Xiao Wu, Say "Master" For Me To Hear

Ji Ye's lips curled up slightly.

The first martial soul, "Void," activated.

Transparent spatial energy swirled around him, and his body began to turn illusory.

The second martial soul, "Time," activated.

Time stop.

Everything within a thirty-zhang radius froze.

Leaves caught mid-flutter hung in the air, the barking of dogs in the distant village cut off abruptly, and the chirping of insects in the grass vanished in an instant.

Even the air solidified.

Ji Ye passed through the wall of the girls' dormitory as if walking through a thin veil.

It was effortless.

He walked up to the second floor, pushed open Xiao Wu's door, stepped inside, and closed it behind him.

Xiao Wu sat on the bed, head bowed, holding a comb suspended in mid-air, a stray hair caught in its teeth.

Time resumed.

"Who's there!"

Xiao Wu jerked her head up, the comb falling onto the bed.

She saw Ji Ye standing before her, a faint smile on his lips.

Xiao Wu's pupils constricted.

She opened her mouth wide, but quickly covered it, stifling a scream.

"Ji Ye? How did you suddenly appear in my room?"

Ji Ye glanced at her, reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her up from the bed.

Before Xiao Wu could react, she was dragged by Ji Ye through the wall, out the window, and onto the open ground outside the girls' dormitory.

Ji Ye didn't stop, pulling her along as he headed straight for the academy exit.

They crossed the playground, passed the crooked wooden sign, walked out the gates of Shrek Academy, and didn't stop until they reached the old locust tree at the village entrance.

Xiao Wu had been dragged the entire way, her feet bare against the muddy ground, a chill shooting from her soles to the top of her head.

She let out a yawn, then shook off Ji Ye's hand and glared at him.

"What are you doing! Dragging me out in the middle of the night instead of sleeping!"

Ji Ye turned to look at her.

He smiled slightly.

"Naturally, I wanted to have a heart-to-heart with a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form like you."

Xiao Wu's sleepiness vanished instantly.

It was as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her, chilling her from head to toe.

Her pupils shrank to pinpricks, her body instinctively retreated two steps, and she crossed her arms over her chest. Her expression shifted from drowsiness to wariness, and then to a flicker of fear.

How did he know?

The fact that she was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form—aside from Tang San, no one else had heard what that Title Douluo said that day.

She had never told anyone else.

Tang San wouldn't have said anything either.

How did he know?

Xiao Wu's mind raced, and suddenly, an image flashed before her.

A few days ago, that Title Douluo who descended from the sky, raining blow after blow upon Flender, beating that lecherous dean into a mummy.

That Title Douluo had said he was there to vent the anger of a child named Ji Ye.

Wait!

Ji Ye?!

It was him.

Xiao Wu's gaze grew even more guarded; she crouched slightly, assuming a defensive stance.

"You're that Ji Ye?"

Ji Ye's lips curled upward.

"What? Finally remembered who I am?"

Xiao Wu didn't answer, staring fixedly into his eyes, trying to discern his intentions.

But she found nothing.

Those eyes were too calm, as still as a stagnant pool, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

Xiao Wu took a deep breath, her voice turning cold.

"What do you want? If you want to fight, I'm not afraid of you!"

Ji Ye looked at her, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening.

He took a step forward.

Xiao Wu took a step back.

He took another step forward.

Xiao Wu took another step back.

Her back hit the trunk of an old locust tree; there was nowhere left to retreat.

Ji Ye walked up to her, reached out, and ruffled the top of her head.

His fingers passed through her hair, brushing against the invisible rabbit ears on her head.

Xiao Wu's body stiffened.

Those rabbit ears were her most sensitive spot; she didn't even let Tang San touch them.

"Under normal circumstances, I don't hit women."

Ji Ye's voice was casual.

"And as for you, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, I don't have much interest in you for the time being."

He withdrew his hand and looked down at Xiao Wu, the smile on his lips taking on a different flavor.

"How about we play a game?"

Xiao Wu watched him warily.

"What game?"

"Xiao Wu, you wouldn't want everyone at Shrek Academy to know you're a soul beast, would you?"

Xiao Wu's expression changed instantly.

Her lips were trembling, her fingers were trembling, her entire body was trembling.

She knew what Ji Ye was talking about.

She had lived with Tang San for six years, and their bond was like that of siblings; perhaps Tang San wouldn't alienate her just because she was a soul beast.

But what about Ning Rongrong? Zhu Zhuqing? Oscar? Dai Mubai? Zhao Wuji?

Once those people knew she was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, how would they look at her?

A hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form was nothing more than a walking soul ring and soul bone in the human world.

She would be hunted, imprisoned, and slaughtered like prey.

Could Tang San protect her?

Tang San couldn't even beat Dai Mubai.

Countless thoughts raced through Xiao Wu's mind, each one making her shudder.

"You... what do you want?"

Ji Ye smiled.

It was a gentle, polite, and gentlemanly smile.

But as Xiao Wu looked at that smile, she only felt a chill run down her spine.

"It's simple," Ji Ye said softly.

"I want you to fawn over me like a dog, right in front of Tang San."

Xiao Wu's eyes widened.

"Impossible!"

She refused resolutely, without a moment's hesitation.

Make her do that in front of Xiao San?

Make her fawn over someone else like a dog?

In her dreams!

Ji Ye's smile didn't change, but his eyes grew a degree colder.

"Refusing?"

He turned around and began walking toward Shrek Academy.

"Then I suppose I'll have to tell everyone about this."

His voice drifted back from ahead, not loud, but every word was crystal clear.

"After all, living with a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, who knows when you might get eaten? Tang San might understand you, but can the others?"

Xiao Wu's feet felt as if they were nailed to the ground; she couldn't take a single step.

Ji Ye walked a few steps, then slowed his pace.

He was waiting.

He knew Xiao Wu would call out to him.

Three seconds.

Two seconds.

One second.

"Stop right there!"

Xiao Wu's voice came from behind, laced with tears, anger, resentment, and an indescribable sense of grievance.

Ji Ye halted and turned around.

Xiao Wu stood where she was, her hands clutching the hem of her clothes so tightly her knuckles turned white.

She bit her lip, and as she bit down, tears began to fall.

Ji Ye watched her, saying nothing.

Xiao Wu cried for a long time.

Finally, she lifted her head, wiped her tears with her sleeve, and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"I... I agree."

The corners of Ji Ye's mouth curled up slightly.

He had known it would end this way all along.

"Call me Master, let me hear it."

Xiao Wu's fingers tightened further, her nails digging into her skin, making her frown in pain.

Her lips moved, then closed, then moved again.

Her face was a mask of conflict and struggle; in her heart, she was ten thousand, a hundred thousand, a million times unwilling.