Xiao Wu's Complaint, Tang San's Frustration

Ning Rongrong sat cross-legged beside the corpse of the Crimson-Eyed Scale-Armored Beast, her eyes closed and her brows slightly furrowed.

The deep purple thousand-year Soul Ring was slowly merging into her body, while her Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda radiated a gentle seven-colored glow within her dantian.

Bai Yi stood three zhang away at her side, his hands clasped behind his back as his calm gaze watched the surrounding forest.

He had already recalled all four of his clones, but he remained on guard.

The absorption of a thousand-year Soul Ring could not be interrupted. Otherwise, Ning Rongrong would suffer damaged meridians at best, or a backlash of Soul Power at worst.

Just then, a figure darted out from the nearby bushes.

Like a nimble little rabbit, Xiao Wu rushed to Bai Yi in a few steps and abruptly threw her arms around his arm.

She raised her head, her eyes rimmed red, and said with a touch of resentment and grievance, "You awful Bai Yi, where did you run off to? I looked for you forever and couldn't find you."

Bai Yi glanced down at her.

Four years apart had seen Xiao Wu grow quite a bit taller.

She wore a short pink dress, with a long scorpion braid hanging down her back. The tip of the braid swayed gently with her movements.

The childishness had faded somewhat from her face, replaced by a young girl's delicate beauty and liveliness. Her skin was fair and radiant, and her large eyes were now fixed on him, moist with tears.

Bai Yi said, "I went to Heaven Dou City."

Xiao Wu hugged his arm tighter. "Heaven Dou City? Why did you go so far away? Isn't Nuoding Academy good enough?"

Bai Yi said, "That place isn't suitable for you. You should just focus on cultivating properly."

Xiao Wu pursed her lips, clearly understanding what Bai Yi meant.

She was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form. A place like Heaven Dou City was crowded with powerful experts; if her identity were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

She muttered softly, "But you couldn't just disappear for four whole years without even leaving me a message."

Bai Yi did not pull his arm free.

Back when they were at Nuoding Academy, Xiao Wu had often clung to him like this. No matter how many times he told her to stop, she never changed, and he had long since gotten used to it.

Xiao Wu complained a few more times, nothing more than grumbling that "Nuoding Academy is boring" and "there's no one to fight with her."

Bai Yi responded now and then, but most of the time, he simply listened quietly.

Not far away, Ye Lingling's gaze fell on Xiao Wu's arms wrapped around Bai Yi's arm.

Her eyes flickered slightly, but she said nothing.

A faint, almost imperceptible trace of something unusual passed through her clear eyes before she suppressed it once more.

Tang San was supporting Zhao Wuji together with Dai Mubai when he caught sight of Xiao Wu practically hanging off Bai Yi.

His footsteps immediately halted.

His fists clenched uncontrollably.

A faint redness rose in his eyes, and it felt as though something was blocking his chest, leaving him so stifled that he could barely breathe.

Over the past few years, he had actually been secretly watching over Xiao Wu.

He helped her deal with trouble and cultivated alongside her.

He had thought that as long as he put in enough effort, Xiao Wu would eventually notice him.

Yet Xiao Wu had always treated him neither warmly nor coldly, polite but distant.

He knew Bai Yi was the reason.

But that man had been gone for a long time. Tang San had believed that if he persevered long enough, he would have a chance.

Only at this moment did he understand that Xiao Wu had never spared him a glance.

Tang San's gaze fell on Bai Yi, his eyes churning with unwillingness and jealousy.

He took a deep breath, then suddenly asked, "Bai Yi, what is your relationship with that young lady from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

He pointed at Ning Rongrong, who was absorbing the Soul Ring.

An indescribable sense of satisfaction surged through Tang San.

He wanted Xiao Wu to see Bai Yi's true colors, to let her know that there were already other women by Bai Yi's side.

If that happened, perhaps he would have a chance.

At his words, Xiao Wu abruptly turned her head. Her gaze, carrying a hint of wariness and scrutiny, landed on Ning Rongrong.

She then looked at Ye Lingling, who stood quietly nearby, and said in a distinctly guarded tone:

"Yes, Bai Yi, who are those two?"

This was actually what Xiao Wu had wanted to ask ever since she saw Bai Yi.

Bai Yi answered without changing expression, "They're my classmates and teammates."

Xiao Wu gave a soft huff, clearly unconvinced.

She shot Bai Yi a resentful glance but did not press the matter further.

Seeing Xiao Wu's reaction, Tang San grew even more agitated.

He said coldly, "Heh, I think you just don't dare answer. You scum who deceives people's feelings."

His strength was inferior to Bai Yi's, and the woman he liked only had Bai Yi in her heart.

That enormous disparity nearly made him lose his mind.

Yet after saying those words, he felt much better, because he believed he had already surpassed Bai Yi in terms of morality.

Bai Yi glanced at Tang San, somewhat speechless.

Why was this Tang God King so stupid?

Xiao Wu glared fiercely at Tang San and said, "Little San, you're not allowed to speak badly of Bai Yi. What does our business have to do with you? What right do you have to butt in?"

Tang San's face instantly turned deathly pale.

His lips moved, but he could not say a single word.

Xiao Wu's words were like a needle, piercing precisely into the most painful part of his heart.

Bai Yi did not even spare Tang San another glance.

With a slight thought, the Heavenly Stance Clone in the distance moved.

The Heavenly Stance Clone stepped out from the bushes, carrying a dark-gold Mountain-Splitting Axe as it strode steadily toward Tang San.

Tang San instinctively took a defensive stance, three soul rings rising beneath his feet.

But the Heavenly Stance Clone merely swept its axe lightly, effortlessly shattering Tang San's defense.

The flat of the Mountain-Splitting Axe struck his abdomen, sending his entire body flying several yards before he crashed heavily to the ground.

Tang San lay prone on the ground and dry-heaved twice, a trace of bloody foam spilling from the corner of his mouth.

The entire process took less than three breaths.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar hurried over, each lifting one of Tang San's arms.

Ma Hongjun looked at the blood at Tang San's mouth, then at the bruise on his own chest, and suddenly felt much more balanced.

At least he had been beaten for staring at someone else's girls a few extra times.

Tang San, on the other hand, had done nothing and still gotten beaten up.

Ma Hongjun patted Tang San's back and said, "Third Brother, don't be sad. When we get back, I'll take you out to have some fun. I guarantee no one will look down on you."

Upon hearing that, Tang San spat out another mouthful of blood.

Bai Yi glanced at them and said, "You lot, get the hell out of here now. If I see you again, I'll beat you every time I do."

Dai Mubai swallowed hard.

Without another word, he bent down, hoisted Zhao Wuji onto his back, then turned and ran toward the edge of the forest.

He ran as though ghosts were chasing him, never once looking back.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun also fled at top speed while supporting Tang San.

The Shrek group quickly vanished into the depths of the dense forest.

Zhu Zhuqing walked at the very back of the group.

She turned around, her gaze lingering on Bai Yi for a moment before falling upon Xiao Wu at his side, then passing over Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling.

A trace of envy flashed through her eyes before she suppressed it.

She sighed silently to herself. Perhaps he has already forgotten me.