(ps: An explanation of the earlier content)
The sun sank in the west, and golden rays of evening light spilled across the back hills of Shrek Academy.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had each returned to their dormitories to consolidate the effects of the Immortal Herbs they had just absorbed. Only Yi Chen and Xiao Wu remained in the clearing on the back hills.
The evening breeze stirred the leaves with a rustle. In the distance, the clamor of students leaving class drifted from the school buildings, but in this secluded corner, a subtle silence began to spread.
Yi Chen stood with his hands behind his back, calmly watching the girl before him, her hair tied in a scorpion braid. Under his gaze, Xiao Wu grew a little embarrassed. She lowered her head and fiddled with the end of her braid, her cheeks faintly flushed.
"Master, why do you keep staring at me?" she mumbled.
Yi Chen ignored the question and suddenly asked something entirely unrelated. "Xiao Wu, why did you approach me of your own accord that day in the Star Dou Forest?"
Xiao Wu paused, tilted her head as she thought it over, then answered as if it were obvious, "Because you're handsome!"
Yi Chen: "..."
He had expected to hear something like, "My instincts told me you weren't a bad person." He hadn't expected such a superficial reason from her.
"Just because of that?" Yi Chen asked, caught between laughter and tears.
"Of course that wasn't the whole reason!" Xiao Wu giggled, then grew more serious. "Actually, the moment you appeared that day, I could tell you were different from everyone else. There was something... how should I put it? Something very pure about your presence. You weren't like other human Spirit Masters, with the stench of blood and killing intent clinging to them."
She paused, her gaze growing distant. "I lived in the Star Dou Forest for many years, and I saw lots of humans enter the forest to hunt Soul Beasts.
"They all carried an air of greed and cruelty. It made me very uncomfortable.
"But you were different. When you stood there, the Soul Beasts around you didn't run away. Even the birds weren't startled into flight. So I thought you probably weren't a bad person."
A glimmer of approval passed through Yi Chen's eyes.
The girl really was perceptive. Although he had deliberately suppressed his aura, ordinary Spirit Masters still felt pressured and intimidated in his presence.
Yet Xiao Wu could see past appearances and sense the respect for life deep within him. Such insight was worthy of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had undergone Soul Beast Transformation.
"Do you think I'm doing a good job as your master, then?" Yi Chen asked with a smile.
Xiao Wu nodded emphatically, her eyes shining brightly. "Of course you are! You're not only handsome, Master, but strong, too. You gave us such precious Immortal Herbs, and you also..."
Her voice suddenly dropped, and her eyes darted away. "And you clearly saw through my identity, but you didn't attack me..."
Yi Chen's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"You knew?"
Xiao Wu nodded and looked up at Yi Chen, a trace of unease in her gaze. "When you released your pressure, I felt it. That level of oppression could only come from a Titled Douluo at the very least. And any human at the Soul Douluo level or above can see through Soul Beast Transformation."
She bit her lip, her voice growing even softer. "I thought you'd be like other human Spirit Masters and try to hunt me for my Soul Ring and Soul Bone. But you didn't. You even took me as your disciple and gave me an Immortal Herb... So I thought you probably really don't care that I'm a Soul Beast, right?"
Yi Chen didn't answer at once. He was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly. "Xiao Wu, do you know why I could see through your identity and still chose to take you as my disciple?"
Xiao Wu shook her head.
"Because I don't need them." Yi Chen's tone was calm and candid. "I'm already a Level 99 Limit Douluo, just one step away from godhood. I don't need a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, and a Soul Bone is just icing on the cake to me—nice to have, but not essential. I couldn't bring myself to hurt my own disciple for something like that."
Xiao Wu's eyelashes trembled faintly.
"And besides," Yi Chen continued, "I have no prejudice against Soul Beasts. To me, Soul Beasts and humans are all living beings in this world. As long as they don't provoke me, I won't hurt them for no reason. Besides, you're my disciple now—my disciple, Yi Chen's. Who would dare lay a hand on you?"
He delivered the last sentence with unwavering, unquestionable authority.
Xiao Wu's eyes reddened at once.
She lowered her head and clenched the hem of her clothes in both hands. Her voice choked with emotion. "But... but the other Titled Douluo won't think that way. If they find out I'm a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who underwent Soul Beast Transformation, they'll come after me..."
"Then let them come," Yi Chen said calmly. "I'd like to see who dares lay a hand on my disciple."
Xiao Wu jerked her head up and looked at Yi Chen through tear-filled eyes. Her lips trembled. "Master..."
Seeing her like this, Yi Chen couldn't help softening a little.
He reached out and gently ruffled Xiao Wu's hair, his voice growing warmer. "All right, don't cry. Since you call me Master, I'll make sure you're safe. But..."
His tone shifted, turning serious. "There's something I want to ask you, too."
"Go ahead, Master."
"Your mother... how did she die?"
Xiao Wu's body shook violently, and all the color drained from her face. She lowered her head and remained silent for a long time before answering in a very quiet voice. "My mother... was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit. She was undergoing her 200,000-year tribulation, but she couldn't withstand it and was badly wounded..."
Her voice grew fainter, heavy with grief. "Later, the Spirit Hall's pope, Bibi Dong, found her. By then, Mother was already at death's door. She knew she couldn't escape her fate, and she couldn't bear to let all her cultivation dissipate. So she offered herself to Bibi Dong, giving her her Soul Ring and Soul Bone."
Yi Chen listened quietly without interrupting.
Xiao Wu looked up, tears glimmering in her eyes, but stubbornly held them back. "I don't hate Bibi Dong. Mother offered herself willingly. She said that rather than let the tribulation scatter all her power, she would rather leave it to someone worthy of entrusting it to. I just... I just miss her so much."
Yi Chen fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly. "Your mother was a clever woman. Offering herself meant death, but her power and will could live on in another way. And Bibi Dong truly didn't let her sacrifice go to waste."
Xiao Wu wiped the corner of her eye and forced a smile. "Master, do you know Bibi Dong?"
"I suppose you could say that." Yi Chen nodded. "She's my business partner now."
"Huh?!" Xiao Wu's eyes widened in surprise. "You're working with the Spirit Hall?"
"Mm. Promoting Teamfight Tactics takes manpower and resources, and the Spirit Hall is the most suitable partner." Yi Chen explained, "And don't worry. With me here, the Spirit Hall won't pose any threat to you."
Xiao Wu blinked, then suddenly smiled. "You're amazing, Master! You even managed to handle the Spirit Hall!"
Her heartfelt praise made Yi Chen laugh. He waved a hand. "All right, it's getting dark. Go back. Training starts tomorrow morning, so don't be late."
"Mm!" Xiao Wu nodded emphatically, then turned and bounded down the hill.
After running a few steps, she turned back and called out to Yi Chen, "Master! Thank you!"
Yi Chen watched her smiling face, radiant as a flower and especially lovely in the sunset glow. A warm smile curled his lips, too.
"Go on."
After watching Xiao Wu disappear into the dusk, Yi Chen turned around and gazed toward the distant horizon.
The evening clouds blazed like fire, setting half the sky ablaze.
"Xiao Wu's mother offered herself to Bibi Dong..." he murmured. "Looks like the butterfly effect changed things. She wasn't hunted down like in the original story. That's good—it saves me a lot of trouble."
He stretched, a smile of anticipation tugging at his lips.
"Training the three girls starts tomorrow... Life won't be so boring anymore."