Strangeness

"Xiao Wu, whatever you do to cultivate, you can't leave the Star Dou Great Forest, even if you reach level sixty.

"That person is a Titled Douluo. He won't give up easily. If he finds you in the future, will he keep watching you from the shadows?"

"He'll capture you the moment he finds you."

"So you have to cultivate until you become a Titled Douluo, stronger than him—strong enough to defeat him and kill him.

"If you let him escape and reveal your secret to the world,"

"then all hope will be lost.

"You appeared out of nowhere as a Titled Douluo, with almost no trace of yourself among humans. People would definitely suspect you.

"If a Titled Douluo claimed you were a transformed Soul Beast, you'd be suspected, targeted, and hunted down.

"In the end, you'd have no choice but to hide forever in the Star Dou Great Forest..."

With every word Xia Yan spoke, Xiao Wu's heart sank deeper and deeper into an endless abyss.

She could barely breathe.

She clutched the fabric at Xia Yan's lower back, her fingers trembling and turning white.

He was right. If she stayed in the Star Dou Great Forest, she would hardly be able to cultivate.

Her only option would be to hide on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, at the edge of the human world, and cultivate at an excruciatingly slow pace.

But she was too unique—unique enough to drive people mad. That Titled Douluo would surely scour the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest again and again, keeping watch.

He knew she would have to come into contact with the human world.

Then she could only have Er Ming protect her while she hid in secret.

But for that Titled Douluo, wouldn't that be another earth-shattering delight?

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast appearing at the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest would be a gift from heaven!

He could join forces with other Soul Masters to hunt her down.

It would be countless times safer than venturing into the heart of the Star Dou Great Forest!

And if she called Da Ming... was she supposed to make them watch over her for decades?

Even if she really cultivated to become a Titled Douluo, just as Xia Yan said,

how could anyone not suspect a Titled Douluo who appeared out of nowhere, without the slightest warning?

The Spirit Hall had killed her mother. They would surely notice that she and her mother were both Soft Bone Rabbits.

As soon as that Titled Douluo spoke,

the entire human world would hunt her down...

She couldn't cultivate. She couldn't avenge her mother. She would have to leave Xia Yan forever...

Xiao Wu couldn't accept such a reality, but there was nothing she could do.

Her whole body was cold. She couldn't even feel the warmth of Xia Yan's body against hers...

Xia Yan couldn't accept it either.

"I never understood why that Douluo threatened me, or why he didn't attack you.

"Now I understand. Besides the two of us, there's another person with Innate Full Soul Power..."

Xiao Wu suddenly understood. Her back turned cold, and her voice trembled.

"It's... Tang San..."

"No wonder... he slandered you... and framed you..."

So that was it!

Xia Yan said,

"I don't have any proof. It's still just a guess. But no matter what, Xiao Wu, we still have a chance."

"At least until Tang San can withstand a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, that Titled Douluo won't make a move against you."

"If, before you reach level sixty, you appear before everyone at the Soul Master Tournament as a level-forty Soul Ancestor, with no trace of Soul Beast aura,"

"then no matter how desperately that Titled Douluo protests, no one will believe him."

"Xiao Wu, do you truly love me?"

Xiao Wu's gaze wavered. She didn't know why Xia Yan was asking, but she wanted to hold him forever. Her beautiful eyes declared,

"Until death, I'll love only you!"

Xia Yan held her.

"Xiao Wu, there's an Immortal Herb in this world called Lovesick Heartbreak Red. It needs to be nurtured and watered with true love before it can bloom.

"Once it blooms, if you wear it on your body, it can conceal your Soul Beast aura."

"You could stand right in front of any Titled Douluo, and they wouldn't discover you."

"When you enter the Soul Master Tournament, I'll find one for you and teach you how to use it before the tournament begins."

Xiao Wu gazed into Xia Yan's eyes.

In that moment, it was as if time stood still.

The world grew bright.

Xiao Wu's whole world was filled with the promise in Xia Yan's eyes.

A hot tear slid from the corner of her eye, down her cheek, and onto her chest, leaving a damp spot.

Her vision blurred again.

Tears streamed down her face.

Her lips trembled. Biting them, she nodded as if making a vow. "Mm!"

She buried her face against Xia Yan's chest, clutching his clothes so tightly that they were stretched out of shape.

Her tears could no longer be held back. They poured down.

So that was it!

So that was what it all meant!

Xia Yan's chest grew damp and warm. He held Xiao Wu and gently stroked her hair. The night was utterly quiet, save for Xiao Wu's sobs and the howling wind.

After a long while.

Xia Yan knew they had to part.

"Xiao Wu, Zhao Wuji may recover soon and come looking for us. He wants to protect us, but we can't let him discover us."

Xiao Wu's lips trembled. Her nose stung again, and her heart was filled with reluctance.

But she knew she had to accept it.

Xia Yan reminded her,

"Xiao Wu, when you go back, don't act like you love me anymore. Be cold toward me, but don't change too suddenly.

"As long as Tang San can't yet withstand a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, you'll be safe.

"If I haven't found a way, I'll take you away before that Titled Douluo makes a move against you—before you enter the Soul Master Tournament."

"Trust me!"

Xiao Wu clung tightly to Xia Yan and gazed into his eyes. The smile that curved her lips was sweet and came from the bottom of her heart.

This was the man she loved, her whole world...

She rose onto her tiptoes.

Closing her eyes, she gently kissed him.

The wind fell silent in an instant.

Suddenly, Xia Yan could see nothing but Xiao Wu's trembling eyelashes, each one distinct, as though they were beating with her anxious heart.

A few tears still clung to them, and beneath her eyelids, her eyes quivered like a young deer in the forest.

Her lips were warm and soft against his.

The world held nothing else.

Xiao Wu gazed into his eyes and spoke from the heart. "Xia Yan, I love you."

Before Xia Yan could react,

she made up her mind, turned, and hurried away, vanishing into the forest.

Xia Yan watched the last glimpse of Xiao Wu as she left.

The feeling and taste of her lips seemed to linger on his own.

Truthfully, Xiao Wu was very inexperienced. When she rose onto her tiptoes, her lips accidentally bumped against his teeth, and she hadn't quite found the right spot...

But her love was more passionate and unwavering than anyone else's.

"Teacher Zhao, don't stop me!"

Zhu Zhuqing activated her Hell Spirit Cat. She had to go find Xia Yan.

The Titan Giant Ape could send even Zhao Wuji, a Soul Saint, flying with ease. Xia Yan was only a Soul Elder!

Zhao Wuji blocked her, furious enough to curse.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

"I can't even beat the Titan Giant Ape. You're going to throw your life away?!"

"If you dare go, I'll break your legs!"

Dai Mubai sat on a raised tree root, his face as black as Tang San's. Tang San was still unconscious.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar stood on either side of Zhu Zhuqing and Zhao Wuji. They didn't know whether to try to persuade them or stay out of it, so all they could do was wave their hands helplessly, trying to calm both sides.

Ning Rongrong stared blankly at Zhu Zhuqing.

For Xia Yan, she dared to confront Zhao Wuji, a Soul Saint, in the dangerous Star Dou Great Forest. She dared to risk her life chasing after the Titan Giant Ape, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

Xia Yan had willingly risked death to find Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing was willing to risk death to find Xia Yan...

Only now did Ning Rongrong realize that she had perhaps never truly been part of the three of them.

Growing up surrounded by praise and flattery had made her incapable of believing that anyone would sincerely give anything for her.

Beneath her domineering exterior lay a lonely heart. Only Xia Yan and the stories about him kept her company.

If I were taken away, would anyone come after me?

Her gaze shifted slightly.

She really envied Xiao Wu, Xia Yan, and Zhu Zhuqing.

They were all willing to give their hearts without hesitation, and each had been chosen just as wholeheartedly... She truly envied them.