stopped paying attention to her and headed outside. When he saw the bed boards outside, he remembered to remind Xiao Wu, "Oh, and bring in the bed boards drying outside once they're done. They might crack if you leave them in the sun too long."
"Did you hear me?!"
"Sister Xiao Wu heard you!"
Only after hearing her sharp reply did Ye Qiu pick up the things and head to Old Jack's house.
Xiao Wu looked at the candy on the table and remembered their conversation. Her face burned.
It was all Ye Qiu's fault!
He was always saying such improper things.
Xiao Wu touched her little face, then looked down at her small frame. Suddenly, she felt a little anxious. What if she didn't grow up to be as pretty as Ye Qiu imagined?
"Ah~ How could Sister Xiao Wu possibly grow up to be ugly!"
By this time, some villagers were already heading back to the fields to work. The greetings he received along the way left Ye Qiu a little hoarse.
But they also gave him the feeling of returning home in glory. After all, to these villagers, being a Soul Master was a truly prestigious profession.
Time flew by.
As the sun began to set,
the villagers working in the fields shouldered their hoes and headed home.
On a small hill where Tang San often trained,
three figures stood.
Perhaps Tang San had just lost his father and was feeling lonely, miserable, and cold. He'd actually taken the initiative to seek them out and invite Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu for a walk and a chat.
Ye Qiu hadn't refused. Perhaps Tang San wanted to claim another big brother? He brought Xiao Wu along and followed him.
On the hillside, Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu each had a Silent Sleeve Arrow strapped to their wrist. Tang San had given them the weapons after showing off a little.
So he wasn't trying to claim another big brother. Ye Qiu wasn't convinced, but he understood that Tang San didn't want to let anyone ride roughshod over him.
Ye Qiu stood in the middle, watching the sunset on the horizon. His smile was bright and sunny, giving him a very approachable air.
Xiao Wu stood beside him, watching his profile. He still looked like a child, but the sunset outlined his confidence, making him seem radiant.
Tang San was watching Ye Qiu quietly too.
Over the past year, he'd come to realize that Ye Qiu's talent was exceptional, and already surpassed his own. Although he'd wasted some time on theory and Hidden Weapons, Ye Qiu's talent was undeniable.
He'd also learned a little about Ye Qiu's temperament. Ye Qiu usually didn't care much about anything, and got along with all the children. He wasn't particularly calculating.
He did have a mischievous streak now and then.
And perhaps he was a little lecherous?! But he was still quite thrifty. He never left grains of rice in his bowl.
Ye Qiu stretched both arms and yawned, then turned to Tang San. "San, it's getting late. Let's call it a day. We'll have plenty of chances later."
"Mm. See you tomorrow, then." Tang San smiled faintly. He was quite pleased by the shock on Ye Qiu's face when he'd seen the Hidden Weapons.
People admired the strong, especially in the Soul Master World, where the tendency was even more pronounced! He was confident he could make Ye Qiu respect him, until that respect turned into submission!
Unfortunately, Tang San didn't know that Ye Qiu was a skilled actor. His shock had all been fake.
"San, see you!" Xiao Wu called out to Tang San. When she turned back, Ye Qiu had already gone some distance ahead. Xiao Wu stamped her foot, then had no choice but to hurry after him in little steps.
"Y-Ye Qiu, you're too fast. Wait for Sister Xiao Wu!"
"Run faster!"
Ye Qiu didn't slow down just because Xiao Wu called out.
He had to make Xiao Wu understand that no matter how fast he moved forward, he wouldn't stop just because she told him not to.
Watching them walk away and hearing them bicker, Tang San couldn't help giving a bitter smile. It seemed only Ye Qiu could handle Xiao Wu. But the sight of Xiao Wu catching up and clinging to Ye Qiu made Tang San's smile stiffen again.
They went to Old Jack's house to pick up dinner. When Xiao Wu confirmed there was no rabbit meat, she visibly relaxed. Carrying the food in one hand and holding Ye Qiu's arm with the other, she walked alongside him like a little wife.
Glancing at the things she was carrying, Xiao Wu asked Ye Qiu curiously, "Ye Qiu, where did Tang San get that thing called a Sleeve Arrow?"
"I'll tell you later." Ye Qiu glanced at her and answered casually. He didn't break his stride, but his forearm, hidden in his sleeve, had already undergone Martial Soul Possession.
Hidden Weapons had gaps in them. As long as there were gaps, poison could seep inside. Ye Qiu could easily figure out how they were built.
Ye Qiu already knew what Tang San was thinking, but a little Silent Sleeve Arrow wasn't enough to satisfy his appetite.
Besides, with Xiao Wu there—and Tang Hao already aware of her identity—their relationship was doomed to end badly unless father and son were willing to give up the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone.
Not to mention that he'd secretly joined Spirit Hall.
"Oh~" Xiao Wu nodded dejectedly and said no more. She gripped Ye Qiu's sleeve tightly and followed close by his side, step by step.
Hope you all enjoy your lives!
Before you continue