No Interest in Sworn Brotherhood?

Holy Soul Village hillside.

When Li Han returned to the Tang residence, he swept the area with his Divine Sense and discovered that Tang San had brought Xiao Wu to the nearby flower beds, so he came straight over.

"Oh, why are you two here? I was just thinking of going back to look for you."

Li Han greeted them politely.

"Li Han, you're back? What was that commotion?"

Xiao Wu asked curiously.

"Nothing. I misheard something earlier. After chasing after it, I got bored and wandered around.

You have to admit, the scenery in this village is pretty nice.

But what about you two? Why did you suddenly come here?"

"Little San said this was where he used to train, so he brought me here to have a look.

Little San also said he wanted to take me as his little sister.

Li Han, how about the three of us become sworn siblings together?

I'll be the eldest sister, you'll be number two, and Little San will still be Little San."

On a whim, Xiao Wu could not resist putting forward this tempting suggestion.

Back in the Star Dou Great Forest, she had two underlings, Da Ming and Er Ming. If she could also have two underlings in the world of Soul Masters, Li Er and Tang San, that would be wonderful.

Li Han waved his hands repeatedly.

"Forget it. I'm not interested in being Li Er.

Besides, sworn brotherhood is like children playing house."

"Ah? You don't want to?"

Xiao Wu looked utterly dejected.

"Xiao Wu, it's fine if Li Han doesn't want to. We can just be brother and sister.

Don't worry. I'll definitely give my life to protect you. I swear it!"

Tang San spoke with a serious expression, his eyes full of determination.

Faced with Tang San's burning gaze, Xiao Wu actually avoided making eye contact and looked toward Li Han.

"Li Han, why won't you become sworn siblings with us?"

"Isn't it good enough to be friends? Why do we have to become sworn siblings?

Besides, we're still young. What if we become attracted to each other someday after becoming sworn siblings?

Wouldn't that be incest?

Isn't that just creating trouble for ourselves?

If we're true friends through life and death, we can still risk our lives to protect each other, can't we?

Family is a gift from heaven, while friends are the fortune we find for ourselves. Why insist on mixing the two together?"

Li Han spread his hands, indicating that he could not understand.

Adoptive brothers and sisters who were not related by blood, acting like male confidants and female bros—in his era, that sort of thing would have been condemned.

"That makes so much sense."

Xiao Wu was instantly won over by Li Han's reasoning.

What stirred her heart most, however, was Li Han's line: "What if we become attracted to each other someday?"

Could Li Han already have feelings for me... That's so embarrassing.

At that thought, Xiao Wu's face immediately turned red.

Tang San was also stunned by those words, and he actually felt that Li Han made a great deal of sense.

"Little San, I think Li Han is right.

Let's just be friends.

Sworn brotherhood is too childish.

We're already big kids. We can't do something so immature."

"Mm, Xiao Wu, you're right!"

Tang San wholeheartedly agreed this time.

Li Han: "???"

Wait, why had they suddenly started agreeing with him?

And why were two seven-year-old children saying such bizarrely grown-up things?

Uh, that did not seem quite right either.

One was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and the other was a reincarnated uncle. They truly were not children.

Every one of them was older than him.

Over the following days, the three of them stayed in Holy Soul Village.

From time to time, Li Han studied the Soul-Nurturing Wood Bead and found that Ah Yin's divided soul inside showed no reaction whatsoever.

Even when facing Tang San, she remained completely still.

He did not know whether she had lost her memories and feelings, or whether she was simply too weak to react at all.

Seven days later.

Li Han successfully broke through to rank thirty.

"It's about time to head to the Star Dou Great Forest."

The next day, Li Han bid them farewell, saying that he wanted to return to Green Bamboo Village.

Xiao Wu immediately said that she wanted to go with him.

Tang San had originally wanted to come too, but since he had only just returned after so long, he wanted to stay for a few more days.

So in the end, only Li Han and Xiao Wu left.

"Xiao Wu, why don't you return to the academy first? The place I'm going this time isn't very suitable for bringing you along."

After leaving Holy Soul Village, Li Han suddenly said.

"Ah? Why? Aren't you going home?"

"Actually, I broke through to rank twenty and want to go to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for my third Soul Ring.

This trip will be rather dangerous. If you come with me, I can't guarantee your safety."

Li Han had never revealed his cultivation, especially after obtaining his second Soul Ring. He had gained the ability to disguise himself, allowing him to conceal his cultivation even more thoroughly.

Therefore, no one knew that he had long since become a Soul Grandmaster, much less that he had now broken through to rank thirty.

On one hand, he did this because he did not want to draw the attention of people with ulterior motives. On the other, he was preparing for his future plan of dispersing his cultivation and cultivating anew.

After all, if he was rank thirty one moment, rank ten the next, then rank twenty after that, anyone would find it strange.

"What? You broke through to rank twenty? That's way too fast!"

Even after underreporting by ten ranks, he still gave Xiao Wu quite a shock.

After all, even with the help of the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo Leaf, she had only cultivated to rank seventeen over the past year.

Now Li Han had actually surpassed her, so naturally she was astonished.

"It's all the result of diligent cultivation."

Li Han said solemnly.

"That's true. You really do cultivate diligently. Every time I see you, you're either cultivating or on your way to cultivate.

Isn't it too risky for you to go to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt a Soul Ring?

Why not go to the Soul Hunting Forest?"

Xiao Wu asked in confusion.

"I heard that the Star Dou Great Forest is the largest Soul Beast Forest on the entire continent. I want to go broaden my horizons.

If I only stay around the outskirts, there shouldn't be much danger."

"That's true. In that case, I'll go with you!

I want to visit the Star Dou Great Forest and broaden my horizons too!

Besides, with me around, I can help.

When you absorb your Soul Ring, I can stand guard for you!"

Xiao Wu patted her chest, sounding as though she had everything under control.

"You aren't afraid of danger?"

"You aren't afraid, so why should I be? Did you forget? I'm the big sister of Nuoding Academy!

There's nothing in this world that can scare me."

"Fine. But when the time comes, don't act recklessly. You'll follow my commands in everything."

"No problem! Xiao Wu will be happy to serve you!"

Xiao Wu gave him a playful smile.

"This is also a good chance to go back and see Da Ming and Er Ming.

I haven't seen them for more than a year. I wonder how they've been."

When Li Han saw that Xiao Wu wanted to come, he was delighted inwardly.

*Done. This trip to the Star Dou Great Forest should be safe now.

I just need to avoid Xiao Wu when I absorb the Soul Ring.*

They each had their own thoughts, but their goal was the same, so they set off together for the Star Dou Great Forest.

This winter break was destined to become a stage filled with adventure for them.

Half a month later.

The two arrived near the Star Dou Great Forest.

"The Star Dou Great Forest is up ahead. It really is countless times larger than the Soul Hunting Forest."

Looking at the vast forest stretching beyond sight, Li Han could not help but sigh.

"Of course! The Star Dou Great Forest can't possibly be compared to a place like the Soul Hunting Forest, where Soul Beasts are raised in captivity."