Nine Heart Begonia

"Awwooo!"

All the Nether Wolves threw back their heads and howled, then charged at Gu Qingshan. Their black figures spread across the valley, forming a black torrent.

Gu Qingshan stood where he was, without moving.

In fewer than three breaths, twenty Nether Wolves reached him. They leaped into the air, jaws gaping, their fangs racing toward Gu Qingshan's throat and limbs.

The thorn patterns on the dark golden shield suddenly flared with a deep red light. A terrifying force rebounded from its surface.

The Nether Wolves didn't even have time to scream. Their bodies were struck by an invisible giant hammer and exploded in midair.

Black blood, shattered bones, and torn entrails littered the ground before Gu Qingshan.

The entire process took fewer than five breaths.

All twenty Nether Wolves were dead. Every one of them had been killed by the rebounding force the moment they attacked the Thorn Shield.

Gu Qingshan turned around and looked at Bibi Dong and Chrysanthemum Douluo.

"How was that?"

Bibi Dong was silent for a moment, then smiled.

"Good. Very good."

Standing behind Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at the corpses of the Nether Wolves scattered across the ground. His expression shifted from shock to numbness.

This child would become Spirit Hall's sharpest sword—or its strongest shield.

The effect of Taunt had been even better than Gu Qingshan had expected.

It forced attacks, clouded reason, and ignored the difference in strength between enemies.

Paired with the Thorn Shield's damage reflection, this skill was practically an unbeatable combination.

"Stop."

Bibi Dong opened her eyes and looked at Gu Qingshan, a hint of confusion in her violet gaze.

"What is it?"

"Teacher, something's going on outside." As he spoke, Gu Qingshan had already lifted the carriage curtain and jumped down.

They had left the Star Dou Great Forest behind. A town lay ahead, filled with people moving about in disorder.

On the street, several figures were struggling.

Three men had surrounded a girl.

The man in front looked to be around thirty. He was fat-faced and big-eared, with a greasy sheen on his skin and tiny eyes narrowed into slits. Grinning, he reached out to grab the girl's arm.

The other two men stood on either side, blocking the girl's escape. They were clearly his accomplices.

The girl was around six or seven, about the same age as Gu Qingshan. She wore a pale green dress, and her hair was tied behind her head with a silver ribbon. Her delicate little face looked like it belonged to a porcelain doll, and she was adorable.

The fat-faced man had grabbed her wrist. She struggled with all her might, but she was too weak to break free.

Her lips trembled, and tears welled in her eyes, but stubbornly, she didn't cry.

"Little girl, don't be afraid. Uncle isn't a bad person."

The fat-faced man grinned like a blooming chrysanthemum. His oily laughter could be heard from two hundred paces away.

"You're all alone out here in the middle of nowhere. It's dangerous! Uncle will take you to see some goldfish, then take you home, all right?"

"Let go of me! My mother's at the inn up ahead. She'll come looking for me any minute!"

The girl's voice shook with fear.

"Oh, the inn? That's perfect. Uncle's staying there too. Come on, we'll go together." The fat-faced man's eyes lit up.

As he spoke, he tugged hard on the girl, dragging her toward a lavish carriage by the roadside.

Gu Qingshan stayed where he was, took the Blue Silver Leaf from his mouth, folded it up, and put it back in his pocket.

"Teacher, I'll take care of this."

Bibi Dong watched the small figure. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

"Hey! Let go of that girl!"

The fat-faced man turned around and frowned at the ignorant child who didn't know his place.

"Kid, this has nothing to do with you. Get lost." He impatiently waved his hand.

Gu Qingshan sighed.

He hated people like this most of all.

"Let her go," Gu Qingshan said again.

"Kid, I'm warning you not to stick your nose in other people's business, or else... Ah!"

Gu Qingshan kicked him in the knee.

"Crack!"

The fat man crashed to his knees, clutching his knee as his face twisted with pain.

"Ah! My leg! My leg! Kill this little bastard!"

The other two men finally reacted. They summoned their Martial Souls. Both were Soul Grandmasters: one had an Iron-Back Wolf Martial Soul, and the other had a Rock Giant Martial Soul.

"First Soul Skill, Wolf Claw Rending Kill!"

"First Soul Skill, Rock Heavy Strike!"

Their attacks landed on Gu Qingshan. A moment later, both men flew away and fell silent.

The fat man saw what had happened and pissed himself. He begged desperately for mercy.

"D-Don't kill me... I'm begging you... don't kill me... I have money... I'll give you money... however much you want..."

"I'm sending you to meet your two friends. Don't be nervous. Feeling dizzy is normal."

Thud!

After dealing with the three thugs, Gu Qingshan turned around and looked at the girl behind him.

The girl stared at Gu Qingshan, her emerald-green eyes full of surprise and gratitude.

A boy about her age had appeared when she was at her most helpless, kicked a bad man's knee to pieces, and sent two grown men flying without even lifting a hand.

To a six-year-old, he was no different from a hero in a story.

"Y-You're amazing. Thank you." Her voice was soft, tinged with a trace of timidity.

Gu Qingshan smiled, took the folded Blue Silver Leaf from his pocket, and put it back in his mouth.

"Are you all right?"

The girl shook her head, then nodded, then shook her head again. Her little face scrunched up, making her look both pitiful and adorable.

"What's your name?"

"Big brother, my name is Ye Lingling."

Ye Lingling?

Gu Qingshan's heart gave a sudden leap.

The Nine Heart Begonia was an auxiliary Martial Soul known as the "Flower of Immortality."

Its healing was the strongest among all Martial Souls. It was said that as long as someone still had a breath left, the Nine Heart Begonia could drag them back from the gates of death.

But the Nine Heart Begonia had one fatal flaw.

A limit on its inheritance.

There could only be one inheritor in each generation, meaning that at most two Nine Heart Begonia Martial Souls could exist at the same time.

And inheritors of the Nine Heart Begonia usually didn't live long.

Chewing on the Blue Silver Leaf, Gu Qingshan's mind raced.

Ye Lingling had the Nine Heart Begonia. In the future, she would be the finest healing support.

His Thorn Shield specialized in defense and damage reflection. The two of them would make a perfect pair: one to defend, one to heal.

Besides, Ye Lingling was so beautiful. She was already as delicate as a porcelain doll at six. What would she be like when she grew up?

And the Nine Heart Begonia's flaw could be solved.

An Immortal Herb.

"Come on, I'll take you to find your mother."

"Teacher, her name is Ye Lingling. She got separated from her mother. Let's take her to find her first." Gu Qingshan led Ye Lingling back.

Bibi Dong looked down at Ye Lingling, a glint passing through her violet eyes.

"The Nine Heart Begonia," she said softly, her tone certain.

Ye Lingling's body trembled slightly, and she instinctively hid behind Gu Qingshan.

Gu Qingshan patted the back of her hand, signaling that she shouldn't be afraid.

"Teacher, you can return to Spirit City first. Elder Chrysanthemum and I can take Lingling to find her mother."

Bibi Dong gave him a look that said, "Do you think I don't know what you're planning?"

But she didn't call him out. She knew perfectly well how valuable the Nine Heart Begonia was, and was happy to let things unfold.

"Elder Chrysanthemum," she said, turning her head toward Chrysanthemum Douluo.

"This subordinate understands. I'll escort Young Master Qingshan and the young lady safely to their family." Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed slightly.

Bibi Dong nodded, then climbed into the carriage with her long strides.