Deep into the Forest, Er Ming Appears Again

Upon hearing Tang San's cry, Teacher Zhao felt his heart tighten, his brows instantly knitting into a knot. His attention had been largely focused on Tang Hao and the Titan Giant Ape, and he had indeed failed to keep a constant watch on every student.

"What? Xiao Wu is missing? When did this happen? Who saw her last?"

The group looked at one another, all shaking their heads. In the chaos, everyone had been struggling to look after themselves; no one had been able to keep track of anyone else.

"Just now, when the Titan Giant Ape was knocked back, there was a lot of dust and smoke. I think I saw Xiao Wu retreat a few steps in that direction..."

Zhu Zhuqing's cold, clear voice carried a hint of uncertainty as she pointed toward a patch of bushes to their rear-side, which had been flattened and mangled by the shockwave.

Tang San immediately moved to rush over and search.

"Stop!"

Teacher Zhao let out a low shout, his expression extremely grim. Facing a situation like this, he was just as anxious as the rest.

Xiao Wu was a student of the academy and, furthermore, Tang San's younger sister; for both professional and personal reasons, she could not be allowed to come to harm.

But what made him even more restless was the fact that the hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape had only just left.

What if Xiao Wu was unlucky, panicked, or had been thrown by the previous shockwave, only to collide with the fleeing Titan Giant Ape?

Given the size and speed of the Titan Giant Ape, even a mere graze, or a single footfall...

Teacher Zhao dared not think further; the image alone sent a chill through him, a Soul Saint who had seen his fair share of life and death.

"We cannot split up and search blindly! This forest is too dangerous; what if something else happens?"

Teacher Zhao spoke in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping over the group before landing on Xiao Qing, a hint of expectation in his eyes. "Xiao Qing, is your Xiao Feng's sense of smell very sharp? Can you try to have it track Xiao Wu's scent?"

This was perhaps the fastest and most effective method at the moment. Searching blindly would be inefficient, high-risk, and might cause them to miss the best window of opportunity.

Everyone's gaze focused on Xiao Qing, and Tang San looked at him with an almost pleading expression.

Xiao Qing's expression remained calm as he nodded. "We can try. Xiao Feng, come out."

Seeing Xiao Feng emerge, Tang San hurriedly took a clean handkerchief from his Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges.

This was something Xiao Wu had asked him to place inside the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges when she had come bouncing over to help him pack before their departure.

Xiao Qing took the handkerchief from Tang San's hand and held it to Xiao Feng's nose.

"Xiao Feng, remember this scent. Try to find traces of Xiao Wu in this vicinity."

Xiao Feng lowered its head, sniffing the handkerchief carefully.

It memorized the unique scent, then lowered its head again, starting from the general direction Zhu Zhuqing had indicated, and began to carefully distinguish the lingering scent of Xiao Wu in the air.

With the Titan Giant Ape having caused such a commotion, the smells of blood, dust, residual soul power, and various plants and animals were all mixed together, making Xiao Feng's search much more difficult than when it had tracked the Blood-Vein Python.

Time ticked by second by second, and for Tang San, every second was like torture. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, his eyes fixed intently on the path Xiao Feng was taking, his breathing ragged.

Finally, after searching for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Xiao Feng stopped beside a tree root that had been overturned by the shockwave. It raised its head, let out a low whimper toward Xiao Qing, and then turned its head to look deeper into the forest, toward a direction close to where the Titan Giant Ape had fled.

Watching Xiao Feng's actions, Xiao Qing immediately understood what it meant and relayed the clues to Teacher Zhao and Tang San.

"Someone went in that direction?"

Teacher Zhao's brows were locked in a deep frown. There were no signs of a struggle, which was a piece of good news for now, suggesting Xiao Wu might still have the ability to move and, at the very least, hadn't been forcibly abducted. But that direction was far too close to the path the Titan Giant Ape had taken.

For a 29th-level girl like Xiao Wu to run into the depths of the forest alone was a situation of nine deaths and one life!

"Teacher Zhao, let's go find Xiao Wu quickly!"

Tang San urged, and had it not been for Dai Mubai and the others holding him back, he would have rushed out immediately.

Teacher Zhao glanced at the exhausted group, then at the frantic Tang San, and began to make calm arrangements: "Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Zhu Zhuqing, you three stay behind to protect Oscar and Ning Rongrong. Establish a simple defense here and keep a lookout."

"Oscar, use your full strength to produce some Recovery Big Sausages and Blood-Nourishing Sausages. Once you're done, I'll take most of them, and you keep the rest just in case."

"I, Tang San, and Xiao Qing will follow the trail Xiao Feng found to look for Xiao Wu! Remember, maintain formation, do not advance recklessly, and be ready to handle emergencies at any time! Move out!"

He had made the most reasonable arrangement; someone had to go search, but someone also had to stay behind to protect the support-type soul masters and the team members in the worst condition.

"Yes!" the group responded.

Tang San gave Teacher Zhao and Xiao Qing a look of gratitude, then immediately followed Xiao Qing—who was riding on Xiao Feng—as they charged into the forest. Teacher Zhao followed closely behind.

Guided by Xiao Feng, Xiao Qing and the others sped toward the depths of the Star Dou Forest.

Yet, the deeper they went, the more intense the unease in Tang San's heart became.

At first, he could comfort himself by thinking "Xiao Wu was just running around in a panic," but soon, a discovery that made his spine turn cold completely shattered his wishful thinking.

"Xiao Qing," Tang San's voice was somewhat dry, "is the direction of Xiao Wu's scent... is it getting closer and closer to the route of that hundred-thousand-year soul beast?"

Teacher Zhao had also noticed this, and his expression instantly turned somber.

"This isn't right... this girl, could she be chasing after that thing?"

The thought made even him feel it was absurd. A Soul Grand Master not even at level 30, actively tracking a wounded and enraged hundred-thousand-year soul beast? This was no longer just being bold; it was practically courting death!

"Impossible! Xiao Wu wouldn't be so reckless!"

Tang San instinctively retorted, but his voice lacked conviction. Reason told him that Teacher Zhao's guess was likely true.

But why? Why would Xiao Wu do such a thing? The Star Dou Forest was filled with crises, and having just narrowly escaped the claws of the Titan Giant Ape, how could she voluntarily run in a more dangerous direction?

Though Xiao Wu was lively and spirited, and occasionally a bit mischievous or impulsive, she was by no means a reckless or ignorant person, and she certainly wouldn't gamble with her own life!

Countless questions and worries churned within Tang San's mind.

"Regardless of the reason, we must find her first!"

Zhao Wuji spoke in a deep voice, interrupting Tang San's chaotic thoughts. "Stay close to Xiao Feng and keep your guard up! That beast is severely wounded, but it is still a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast! If we truly run into it, do not hesitate; take Xiao Wu and retreat immediately. I will cover the rear!"

Xiao Qing did not speak. He certainly understood the purpose behind Xiao Wu's actions, but he could not fathom why she would choose to do such a thing.

Being so reckless—what could it bring other than trouble for herself and others?

By now, Xiao Qing and the others could see that the trail left by the Titan Giant Ape was becoming increasingly fresh, indicating that the distance between them and the beast was constantly shrinking.

"Stop!" Xiao Qing, who was walking at the very front, suddenly hissed, simultaneously raising his hand as a signal.

The group stopped immediately, holding their breath and finding cover. Zhao Wuji gestured for Tang San and Xiao Qing to lower their profiles, while he slowly poked his head out to peer ahead.

They saw that about two hundred meters in front of them, the trees grew much sparser, forming what appeared to be a clearing in the forest.

At the edge of the clearing, a black silhouette was kneeling on the ground with its back toward them; it was the very same Titan Giant Ape they had encountered earlier!

And not far in front of the Titan Giant Ape, on the other side of the clearing near a few massive boulders, a pink figure stood quietly.

It was Xiao Wu!

She stood with her back to Tang San and the others, facing the Titan Giant Ape. She did not appear to be injured; her posture even seemed somewhat... calm?

"Xiao—"

The moment he saw Xiao Wu, Tang San, who had been relatively composed until then, nearly cried out, but fortunately, Xiao Qing reacted faster, turning to clamp a hand over Tang San's mouth.