"Eat up, eat up. Once you're done, hurry up and leave."
Looking at those big, bright red eyes, then at the seafood porridge on the table that he could not finish himself, Yu Yan waved his hand and agreed to Xiao Wu's request.
Anyone who cooked regularly knew that making food for one person was the most troublesome. It was easy to misjudge the portions and make either too much or too little.
Since Yu Yan had a fairly large appetite, he always made more food than necessary. Any leftovers were usually saved for the next meal or fed to the crabs in the water tank.
There probably would not be any leftovers today.
"Hehe, I didn't expect you to be such a nice person. Then I won't hold back."
Having been refused all along, Xiao Wu happily gave Yu Yan a good-person card when she heard that he was willing to let her eat something.
Yu Yan merely waved it off, showing that such a small matter was not worth mentioning. He casually picked up a clean bowl and chopsticks from nearby.
Taking the bowl and chopsticks Yu Yan handed her, Xiao Wu happily began drinking the seafood porridge and eating the buns left on the table.
Perhaps she was truly starving, or perhaps Yu Yan's food was simply delicious. Xiao Wu ate very quickly, forming a sharp contrast with her cute, petite appearance.
"I'm so full! Yu Yan, did you make all of this?"
After eating and drinking her fill, Xiao Wu leaned back in her chair and contentedly rubbed her stomach.
"Yeah, just a simple breakfast."
As Yu Yan answered Xiao Wu's question, he thought about how to persuade her to leave. He still needed to quietly develop himself.
He could not get too involved with people close to Tang San. It would be bad if he were discovered.
"This is the best food I've ever had. Yu Yan, you're really amazing."
Xiao Wu had always lived in the Star Dou Forest, where there was no such refined food.
After leaving the Star Dou Forest, she had cautiously traveled through the wilderness for a long time to avoid those powerful Soul Masters. She had only appeared before people because of the Soul Power fluctuations Yu Yan gave off.
This was her first proper meal, and Yu Yan's cooking was indeed quite good. Xiao Wu's praise was completely sincere.
"Nothing special, nothing special. It's all just ordinary home cooking." After modestly brushing past the subject, Yu Yan looked at Xiao Wu. "You've eaten now. Shouldn't you leave this place and go where you're supposed to go?"
"Go where I'm supposed to go?"
Xiao Wu looked at Yu Yan in confusion, wondering what exactly he meant.
Seeing Xiao Wu staring at him in confusion, Yu Yan simply made it clear.
"Yeah, aren't you going to Nuoding City to attend school?"
"Our Fish Village is very far from Nuoding City, and Soul Master Academy is about to begin. If you keep staying here, you'll delay the important matter of attending school."
It had been mentioned before that the novel Douluo Continent had left a deep, fixed impression on Yu Yan, and he had not yet reacted.
He thought Nuoding City was Xiao Wu's destination, but that was not the case.
After hearing Yu Yan's words, Xiao Wu became even more confused. Rather than keeping her doubts to herself, she asked Yu Yan in return.
"Nuoding City?"
"I've never even heard of that place. Why would I go there to attend school?"
"And what does attending school even mean? What kind of place is a Soul Master Academy?"
"Why would staying here delay my important business?"
"Why would my important business be attending school? How come I don't know that?"
Xiao Wu's father and mother had both been Soul Beasts. They would not have taught Xiao Wu much about human society while she was still a Soul Beast.
Da Ming and Er Ming were both Soul Beasts as well and had never interacted with human society, so naturally they could not have taught Xiao Wu about human society after she transformed into a human.
Therefore, Xiao Wu's understanding of human society at this point was extremely shallow.
Besides, Xiao Wu did not think staying here would delay her at all. As long as she could obtain the cultivation method she had seen Yu Yan use that morning, it definitely would not count as neglecting her important business.
Still slow to react, Yu Yan stared at Xiao Wu in shock after hearing her words. "You're not going to Nuoding City?"
"Why would I go to Nuoding City? I've never even heard of it. Why are you being so weird?"
Listening to Xiao Wu's certain answer, Yu Yan felt that his mind was a mess. He stopped talking to Xiao Wu and began to think.
Yu Yan was not stupid. He simply had not reacted in time. Once he calmed down and thought it through, he noticed many details he had overlooked.
He gradually understood everything!
He slowly grasped it all!
Nuoding City had not been Xiao Wu's first destination. It had merely been a random place for her to settle after leaving the Star Dou Forest.
Perhaps Nuoding City was remote, or perhaps there had been some other reason.
Xiao Wu and Tang San did not know each other yet. They were complete strangers, strangers with no connection whatsoever.
Moreover, Xiao Wu looked rather silly right now.
With that thought, Yu Yan looked at Xiao Wu again, no longer wanting to drive her away.
Thinking about it carefully, Xiao Wu was beautiful, sweet-voiced, lively, cheerful, and unwavering in love. As long as she grew up smoothly, becoming a Title Douluo was practically guaranteed.
Wasn't she an obvious high-potential prospect?
Wouldn't it be great to keep her by his side?
Why had I just been trying to send her away?
"Hahahaha..."
Having figured everything out, Yu Yan laughed awkwardly twice to ease the awkward atmosphere. Looking at Xiao Wu, he said, "Actually, I learned that cultivation method by accident. I haven't fully mastered it myself yet, so I can't teach it to you. If you're willing to wait, you can follow me for now. Once I've learned it, I'll teach you."
"If you don't believe me, I'll demonstrate it for you tomorrow morning. Then you'll understand."
That was the truth, and also a reason to keep Xiao Wu by his side and cultivate their relationship.
He was definitely stealing Xiao Wu away. No one could stop him.
"Mm, no problem. Thank you, Yu Yan. You're such a nice person."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu could sense that Yu Yan had not lied to her this time. She thanked him again and once more gave him a good-person card.
"It's nothing, really." After waving his hand, Yu Yan continued explaining Xiao Wu's earlier questions. "A Soul Master Academy is a place that teaches people like us how to cultivate and grow stronger. Many children like you and me attend Soul Master Academy to study."
"So that's how it is. Then will you also be attending that Nuoding Academy?"
Xiao Wu thought for a moment, then asked a question that made Yu Yan want to curl his toes into the ground.
"No, no, no. It's too far from here, and traveling back and forth would be inconvenient. When the time comes, I'll attend Balak Junior Soul Master Academy."
"Can I attend that Balak Junior Soul Master Academy too?"
Xiao Wu had transformed into a human in order to integrate into human society and cultivate and grow within it. After learning from Yu Yan that Soul Master Academy could help students grow, she also wanted to attend one.
"As long as you awaken your Martial Soul and possess Soul Power, you can attend Balak Junior Soul Master Academy."
Having already guessed what Xiao Wu was thinking, Yu Yan explained the admission requirements for Balak Junior Soul Master Academy.
"Then I want to attend there too. That way, I can stay by your side and wait for you to teach me that special cultivation method."
"It's possible, but do you have money to attend school? I'm using Fish Village's Work-Study Student quota, so I can attend for free. You..." Seeing Xiao Wu's troubled expression, Yu Yan grinned. "I'll help you solve that problem. Consider it a favor you owe me, and you'll have to repay me in the future."
This move was called creating a debt of gratitude and then seeking repayment.
"Mm, no problem. I'll repay your favor in the future." Xiao Wu patted her chest, then leaned back in her chair again and sighed. "Yu Yan, you're such a nice person."
Xiao Wu did know that buying things in human society required money. She simply did not have any on her.
Now that Yu Yan was willing to help her solve this problem, she was truly grateful to him.
"You've already said several times that I'm a nice person."
"Then you're super, super nice."
"Heh, you little girl really know how to flatter people."
"Aren't you a child too?"
"How could that be the same?"
"Oh, right, Yu Yan. What did all those strange things you said earlier mean?"
"Xiao Wu, please forget everything I said earlier. Just pretend I wasn't in my right mind."
"Mm... considering you're such a nice person, I'll reluctantly agree to your request."
Before you continue