Xiao Wu Secretly Leaves

Come to think of it, Erming has a fiery temper and is fiercely protective; if he senses Xiao Wu's aura, he will absolutely not sit idly by.

However, in the original story, Erming only charged out regardless of the consequences because Zhao Wuji was there, making him believe someone was a threat to the Little Rabbit.

But now, among the three of us, the Little Rabbit has the highest rank; it is quite possible that Erming is just observing.

But this defies common sense. Is he going to show up or not?

If you're going to appear, just come out already! I'll pretend to be terrified and seize the chance to slip away.

If you aren't going to appear, at least make a sound so I can think of another plan.

Sigh, this is such a pain.

Hearing these Heart Voices, Erming was speechless once again.

Pretend to be terrified?

Does this human brat really hold him in such low regard?

Furthermore, he even knows exactly what his personality is like.

It was true; he had indeed been on the verge of rushing out a moment ago.

But upon seeing that the other party posed no threat to Sister Xiao Wu, he had suppressed the impulse.

Also, what was this human brat talking about—the "original story"?

What kind of thing was that?

However, none of that was the crux of the matter. The most critical point was that this human brat clearly knew Sister Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form, yet he was single-mindedly trying to ditch her?

Why?

Sister Xiao Wu was so cute and so likable; did this human brat have something wrong with his brain?

Erming scratched his head and decided to keep watching.

He wanted to see exactly what this human brat was up to.

Meanwhile, inside the cave.

Xiao Wu lay on her side on a bed of dry grass, eyes closed, breathing steadily, looking for all the world like she was fast asleep.

But in reality, her consciousness was perfectly clear.

She had heard Lin Yi's Heart Voices loud and clear, and she had sensed that aura a few miles away just as plainly.

That guy, Erming, had indeed arrived.

The fact that he hadn't shown himself yet actually caught her off guard.

Logically speaking, given that fellow's temperament, he should have charged over the moment he sensed her return.

Could it really be as Lin Yi said—that he saw she wasn't in any danger and was just watching from afar?

Thinking of this, the corners of Xiao Wu's mouth curled up slightly, though she quickly forced them back down.

She turned over to face the stone wall and continued to pretend to be asleep.

As for Zhu Zhuqing, who was sitting on the other side of the cave, she was also awake.

Leaning against the stone wall with her eyes narrowed, she appeared to be resting, but in truth, her attention had been fixed on Lin Yi the entire time.

Four days.

Having followed Lin Yi and Xiao Wu through this forest for four days, she had heard more and more of his Heart Voices and learned more and more things.

Erming.

This name had appeared many times in Lin Yi's thoughts.

From those fragmented pieces of information, she had managed to piece together a rough picture.

Erming was a Soul Beast of terrifying power, likely an overlord-tier existence within this Star Dou Forest.

And between him and Xiao Wu, there seemed to be some kind of special connection.

This connection was definitely not something that existed between an ordinary human Soul Master and a Soul Beast.

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze shifted to Xiao Wu's back.

Was this girl, who seemed so lively, cheerful, talkative, and fond of laughing, really as simple as she appeared on the surface?

She recalled Lin Yi's Heart Voice from the first day they made camp.

Send the Little Rabbit back to the Star Dou Forest...

The Little Rabbit?

At the time, she had assumed it was just a nickname Lin Yi had for Xiao Wu, especially since Xiao Wu's Martial Soul was a Soft Bone Rabbit.

But looking at it now, perhaps... it wasn't just a simple nickname.

However, she didn't want to dig any deeper.

She really didn't.

After all, she already had enough trouble of her own; there was no need to get tangled up in someone else's secrets.

What she needed to do now was strive to become stronger, then face the destiny she was fated to confront.

But...

But was changing one's fate really that simple?

She didn't know whether to continue following Lin Yi after leaving the Star Dou Forest, or to go to Suotuo City to find that stranger—her dissolute fiancé.

Yet, after spending these past few days together, she felt a vague intuition in her heart.

It seemed that following the young man before her was far better than going to find that fiancé she had never met.

Suddenly, a crisp voice interrupted her train of thought.

"Lin Yi?"

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing looked up and found that Xiao Wu had sat up at some point, rubbing her eyes as she looked at Lin Yi.

She continued, "Go to sleep. I'll take the second half of the night."

Lin Yi glanced back at her, looking somewhat surprised. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." Xiao Wu put her hands on her hips, looking as if it were only natural. "You've been keeping watch for days; it's my turn. Besides, I'm someone about to break through to level thirty. I've got plenty of energy."

Lin Yi looked at her for a silent second, then stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes. "Fine. Be careful, and call me if anything happens."

[This Little Rabbit is so sensible today? Could she be plotting something?]

[Whatever, it doesn't matter. It's perfect that someone is taking over; I'm truly exhausted.]

"I know, I know." Xiao Wu waved her hand and sat down at the cave entrance.

She did indeed have a scheme, but it wasn't to leave Lin Yi; she wanted to use this chance while on watch to go find Erming.

For one, she was close to a breakthrough, and for another, because she was a soul beast in human form, her spirit rings had to condense on their own.

If Lin Yi and Zhu Zhuqing saw that, she wouldn't be able to explain it.

Lin Yi walked into the cave and lay down in the spot where Xiao Wu had been, but his thoughts didn't stop.

[This Little Rabbit offering to keep watch... something feels weird...]

[Could she be planning to sneak out in the middle of the night to see Erming?]

[If that's the case, then it makes sense.]

[Should I just slip away once she leaves?]

[But if I run off like that, what about Zhu Zhuqing?]

[No, no, why am I thinking so much? As long as I can shake them off, that's all that matters...]

Lin Yi turned over, his consciousness gradually fading.

Xiao Wu sat with her back to the campfire, her gaze cast into the darkness outside the cave.

She sat for a while before suddenly turning her head to look at Zhu Zhuqing on the other side of the cave.

Their eyes met in the darkness.

"Zhuqing," Xiao Wu whispered, "you should sleep too. It'll be fine with me on watch."

Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly and closed her eyes again.

But she did not sleep.

She simply shifted into a more comfortable position and remained vigilant.

Time ticked away, second by second.

About half an hour later, Xiao Wu suddenly moved.

She stood up and glanced back toward the depths of the cave.

Zhu Zhuqing was lying on her side, appearing to be fast asleep.

On the other side, Lin Yi's brow had smoothed out, and he was sleeping soundly; he was clearly exhausted.

"Lin Yi, Zhuqing..."

After calling out softly a few times and receiving no response, she vanished silently into the darkness of the cave entrance.

Almost the moment she left, Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes.

She didn't make a sound, nor did she have any intention of following.

After all, from their time together these past few days and Lin Yi's Heart Voice, she already knew that Xiao Wu had some sort of special connection to this forest.

That existence known as Erming must be nearby.

It was perfectly normal for Xiao Wu to sneak off to see it.

What wasn't normal, however, was the other person.