Xiao Wu

After another half a month,

In the open space at the center of the first courtyard, Gu Yue demonstrated with a wooden pole, leading the way. A short distance behind her, Huang Tian and Na'er each held a spear—the Blue Silver Saint Emperor Spear and the Silver Dragon Spear—and followed her example.

The three of them had clearly been practicing spear techniques for more than a day or two. Their movements were already very familiar, with hardly a single hitch. In no time, they had finished a full set.

The spear art was called the Dragon God Spear. Gu Yue had only begun compiling and creating it after her "rebirth."

However, she had plenty of memories of the Dragon God wielding a spear in her mind, and her own Super Divine Artifact was a spear, so she knew the weapon quite well.

With her lofty perspective, many of the techniques in it, taken on their own, were far more subtle than the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes that Tang Chen had supposedly praised to the heavens.

It covered everything: the movements for holding and wielding a spear, the coordination of footwork and body movements, techniques for amplifying Soul Power, and basic combat experience.

In recent days, Huang Tian's cultivation focus had shifted from extreme training and absorbing the Gold of Life to learning and mastering this spear art.

Once they had finished practicing, Gu Yue was just about to speak when Huang Tian beat her to it. Turning to Na'er with an exaggerated expression, he exclaimed excitedly:

"Nana, you were amazing! You didn't make a single mistake today. You even performed every detail of the hardest moves perfectly."

Na'er had already been breathing a little hard, and now her face turned an even deeper red. A faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, impossible to suppress.

Gu Yue could only shut her mouth a moment later and say nothing.

She understood why her past self's clone had betrayed her original self. It had only been two months, and her little sister was already so dazzled by all kinds of sweet talk that she didn't know who she was anymore. Tell her to do something, and she did it.

Huang Tian was the same. He could start praising her at the drop of a hat, without the slightest preparation. He had mastered the set in three days, yet he still praised Na'er, who had only become proficient today.

It was nearly mealtime. With her short legs pumping, Na'er darted into the house, brought out a large basin of clean water, and set it on the ground. Her face full of anticipation, she said:

"Big brother, wash your face."

"You wash too."

"Sure, together."

They stood on either side of the basin, moving in perfect unison.

Bending over, they cupped their hands like bowls and plunged them into the basin. Then they scooped up water and splashed it onto their faces, rubbed a few times, and repeated the process two or three times. That was apparently enough to count as washing up.

Needless to say, she had learned this from someone. Gu Yue had never taught her to wash like that.

At the dinner table, Gu Yue chose her words carefully.

"Xiao Tian, the Soul Master Academy in Notting City opens today. Would you like to go take a look?"

With her and Di Tian's teaching abilities, there was no need to attend any Soul Master Academy unless a God Trial was involved. Not only was it unnecessary, it would simply waste time and effort.

But in her previous life, Xiao Wu had also been one of Huang Tian's wives. The two had met at Nuoding Academy.

She didn't know whether Xiao Wu had awakened her memories from her previous life. If not, it would be safest to follow the established course of events.

At the very least, she would wait until the two of them had made initial contact, built some trust, and developed a good impression of each other. Then she could step in and take Xiao Wu away without raising suspicion.

There was one more thing, too. In his previous life, Xiao Tian had observed Tang San's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and created his first footwork Martial Skill.

Huang Tian picked up a large white steamed bun with his left hand and took a hearty bite. His right hand still held his chopsticks, and he answered with his mouth full:

"Sure. I've been cultivating all this time, and I haven't seen any other Soul Masters yet. I wonder how good I am compared to them."

That was the excuse he'd planned to use all along. It would give him the perfect chance to beat up Xiao San and Gangzi.

After beating them both, he would head into Xiao Wu's dreams and win her over in one fell swoop, then turn on his heel and leave. If things went well, he wouldn't even need a week.

Hearing that, Gu Yue suddenly smiled and looked up at Di Tian. The corners of his mouth were twitching too.

"See how good you are?"

"With the standards at a place like Nuoding Academy, wouldn't that be like a tiger charging into a flock of sheep and wiping them all out?"

"Is it really necessary to bully them like that?"

The two of them had already been astonished by Huang Tian's talent and insight several times.

By talent, they didn't mean Innate Soul Power or Martial Soul strength. They meant his physical constitution: his bones were sturdier than those of other children his age, his bone density was higher, and his build was so perfect it was practically a work of art.

His muscles had tremendous explosive power, his reflexes were sharp, and his mind responded quickly.

After being strengthened by the Gold of Life, his strength, speed, and reflexes were already on par with a three-ring Soul Elder. Compared with a true three-ring Soul Elder, he might only lack two hundred-year Soul Skills.

But if he used those spear techniques well, they were in no way inferior to actual Soul Skills.

And that didn't even take his Second Martial Soul into account. The name alone made its destructive attribute sound frighteningly powerful. Ordinary Soul Masters couldn't withstand it. A Martial Soul like that shouldn't even exist unless it had been bestowed by a god.

Whether Gu Yue had done it on purpose, deliberately, or intentionally, the moment Huang Tian entered the school gates, he happened to see a little girl in a pink dress bouncing along by herself.

Her little face was fair with a rosy flush, and her thick hair was braided and hung down past her hips. She hummed a tune he didn't recognize, looking carefree, with Rabbit Ears ornaments atop her head.

Who else could she be but Xiao Wu?

Without a second thought, Huang Tian quickened his pace, walked up beside her, and said with an embarrassed look:

"Classmate, do you know where the teaching building is?"

"Just go straight ahead."

"Thanks. You're really amazing."

"What's so amazing about that? Is this your first time leaving home?"

"Still, thanks."

"No problem. It's nothing."

Huang Tian said no more. He walked silently beside her for quite a while before his expression turned awkward again.

"Um, could you help me with one more thing? I can treat you to something delicious."

"What?"

"My family said I have to make a friend at school today. But I don't know how. Could you be my friend?"

Xiao Wu laughed.

"Haha, that's all? Don't worry, Sister Xiao Wu's got you covered. From now on, Sister Xiao Wu will look after you."

Behind them, Gu Yue looked completely stunned and baffled. Her mouth hung half open, as though she wanted to say something, but all she could manage was a twitch of the cheek.

She suddenly felt like a fool. A naive fool.

She had actually worried that if things didn't go according to the original story, something might happen to Xiao Wu and Huang Tian.

For this little rascal, as long as a beautiful girl was within sight, the words "something might happen" didn't exist.

When had anything ever gone wrong for him?

Na'er was gentle and a little timid, so he often praised her. Xiao Wu liked being the big sister, so he approached her by asking for help, giving her a chance to show off.

Matching his approach to the person was one thing. What Gu Yue couldn't understand was:

They had only just met. How had he figured out her personality so quickly?

Just from those first few sentences?

His talent was practically heaven-defying.

The moment Xiao Wu agreed, Huang Tian acted as if he were beside himself with excitement and casually took her hand.

"That's great! I have a friend now. Friends should help each other and love each other. I noticed you didn't bring any bedding. Did you forget it? I can give you a set."

"Really?"

"Of course. We're friends."

A few minutes later, Huang Tian used their friendship as an excuse to pay Xiao Wu's tuition and enroll her as if she were attending a noble academy. He also arranged for her to have a double room, with himself as her roommate.

Gu Yue: "..."