Flender landed three meters in front of Xiao Qing. The distance showed he meant no harm, while still keeping Xiao Qing well within his control.
Oscar retreated behind Flender, poking his head out to curiously size up Xiao Qing and the two Soul Beasts beside him.
Flender's gaze first swept over A'Man and Xiao Feng. Though neither Soul Beast had even reached a thousand years, one specialized in offense and the other in defense, making them a perfect complement.
Flender had no doubt that working together, they could challenge most Soul Beasts under two thousand years old, or even a four-ring Soul Master.
His gaze then settled on Xiao Qing's face. Xiao Qing looked calm, but the hand gripping his blade was angled slightly inward—a stance ready to strike or block at any moment.
Flender couldn't help clicking his tongue inwardly. This kid was more alert than many seasoned Soul Masters. Must be a habit picked up from living in Star Dou Forest for so long.
"But kid, did you know that not long ago, a One-Eyed Dragon and seven or eight of his men were going around the town at the entrance to Star Dou Forest, telling everyone about you? They handed out stack after stack of copied bounty notices. I imagine most of the Soul Masters entering the forest now have heard of you."
Flender asked Xiao Qing with some curiosity. He had seen the bounty notice himself. As for the reason behind the bounty, Flender could only say that anyone who believed it ought to get their head checked.
He didn't believe a six-year-old child could cause a Soul Beast stampede. Besides, how could a village near Star Dou Forest possibly scrape together a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins?
Most likely, Xiao Qing had offended some big shot or spoiled brat from Spirit Hall. He'd managed to escape them, and that was how he'd ended up with a bounty on his head.
Xiao Qing's pupils contracted slightly. He hadn't expected One-Eye to use this kind of tactic.
This wasn't simple revenge anymore. One-Eye was using him as bait, tossing him into a pool full of sharks!
But there was one thing Xiao Qing couldn't understand. At first, hadn't One-Eye been interested in the bounty on him? Now that he'd muddied the waters completely, how could he be sure he'd still manage to catch Xiao Qing?
Just as Flender said, Soul Master teams entering Star Dou Forest to hunt for Soul Rings, mercenaries out hunting Soul Beasts, and even desperate outlaws would all be drawn in by the hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. They'd join the hunt for Xiao Qing.
What made One-Eye so sure he'd get a share?
"Isn't he afraid someone else will claim the bounty first?"
Xiao Qing asked Flender calmly. He wanted more information from him, hoping to work out why One-Eye seemed so confident.
Flender's mouth twitched. He gave a cold laugh.
"Heh. What's he got to be afraid of? The moment the word gets out, you become everyone's target. And in Star Dou Forest, you never know where the next open attack or hidden trap will come from!"
"He'll hide in the shadows and watch you fight someone else to the death. Once you're exhausted, or another team has badly wounded you, he'll bring his men out to clean up. Minimum cost, maximum reward."
"Even if someone else catches you in the end, he can claim he 'provided information' and go to whoever posted the bounty to collect an informant's fee. Whichever way you look at it, he doesn't lose."
Sure enough, One-Eye's plan was a double-edged trap. Whether or not he caught Xiao Qing himself, the only difference was between a big win and a small one.
"Then you didn't tell me all this just to warn me, did you?"
Xiao Qing met Flender's gaze. Flender was a Soul Saint, and he loved money. He could easily take Xiao Qing in and claim the bounty.
"I told you I wouldn't go after a child for a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. But of course, warning you wasn't my only reason for telling you."
Flender readily admitted he had an ulterior motive.
"Then what is it?"
Xiao Qing edged closer to Xiao Feng without drawing attention to himself. If Flender attacked, his only hope would be to take the child beside him hostage.
"You're the reason. I'm curious how a child who hasn't even turned ten managed to escape One-Eye's gang—and then make him resort to a trick like setting wolves on a tiger."
"But what I'm even more curious about is whether you're really only eight or nine. The child beside me is the same age as you. He was born with Innate Full Soul Power, yet after all his cultivation, he's only just broken through level twenty. Meanwhile, you're already at level twenty-two!"
Xiao Qing was startled. He hadn't even circulated his Soul Power, yet Flender had still sensed his Soul Power Level!
"Did you kill one of their men? Destroy their camp? Or both?"
Flender continued asking, a trace of probing curiosity creeping into his voice. "I've heard of One-Eye's gang. They operate around here and have a terrible reputation, but they're not weak. They've got a Soul Ancestor leading them, a few Soul Elders, and the rest are all Soul Grandmasters. To escape them and force them into a move like this, kid, you're no ordinary person."
"I was just protecting myself."
Xiao Qing offered no details. With an old hand like Flender, the more he said, the more chances he might give himself away.
Flender didn't press him. Everyone had secrets, especially those who'd survived in a dangerous place.
"After this 'self-defense' of yours, things have only gotten worse. One-Eye has spread the news far and wide. Before long, plenty of people around here will be looking for you. You're alone, with two Soul Beasts. You might be able to handle One-Eye's crew, but can you deal with a steady stream of hyenas sniffing out the money?"
Xiao Qing fell silent. He knew Flender was telling the truth.
One-Eye's move had left him with almost no way out.
The forest had grown dangerous, and in the towns beyond it, no doubt plenty of people were waiting for the bounty target to walk straight into their trap.
"I can take you with me," Flender said plainly, revealing his purpose. "To Shrek Academy. It may be run-down... ahem, let's say it has an old-world charm. But it's safe enough, and no one dares come to my turf to grab people."
"You're a genius, no doubt about it. A level-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster who hasn't even turned ten, with a... special ability to summon things? At the academy, you'll get proper guidance and a safe environment to grow in. You won't have to spend every day worrying about being hunted down."
Oscar couldn't help joining in, his voice earnest.
"That's right, Xiao Qing. The dean may be... uh, a little too focused on the bottom line, but he's good to his students. There are other students at the academy, too. Cultivating together is much safer than being on your own out here."
Xiao Qing looked into Flender's eyes. Behind those lenses, he could see the gleam of a shrewd, calculating mind.
A genius student under ten with a Soul Power Level of twenty-two would be a tremendous asset and a fine advertisement for any academy. But aside from that, Xiao Qing saw no greed or malice. At the very least, Flender had offered what seemed to be the most practical way forward.
"I have a condition."
Xiao Qing spoke in a low but clear voice.
Flender raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"I need actual combat experience—against Soul Beasts. At regular intervals, someone has to take me somewhere I can find suitable Soul Beasts to fight."
Xiao Qing stated his demand.
Once his Soul Power Level broke through again, he would need to hunt new Soul Beasts for Soul Rings. And Xiao Feng and the others needed to fight to increase their age, so combat was essential.
But for a Soul Master striving to grow stronger, the request itself wasn't especially unreasonable.
Many combat-focused Soul Masters depended on actual battles to train; it was just that Xiao Qing wanted to fight Soul Beasts.
Flender was genuinely surprised. He had expected Xiao Qing to ask for a specific salary, benefits, or safety guarantees.
If those had been his conditions, Flender would have winced at the expense. He hadn't expected Xiao Qing to ask for something that sounded simple, yet would be a bit of a hassle.
Leaving the academy's safety at regular intervals to visit places where Soul Beasts roamed carried risks of its own.
Besides, Flender was curious why Xiao Qing was so determined to fight Soul Beasts. Was he trying to hone his combat skills? Or did his Martial Soul need a particular kind of battle stimulus to grow?
Before you continue