Master and Disciple's Heart-to-Heart, The Soul Beast's Secret

(Note: An explanation of the preceding content.)

The sun set, casting a golden glow across the hills behind Shrek Academy.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had already returned to their dormitories to consolidate the medicinal effects of the immortal herbs they had just consumed, leaving only Yi Chen and Xiao Wu in the clearing behind the academy.

The evening breeze rustled the leaves, and the noise of students finishing their classes drifted from the distant teaching buildings, yet a subtle silence spread through this secluded corner.

Yi Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calm as he looked at the young girl with the scorpion braid before him. Xiao Wu felt a bit self-conscious under his stare, lowering her head to fiddle with the tip of her braid, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"Master, why do you keep staring at me?" she muttered softly.

Yi Chen didn't take the bait, instead asking an unrelated question: "Xiao Wu, back in the Star Dou Forest that day, why did you take the initiative to approach me?"

Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment, tilting her head to think before answering as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "Because you look good!"

Yi Chen: "..."

He had expected to hear something like "my intuition told me you weren't a bad person," not that this girl's reasoning would be so superficial.

"Just because of that?" Yi Chen was caught between laughter and tears.

"Of course that's not all!" Xiao Wu giggled, then turned more serious. "Actually, the moment you appeared that day, I felt that you were different from others. You have a... how should I put it? A very clean aura. You don't carry the scent of blood and killing intent like other human spirit masters."

She paused, her gaze becoming somewhat distant. "I've lived in the Star Dou Forest for many years and have seen many humans enter the forest to hunt spirit beasts."

"They all carry a scent of greed and cruelty that makes one very uncomfortable."

"But you are different. When you stood there, the surrounding spirit beasts didn't run away; even the birds weren't startled by you. So I felt that you shouldn't be a bad person."

A flash of approval crossed Yi Chen's eyes as he listened.

This girl's perception was indeed sharp. Although he had deliberately suppressed his aura, ordinary spirit masters would still feel pressure and fear in his presence.

Yet Xiao Wu could see past the surface to sense the deep respect for life within him; such insight was worthy of a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast in human form.

"Then do you think I'm a qualified master now?" Yi Chen asked with a smile.

Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, her eyes shining brightly. "Of course you are! Not only do you look good, Master, but your strength is immense, you gave us such precious immortal herbs, and you also..."

At this point, her voice dropped, and her eyes darted away. "And, Master, you clearly saw through my identity, yet you didn't move against me..."

Yi Chen's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"You knew?"

Xiao Wu nodded, looking up at Yi Chen with a hint of trepidation and unease. "When you released your pressure, I felt it. That level of oppression is at least that of a Titled Douluo, and any human above the Spirit Douluo level can see through a spirit beast's transformation."

She bit her lip, her voice growing even quieter. "I thought you would be like other human spirit masters, wanting to hunt me down to take my spirit ring and spirit bone. But you didn't; you even took me as your disciple and gave me immortal herbs... So I thought, Master, you must truly not care that I'm a spirit beast, right?"

Yi Chen didn't answer immediately, remaining silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "Xiao Wu, do you know why I chose to take you as a disciple even though I could see through your identity?"

Xiao Wu shook her head.

"Because I don't need to," Yi Chen said, his tone calm and frank. "I am already a level 99 Limit Douluo, only a step away from godhood. I have no use for a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, and a spirit bone is merely icing on the cake for me—it is dispensable. I could never bring myself to harm my own disciple for such trivial things."

Xiao Wu's eyelashes fluttered gently.

"Furthermore," Yi Chen continued, "I have no prejudice against spirit beasts. In my eyes, spirit beasts and humans are both living beings in this world. As long as they don't provoke me, I won't harm them without reason. Moreover, your identity now is my disciple—my, Yi Chen's, disciple. Who would dare touch you?"

He delivered the final sentence with ironclad certainty and an unquestionable dominance.

Xiao Wu's eyes reddened instantly.

She lowered her head, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly, her voice choked with emotion. "But... but other Titled Douluos wouldn't think that way. If they knew I was a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast in human form, they would definitely come to hunt me..."

"Then let them come," Yi Chen said indifferently. "I would like to see who dares to touch a disciple of mine."

Xiao Wu looked up abruptly, her eyes misty as she gazed at Yi Chen, her lips trembling slightly. "Master..."

Seeing her like this, Yi Chen's heart softened.

He reached out and gently ruffled Xiao Wu's hair, his tone much gentler. "Alright, stop crying. Since you call me Master, I will certainly keep you safe. However..."

He shifted the subject, his tone turning serious. "I also have a question I want to ask you."

"Please ask, Master."

"How did your mother... pass away?"

Xiao Wu's body jolted, the color draining from her face. She lowered her head, remaining silent for a long time before speaking in a barely audible voice: "My mother... was a hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit. When she was undergoing her 200,000-year lightning tribulation, she couldn't hold on and was severely injured..."

Her voice grew lower, filled with deep sorrow. "Later, the Pope of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong, found her. By then, my mother was on the verge of death. She knew she couldn't escape her fate, and unwilling to let her cultivation dissipate, she took the initiative to sacrifice herself to Bibi Dong, giving her her spirit ring and spirit bone."

Yi Chen listened quietly without interrupting.

Xiao Wu looked up, tears in her eyes, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall. "I don't hate Bibi Dong. My mother sacrificed herself willingly. She said that rather than letting the lightning tribulation scatter her cultivation, it was better to leave it to someone worthy of the trust. I just... I just miss her very much."

Yi Chen was silent for a moment, then sighed softly. "Your mother was a wise woman. Although sacrifice means death, her power and will could continue in another form. And, Bibi Dong did not waste her sacrifice."

Xiao Wu wiped the corners of her eyes and forced a smile. "Do you know Bibi Dong, Master?"

"I suppose you could say that," Yi Chen nodded. "She is my partner now."

"Eh?!" Xiao Wu's eyes widened in surprise. "Master, you're working with Spirit Hall?"

"Yes, promoting the Battle of the Golden Spatula requires manpower and resources, and Spirit Hall is the most suitable partner," Yi Chen explained. "And don't worry, with me here, Spirit Hall will not pose any threat to you."

Xiao Wu blinked, then suddenly laughed. "Master, you're amazing! You can even handle Spirit Hall!"

Yi Chen was amused by her heartfelt praise and waved his hand. "Alright, it's getting dark. Go back now. Training starts tomorrow morning, don't be late."

"Mhm!" Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, turned around, and skipped down the mountain.

After running a few steps, she turned back and shouted at Yi Chen, "Master! Thank you!"

Watching her face, which was as radiant as a blooming flower and exceptionally beautiful in the glow of the setting sun, Yi Chen couldn't help but curl his lips into a gentle smile.

"Go on."

Watching Xiao Wu's figure disappear into the twilight, Yi Chen turned back around and gazed toward the distant horizon.

The sunset clouds were like fire, burning half the sky red.

"Xiao Wu's mother sacrificed herself to Bibi Dong..." he muttered to himself. "It seems to be the butterfly effect. Unlike the original story where she was hunted down, this is quite good; it saves a lot of trouble."

He stretched his back, a look of anticipation curling his lips.

"Starting tomorrow, I'll be training the three girls... life won't be so boring after all."