Lin Ye knew his request was a bit much. He rubbed his hands sheepishly and said with a cheeky grin, "Come on, we're practically family. You were leaning on my shoulder before, and I didn't say a thing. How come you can ride me, but I can't ride you?"
"Qiu'er, you've got to learn how to get along with people. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. You can't just be selfish and take without giving, or you'll end up with no friends."
Lin Qiu'er shook her enormous head like a rattle drum. "I won't listen, I won't listen! You can forget about it. I'm not letting you ride me."
Lin Ye put on a sigh. "I treat you with all my heart. I give you the best food and drink, and I've fattened you up until you're nice and plump. But what about you? Do you even consider me a friend?"
Lin Qiu'er was at a loss for words. Put that way, she did feel a little guilty. It wasn't right to keep eating and drinking for free.
Besides, letting him ride her once didn't seem entirely unacceptable. Just like Lin Ye said, hadn't she leaned on his shoulder? That was more or less the same as having ridden him.
Thinking about it that way, she felt much less resistant.
"Ah, forget it. Tomorrow, I'll have Snow Empress send you back to the Star Dou Great Forest."
"What? You're kicking me out?" Lin Qiu'er froze.
Snow Empress and Ice Empress also turned to look at Lin Ye, unsure what he was up to. Neither of them wanted the Auspicious Beast to leave. It wasn't just because they'd been charmed by Lin Qiu'er's adorable appearance, but even more because of her status.
Lin Qiu'er stared at him with wide, innocent eyes, unable to believe he was rejecting her. This human wanted to kick her out.
Lin Ye spread his hands. "I get it now. We're not worthy of the Emperor Auspicious Beast. My humble little temple can't possibly accommodate such a great Buddha."
This was called feigning retreat to advance. Lin Ye didn't believe Lin Qiu'er truly wanted to return to the forest. She couldn't be done exploring the outside world, not when there were all kinds of delicious foods to try. No way would she be willing to give them up.
But Lin Qiu'er wasn't a fool. It only took her a moment to catch on. This despicable human brat was trying to blackmail her with good food. Her forehead was instantly covered in metaphorical black lines.
"Enough with the sarcasm. I'll let you ride me, okay?"
"Really?" Lin Ye changed his tune in an instant, looking at Lin Qiu'er with delight.
"Hmph. Just this once, and don't bring it up again."
"Sure, sure. Just once." Lin Ye agreed readily, overjoyed.
He placed his hands on her back, jumped up, and landed astride the Auspicious Beast.
Lin Qiu'er's fur was smooth, and a layer of scales covered her body, making her back feel a little slippery beneath Lin Ye. His hands instinctively reached for something to grab.
When he touched Lin Qiu'er's ear, she immediately turned her head away and dodged, keeping him from getting his way.
Lin Qiu'er twisted her enormous head around, bared her teeth, and let out a low growl, warning the two-legged creature on her back not to push his luck.
Night had fallen. Stars filled the sky, and the bright moon hung high overhead.
Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, master and disciple, had eaten some of the dry rations they'd brought along and were now resting against a tree.
They hadn't lit a fire, since the light might attract Soul Beasts.
Even in this forest, full of danger, Yu Xiaogang didn't forget to teach Tang San.
"Xiao San, remember this: a Soul Master's cultivation in their youth is the most important. Level thirty is a major threshold. If you can cross it before you turn twenty, your future will be limitless.
"On the other hand, if you still can't break through level thirty by the time you're twenty, your achievements will likely be quite limited."
In the darkness, Yu Xiaogang's dim eyes held a trace of unwillingness. He was afraid he'd never cross the level-thirty threshold in his lifetime.
"Teacher, I'll work hard," Tang San said solemnly.
"Mm." Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly. "You have Innate Full Soul Power, which gives you an advantage. But you can't let that make you slack off. Otherwise, you won't be worthy of being my disciple."
Tang San: "..."
Hearing that, he felt a little annoyed. What the hell? With Innate Full Soul Power and the talent of Twin Martial Souls, he was one of the rarest prodigies in the entire Soul Master World.
And Yu Xiaogang? He'd had only half a level of Innate Soul Power. Now, past fifty years old, he still couldn't break through level thirty. What gave him the nerve to think Tang San wasn't worthy of being his disciple?
Of course, Tang San only grumbled to himself. He would never say those things out loud.
"Luo Luo!" Luo Sanpao suddenly cried out.
The moment they heard the signal, the two of them went on alert. A Martial Soul was one with its master, and Yu Xiaogang immediately sensed the Soul Beast approaching.
"It's a pack of Youming Wolves. Xiao San, don't stray too far from me."
Beneath the night sky, more than a dozen green points of light were drawing closer.
A faint purple gleam flickered in Tang San's eyes as he used the eye technique he'd practiced for years: the Purple Demon Eye.
The Purple Demon Eye greatly enhanced his vision.
There were six Youming Wolves approaching them. Their fur was silver-gray, and each one was at least a meter and a half long.
As they drew closer, Yu Xiaogang recognized their cultivation levels and snorted disdainfully. "A few little ten-year wolves think they can cause trouble? Sanpao, attack!"
"Luo Luo!"
Luo Sanpao opened his dog's mouth wide and sucked in a huge gulp of air. His already fat belly swelled at an exaggerated rate, like a balloon being inflated.
"Thunderous fart, Earth-Shattering Luo Sanpao!" Yu Xiaogang shouted. At the same time, one of the two Soul Rings around him flew out and encircled Luo Sanpao.
The Soul Ring lit up with a yellow glow, especially conspicuous in the darkness.
Tang San's eyes widened. This was the first time he'd ever seen a Soul Master use a Soul Skill.
But then Yu Xiaogang handed him a mask.
Tang San put it on without thinking, then saw that Yu Xiaogang had already donned one himself.
The Youming Wolves kept closing in. Suddenly, Luo Sanpao turned his rear end toward them, aiming his cannon at the wolves.
The next moment, there was a bang. A huge cloud of yellow gas blasted out of his backside, accompanied by a foul stench.
That's right, it was a fart—a long, earthshaking, deafening, thunderous fart.
All six Youming Wolves were blown more than ten meters away. They crashed into trees, then fell helplessly to the ground.
All six were injured. Four struggled to their feet, spun around, and ran off at once.
The other two were too badly hurt to move. They could only lie on the ground, whimpering weakly and lamenting their companions' lack of loyalty.
Tang San stared in stunned disbelief. A Soul Skill could have such tremendous offensive power?
"Xiao San, get me two white radishes," Yu Xiaogang said beside him.
"Oh, right!" Tang San snapped out of it. He reached for the Twenty-Year Bridge Moonlit Night at his waist and took out two white radishes.
Yu Xiaogang casually tossed them to Luo Sanpao, who gobbled them up in a few bites. He chirped excitedly as he ate.
"Wait, Martial Souls need to eat, too?" Tang San was astonished once again.
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