Xiao Wu, Bound Hand and Foot

Inside a hotel room in Nod Town.

The atmosphere was both comical and strange.

Xiao Wu was bound hand and foot with thick hemp rope, her slender body held rigid. Her rabbit ears drooped, her little face scrunched up, and her eyes were red as she looked ready to cry.

Li Xun stared at the scene, helpless. He turned to Tang Hao beside him. "Uncle Hao, why did you tie her up and bring her here?"

Tang San felt an inexplicable pang in his chest and quietly added, "Dad, she's only a child."

As soon as he spoke, Tang San hurried forward and deftly untied the ropes around Xiao Wu.

The knots fell away. The moment she was free, he looked gently at the still-shaken girl and said with sincerity, "Hello, I'm Tang San. I'm... your future friend. It's nice to meet you."

He had nearly blurted out "future husband," but swallowed the words just in time. A trace of youthful panic crept into his voice.

Tang Hao merely pursed his lips, looking resigned.

He had not wanted to abduct his future daughter-in-law. But when he slipped into Nuoding Academy and saw Xiao Wu, he immediately recognized her as a 100,000-Year Shape-Shifting Soul Beast.

The discovery had shaken even this battle-hardened Titled Douluo to his core.

A 100,000-Year Shape-Shifting Soul Beast meant at least one Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and one Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone—treasures every Soul Master dreamed of.

But she was his future daughter-in-law, so he could hardly kill her. Instead, he had taken the simplest, bluntest approach: tie her up, bring her back to the hotel, and keep her close for now.

Once the ropes were completely off, Xiao Wu felt a weight lift from her body. She shrank back and darted behind Tang San.

Her clear eyes were full of fear as she stared at the unfathomable Tang Hao.

When this terrifying Titled Douluo had suddenly seized her, she had nearly been scared out of her wits. She had been certain her true identity was exposed and that she would die today, never getting the chance to avenge her mother.

Yet he had brought her to this hotel, where two young people around her age stood before her, and she was still unharmed.

Then the boy in front of her said his name—Tang San!

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. Most of her fear vanished, and hope flared in her heart.

She knew that name all too well!

He was the one from the Heavenly Screen who would stay by her side for life, protect her, and become her husband!

Did that mean this terrifying Titled Douluo was Tang San's father?

Then... perhaps she was not going to die?!

Her dread and fear gave way to immense relief and a shy flicker of joy. Xiao Wu quietly gripped the hem of Tang San's clothes and stayed safely behind him.

Seeing that Xiao Wu was still huddled behind Tang San, Li Xun softened his voice and greeted her with a smile:

"Hello, Xiao Wu. I'm Li Xun. You can just call me Brother Xun from now on."

Xiao Wu raised her damp eyes and glanced at him cautiously. She knew he was Asura God Li Xun from the Heavenly Screen. She gave a small nod and murmured a reply in greeting.

After that brief exchange, Li Xun's smile faded. He turned to Tang Hao, his expression grave.

"Uncle Hao, we've found Xiao Wu. We shouldn't stay here any longer. Let's leave for Heaven Dou City at once."

He paused, then lowered his voice. "After the Heavenly Screen vanished, a mass of unfamiliar memories appeared in my mind. What they contain is important. I need to get back and test it."

Tang Hao knew from his solemn expression that this was no small matter. Without hesitation, he said, "All right. We leave now."

Tang Hao strode out of the hotel room first, his steps steady as he headed straight for the carriage waiting outside.

Li Xun followed close behind.

Tang San gently took Xiao Wu's hand and reassured the still-anxious girl. "Don't be afraid, Xiao Wu. My father won't hurt you. I'm here, so you can rest easy."

Xiao Wu's fingers tightened around Tang San's hand. She was still afraid of Tang Hao, a Titled Douluo.

She knew she had no chance of escaping under a Titled Douluo's watch. All she could do was nod obediently and stay close to Tang San's side, matching his every step.

The two left the room and climbed into the carriage.

The door shut softly. Hooves struck the ground, wheels turned, and the carriage sped toward Heaven Dou City.

The carriage had traveled several hundred miles beyond Nod Town.

"Uncle Hao, can you use your Soul Power to shield the carriage?"

Li Xun's voice broke the silence.

Tang Hao's eyes narrowed. He understood at once.

Without hesitation, he raised a hand. His vast Titled Douluo Soul Power swept over the entire carriage, forming an invisible barrier that blocked all sound and prying senses from outside.

"Go ahead. No one can hear us," Tang Hao said.

Li Xun nodded and looked at him. "Uncle Hao, do you know about Whale Rubber?"

Tang Hao's face darkened at once. His tone turned strange and impatient. "Xun, this is the secret you've been so mysterious about? Do you even know what Whale Rubber is for?"

"I do." Li Xun remained calm, entirely unbothered by his reaction.

Tang San looked baffled. "Dad, what exactly is Whale Rubber?"

Tang Hao gave a heavy snort and explained according to what he had always believed. "It's a tonic. To put it bluntly, it boosts a man's virility. It does nothing for us Soul Masters. It's useless."

"Virility?!"

Tang San's eyes widened in shock.

Beside him, Xiao Wu's face flushed crimson and her ears grew hot. She lowered her head, embarrassed and astonished. She had never expected Brother Xun's secret to be about something like this.

Li Xun looked at their varied expressions and sighed helplessly. Then he said with conviction:

"Uncle Hao, Tang San, Xiao Wu—what if I told you Whale Rubber's real purpose is to temper the body and improve a Soul Master's physique? It could let Tang San and me absorb thousand-year soul rings as our Second Soul Rings."

"What?!"

Even the usually steady Tang Hao lost his composure. His eyes widened, and he grabbed Li Xun's shoulder. "Xun, are you serious?! Can it really strengthen a Soul Master's body?"

"Hiss—"

"That hurts! Uncle Hao, let go!" Li Xun grimaced.

Only then did Tang Hao realize he had gotten carried away. He released his grip, looking slightly embarrassed.

Li Xun rubbed his aching shoulder. "It's absolutely true. This knowledge suddenly entered my mind after the Heavenly Screen vanished. It can't be wrong. Once we reach Heaven Dou City, get some hundred-year and thousand-year Whale Rubber. We can test it and know for certain."

The revelation overturned everything the Soul Master world thought it knew, and Tang Hao grew excited.

If Whale Rubber could temper the body and break the limits on absorbing soul rings, it would be an incredible opportunity for Tang San, Li Xun, and the Clear Sky Sect!

His eyes flashed. "Good! We'll test it as soon as we get back! If it's true, I'll spare no expense to find Whale Rubber for you—even ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber!"

Before he had finished speaking, Tang Hao poured his Soul Power into the carriage with all his might!

Voom—

The carriage surged forward like an arrow loosed from a bow!

The sudden acceleration gave Li Xun, Tang San, and Xiao Wu no time to react. All three lost their balance and tumbled onto the cushions.

Li Xun propped himself up, inwardly exasperated:

I know it's important, but did he have to be in such a hurry...?

Outside, the wind howled as the carriage raced at full speed toward Heaven Dou City.