Identity Exposed

"Looks like you chose to trust me in the end after all?"

Su Ge looked at Xiao Wu, his eyes filled with amusement.

In response to his teasing, Xiao Wu shook her head and met his gaze.

"No? Then why are you still choosing to come back with me?"

Seeing Xiao Wu shake her head, Su Ge looked a little curious, so he pressed her.

"No, what I meant was that I've always trusted you."

"What I said earlier was just because I was worried about what you'd think after finding out I'm a Soul Beast who underwent Soul Beast Transformation."

As she said this, Xiao Wu smiled prettily at Su Ge.

"But now, it looks like I can relax!"

"..."

Looking at Xiao Wu's smile, Su Ge had to admit that her words had touched him.

"Fine. Let's head back."

Su Ge jumped down from the treetop and landed lightly on the ground.

Xiao Wu called out to Er Ming, who was still somewhat wary. Then, under his reluctant gaze, she bounced over to Su Ge and followed him toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

On the way, after coming clean to Su Ge about her identity, Xiao Wu seemed to have cast off some kind of restraint. She kept asking him questions as they walked.

"Su Ge, why is your First Soul Ring a Thousand-Year Soul Ring?"

"My Martial Soul is special. It suppresses Soul Beasts, and it also makes my body strong enough to withstand the energy of a Thousand-Year Soul Ring."

"Then did you hunt all your Soul Beasts yourself?"

"Yes. I hunted them all myself."

"What are the Soul Skills of your Third and Fourth Soul Rings?"

"Why have you suddenly become so talkative?"

"I'm just curious..."

"..."

Er Ming stood on the hilltop, watching the two of them chat and laugh as they walked into the forest. Their figures were gradually obscured by the trees until they disappeared completely.

Then Er Ming raised his fist. It still felt faintly sore.

That human was frighteningly monstrous. He had to tell Da Ming about this!

With that thought, he ran toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, ready to discuss with Da Ming how they should treat the human who knew Sister Xiao Wu's identity.

As Su Ge and Xiao Wu gradually neared the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, following the path they had taken in, they soon ran into the Shrek group coming to meet them.

The first they encountered was Tang San. His face still bore the lingering panic, but when he saw Su Ge returning with Xiao Wu, he let out a deep breath of relief.

"Su Ge, Xiao Wu, thank goodness you're both all right!"

Looking at Tang San, who seemed relieved of a heavy burden, Xiao Wu felt a faint resistance stir within her.

On the way, Xiao Wu had asked Su Ge why he knew so much and pressed him to explain exactly what had happened.

But after hearing Su Ge's account and filling in the gaps, she had realized that there had been something wrong with Tang San's mother's story from the start.

Even if she believed Tang San had no ulterior motives, that belief was based on him not knowing she was a Soul Beast. And even if Tang San didn't, what about Tang Hao, who had seen through her identity?

So even though Su Ge had told her not to act rashly, she couldn't help feeling a faint resistance toward Tang San.

"We're fine. We'll talk about it once we're back. The others are probably following our trail to find us."

Su Ge waved his hand, cutting off Tang San before he could say anything else.

"Besides, we're in the Star Dou Great Forest. The Titan Giant Ape has just passed through, so the Soul Beasts nearby have all been scared off. But that might not last."

"There are still quite a few Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in this area."

At Su Ge's reminder, Tang San nodded in agreement. Then he headed with the two of them toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, planning to meet up with Teacher Zhao Wuji and the others first.

After traveling some distance, the three of them found the main group.

They had stopped where they were, however, and everyone was keeping a wary eye on their surroundings.

In the middle, Zhu Zhuqing sat cross-legged on the ground. A Soul Beast lay beside her, and a purple Soul Ring encircled her. She appeared to be absorbing her Third Soul Ring.

"Su Ge, Xiao Wu, Tang San!"

"You're all right! Thank goodness!"

Ning Rongrong was standing nearby. She was the first to spot the three emerging from the forest depths, and her face lit up as she happily greeted them.

Zhao Wuji and Oscar looked over as well. When they saw the three return, they all let out a long breath of relief.

They had stayed here because of the message Su Ge had left along the way. He had told them to let Zhu Zhuqing absorb the Soul Ring suited to her and promised to bring the others back safely.

In the end, Zhao Wuji had decided to follow his judgment, both because he trusted Su Ge and because he had assessed the situation.

After using his Martial Soul Avatar, his condition had deteriorated to only fifty percent of his peak.

If he led the others farther into the forest, he might not just fail to protect them—he could end up in danger himself!

So they had no choice but to stay where they were, guarding Zhu Zhuqing as she absorbed her Soul Ring while waiting for the three to return.

Now it seemed that, thankfully, everyone was safe!

"Su Ge, I can't believe you actually managed to bring everyone back!"

Zhao Wuji also let out a deep breath of relief. Flender had told him that Tang San's background was anything but ordinary. If anything happened to him, Zhao Wuji probably wouldn't get off lightly either.

Although this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest had been nerve-racking, the outcome was good.

"Now that we're out, we'll wait for Zhu Zhuqing to finish absorbing her Soul Ring, then head back immediately and leave the Star Dou Great Forest!"

"Even if someone else breaks through and needs a Soul Ring, they can wait until next time!"

At the end, Zhao Wuji added that last bit for emphasis. First the Peerless Dragon Snake couple, then the King of the Forest, the Titan Giant Ape—even as a Soul Saint, he couldn't take one crisis after another like that!

Hearing Zhao Wuji's words, everyone burst out laughing, and the somewhat heavy mood grew a little lighter.

After Zhu Zhuqing finished absorbing her Soul Ring, they wasted no time setting off for the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.

After a long journey, they finally left the forest before nightfall and returned to a town where they could spend the night.

Their near-death experience had eased the tension between them somewhat. After all, they had been through life and death together.

So, at Dai Mubai's suggestion, they found a restaurant in town and shared a hearty meal, celebrating that their trip to the Star Dou Great Forest had ended without disaster.

After eating and drinking their fill, Su Ge went alone up to the roof of the hotel where they were staying. Gazing at the bright moon overhead, he knew that the time for him to leave Shrek was drawing near.

"Su Ge..."