Xiao Wu's Sacrifice

Looking at the Blue Silver Grass and then at Xiao Wu's reaction, Lin Ye was quite pleased with how well he'd driven a wedge between them.

Though it wasn't exactly driving a wedge between them. What had happened to Tang Hao was simply too coincidental, making it hard not to suspect him.

This was one of those situations where even if you claimed the mud on your pants wasn't shit, nobody would believe you.

"Big Sister Snow, let's go."

Having achieved his goal, Lin Ye was ready to leave.

Seeing this, the Blue Silver King hurriedly said, "Um, could you leave the Empress with me?"

Lin Ye refused without hesitation. "No. What if Tang Hao comes looking for you later? Can you protect her?"

The Blue Silver King was speechless.

Lin Ye continued, "If your Empress falls into the hands of Tang Hao and his son, do you think they might try to devour her and improve the quality of Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul?"

The Blue Silver King was horrified. How had he overlooked that? Given how unhinged Tang Hao was, it wasn't impossible that he'd do something like that.

So the Blue Silver King stopped trying to hold them back and could only watch as Lin Ye and the others left, taking Ah Yin with them.

Lin Ye sent the Ice Empress and Xiao Wu back first.

He still had to find his Second Soul Ring.

He'd originally planned to find one nearby, but this area was mostly inhabited by Plant-type Soul Beasts.

With no other choice, Lin Ye set off once more for the Star Dou Great Forest, home to the greatest variety and largest number of Soul Beasts.

Snow Empress and Lin Qiu'er went with him. The former was there to protect Lin Ye's safety.

Lin Qiu'er was simply making a trip home.

Under the cover of night, the forest seemed like a mysterious world. Moonlight filtered through the dense branches, scattering silver flecks across the ground as if laying a thin veil over the land. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, making them rustle.

The group sat around a blazing campfire.

The dancing flames illuminated Lin Ye's focused face.

A cleaned rabbit had been set over the fire, slowly turning. Flames licked at its meat, and an enticing aroma gradually filled the air.

By the time the rabbit was golden brown and crisp on the outside, tender within, Lin Qiu'er was already dying to eat. She was practically drooling, swallowing every so often.

"Go ahead, you little glutton."

Lin Ye smiled and ruffled Lin Qiu'er's round head, then tore off a rabbit leg and handed it to her.

She took it and immediately bit into it.

Then she spat it out. "Ptooey, it tastes awful!"

Lin Ye's face darkened. He'd cooked for her himself, and she was already complaining?

Was it really that bad?

Unconvinced, he tore off a piece of rabbit and popped it into his mouth. Then...

Well, it wasn't exactly awful, but it wasn't tasty, either.

Sure enough, whether in his previous life or this one, he had no talent for cooking.

Lin Ye set the roasted rabbit aside and silently took out some Beef Jerky to chew on.

Seeing their reactions, Snow Empress abandoned the idea of trying the rabbit, too.

"What you told the Blue Silver King today—is it true?" Snow Empress asked abruptly.

Lin Ye paused. "Big Sister Snow, do you think I lied to the Blue Silver King and was trying to drive a wedge between them?"

Snow Empress fell silent.

"I did want to drive a wedge between Tang Hao and the Blue Silver King. But I didn't make those things up."

"Not to mention Tang Hao, his son Tang San followed the same path." Lin Ye smiled.

"Oh? What do you mean?" Snow Empress suddenly became interested.

"In the original course of history, Xiao Wu was accepted into Notting Academy and assigned to the same dormitory as Tang San.

"The two got along well, and that was why Tang Hao didn't rush to make a move against Xiao Wu.

"Later, Tang San and Xiao Wu became sworn siblings."

Lin Qiu'er's eyes sparkled as her curiosity blazed. "Wow, like father, like son. They both liked taking a younger sister. Did Tang San fall for Xiao Wu, too?"

Lin Ye laughed and said pointedly, "You guessed right. He really did.

"And the funny thing is, years later, Tang San and Xiao Wu were also hunted by Spirit Hall. When they were in danger, Xiao Wu chose to sacrifice herself for Tang San, just like Ah Yin did."

The two women were stunned. The stories were so similar.

It seemed the Tang Family's schemes ran deep.

Snow Empress asked, "Where was Tang Hao then? He just watched Tang San get into danger?"

"Tang Hao? That guy cut off his own hands and feet and took out two Soul Bones. He'd gotten those Soul Bones from the Clear Sky Sect, so he wanted to return them."

The two women were shocked. Was there something wrong with his head?

"After losing the Soul Bones, Tang Hao's strength plummeted. So he went off to spend his old age with Ah Yin and left Tang San to avenge him."

The two women fell silent. They truly didn't know what to say. This was ridiculous beyond belief.

He cut off his hands and feet to return the Soul Bones?

Fine. You're noble and impressive.

But then you went off to retire and left your son to carry the burden for you?

Fine, just fine. What a guy!

Snow Empress lowered her gaze, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

"Looking at it this way, capturing Xiao Wu might not have been a bad thing after all."

At least she wouldn't die without knowing why. Snow Empress added silently.

There was nothing wrong with Soul Masters hunting Soul Beasts. After all, there was no way to improve one's cultivation without Soul Rings.

But using affection to seduce someone, then taking both their virtue and their Soul Ring—that was downright deranged and despicable.

Lin Ye shook his head. "Xiao Wu didn't die."

"She didn't?" Snow Empress was taken aback. "Didn't she sacrifice herself to Tang San?"

"She was going to, but I intercepted her before she could."

Lin Ye had learned all this from the Parchment.

He didn't need to imagine how furious Little Scumbag must have been when Lin Ye took Xiao Wu away and the Soul Ring he'd been about to get slipped right through his fingers!

Just thinking about it felt great.

"Then... what happened after that? What happened later?" Lin Qiu'er leaned closer and asked.

Lin Ye spoke solemnly. "Later, after I broke through to become a Titled Douluo, Xiao Wu sacrificed herself to me."

"Ah!" The two women were bewildered. Weren't Xiao Wu and Tang San close?

Lin Ye was always working against Tang San. Why would Xiao Wu sacrifice herself for him?

Lin Ye knew what they were wondering and explained, "It wasn't what you think. She wasn't trying to help me. She did it to weaken me.

"At the time, my Seventh and Eighth Soul Rings were both Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings. I'd planned to find a Ferocious Beast Soul Ring for my Ninth Soul Ring, and I already had a lead.

"Xiao Wu was worried that I'd grow even stronger and become a threat to Little Scumbag, so she chose to sacrifice herself to stop me from obtaining a powerful Soul Ring."

Silence. The scene was deathly quiet; not even a pin could be heard falling.

Snow Empress and Lin Qiu'er had never imagined Xiao Wu would be willing to go that far for Tang San.