The seven quickly gathered their things.
They showed no intention of introducing themselves to Tang Yin, and their attitude seemed rather cold.
Tang Yin didn't mind in the slightest.
Of course.
He was already on his guard.
On this trip to the Soul Hunting Forest, he wouldn't trust anyone except Xiao Wu.
Before long.
Tang Yin and Xiao Wu followed the group into the Soul Hunting Forest.
Chen Feng led the way, while the other seven each took their positions, covering the rear, the left and right flanks, and scouting ahead.
Tang Yin and Xiao Wu walked in the middle of the group, which was the safest position.
"You two are so young, yet you've come to such a dangerous place as the Soul Hunting Forest. Aren't there any adults in your family?" Chen Feng asked.
Hearing this, Tang Yin replied casually, "We're Work-Study Students at the academy."
"Work-Study Students?!"
Chen Feng's face filled with even greater astonishment. A barnyard chicken really can turn into a phoenix!
Chen Feng continued, "You became Soul Masters at such a young age. It looks like you both have excellent talent!"
Xiao Wu was just about to show off proudly, but Tang Yin tightened his grip on her hand and smiled faintly. "Thanks for the compliment."
"I wonder what kind of Soul Ring Uncle Chen wants to give his Martial Soul?" Tang Yin asked in return, trying to take control of the conversation.
"There aren't many Soul Beasts to choose from in the Soul Hunting Forest, either in number or variety. As long as the quality is about right and it's strength-oriented, I don't really care about the rest." Chen Feng shrugged.
There are practically no thousand-year-old Soul Beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest. There's no way these people don't know that. In that case, Chen Feng's First Soul Ring is most likely white. Otherwise, he wouldn't still be choosing a hundred-year-old Soul Beast for his third Soul Ring! Tang Yin thought.
Evening came quickly.
The group found a broad patch of ground, set up camp, and prepared to rest.
"Young people these days grow up so fast. They're already dating at this age~"
"What's so surprising? When I was that kid's age, I'd already had three girlfriends!"
"Look at your ugly mug. Did you really look as good as that kid when you were young?"
Tang Yin and Xiao Wu worked together to put up a tent.
The others watched them, laughing and teasing them.
The more Xiao Wu listened, the redder her cheeks grew. From time to time, she stole a glance at Tang Yin.
"Ahem!"
"Don't get the wrong idea. We're siblings!"
Tang Yin looked back at Chen Feng and the others and explained with a helpless expression.
These adults had no shame at all.
They were impossible.
"Hahahaha, look at him! The kid's embarrassed! He's getting flustered!"
"He can't even come up with a decent excuse!"
"Kid, your little girlfriend's blushing, and you're still going on about being siblings!"
They kept teasing them.
"All right, all right. Aren't you all tired? Everyone except those on night watch, get some rest!" Chen Feng sighed and said helplessly.
At his words, the others stopped their teasing.
After all, Chen Feng had a point.
The Soul Hunting Forest was full of danger, and they needed to stay in good shape.
"Tang Yin, you and Xiao Wu should get some rest too. You two don't need to take a turn on watch," Chen Feng said.
"Okay, thanks, Uncle." Tang Yin led Xiao Wu, her cheeks glowing red, into the tent.
"Tang Yin, I'm hungry..." Inside the tent, Xiao Wu crossed her jade-white legs and spoke with a blush.
"Just a moment."
Tang Yin took several bags of bread and other fine foods, along with milk and other drinks, from his Storage Soul Tool and handed them to Xiao Wu.
"Eat these first. Save the dry rations for later."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. She took the food, divided it into two portions, and smiled. "Let's eat together."
Tang Yin didn't refuse.
After the two ate their fill inside the tent, they got ready to rest.
"Xiao Wu, you sleep first."
"I'll take the first half of the night, and you take the second."
Tang Yin lowered his voice.
Xiao Wu froze slightly and asked, "Aren't the others outside taking turns on watch?"
Tang Yin smiled, patted her little head, and said, "Don't put your hopes in other people. You need to stay alert yourself."
Light shimmered in Xiao Wu's eyes. She felt as though Tang Yin himself were glowing.
After Xiao Wu fell asleep, Tang Yin sat cross-legged and released his Blue Silver Domain.
In an instant.
The Blue Silver Grass within a five-hundred-meter radius became his eyes.
"It's a pity I can't maintain the Blue Silver Domain for long, or my Soul Power won't be enough to sustain it."
Using the Blue Silver Domain, Tang Yin carefully checked the area within a five-hundred-meter radius. Then he withdrew the domain and closed his eyes to meditate.
First, it helped him stay in good condition.
Second, if anything unexpected happened, he'd be able to respond at once.
The night passed. Tang Yin opened his eyes several times, each time because of the commotion outside as the night watchmen changed shifts.
"Mm~"
Xiao Wu murmured softly, stretched, then sat up, still bleary-eyed.
"Tang Yin, it's my turn to take watch."
"Yaaawn~"
Xiao Wu let out a yawn without thinking.
Tang Yin hadn't slept all night, but meditation had left him in good spirits.
He smiled helplessly at Xiao Wu's words.
"Xiao Wu, it's already morning."
"Get ready. We're about to set off."
Xiao Wu froze. When she saw how bright it was outside the tent, she exclaimed, "How is it already morning?! Tang Yin, you didn't sleep all night?"
Tang Yin smiled. "I can meditate instead of sleeping. I'm not tired at all, so don't worry."
"Besides, you looked so cute sleeping that I couldn't bring myself to wake you."
Xiao Wu's face turned red.
They had shared a dorm room before, but the dormitory had been quite spacious.
There had been some distance between their two beds.
It was nothing like this cramped tent.
If they both lay down to sleep, there would be less than thirty centimeters between them.
"Hey, you two, are you awake?"
"Get ready to set off!"
Chen Feng's voice rang out.
"Coming!" Tang Yin replied promptly, then turned to Xiao Wu with a smile. "Xiao Wu, I'll go wait outside."
Xiao Wu nodded lightly, cheeks red. As she watched Tang Yin's retreating figure, a strange feeling quietly stirred in her heart.
A short while later.
The ten of them finished packing their belongings and set off again.
In the blink of an eye, two days passed.
"Demon Soul Tree Demon!"
Tang Yin stared at a strange tree directly ahead and named it. At the same time, he estimated how old the Demon Soul Tree Demon was.
"Captain, I'd say this Demon Soul Tree Demon is at least six hundred years old! Why don't we find a weaker plant-type Soul Beast for the kid instead?"
"Captain, this Demon Soul Tree Demon is terrifyingly strong. With just the few of us, even if we killed it, we'd probably get hurt!"
Listening to his team members' advice, Chen Feng hesitated. The Demon Soul Tree Demon's strength was nothing like that of an ordinary plant-type Soul Beast. It was exceptionally aggressive.
"Tang Yin, this Demon Soul Tree Demon is at least seven hundred years old." Xiao Wu leaned close to Tang Yin's ear and whispered so softly that only the two of them could hear.
Tang Yin nodded slightly.
He had reached the same conclusion.
He just hadn't expected Xiao Wu, who usually slept and slacked off in class, to know so much about the age of Demon Soul Tree Demons.