Leaving the Star Dou Forest: The Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape

Given his status as young master, it would have been easy for Qin Yu to learn the secret of the vertical eye that governed her fate.

But Qin Yu did not do that.

Having a big brother might not be so bad. He roasts meat for me, and... The Three-Eyed Golden Lion rested her head on her crossed paws and stared straight at Qin Yu.

Qin Yu had only been teasing her, but she did not want to go back on her word. A bet was a bet.

He was just a "big brother." She had accepted him as one in her heart.

Qin Yu was restoring his Soul Power and had no idea what the Three-Eyed Golden Lion was thinking.

Of course, even if he had known, he would not have said anything.

After all, having a "silly girl" around who was playful one moment and innocent the next, someone to bicker with now and then, was not so bad.

Time passed, little by little. Who knew how long it had been?

By the time Qin Yu had recovered his Soul Power, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had regained her strength too.

They fought again.

At first, they were evenly matched. Neither could secure a victory, no matter who gained a slight edge.

Then Qin Yu brought down the Purple Emperor Annihilation Claw from above, forming two phantom dragon claws at once. The outcome was no longer in doubt.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lost again.

Still unconvinced, she clamored for another fight.

Qin Yu happily agreed. With the Three-Eyed Golden Lion as a giant punching bag—no, a sparring partner—he could not have asked for better.

And so the days passed.

Qin Yu did not rush to leave the Star Dou Forest. Through his sparring with the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, he found his own rhythm in combat.

In just a few days, they fought some thirty matches, each winning some.

Qin Yu won more, though.

A few days later.

"Qin Yu, will you come back?"

Beside the Lake of Life, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion looked at Qin Yu, reluctant to see him go.

Over those few days, Qin Yu had been like a beam of light shining into her rather dull life, bringing her plenty of fun.

Now that she knew he was leaving, she found it hard to accept.

"Probably."

Qin Yu smiled faintly and stroked the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's head.

There was little reluctance in his eyes.

She had brought him plenty of fun, there was no denying that. But he longed for a wider world.

Stay here, bound by emotion? Not a chance.

"Oh," the Three-Eyed Golden Lion replied, subdued.

Qin Yu gave the "Big Golden Retriever" one last pat on the head, then looked toward Zi JI and Bi Ji nearby. He smiled faintly. "Sorry for the trouble these past few days."

"You're too kind, young master. It was our duty." Bi Ji smiled warmly.

"If you ever need anything, young master, you can come back to the Star Dou Forest and find us." Zi JI winked, her tone teasing once more.

"Mm."

Qin Yu nodded. He knew exactly what was going on.

Why had Zi JI and Bi Ji stayed by his side these past few days?

Gu Yuena surely had a hand in it. She wanted him to grow closer to the Soul Beasts and sever as many of his ties to the human world as possible.

He could understand why Gu Yuena had done it.

But he did not like anyone controlling his life. Choosing was for children; he intended to have it all.

"I'm off."

Qin Yu waved and looked in a certain direction.

A moment later, Di Tian stepped out and bowed. "Young master."

"Mm."

Qin Yu inclined his head slightly.

With his strength, Qin Yu could not have sensed Di Tian's location. But Di Tian had not bothered to hide. His presence had been there all along, even if he himself remained out of sight.

Under the watchful eyes of those gathered, Di Tian took Qin Yu and Ling Yuan Douluo away.

High above the ground, Qin Yu supported Ling Yuan as Di Tian's Soul Power carried them farther from the Land of Great Peril in the Star Dou Forest.

"Leaving just like that?" A cool female voice sounded in Qin Yu's sea of consciousness.

"What else?"

"...You're not going to say goodbye to me in person?"

"What's there to say? You can see me through the Silver Dragon Reverse Scale anyway." Qin Yu answered casually with a thought.

The Silver Dragon Reverse Scale fell silent. It hovered quietly above the Heavenly Saint Rift-Splitting Halberd, deep within Qin Yu's sea of consciousness.

Perhaps it was his imagination, but Qin Yu felt a faint trace of displeasure coming from the Silver Dragon Reverse Scale.

"Must be my imagination," Qin Yu muttered. He gathered his thoughts and paid it no more attention.

The Silver Dragon Reverse Scale flickered once, then went still.

Meanwhile, Di Tian had carried them out of the Land of Great Peril and into what the outside world knew as the core region of the Star Dou Forest.

Qin Yu spotted the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape below at once.

He thought for a moment.

Then Qin Yu said, "Di Tian, watch Ling Yuan for me. I'm going down to tell them something."

"Yes, young master."

Di Tian acknowledged him and sent out two streams of Soul Power.

One held the unconscious Ling Yuan Douluo aloft. The other carried Qin Yu down in a swift dive, landing him gently on the lakeshore.

As soon as Qin Yu landed, he caught the attention of the Sky Azure Bull Python in the lake and the Titan Giant Ape.

The two enormous beasts came forward as soon as they saw him.

"Greetings, young master!"

The Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape bowed.

The "seniors" farther inside had already told them who Qin Yu was, so neither dared show the slightest disrespect.

"Mm."

Qin Yu nodded and got straight to the point. "Do you know Xiao Wu? The hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit who took human form."

"Sister Xiao Wu!"

"Young master, is Sister Xiao Wu doing well in the human world? Could we trouble you to look after—"

At the mention of Xiao Wu, the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape grew excited and tried to press him for answers.

"I'll speak. You listen."

Qin Yu's expression remained impassive, his voice calm.

The two beasts shuddered. Coming to their senses, they immediately fell silent and listened.

"Xiao Wu is safe for now, but..."

Qin Yu's eyes glinted. "She's grown close to a human named Tang San. They're more than ordinary friends."

At that, Qin Yu glanced at the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape.

As expected, the two Soul Beasts were jealous.

A pained look appeared in the Sky Azure Bull Python's eyes, each larger than a lantern.

The Titan Giant Ape's fierce eyes were full of resentment.

"But that isn't the point."

Qin Yu shook his head and continued. "The point is Tang San's father, Tang Hao. He's a Titled Douluo, and he's already noticed Xiao Wu."

"Tang Hao already has all his Soul Rings and can't absorb another, so he intends for Xiao Wu to become Tang San's Soul Ring."

"Fortunately, Tang San is still too weak to absorb a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring. Xiao Wu's life isn't in immediate danger."

"But that day will come sooner or later."

By the time Qin Yu finished, the Sky Azure Bull Python's and Titan Giant Ape's eyes had turned red, and their breathing thundered. They were plainly alarmed.

If Qin Yu had not held such a high position, they would already have lost control and flown into a rage.