Xiao Wu's Task

Xiao Wu looked up, only to be met with Qian Yun's smile.

"Clatter—" The next second, Xiao Wu dropped her tray and bolted.

"Hey." Watching Xiao Wu rapidly distance herself, Qian Yun was left between laughter and tears.

Oh no, oh no! Xiao Wu is really going to die this time. Humans are just too cunning; he actually used food to trick me! As she sprinted, Xiao Wu felt extreme panic in her heart. She never expected that she would run into someone capable of seeing through her identity the moment she left the Star Dou Great Forest.

Seeing the forest drawing closer, Xiao Wu, who hadn't dared to look back, thought to herself: Almost there! Once I enter the forest, no one will ever be able to catch me again!

Just then, Qian Yun's agile figure seemed to descend from the sky, blocking her path. Before Xiao Wu could dodge, she crashed right into his chest.

"Why are you running? I didn't even say I was going to do anything to..." Before Qian Yun could finish his sentence, he felt Xiao Wu in his arms raise a small fist and strike toward his nose.

Facing such a soft attack, Qian Yun naturally didn't take it seriously. He caught it with a casual palm, and before he could speak, another leg whipped toward him from the right. After Qian Yun caught her second attack, he countered and pinned her down.

"Bastard, let me go!" Pinned down, Xiao Wu struggled incessantly, but in the face of absolute strength, all her efforts were in vain.

"Don't you want to ask what I want? I have no ill intentions." Qian Yun held her wrists firmly and whispered in her ear.

"You're lying!" Xiao Wu didn't believe a word this human said. Faced with a 100,000-year Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone within reach, no Spirit Master on the continent would remain indifferent.

Qian Yun didn't bother explaining, intending to wait until she had exhausted her strength.

With her struggles proving fruitless, Xiao Wu could only ask fiercely: "Then what do you want? I'm warning you! If you kill me, you will definitely die a horrible death later, I guarantee it!"

Qian Yun laughed: "You must mean that if you die here, Da Ming and Er Ming will come to avenge you, right?"

Xiao Wu froze once again, finally giving up her futile struggle. After a long moment, she asked with an expression of disbelief: "How do you know?!"

Seeing that she had finally stopped struggling, Qian Yun released her quite readily. The current Xiao Wu was just an ordinary little girl without even a single Spirit Ring. She couldn't pull any tricks in front of him.

Xiao Wu rubbed her wrists, which were aching from being gripped, and looked at this mysterious guy in front of her with a wary expression.

"How I know is a topic for another time. I have no ill intentions toward your life; I just want you to do me a favor."

Xiao Wu frowned slightly and asked: "What favor? Let's get this straight first! If it's to help you hunt my fellow Spirit Beasts, don't even think about it. I won't agree to that!"

Looking at the resolute Xiao Wu before him, Qian Yun smiled, then said with a serious expression: "What if I say yes?"

"You!" Xiao Wu gritted her teeth and pointed a finger fiercely at Qian Yun, as if she could poke him to death that way.

"If you don't comply, I'll kill you to turn you into a Spirit Ring, then use your Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone to hunt down your Da Ming and Er Ming, making them into Spirit Rings too!" Qian Yun continued to intimidate her; the paler Xiao Wu's face turned, the more joy he felt.

"You." Xiao Wu glared viciously at the detestable guy before her, while Qian Yun crossed his arms, looking like he wouldn't negotiate.

"Sigh—" Xiao Wu finally let out a dejected sigh. "I'll only help you this once, no next time. Speak, which Spirit Beast do you want to kill?"

Thinking to herself, it should be fine if it's just this once, right?

"Pfft, hahahaha." Watching the aggrieved yet serious Xiao Wu, Qian Yun couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into laughter.

Qian Yun's unbridled laughter felt like knives stabbing at her conscience, leaving her feeling utterly ashamed. She had just decided to betray her kin to compromise with this detestable human!

"Stop laughing!" Xiao Wu stomped her feet in shame and anger. "Ugh, stop laughing. You detestable guy, what's so funny!"

"Alright, alright, I'll stop." Qian Yun finally reined in his laughter. I didn't expect you to be such an Xiao Wu.

"On a serious note, I need you to make contact with someone." A mysterious smile hung on the corner of Qian Yun's mouth as he spoke to Xiao Wu.

"Hm? Not hunting Spirit Beasts?" Xiao Wu asked, somewhat pleasantly surprised yet confused.

"Of course not."

Xiao Wu breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. Then who do you want me to contact?"

"Bala Kingdom, Nuoding City Junior Spirit Master Academy, Tang San!" This was the first time Qian Yun had spoken that name since arriving in this world.

"Tang San?" Xiao Wu blinked in confusion. "Why contact him?"

"Don't worry about my motives. All I need you to do is approach him proactively, live a normal life, and when I need you to, help me with a small favor. After that, you'll be free." Qian Yun laid out the conditions.

"Hmm..." Xiao Wu narrowed her eyes and asked directly: "Are you asking me to be a spy?"

Qian Yun nodded quite candidly. "You could put it that way, but you don't need to follow my orders at all times. As long as you help with a small favor when I need it, the task is complete. How about it? You don't want to turn into a Spirit Ring, do you?"

Hearing this, Xiao Wu first looked up at the sky, then down at her toes, appearing to be in a difficult position.

"Sigh, fine!" Xiao Wu feigned deep consideration before "reluctantly" agreeing to the condition.

"Very good. Then from now on, I am your superior. How should you address me?" Qian Yun was very satisfied with this result; he believed that with Xiao Wu's help, dealing with Tang San in the future would undoubtedly be much easier.

"How to address you... should I call you, Master?" Xiao Wu tentatively suggested.

Hearing this shameful title, Qian Yun almost choked. He waved his hands hurriedly. "No, no. We don't do that here. Just call me Boss."

"Oh, alright." Xiao Wu agreed, feeling a bit puzzled. She really couldn't understand the complex relationships in human society.

In the world of Spirit Beasts, if one side submits to another, they must call the other party Master. It was such a simple matter, yet humans made it so complicated; it was truly strange.

"Alright, it's getting late. You can go." Qian Yun waved his hand, signaling that Xiao Wu could leave.

Xiao Wu was secretly delighted, but she feigned calmness as she said: "Oh, then I'm leaving, Master—oh, I mean, Boss."

Xiao Wu had only taken two light steps when Qian Yun suddenly called out to her: "Wait."

Xiao Wu's heart skipped a beat, fearing that Qian Yun had changed his mind. She turned around stiffly. "Boss, is there anything else?"

Qian Yun didn't answer directly, but instead took out a coin purse and tossed it to Xiao Wu. "There are seventy silver coins in here, and some copper coins. Take them and use them."

"Money?" Xiao Wu held the heavy pouch and asked, "What do I need money for?"

Qian Yun thought for a moment. He hadn't actually considered what he wanted Xiao Wu to do with the money; he just couldn't bear to see such a pretty girl wearing coarse cloth clothes.

"Money can buy food, like the things you just ate. You can also buy some clothes and bedding. Just treat this as your mission budget," Qian Yun said, finding that was the only way to explain it.

"Clothes and bedding? Hmm... alright then." Xiao Wu scratched her head, and even though she was confused, she agreed.

"However, don't spend it recklessly. This money is a loan, and you'll have to pay back ten times the amount later," Qian Yun reminded her, recalling her habit of spending money lavishly in the original story.

Hmph, you won't even be able to see me later, so who would pay you back?

"Mm." Xiao Wu clutched the money pouch and asked tentatively, "Then, Master, I'm leaving?"

"Mm, bye-bye." Qian Yun waved his hand at her.

Joy gradually filled Xiao Wu's heart, and she asked once more, "I'm really going now...?"

"Fine."

Xiao Wu finally took her first step, "Bye-bye?"

"...Bye."

I'm actually leaving, and I'm still alive? As she walked, Xiao Wu touched her pounding heart, asking herself in disbelief. Not only did I not turn into a Spirit Ring or a Spirit Bone, but after a full meal, I even got a bunch of money?

They say humans are the natural enemies of Spirit Beasts, destined to fight to the death upon meeting, but why is this human so strange? He didn't kill her, nor did he enslave her; he basically let her go for nothing.

She didn't feel any sense of gratitude, only thinking that this human was a total idiot.

Xiao Wu looked back every three steps, firmly memorizing Qian Yun's face. Finally, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and she gave him one last happy wave from afar before leaping into the jungle and disappearing.

Standing where he was, Qian Yun watched Xiao Wu leave. If an ordinary person had watched a 100,000-year Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone—which should have been within their grasp—slip away right before their eyes, they would likely be vomiting blood from frustration.

But Qian Yun felt no regret at all; he even felt he had made a small profit, and he wasn't worried in the slightest that Xiao Wu would disappear forever.

Qian Yun knew that he and Xiao Wu would definitely meet again!

A few days later

The group, having successfully completed their mission, finally returned to the Martial Soul Hall in Fanhai City. Located in the heart of the continent, it had no major trade routes or notable resources, so it couldn't be considered very prosperous.

In front of the hall, Yake Entu called Qian Yun and Hu Liena over and handed them a black bag.

After taking it, Qian Yun discovered it was a money pouch, and the amount was actually three times their payment for the mission. "Captain, haven't we already received our payment? Why are you giving us more money?"

A smile appeared on Yake Entu's dark face. "Hehe, this is an extra reward for you two for exterminating the Evil Spirit Masters."

"A reward?"

Yake Entu said seriously, "That's right. The threat of Evil Spirit Masters is immense, and they must be eradicated immediately upon discovery. But considering their danger, there is always an extra reward for taking them out. Although the Evil Spirit Masters were killed in my name, you won't be shorted on the payment you deserve."

After saying this, he reached out and patted both of them on the shoulder. "Amiga, Boli, you did well!"

Hearing this, Qian Yun put away the money pouch. "No need to be so polite, Captain. This is what we should do."