Tang San was clearing away the bowls and chopsticks, his movements practiced, like a professional waiter.
Big Black Ox was already asleep, letting out a soft snore.
Su Mo leaned against the tree trunk, gazing up at the starry sky.
The night sky over the Star Dou Forest was especially clear.
Stars crowded the heavens like scattered diamonds strewn across velvet.
Every now and then, a beast roared from deep in the forest, distant and mysterious.
But nothing could disturb their peace.
With Xiao Wu here, and those two "relatives" here, this forest was the safest place in the world.
Su Mo lowered his gaze and glanced at Xiao Wu beside him.
She was already asleep, a smile still on her lips. Who knew what sweet dream she was having?
Su Mo smiled, took off his coat, and draped it over her.
Once Tang San had finished tidying up, he sat back down by the campfire and asked quietly, "Master, are we really going farther in tomorrow?"
Su Mo nodded. "Yes."
Tang San thought it over, then asked no more.
If Master said they were going, then they were going.
Besides, as long as he was with Master, anywhere was fine.
The campfire crackled, sparks flying up into the night sky.
The night deepened, and all was still.
This corner of the Star Dou Forest was warm and peaceful.
Little did anyone know.
Beneath the same night sky.
One was freezing in a cave like a stray dog.
One was warm and cozy beside a campfire.
One was chewing on grass roots.
One was eating hot pot.
One was shivering violently.
One was sleeping soundly.
One was bitterly fantasizing: Once I reach the Divine Realm...
One was mumbling in her sleep: "Master... what are we eating tomorrow..."
The moon hung quietly in the sky, bathing the earth in moonlight.
It shone over the Star Dou Forest, over the Royal Hunting Park, over these two utterly different nights.
Tomorrow, the sun would rise as usual.
But some people might not live to see it.
Like Yu Xiaogang, huddled in the cave. He could no longer sleep.
He was cold and hungry, scared and resentful.
But he kept holding on.
He believed that tomorrow would surely be better.
He believed Tang San would surely return to his side.
He believed Su Mo would surely die in this forest.
He believed—
"Ah—choo!!!"
Another enormous sneeze.
Yu Xiaogang rubbed his nose and curled back into a ball.
Moonlight slanted through the cave entrance, shining on his face.
His eyes glimmered faintly in the darkness.
In that light lay hatred, resentment, and unwillingness to accept defeat.
And a hint of—
Tragic heroism.
The third day.
Sunlight streamed through the canopy, and the Star Dou Forest teemed with life.
Su Mo and his party continued toward the depths of the forest.
"Continued toward" made it sound like a proper expedition, but it was more like a picnic.
Xiao Wu hopped along at the very front, stopping now and then to pluck a wild fruit or chase a butterfly far off into the distance.
Tang San followed behind her, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings. He still held his Blue Silver Grass in his hand—after two days of effort, he had finally managed to make it a little stiffer. It was still like an overcooked noodle, but at least it could stand upright for three seconds.
At last, he wasn't a useless husband anymore, though there didn't seem to be much difference.
Big Black Ox ambled along in the middle, its tail swinging leisurely. The bite wound from yesterday had scabbed over, and it was no longer limping.
Su Mo walked at the back, holding a branch and occasionally parting the grass in front of him.
"Master," Tang San suddenly called over his shoulder, "what kind of Soul Beast are we looking for?"
Su Mo thought for a moment. "One that suits you."
Tang San's eyes lit up. "Could it be a sword?"
Su Mo glanced at him. "You really want a sword that badly?"
Tang San nodded hard. "The protagonist always uses a sword!"
Su Mo fell silent.
This kid had been poisoned too deeply.
But he didn't dash the boy's hopes. He only nodded. "We'll see what luck brings."
Full of anticipation, Tang San continued onward.
And just as they were talking—
A deafening crash suddenly rang out ahead.
"Boom—!"
Then came a towering blaze, accompanied by a scream.
"Ahhhhh—help me—!"
Su Mo frowned and quickened his pace.
They passed through a stretch of woods, and the sight before them left everyone stunned.
In a clearing, a gigantic bamboo plant stood proudly.
It stood over ten meters tall, its entire stalk a brilliant green, its segments clearly defined. Every leaf was as sharp as a sword, glinting with cold light. A faint sword intent surrounded the stalk, and merely standing near it brought an oppressive force crashing down on them.
The Sword Bamboo King.
It looked to be seven hundred and forty-six years old.
At its feet, a little fatty was rolling around on the ground.
The boy looked about six or seven, round as a ball. Half his hair had been burned off, his clothes were full of holes, and smoke was still rising from behind him. He rolled and spat flames, trying to force the Sword Bamboo King back with fire.
Unfortunately, his flames were nothing to a seven-hundred-year-old Sword Bamboo. They might as well have been tickling it.
The Sword Bamboo King couldn't even be bothered to look at him properly. It simply flicked down a leaf now and then, landing beside the boy and making him shriek in terror.
Dozens of smaller Sword Bamboos stood around them, forming a ring around the clearing. Clearly, they considered this their territory.
The little fatty was trapped in the middle, with no way to escape.
Tang San's eyes lit up.
Not at the fatty.
At the Sword Bamboo.
That straight bamboo stalk.
Those razor-sharp leaves.
That surrounding sword intent.
So cool!
I want it so badly!
He was already imagining himself using the skill granted by the Sword Bamboo King's Soul Ring: one slash, sword energy stretching across the land, cutting through the ages...
"Awesome!" Tang San blurted out.
Su Mo glanced at him but said nothing.
The little fatty spotted them, and his eyes lit up instantly. He shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Help! Help me! I'm Ma Hongjun! My teacher is a Soul Saint! I'll repay you handsomely if you save me!"
Su Mo raised an eyebrow.
Ma Hongjun?
That Evil Fire Phoenix from the original story?
He looked the little fatty over carefully.
Round body, singed hair, smoke rising from his backside...
The resemblance was certainly there.
He just didn't know whether it was the Evil Fire from the original story or the Evil Fire from the comic...
Su Mo looked back at the Sword Bamboo.
Seven hundred and forty-six years old, with a life attribute and innate sword intent; its branches and leaves were like swords. And from a biological point of view, bamboo and grass were distant relatives...
Then he looked at Tang San.
Tang San was staring at the Sword Bamboo, eyes shining, practically drooling.
Su Mo sighed.
Fine.
"Get to work," he said.
The order was given.
Big Black Ox charged out first.
"Moo—!"
Its four hooves pounded the ground like a heavy tank, crashing straight into the Sword Bamboo King's encirclement.
The little Sword Bamboos fired their leaves, which whistled through the air like sharp swords.
Big Black Ox didn't dodge or retreat. It lowered its head and charged straight ahead.
"Clang clang clang clang—!"
The leaves struck its body with the sound of metal clashing, then bounced away in every direction.
Big Black Ox's hide was absurdly tough.
But it had one weak spot.
Its backside.
The place where the rabbit had bitten it yesterday was still a fresh wound, and its defenses there were at their weakest.
A leaf flew straight over and, with a soft thump, stuck into that very wound.
"Moo—!!!"
A howl rang across the forest, sending countless birds fluttering into the sky.
It broke the hearts of those who heard it and brought tears to the eyes of those who saw it.