Dorm Seven.
Xiao Wu nearly stumbled all the way back to the dormitory.
She staggered to her bed, threw herself onto the hard plank bed, and curled into a ball.
Sacrifice?
Her soul imprisoned within a Soul Ring?
Finally being resurrected, only to be controlled by the Asura God and taken to the God Realm?
Those words pierced her heart like needles.
As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, a Soft Bone Rabbit who had taken human form, she had left the Star Dou Forest for two reasons: to experience human life and find the meaning of her existence, and to seek revenge...
And she had always believed that as long as she hid her identity well, she could safely make it through her growth period.
But now, Lin Yi's Heart Voice told her that nothing was as simple as she had imagined.
"Sacrificed to Tang San?" Xiao Wu wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and closed them. In her mind appeared the black-haired boy who always wore a serious expression.
She admitted that Tang San truly was different.
Though only six years old, he possessed the composure of an adult, exceptional combat talent, and treated her fairly well.
That was why she had grown close to him. She had felt safe with someone like him protecting her.
But now, everything was different.
If everything Lin Yi said was true, then her future fate was to offer her life and soul for Tang San.
"Why?" Xiao Wu climbed off the bed, a flash of stubbornness in her eyes. "Why should I sacrifice myself for him?"
She was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, one of the rulers of the Star Dou Forest. Why should she give everything for a human?
"No. I will decide my own fate."
She took a deep breath, calmed herself, and decided to go find Lin Yi first.
Since Lin Yi knew so much, perhaps he knew how to change fate.
But just as she was about to leave, someone walked into the dormitory.
"Xiao Wu?"
Tang San stood some distance away, holding a paper-wrapped package as he looked at her in confusion.
He stepped closer and smiled gently. "What's wrong? Are you all right? I just got back from outside and went to the cleaning area to look for you, but Lin Yi said you had something to do."
Xiao Wu composed herself and forced a smile. "I... I was feeling a little unwell, so I came back first."
"Unwell?" Tang San frowned slightly. "Where does it hurt? Do you want to get it checked out?"
"No need. I'm much better now." Xiao Wu shook her head, her gaze falling on the paper package in Tang San's hand. "What's that?"
"Oh, this." Tang San handed her the package. "I went to the blacksmith's shop to collect my wages and bought a few meat buns while I was there."
An enticing aroma drifted from the package—the scent of freshly steamed meat buns.
If it had been before, Xiao Wu would have happily taken them and praised Tang San a few times.
But at this moment, as she looked at the package, her heart was a tangled mess of emotions.
"Xiao Wu?" Seeing that she did not take it, Tang San held it out farther. "Eat them while they're hot. They won't taste good once they get cold."
"Thank you." Xiao Wu finally took the package, but her fingers only brushed it lightly before pulling away. "I'm going to find Lin Yi. He might be too busy cleaning by himself."
With that, she turned and left with the package.
"Xiao Wu." Tang San called after her.
"What is it?"
Tang San looked at her, his expression somewhat complicated. "Did that Lin Yi say something to you?"
Xiao Wu froze slightly, but quickly answered, "No. He's just a new Work-Study Student. What could he possibly say to me?"
She was now certain that Tang San had never heard Lin Yi's Heart Voice.
"Is that so?" Tang San's tone carried obvious suspicion. "But I feel that ever since Lin Yi appeared, your attitude toward me has changed."
Xiao Wu was momentarily at a loss for words.
Indeed, ever since hearing Lin Yi's Heart Voice, her attitude toward Tang San had changed.
But she could not tell him why.
"You're overthinking it." Xiao Wu forced a smile. "I just think he's a new classmate, so we should take better care of him."
Tang San stared intently at Xiao Wu. "Is that really all?"
"Yes." Xiao Wu nodded, not giving Tang San a chance to speak. "Thanks for the buns. I'm leaving now."
She quickly left the dormitory, leaving Tang San standing there alone.
Tang San watched Xiao Wu's retreating figure, his frown growing deeper and deeper.
He did not understand how things had developed like this.
What was so special about Lin Yi?
Why was Xiao Wu so warm toward him?
Why was every classmate so warm toward him?
And those teachers—the way they looked at him was strange too...
"Lin Yi..." Tang San murmured the name, a flash of coldness passing through his eyes.
He wanted to see exactly what was so special about this Lin Yi.
Meanwhile, in the first-floor corridor of the teaching building.
Lin Yi had already finished cleaning the area assigned to him.
He straightened up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and grumbled inwardly.
This six-year-old body really is a little weak.
But then again, today's plot has gone completely off the rails.
Clingy Xiao Wu actually kept her distance from Tang San for the first time ever?
Still, that might be a good thing. If Xiao Wu doesn't get too close to Tang San, maybe she can return to the Star Dou Forest sooner and avoid taking the path of sacrifice.
As he thought, he gathered up the cleaning tools and prepared to return them to the tool room.
Just as he reached the stairway, a figure suddenly appeared at the corner.
"Lin Yi!"
Xiao Wu stood before him, holding a paper package. She had clearly been waiting there for some time.
"Xiao Wu?" Lin Yi looked at her in surprise. "Didn't you go back because you had something to do?"
"I..." Xiao Wu bit her lip. "I really was feeling a little unwell just now, but I'm much better now."
What is going on with this little rabbit? Unwell one moment, then fine the next?
Lin Yi grumbled inwardly, but outwardly he still asked with concern, "Are you really all right?"
"I'm fine." Xiao Wu shook her head and held out the paper package. "Here, meat buns. They're still hot."
Lin Yi froze for a moment. "This..."
"Don't stand on ceremony. I can't finish them all." Without giving him a chance to refuse, Xiao Wu stuffed the package into Lin Yi's hands. "Hurry and eat them. They won't taste good once they're cold."
Warmth seeped through the paper package, along with an enticing aroma.
Lin Yi opened it and found three plump, snow-white meat buns inside. They looked delicious.
So that's why this little rabbit suddenly left. She went to buy meat buns.
Xiao Wu felt a little awkward upon hearing that Heart Voice.
She had not gone to buy the buns at all. Tang San had given them to her.
But she did not explain, merely watching Lin Yi.
"I really shouldn't..." Lin Yi said, but his stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl.
That black, hard steamed bun from the morning had not filled him up at all. Now that he saw the meat buns, his appetite was completely stirred.
"Go on, eat." Xiao Wu smiled faintly and urged him.
"Okay." Lin Yi stopped being polite and took a bite out of one of the buns.
The filling was rich, the broth was savory, and the dough was soft and fluffy.
It was the best meal he had eaten since crossing over to the Douluo Continent.
So good... This is what food for humans is supposed to taste like.
Looks like I need to find a way to make money as soon as possible. Then I can eat good food.
Xiao Wu's eyes flickered as she listened to Lin Yi's Heart Voice.
After hesitating for a moment, she pretended to ask casually, "Lin Yi, tell me... if someone knew that their future would be miserable, what should they do?"
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