The Dragon Duke Went Off to Chase His Wife

Xia Yan noticed that Meng Yiran seemed off,

fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, though her face wore an indifferent expression and her eyes darted around.

She looked like she cared, but was forcing herself not to.

As for why, he didn't care at all. Whatever it was, it was what it was.

Just as he was about to speak,

the Dragon Duke looked toward the forest on their left. Xia Yan soon sensed the disturbance too.

Zhao Wuji rushed out of the shadows and stood in front of Xia Yan, shielding most of him from view.

He clasped his hands respectfully. "Senior Dragon Duke."

Seeing that Xia Yan was unharmed,

the great weight in Zhao Wuji's heart finally lifted, only for him to tense up again.

Damn, of all people, they'd run into this old bastard.

Serpent Granny Chao Tianxiang was a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, with only middling strength. But Dragon Duke Meng Shu was an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo.

Without the Martial Soul Fusion Skill the two of them used to fight Titled Douluo,

he could beat Zhao Wuji on his own.

This old bastard wasn't a good person. The name Peerless Dragon and Serpent hadn't been earned by doing good deeds.

It had been forged in blood.

"This junior is Zhao Wuji. When I met Senior Serpent Granny and your granddaughter back then, I hoped I might have the honor of meeting you one day. I didn't expect to be so fortunate today."

"Senior is valiant, with an imposing presence. You'll surely break through to Titled Douluo soon..."

There was no helping it. He was so weak right now that he couldn't even beat Chao Tianxiang, a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, let alone Meng Shu, an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo.

All he could do was lower his head for the moment.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu noticed that something was wrong with Zhao Wuji's aura. His Soul Power was depleted and unsteady, and his face was pale.

He was incredibly weak.

Someone had actually managed to injure Zhao Wuji, who was famous for his defenses?

The Dragon Duke's heart sank. He skipped the rest of the polite exchange and asked,

"Did you encounter the Titan Giant Ape? Is it true?"

Zhao Wuji nodded. "We did encounter the Titan Giant Ape. It was incredibly powerful..."

Dragon Duke's heart gave a jolt. "Which way?!"

Zhao Wuji pointed, and it happened to be the direction Serpent Granny Chao Tianxiang had gone in pursuit of the Man Faced Demon Spider.

Damn it!

The Dragon Duke immediately took Meng Yiran with him and hurried off. His deep voice echoed through the forest.

"Little Friend Xia Yan, we'll meet again!"

Zhao Wuji understood at once. No wonder he hadn't seen Serpent Granny. So she'd gone off to look for a Soul Beast.

If the Titan Giant Ape killed the two of them, that would be one good deed done.

Though he knew the two of them probably wouldn't run into the Titan Giant Ape.

Zhao Wuji hurriedly said to Xia Yan, "Xiao Wu's back. She's unharmed. Come on, let's head back."

Xia Yan pretended to look delighted. "Really?"

"That's great!"

"If you ever act so recklessly again, I'll break your legs." With the weight off his chest, Zhao Wuji found Xia Yan irritating. "Hurry up. The Dragon Duke and Serpent Granny are not to be trifled with. We need to leave tonight."

Still, he genuinely admired that kind of behavior.

Only someone willing to risk their life for their companions was truly worthy of trust.

The two of them returned soon after.

Everyone stood, not daring to sit down,

afraid that Soul Beasts could attack at any moment.

Ning Rongrong furrowed her brows as she stared in the direction Xia Yan had gone.

Everything was silent. They couldn't even hear the faintest cry of a Soul Beast. The entire Star Dou Great Forest seemed dead.

"He still hasn't come back. Could something have happened to him?"

The swelling on Tang San's face had gone down. He held Sand-Shooting Shadow in his hand, its surface gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

He gave a cold snort. "Something happened?"

His tone was full of contempt. He clearly didn't believe it.

Ning Rongrong immediately gave him a frosty look, and Zhu Zhuqing stared at him with equal coldness.

"What do you mean?!"

Tang San wasn't intimidated in the slightest.

"Xiao Wu's already back. The way she came back was directly opposite the direction he went in. If he really went to look for her, how could he not have run into her?"

"He must've secretly changed direction halfway and gone somewhere to hide. He said he was going after Xiao Wu, but he never went at all."

"He just found a place to hide,"

"then came back when enough time had passed."

"He was lying to all of you."

"With his Soul Power, what could he possibly have done if he went?"

Tang San had to say this. He had no choice.

Just a moment ago, Ning Rongrong had told Xiao Wu how Xia Yan had rushed off despite the danger, even when Zhao Wuji tried to stop him.

She'd repeated Xia Yan's words too:

"I have to find Xiao Wu. She's my companion. Even if she's already dead, I'll bring her body back."

Xiao Wu's eyes had gone red as she listened, and her hands had clenched.

No.

Absolutely not!

She couldn't let Xia Yan's scheme succeed!

Xiao Wu, you mustn't fall for Xia Yan!

Sure enough,

before Tang San had even finished speaking, Xiao Wu looked at him. Yet there was no emotion in her eyes.

She seemed about to say something, but in the end, she didn't say a word.

She didn't contradict Tang San.

She only clutched her clothes.

Tang San keenly noticed the change in Xiao Wu. His heart immediately began pounding.

Could it be?!

No way?!

Before,

Xiao Wu would have definitely contradicted him, even scolded him... What was going on today?

Had Xiao Wu been frightened and finally seen the truth? Or had she simply not recovered yet?

He, of course, hoped it was the former.

Ning Rongrong didn't hold back. The Little Demoness was out in full force as she glared at Tang San.

"Shut up!"

"Keep spouting nonsense, and I'll have someone tear your mouth apart!"

"Tang San, I'm warning you. If you slander Xia Yan again, I'll make you—"

"Ahem!"

A loud cough cut Ning Rongrong off and broke the tense atmosphere.

Everyone looked over.

It was Zhao Wuji and Xia Yan.

"Xia Yan!"

"You're all right?!"

"Brother Yan!"

Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and the others all crowded around him. Ning Rongrong even circled him, checking him over for injuries.

"Are you all right? Did you get hurt anywhere?"

Tang San watched Xiao Wu carefully. Sure enough, she didn't rush over. She only stood where she was, her gaze wavering.

She stood silently apart from everyone else,

even turning her eyes to one side, as pitifully as if she'd been cast out.

Tang San's heart softened at the sight, and he was absolutely overjoyed!

Xiao Wu!

You've finally seen the truth!

I'm the one who's always treated you best!

Though it was nighttime, Tang San felt as if the whole world had brightened. The hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape had done one good thing:

it had taken Xiao Wu away.

The only regrettable part was Xia Yan. He should have at least been badly injured if he hadn't died, but he wasn't hurt at all.

See? I was right after all.

He'd just found somewhere to hide.

Ning Rongrong had checked Xia Yan from head to toe. The weight in her heart finally lifted. "Where did you go?"

"Xiao Wu's already back."

Tang San silently scoffed. Where else could he have gone?

Zhao Wuji's gaze swept over everyone.

"Xia Yan ran into Dragon Duke Meng Shu, an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo.

"Enough. None of us are dead, but we can't stay in the Star Dou Great Forest any longer. Everyone, move out at once and get out of here as fast as you can. I'll deal with every Soul Beast on the way!"

"Move!"

Compared with the hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape, even an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo seemed like nothing. No one was particularly surprised. They just wanted to leave as soon as possible.

"Wait!"

Ning Rongrong stopped everyone and pointed at Tang San. "Tang San slandered a classmate. He's a despicable, base person."

"He has to apologize!"

Zhao Wuji glanced at Tang San's dark face. His skin and his expression were both dark.

"We'll discuss it after we get out. We need to leave the Star Dou Great Forest at once."

Ning Rongrong's brows shot up.

Trying to smooth things over?!

"You..."

Before she could finish, Xia Yan stopped her. "We'll talk after we leave."

Ning Rongrong looked at Xia Yan, clearly unconvinced. Why should she?!

But Xia Yan had a hand on her shoulder. He obviously didn't want her to keep going.

Ning Rongrong had no choice but to hold back for now.

Zhao Wuji had no other option either. He'd heard everything Tang San said.

It was obviously slander.

But Ning Rongrong was trying to get him killed with those words.

Ning Rongrong didn't know who stood behind Tang San, but Zhao Wuji did.

All he could do was smooth things over. What else could he do?

Everyone set off at once, hurrying through the moonlit forest at full speed. They no longer needed to worry about Soul Beasts; Zhao Wuji would deal with them all. They just had to get out of the Star Dou Great Forest as quickly as possible.

No one wanted to stay a moment longer. Who knew what other accidents might happen?