Tang San's pupils contracted sharply.
"Father?"
Tang Hao didn't look at him.
Tang Hao's gaze fell on Xiao Wu.
There was scrutiny and solemnity in his eyes, but above all, there was no killing intent.
"Little girl."
Xiao Wu's whole body stiffened.
"I know who you are."
Tang San whipped his head around to look at Xiao Wu, then turned back to Tang Hao.
Something roared inside his head, but he had no time to think.
"But you don't need to worry."
Tang Hao's voice was very calm, betraying no emotion.
"You're Xiao San's friend."
"I won't hurt you."
Xiao Wu's lips moved.
She wanted to say something, but found that she couldn't make a sound.
This middle-aged man, dressed in rags, was actually Tang San's father?
Tang San's father was actually a powerful Soul Master?
And he'd known all along... He'd known all along that she was a Soul Beast?
But as he looked at her, there was no disgust or killing intent in his eyes.
"There's no time for chatter."
Tang Hao stepped forward and grabbed Xiao Wu's wrist with one hand.
His other hand clamped onto Tang San's shoulder.
"I'm taking you to the Star Dou Forest right now."
"Listen carefully—"
He looked down at Xiao Wu, his eyes finally revealing a stern expression.
"Until you reach maturity,"
"you must not come out."
Xiao Wu froze.
The wrist he held trembled slightly.
But this time, it wasn't from fear.
Tang Hao's figure suddenly shot upward. His Soul Power surged, and black light burst from beneath his feet.
"Father—"
The wind swallowed Tang San's voice.
Three figures soared into the sky.
The roof of Notting Academy rapidly shrank beneath them, becoming a tiny gray brick.
Wind rushed into their ears, blurring every sound.
Xiao Wu turned her head, looking past Tang Hao's broad shoulder at the little city growing ever more distant below.
In that city was a classroom, a desk, and a boy who always sat beside her.
She opened her mouth, but the wind tore her voice to pieces.
"Xiao San—"
Tang San was beside her, held by the collar by Tang Hao, his whole body like a leaf caught in the wind.
He struggled with all his might to turn and look at her, anxiety practically dripping from his eyes.
But the wind was too strong.
He couldn't ask her anything.
Without turning around, Tang Hao carried the two of them toward the Star Dou Forest.
They raced through the air.
And just then, the sharp critique and introduction on the Light Screen began in earnest.
On the Light Screen.
[As the most useless heroine in the Douluo series, Xiao Wu was undoubtedly the source of all evil.]
[Xiao Wu's real name is unknown. She came from the Star Dou Forest and was a Hundred-Thousand-Year-Old Soft Bone Rabbit who transformed into a human, disguised as one.]
[Back then, because Xiao Wu's mother, Ah Rou, had seemingly died at Bibi Dong's hands, Xiao Wu transformed into a human and went to the human world to gain power and information.]
[Thus, when she was six, she somehow got a work-study student spot and came to Notting Academy, where she met Tang San.]
[From then on, she accompanied Tang San every step of the way.]
The simple introduction let everyone learn about Xiao Wu.
But no one had expected that this girl was a human who had transformed from a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
Future generations knew the story well enough, but to people of the Douluo Era 1, it was like a raging storm.
[Douluo Era 1 Tang San]: "What? Xiao Wu, you—you're a Soul Beast?"
[Douluo Era 1 Tang San]: "I-is this what you were hiding?"
[Douluo Era 1 Tang San]: "Impossible. Xiao Wu, how could you be a Soul Beast?!"
[Douluo Era 1 Tang Hao]: "Xiao San, don't say that here..."
[Douluo Era 1 Bibi Dong]: "A Soul Beast? A Soft Bone Rabbit. Oh, I see. You're the little beast I failed to capture back then?"
[Douluo Era 1 Bibi Dong]: "Well, well, no wonder you're so worked up! You little brat, just you wait. When the time comes, I'll tear you apart!"
[Douluo Era 1 Xiao Wu]: "Bibi Dong, you just wait, too! One day, I'll come back for revenge!"
[Douluo Era 1 Titan Giant Ape]: "Sister Xiao Wu, don't bother with them. I'm already on my way. Hurry and come meet me!"
[Douluo Era 1 Xiao Wu]: "Okay!"
[Douluo Era 2 Huo Yuhao]: "Just like the legends say, she really is a Soul Beast who transformed into a human?"
[Douluo Era 1 Yu Xiaogang]: "Xiao Wu is actually a Soul Beast? I was wondering—how could a Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul have Innate Full Soul Power?"
[Douluo Era 1 Yu Xiaogang]: "Xiao San, where are you all now?"
Tang San had neither the chance nor the inclination to answer Yu Xiaogang.
They were high in the sky, and Tang San was overwhelmed with excitement and surprise.
Douluo Era 1.
High in the sky.
Tang San tightened his grip on Xiao Wu's wrist, his fingertips digging into her skin.
"Xiao Wu. Is what the Light Screen said true?"
"Answer me."
"How could you possibly be a Soul Beast?"
Xiao Wu turned her face away.
The wind ruffled the loose strands of hair at her temples. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
Tang San panicked, his voice cracking as it squeezed from his throat. "Could they have made a mistake? They must have made a mistake, right?"
She lowered her eyes.
Her eyelashes trembled violently.
Still, she said nothing.
Tang Hao carried them both as he sped through the air, the wind filling his sleeves.
He suddenly sighed, his voice low, like sandpaper grinding over stone.
"Don't ask, Xiao San."
"This girl... really is a Soul Beast."
Tang San froze.
Tang Hao continued, "A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast can transform into a human after cultivating to the very peak. Unless they release their Soul Power, no one else can see through the disguise."
"Only a Soul Douluo or stronger can sense her true form."
Tang San's eyes widened little by little.
Tang Hao suddenly turned his head. His gaze settled on Xiao Wu's face—not hostile, just assessing.
"But little girl, I never expected that you'd have a grudge against Bibi Dong, too."
Xiao Wu's shoulders trembled.
She slowly lifted her head. In that instant, all warmth vanished from her eyes, leaving behind hatred tempered like cold iron.
She nodded.
"Yes."
"I came to the human world to avenge my mother."
Her voice was soft, but every word sounded as if she were grinding it out through clenched teeth.
Tang Hao fell silent for a moment, then let out a sigh through his nose.
"Xiao San and I also have an irreconcilable grudge against the Spirit Hall."
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Besides, you and Xiao San are friends. Who knows, perhaps one day... you'll even become family."
He paused, his tone turning serious. "I, Tang Hao, may be down on my luck, but I'd never lay a hand on you."
Xiao Wu's eyes suddenly burned.
The back she'd held so rigid seemed to lose all its bones. Choking on her words, she managed to squeeze out, "Thank you... Uncle Tang."
But at that moment, Tang San suddenly jolted.
He abruptly turned his head and stared hard at Tang Hao's profile.
"Father."
"You just said... only a Soul Douluo could see through her?"
"Then you—you knew all along that Xiao Wu was a Soul Beast?"
His voice rose, as if something had clamped around his throat.
"Are you a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse?"
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