Panting Like an Ox, Tang Xiao San

At this moment.

Tang San, still in his dreams, heard a dull "thud" from the room next door, followed immediately by a low gasp from Xiao Wu.

Tang San's heart tightened. Ignoring his own discomfort, he stumbled over and pushed the door open.

He saw Xiao Wu wearing pink pajamas, sprawled on the floor in a sorry state. Her delicate brows were tightly knit, her cheeks flushed with an unnatural crimson, and a light sheen of sweat clung to her forehead.

She struggled to get up, but her legs trembled slightly; she was clearly weak and limp all over.

"Xiao Wu! What happened?"

Tang San asked urgently, reaching out instinctively to help her.

But he was at the end of his own rope. His legs gave way, and instead of steadying Xiao Wu, he lost his balance and fell toward her.

Just as the two were about to collide, the door creaked open with a sharp pull. Fu Qin's tall figure appeared in the doorway. He reached out and scooped Xiao Wu into his arms, while his other hand caught Tang San's arm with a steady, reassuring strength.

"Careful." Fu Qin's voice was raspy from sleep. His gaze swept over Tang San's unsteady gait and Xiao Wu's flushed cheeks, a hint of imperceptible amusement flashing in his eyes. "Didn't you sleep well last night, Third Brother? And Xiao Wu, how did you fall like this?"

Tang San's face turned awkward. Avoiding Fu Qin's gaze, he whispered, "I probably didn't sleep soundly last night. I'm a bit exhausted, and Xiao Wu..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Wu bit her lip, her eyes reddening as she said, "I, I accidentally twisted my ankle while getting out of bed. My legs went soft and I fell."

She deliberately straightened her waist, trying to hide the soreness in her body, but the lingering allure in her eyes had not yet faded. Paired with her fragile appearance, it only made her look more captivating.

Fu Qin looked down at the petite girl in his arms. The scent of faint milk and a lingering, sweet, cloying fragrance—the very scent left behind from their morning bath—wafted into his nose.

He could clearly feel the delicate, firm skin beneath his palms and the slight tremors running through the girl's body. He sighed inwardly; she truly lived up to her Innate Full Soul Power constitution. Even after being tossed about all night, she remained charming and moving.

"Twisted your ankle? Is it serious?" Fu Qin asked with feigned concern, applying a little pressure to lift Xiao Wu into his arms. "The floor is cold. Go back to bed first."

Xiao Wu took the opportunity to wrap her arms around Fu Qin's neck, pressing her cheek against his warm chest. Catching a glimpse of Tang San's ugly expression out of the corner of her eye, she curled her lips into a secret smile.

She could imagine Tang San's current mood. Last night, he was surrounded by women in the brothel, while she was finding pleasure in Fu Qin's arms. Now that both of them were physically and mentally exhausted, they were quite the "match."

Tang San watched as Fu Qin carried Xiao Wu toward the bed, a strange, sour feeling rising in his heart.

He wanted to step forward and say he would take care of her, but as soon as he took a step, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and he nearly fell again.

Fu Qin was quick to steady him, his tone tinged with mockery: "Third Brother, in your current state, I'm afraid you can't even take care of yourself. You'd better rest. I've got Xiao Wu covered."

Tang San's face turned from green to white, and in the end, he had no choice but to sit on the chair by the bed.

He could feel Xiao Wu's gaze upon him, carrying a trace of strange emotion that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

He simply assumed Xiao Wu was angry because he hadn't returned home last night, never noticing that the reliance she once held for him had long since vanished from the depths of her eyes.

Xiao Wu leaned against the headboard, rubbing her ankle, and said in a sweet, coquettish voice.

"Fu Qin, I twisted my ankle quite badly. We have to go to Shrek Academy later, and I'm afraid I can't walk." As she spoke, she glanced at Tang San intentionally or otherwise, clearly hinting at something.

Tang San wanted to say he would carry her, but the thought of his own legs wobbling made him realize that if he tried to carry Xiao Wu, they would likely both end up falling, which would be even more humiliating.

He opened his mouth, but in the end, no words came out.

Fu Qin understood immediately and said with a smile, "It's fine, I'll carry you. We aren't that far from Shrek Academy; we can just walk slowly."

Xiao Wu immediately showed a look of pleasant surprise and nodded obediently: "Then I'll trouble you, Fu Qin." She deliberately ignored Tang San's hesitant expression, feeling secretly triumphant.

Watching Tang San witness her being carried by another man, seeing his helplessness—this was perhaps the best revenge for his betrayal last night.

Tang San sat to the side, watching Fu Qin carry Xiao Wu. The girl's arms were wrapped tightly around Fu Qin's neck, her cheek pressed against his back, a display of intimacy that was an eyesore.

A wave of inexplicable irritation surged in his heart. The heat from last night seemed to return, but his physical weakness left him powerless to change the situation.

He could only follow silently behind them, stumbling step by step out of the Rose Hotel.

The road outside the city was uneven, a muddy path of Kitsuchi.

Fu Qin carried Xiao Wu with a steady gait, showing no signs of strain.

Xiao Wu's hands were looped around his neck, her chest pressed firmly against his back, and she could clearly feel his steady, powerful heartbeat.

She lowered her head slightly, the faint, fresh scent of grass and trees on Fu Qin—so different from the Blue Silver Grass scent on Tang San—wafting into her nose, making her feel inexplicably at ease.

"Fu Qin, you're so strong," Xiao Wu said coquettishly, her fingers brushing against Fu Qin's neck, sending a slight shiver through him.

Fu Qin chuckled, his voice filled with amusement: "You're so light, carrying you is nothing. But Third Brother, are you still holding up? If not, we can take a break."

He looked back at Tang San, who was pale, with fine beads of sweat already seeping from his forehead; he was clearly struggling.

Tang San shook his head, gritting his teeth as he said, "I'm fine. I can do it."

He didn't want to show weakness in front of Xiao Wu, nor did he want to be looked down upon by his own younger brother, Fu Qin.

But the exhaustion of his body hit him like a tide. The energy drained by the women in the brothel last night had not recovered in the slightest, and every step felt like he was overdrawing his life.

Xiao Wu glanced at Tang San's wretched state. There was no pity in her heart, only a sense of satisfaction.

She buried her cheek deeper, her lips almost touching Fu Qin's ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Fu Qin, last night... you performed very well."

Fu Qin's body stiffened slightly, then he replied in a low voice: "As long as you're happy, Xiao Wu."

He could feel the softness of the girl on his back and could guess her thoughts.

Tang San's betrayal had caused Xiao Wu to completely let go, and he had become the perfect tool for her revenge—a tool he was more than willing to be.

The three of them walked one after another, the atmosphere strange and subtle.

The intimate interaction between Fu Qin and Xiao Wu was like a thorn, deeply embedded in Tang San's heart.

He wanted to question her, wanted to flare up, but the words died in his throat.

He had indeed gone to the brothel last night and had indeed betrayed Xiao Wu; what right did he have to accuse her now?

Half an hour later, a dilapidated village finally appeared ahead.

At the entrance of the village stood a crooked wooden sign, with three large characters written in black paint—Shrek.