The Truth, I Know Xiao Wu Is a Soul Beast, Reward: Soul Bone

The surroundings were silent, broken only by intermittent insect chirps and the rustling of leaves in the night wind.

Just as he was about to find a step to sit on, Su Yang caught sight of a figure crouching at the base of the wall.

Xiao Wu.

He had apparently followed him out of the cafeteria at some point and was now crouched in the shadow beneath the teaching building's outer wall, arms wrapped around his knees, curled into a ball.

Moonlight shone on his face, turning it pale as paper. His usual fearless arrogance had vanished without a trace, as if something had crushed him completely.

Su Yang walked over and crouched beside him. "Xiao Wu? Why did you follow me out here?"

Xiao Wu said nothing, lowering his head even further. Su Yang saw his tightly clenched fists, his knuckles bluish-white from the force, his shoulders trembling faintly as though he were desperately suppressing something.

After thinking for a moment, Su Yang suddenly understood.

Bibi Dong. The Pope of Spirit Hall. A Titled Douluo.

Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit in human form. In a small place like Notting City, where one could not even find a Soul King, naturally no one could see through his true nature.

But a Titled Douluo was different. Legend had it that a Titled Douluo's senses were terrifyingly sharp. Once a transformed Soul Beast came near, its Soul Beast aura could be seen through at a glance.

And as the Pope of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong had hunted Soul Beasts and collected soul bones more often than anyone else. If she recognized Xiao Wu's identity...

Su Yang looked at Xiao Wu's hands and saw him unconsciously twisting the corner of his clothes, nearly kneading the fabric to shreds. After a moment of silence, Su Yang softly asked, "Xiao Wu, are you afraid Bibi Dong will see through you?"

Xiao Wu suddenly looked up, his pupils shrinking. "You... how did you know?!"

There was vigilance in his voice, along with a trace of panic. His body was taut as a fully drawn bow, as though he might leap up and flee at any moment.

Su Yang quickly raised a calming hand. "Don't be nervous. I won't hurt you."

He paused and chose his words carefully. "My second martial soul is Lovesick Heartbreak Red, the king of Immortal Herbs. This martial soul is naturally sensitive to auras, especially those of Soul Beasts. That's why I sensed it the first time I saw you."

Xiao Wu's expression changed several times. After a long while, he finally asked in a low voice, "Then... then why didn't you..."

"Why didn't I tell everyone?" Su Yang smiled. "You're my brother. Why would I betray you?"

Xiao Wu stared blankly at him. Surprise, confusion, and something indescribable churned in his eyes. He opened his mouth, but could not say a single word.

Su Yang extended his right hand. With a thought, a faint red glow lit up in his palm, and a small dark crimson flower slowly bloomed at his fingertips.

Its translucent petals unfurled layer by layer, releasing a gentle fragrance of grass and flowers.

It was a small condensed bloom formed from the essence of Lovesick Heartbreak Red. Though it was far inferior to the original, it carried the purest aura of the king of Immortal Herbs.

With a gentle lift of his hand, the flower drifted toward Xiao Wu.

"Take this. Lovesick Heartbreak Red naturally conceals the aura of Soul Beasts. Keep it close to your body, and ordinary Titled Douluo won't be able to see through you."

Xiao Wu stared blankly at the blood-red flower floating before him, his breathing stopping for an instant.

He reached out and carefully took it. The moment the flower landed in his palm, a warm force flowed into his body through his hand. Like a soft veil, it wrapped around him, pressing down and concealing that faint trace of Soul Beast aura within him bit by bit until it could no longer be sensed.

Xiao Wu lowered his head and looked at the flower in his palm. He clenched his hand, loosened it, then clenched it again. When he raised his head, his gaze locked directly onto Su Yang.

"Who... exactly are you?"

"Su Yang, your boss." Su Yang grinned. "Remember this. If anyone asks, you're just an ordinary little soul master. At most, you get hungry a little faster and can eat five bowls of rice in one meal."

Xiao Wu did not laugh. He lowered his head, and a long, long time passed—so long that Su Yang thought he would never speak.

Then he suddenly looked up. His eyes were slightly red, but his voice carried a seriousness Su Yang had never heard from him before.

"Su Yang. From today onward, you are Xiao Wu's sworn brother."

He punched his chest hard. "If anyone dares touch even a hair on your head, I'll fight them to the death!"

[Ding—Xiao Wu's Favorability +16. Current Favorability: 75 (Heart-to-Heart)]

[Favorability has surpassed 60. First-stage reward obtained: Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Charm Rabbit Left Leg Bone. Stored in the system space. The host may retrieve it at any time!]

Su Yang's mind buzzed. What?! A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone?! He nearly cried out on the spot, barely forcing the words back down. A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was a peerless treasure, something the entire Douluo Continent could only have a handful of!

In the original story, even a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone was enough to cause bloody conflict. A hundred-thousand-year soul bone was something that existed only in legend. Even in the novels he had read in his previous life, Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones were supreme opportunities!

And now... the system had simply given him one? Just because his favorability with Xiao Wu had exceeded 60?

Su Yang forcefully suppressed the wild joy in his heart, not daring to reveal too much on his face. This was not the time to celebrate. Bibi Dong was still waiting.

He patted Xiao Wu's shoulder, his tone relaxed. "All right, enough with the mushy stuff. I'll go meet Her Holiness the Pope first. Go back to the dorm and wait for me. Keep that flower safe and hide it well. Don't let anyone see it."

Xiao Wu nodded solemnly. "Don't worry."

Su Yang stood, took a deep breath, straightened his collar, and headed toward the teaching building. Moonlight stretched his shadow into a long line, every step falling into the night wind.

Behind him, Xiao Wu clutched the blood-red flower and watched Su Yang's retreating figure without moving for a long time.

He carefully tucked the flower against his chest, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled into a wide smile. This brother, Xiao Wu had accepted him for life.

Dim yellow lights shone in the teaching building's corridor. As Su Yang walked down it, he could vaguely hear voices coming from the office.

He could not make them out clearly, but he could distinguish Yu Xiaorou's voice and a deep male voice. The voice was unhurried, yet carried an innate pressure that seeped through the door.

When Su Yang reached the principal's office, he was about to knock when the door suddenly opened from within. A young man in a Spirit Hall uniform walked out, expressionlessly glanced at him, then stepped aside.

"Your Holiness the Pope, Grandmaster Yu, he has arrived."

Su Yang's heart tightened as he stepped inside.

The office was much brighter than the corridor. Nording Academy's principal was curled up in a chair in the corner, head lowered, barely daring to breathe.

Yu Xiaorou stood by the window with her arms crossed, her expression cold, though her fingertips dug lightly into her arm. At the center of the office stood a tall, straight figure with her back to the door, hands clasped behind her.

Her dark crimson papal robe was embroidered with intricate golden patterns, flowing with an eerie cold gleam beneath the lamplight. Golden markings coiled around her shoulders like dragons, while the long hem of her robe hung to her ankles and swayed gently as she turned slightly.

Her purple-gold crown reflected a glint of candlelight. The sheer presence of her standing there seemed to weigh down the air throughout the office.

Bibi Dong.

Su Yang's heartbeat abruptly quickened, but he steadied his breathing and did not avert his gaze. She slowly turned around. Her face was sharply defined, with cold, severe lines.

Her brow ridge stood high as though carved by a blade, her nose was straight, her thin lips pressed tightly together, and her deep violet eyes resembled two bottomless pools.

She looked to be around thirty-seven or thirty-eight, at the age when a woman's authority and charm were at their peak. Her long hair was tied into a low ponytail, the hair at her temples neatly trimmed, and the line of her jaw carried an unquestionable dominance.