Unfamiliar

"Xiao Wu, regardless of how you cultivate, you cannot leave the Star Dou Great Forest even if you reach level sixty. That man is a Titled Douluo; he won't give up easily. If he finds you in the future, will he continue to monitor you from the shadows?"

"He will certainly seize you the moment he finds you."

"Therefore, you must cultivate until you are 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 there will be no hope left."

"You are a Titled Douluo who appeared out of nowhere, with almost no trace of a life among humans; you will inevitably be suspected. If a Titled Douluo claims you are a transformed beast, you will be doubted, targeted, and hunted. In the end, you would only be able to hide in the Star Dou Great Forest forever..."

With every sentence Xia Yan spoke, Xiao Wu's heart sank deeper and deeper into an endless abyss, leaving her only with a sense of suffocation.

She gripped the clothes on Xia Yan's lower back, her knuckles turning white, her hands trembling.

Yes, if she stayed in the Star Dou Great Forest, she would barely be able to cultivate. The only way was to hide on the outskirts of the forest, at the edge of the human world, and cultivate at an agonizingly slow pace. But she was too unique—so unique it would drive people mad. That Titled Douluo would surely scour the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest over and over again, keeping a constant watch, knowing she would eventually have to make contact with the human world.

She could only have Er Ming protect her while she hid in the shadows, but for that Titled Douluo, wouldn't that be another kind of earth-shattering joy? A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast appearing on the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest would be a gift from the heavens! By uniting with other soul masters to conduct a siege, the danger would be infinitely lower than venturing deep into the core of the Star Dou Great Forest!

And if she called for Da Ming... was she to have them guard her for decades? Even if she truly cultivated to the level of a Titled Douluo, as Xia Yan said, how could a Titled Douluo who appeared suddenly, without any warning, not be suspected? Martial Soul Hall had killed her mother; they would certainly notice that both she and her mother were Soft Bone Rabbits. As soon as that Titled Douluo spoke up, it would mean a siege by the entire human world...

She could not cultivate, could not avenge her mother, and would have to leave Xia Yan forever... Xiao Wu could not accept such a reality, yet she had no other choice. Her entire body felt cold; she could not even feel the warmth of Xia Yan's body.

Xia Yan could not accept it either: "I once didn't understand why that Douluo threatened me and why he didn't move against you. Now I understand—besides the two of us, there is another person with Innate Full Soul Power..."

Xiao Wu suddenly realized, a chill running down her spine, her voice trembling: "It's... Tang San..."

"No wonder... he would slander you... smear your name..."

So that was it!

Xia Yan said: "I have no evidence; it is still just a guess. But regardless, Xiao Wu, we still have a chance. At the very least, before Tang San cultivates to the point where he can directly withstand a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, that Titled Douluo will not 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 absolutely no trace of a soul beast's aura,"

"Then, no matter how desperately that Titled Douluo tries to bite back, no one will believe him."

"Xiao Wu, do you truly love me?"

Xiao Wu's gaze flickered. She did not know why Xia Yan asked this, but she held onto him as if she never wanted to let go, her beautiful eyes swearing: "Until death, I will only ever love you!"

Xia Yan embraced her: "Xiao Wu, there is a celestial herb in this world called the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. It requires the nourishment of true love to bloom. Once it blooms and you wear it, it can mask the soul beast aura on your body."

"Even standing before any Titled Douluo, you will not be discovered."

"You participate in the Soul Master Tournament; I will find it for you and teach you how to use it before the tournament begins."

Xiao Wu gazed into Xia Yan's eyes.

In this instant, it felt like eternity.

The world grew bright.

Xiao Wu's world now held only the image of Xia Yan's promise.

A hot tear slid from the corner of her eye, tracing down her cheek to her chest, soaking a small spot.

Her vision blurred with moisture once more.

The tears rolled down in torrents.

Her lips trembled, and she bit down on them, nodding as if making a vow: "Mm!"

She buried her face in Xia Yan's chest, her hands clutching his clothes until they were misshapen.

The tears could no longer be held back, pouring down.

So that was it!

So everything was like this!

Xia Yan's chest felt warm and wet. He held Xiao Wu, gently stroking her hair. The night was silent, save for the sound of Xiao Wu's sobbing and the howling wind.

A long time passed.

Xia Yan knew they had to part:

"Xiao Wu, Zhao Wuji might recover soon and come looking for us. He wants to protect us, but we cannot be discovered."

Xiao Wu's lips trembled, her nose stinging once more, but her heart was filled with immense reluctance.

She knew she had to accept it.

Xia Yan urged her:

"Xiao Wu, after you go back, don't show that you like me anymore. Be cold toward me, but don't change too abruptly. As long as Tang San hasn't reached the level to withstand a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, you are safe. If I haven't found a way, I will definitely take you away before that Titled Douluo makes a move on you, and before you participate in the Soul Master Tournament."

"Believe in me!"

Xiao Wu hugged Xia Yan tightly, gazing into those eyes. From the bottom of her heart, her lips curled into a sweet smile.

This was her lover, her world...

She stood on her tiptoes.

Closing her eyes, she kissed him lightly.

The sound of the wind vanished instantly.

In Xia Yan's eyes, there was suddenly only Xiao Wu's trembling eyelashes, each one distinct, seemingly beating in rhythm with her little heart.

They were still stained with tears, and the eyelids beneath them fluttered like a fawn in the woods.

A warm softness pressed against his lips.

The world held nothing else.

Xiao Wu gazed into those eyes and said with true feeling: "Xia Yan, I love you."

Without waiting for Xia Yan to react, she made up her mind, turned, and left rapidly, disappearing into the forest.

Xia Yan stared at the back of Xiao Wu as she finally departed.

The sensation and taste on his lips seemed not to have faded yet.

In truth, Xiao Wu was very inexperienced; when she stood on her tiptoes, her lips accidentally bumped against his teeth, and she hadn't found the mark...

But her love was more intense and resolute than anyone else's.

"Teacher Zhao, don't stop me!"

Zhu Zhuqing activated her Hell Spirit Cat transformation; she had to go find Xia Yan.

That Titan Giant Ape could easily swat away even a Soul Saint like Zhao Wuji, let alone Xia Yan, who was only a Soul Elder!

Zhao Wuji blocked her, so angry he wanted to curse:

"Are you looking for death?!"

"I couldn't even beat the Titan Giant Ape, and you want to go throw your life away?!"

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

Dai Mubai sat on a protruding tree root, his face as dark as Tang San's. Tang San was still unconscious, while Ma Hongjun and Oscar stood on either side of Zhu Zhuqing and Zhao Wuji, respectively.

Unable to advise either side and at a loss for words, she could only wave her hands in the air, attempting to pacify them both.

Ning Rongrong stared blankly at Zhu Zhuqing.

For Xia Yan's sake, she dared to confront a Soul Saint-level Zhao Wuji in the perilous Star Dou Great Forest, and dared to risk her life to pursue a Hundred Thousand Year-level Titan Giant Ape.

Xia Yan was willing to risk his life to find Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing was willing to risk her life to find Xia Yan...

Only now did Ning Rongrong realize that she had never truly integrated into their trio.

Growing up amidst praise and flattery had left her unable to believe that anyone would ever sincerely sacrifice themselves for her.

Beneath her overbearing exterior lay a lonely heart, accompanied only by Xia Yan and his stories.

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

Her gaze flickered.

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

They were all willing to give so firmly, and they were all chosen so firmly... She was truly envious.