A month slipped quietly by.
"Buzz!!!"
In the girls' dormitory, Soul Power surged from Xiao Wu's body, climbing higher and higher before abruptly drawing back in.
"Phew!"
Xiao Wu slowly opened her lively eyes, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
"I finally broke through to level thirty."
"But...how am I supposed to leave here and find somewhere secluded to absorb a Soul Ring?"
"More importantly, what am I supposed to tell Tang Yin...?"
Though delighted, Xiao Wu couldn't help feeling troubled. That worry instantly washed away her joy at reaching level thirty.
"Maybe...I'll just tell Tang Yin I'm going home for a while...but then he'll definitely want to come with me."
"How annoying."
Xiao Wu cupped her rosy cheeks, her face full of worry.
Meanwhile.
Tang Yin was on his way over.
Before long.
Outside Xiao Wu's dorm room, Tang Yin knocked and called, "Xiao Wu, it's time for breakfast."
Creak—!
Xiao Wu opened the dormitory door. When she looked at Tang Yin, her eyes darted away.
She'd been wondering the whole time whether she should just tell him she'd broken through to level thirty.
Tang Yin immediately noticed that something was off about her.
"Xiao Wu, what's wrong?"
"You seem a little strange. Are you feeling unwell?"
Tang Yin knew that girls had a few days like that every month.
Besides, Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent tended to mature early, especially girls.
It wasn't unreasonable for Tang Yin to suspect that.
"Tang Yin, I'm going home for a while. Could you ask the teacher to excuse me?" Xiao Wu had thought it over and decided to go with that excuse after all.
"Going home?" Tang Yin froze.
Xiao Wu was going home?
The Star Dou Forest?
Why was Xiao Wu suddenly going back to the Star Dou Forest?
Could Tang Hao have shown up and stirred up trouble?
"That's right. I'm going home for a while. I'll be gone at least three to five days, maybe ten or so." Xiao Wu nodded.
Tang Yin said, "I'll go back with you."
"No, no! I'd rather go by myself! If I bring you back, they might not like you and could even bully you!" Xiao Wu hurriedly refused.
"Just wait here for me. I'll be back soon!" Xiao Wu said in a rush.
Tang Yin's expression turned a little odd.
Under his gaze, Xiao Wu felt terribly guilty.
"Then...be careful on the way. Here are a hundred Gold Soul Coins. Keep them for your trip."
Tang Yin didn't press her any further. He pulled out a money pouch and handed it to Xiao Wu.
After all, Xiao Wu's situation was rather special.
And for now, he still hadn't laid all his cards on the table with her.
There was no need to rush this. He couldn't rush it, even if he wanted to.
"Tang Yin, thank you."
"Wait here for me and don't go wandering off. Otherwise, I won't be able to find you when I get back."
Xiao Wu stared at Tang Yin without blinking.
"Where would I go?" Tang Yin shook his head with a laugh, then asked, "When are you planning to leave?"
"Right now. I was just about to pack!" Xiao Wu said.
"Pack?" Tang Yin paused. Without a second thought, he took the Storage Soul Tool from his wrist. "Keep this Storage Soul Tool with you. It'll be a hassle to carry your luggage all the way."
The corners of Xiao Wu's mouth lifted slightly. She held out her left hand.
Seeing that, Tang Yin slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.
"I'll give it back when I get home." Xiao Wu cradled the bracelet, grinning.
"You can keep it if you want." Tang Yin waved it off, then said, "I'll head out, then, and ask the teacher to excuse you."
"Mm-hmm!" Xiao Wu waved at him with a playful smile.
After Tang Yin left, Xiao Wu locked herself in her room and let out a long breath.
"Thank goodness."
"Tang Yin is still so considerate. He still respects my privacy."
"If he'd insisted on coming along, I really wouldn't have known how to stop him."
"Since I'm going back anyway, I might as well visit Da Ming and Er Ming."
"I'll buy them some bananas to take back."
After making up her mind, Xiao Wu quickly started packing.
Not long after.
She set off alone on her "trip home." First, she took a horse-drawn carriage to the small town outside the Star Dou Forest, then continued on foot into the forest.
During that time.
She successfully condensed her third Soul Ring and broke through to Soul Elder.
Tang Hao secretly followed her the whole way. Only after seeing her enter the Star Dou Forest did he retrace his steps and return to Tang Yin's side, where he continued keeping watch.
"It's not bad for Xiao Yin to stay here and study at Suotuo Intermediate Soul Master Academy."
"He learned to create his own Soul Skill at such a young age, and even managed to develop one. He doesn't need that good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang to teach him."
"It's a shame the way to cultivate Twin Martial Souls can only be obtained from Bibi Dong through Yu Xiaogang. But as things stand, that method probably won't work."
"I can only hope Xiao Yin figures out a way to cultivate Twin Martial Souls on his own someday."
Tang Hao watched Tang Yin training diligently on the practice field. His short, azure-blue hair and features resembling Ah Yin couldn't help but remind him of her.
"Ah Yin, our child...has grown up. It's a shame you couldn't see it."
"Ah Yin, don't blame me...I truly did everything I could. I was useless..."
"But...don't worry. Xiao Yin will surpass everyone someday! He'll avenge you—and the child we lost long ago!"
Tang Hao murmured to himself, hidden in the shadows a hundred meters away as he silently watched Tang Yin.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
Early that morning.
Tang Yin was still washing his face and brushing his teeth when a series of loud knocks came from outside.
"Tang Yin! Tang Yin! I'm back!"
Xiao Wu's excited voice rang out from beyond the door.
"You're back already!"
Tang Yin quickly rinsed off and opened the door for her, looking surprised.
"You're not happy I came back so soon?"
Xiao Wu put her hands on her hips and pouted.
"I am! I'm happy! Of course I'm happy!"
"Wait, Xiao Wu, did you break through?"
Tang Yin keenly sensed the Soul Power radiating from Xiao Wu. It was now nearly as strong as his own.
There was a clear difference from the gap between a Soul Elder and a Soul Grandmaster.
"You noticed!"
"I broke through to level thirty on my way home, by accident!"
"The Star Dou Forest was close to the road home, so I went in to take a look. I didn't expect to come across a thousand-year Soul Beast that was badly injured!"
"I killed it and absorbed its Soul Ring, and successfully broke through to level thirty-one!"
Xiao Wu rattled it off smoothly.
She'd rehearsed those words in her mind many times, all for this very moment.
Tang Yin was stunned.
When he came back to himself, he gave her a thumbs-up, his expression peculiar. "You're incredibly lucky! That's how you got your second Soul Ring, and now you got your third the same way!"
"When luck comes, there's no stopping it!" Xiao Wu gave an awkward laugh. Without realizing it, she pinched the hem of her skirt, her face burning red.
It seemed she couldn't use the same excuse too many times.
She'd have to think of a new, convincing excuse that wouldn't make people so suspicious.
"To celebrate you becoming a Soul Elder!"
"Lunch is on me. We're having a feast!"
A warm smile returned to Tang Yin's face. He waved a hand and laughed.
"Sounds great!"
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she was thrilled.