Incapable Tang San, Resolute Xiao Wu!

Lu Ming had given Xiao Wu two choices. Whichever she chose, it would be a blessing from heaven!

Still, Xiao Wu needed to think carefully.

If I go back to the Star Dou Great Forest and build a house, the Golden Dragon Lord will surely be happy in his new home. But... that would be so boring. Every morning, I'd wake up to nothing but Da Ming and Er Ming.

If I become Sister Xiao Xiao's maid, I don't know her yet, but I'd definitely get to stay beside the Golden Dragon Lord. Just seeing his breathtaking face every day could add years to my life.

With that settled, Xiao Wu chose to become Sister Xiao Xiao's maid without a second thought.

Lu Ming nodded. From now on, Sister Xiao Xiao won't have to do chores like laundry, cooking, shoulder massages, and foot baths. She's already become a Peerless Douluo; she shouldn't have to work so hard. Otherwise, what was the point of my trip to the Star Dou Great Forest?

"Return those little gadgets on your arms to Tang San. I can't stand the sight of them!"

Lu Ming's voice was cold. If she was going to follow him, she had to make a clean break with Tang San.

Xiao Wu glanced at the Silent Sleeve Arrow on her wrist and nodded firmly.

"My Lord, I'll go right now!"

Xiao Wu had just taken a step when Lu Ming stopped her.

"Eat those dozen or so plates of carrots first. There won't be time for a meal once we're on the road."

Xiao Wu picked up her chopsticks and gazed at Lu Ming with watery eyes. Gratitude welled up inside her; she almost wanted to drop to her knees and kowtow three times.

She was just a nobody from the Star Dou Great Forest. What had she done to deserve such care from the Golden Dragon Lord? He had even let her eat at the same table as him.

And now he had bestowed over a dozen plates of carrots on her. My Lord cared about her so much that Xiao Wu could have cried!

In truth, Lu Ming simply didn't want to eat the carrots.

Now that a rabbit had shown up, he could give them all to her.

Crunch, crunch...

Xiao Wu cleared each plate in a few bites. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, she had polished off every carrot.

Her belly swelled like a ball. She had already been struggling by the fifth plate, but these were gifts from the Golden Dragon Lord. Even if she burst, she had to finish them.

"My Lord, I'm off!"

Lu Ming rubbed his brow and sighed.

My damned charm. If Xiao Wu really bursts here today, people will never stop cursing me for it.

"Teacher! Teacher! Teacher!"

At the Nuoding Academy infirmary, Yu Xiaogang lay motionless on a hospital bed, his face deathly pale. He looked as though he had already been gone for some time.

The dean of Nuoding Academy was drenched in sweat. He hurriedly asked how things stood.

"How is he?"

"He was treated just in time. This layer of ice sealed the major artery. Without it, there'd have been nothing I could do."

The dean of Nuoding Academy let out a long breath and wiped away his sweat with his sleeve.

On a personal level, Yu Xiaogang was his friend.

On an official level, Yu Xiaogang belonged to one of the Upper Three Sects. If he died at the academy, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan might come looking for trouble.

Tang San stopped crying. Two and a half years ago, Yu Xiaogang had sunk into despair and become a failure everyone looked down on.

He still answered Tang San's questions from time to time, but that was about it. Especially after Tang San awakened his Martial Soul, Yu Xiaogang had been of almost no use.

Tang San was a staunch believer in the old saying: "A teacher for a day is a father for life."

Yu Xiaogang was still his teacher. Tang San couldn't bring himself to turn his back on him!

"Brother San, Xiao Wu's back to see you!"

Wang Sheng's voice rang out from outside. Tang San's eyes lit up, and he went rigid.

He spared Yu Xiaogang a quick glance, then hurried after Wang Sheng.

Xiao Wu couldn't bear to leave me after all! She's come back for me!

The joy flooding Tang San's heart instantly swept away his grief over his teacher's injuries.

Sure enough, outside Dorm Seven stood a girl in a pink dress, with two little ears atop her head and her hair tied in a Scorpion Braid.

The sight of her rosy, smiling face made Tang San feel as though he had recovered something precious he'd lost.

"Xiao Wu, I knew you couldn't bear to abandon me!"

Tang San quickened his pace as he spoke, rushing forward to embrace her.

"Get lost!"

Xiao Wu barked at him and tossed the Silent Sleeve Arrow back.

The Golden Dragon Lord's warning echoed in her mind. Gritting her teeth, she threw him a pouch of Silver Soul Coins too.

"Take this back. Consider the money payment for my stay at your home. From now on... let's never see each other again!"

With that, Xiao Wu turned and walked away.

Before, she said we'd meet again! I have to find out what happened!

"Xiao Wu, wait! Tell me why you never want to see me again!"

Before Tang San's hand could touch her, Xiao Wu leaped lightly onto his shoulders.

Her long Scorpion Braid coiled around his neck.

"First Soul Skill: Waist Bow!"

"Argh!"

Pain shot through Tang San as Xiao Wu's kick struck just above his kidney. He flew like a cannonball and slammed headfirst into the wall.

"Hmph! Don't touch me!"

Xiao Wu stormed off. Wang Sheng watched but didn't dare stop her. His own head was worth protecting!

Tang San's, though? Apparently not!

After a while, Tang San groggily opened his eyes and searched for Xiao Wu, murmuring into the empty air.

"Xiao Wu, don't leave me. I can't live without you..."

With Xiao Wu gone, Tang San was now in charge.

Wang Sheng jogged over and helped Tang San back toward the dorm.

"Brother San, there are countless girls in the world. You only lost a girl who didn't love you. She lost a boy who loved her deeply."

Wang Sheng tried to comfort him.

"I only want Xiao Wu... my Xiao Wu..."

Tang San's heart ached. Today had dealt him blow after blow.

First, Xiao Qing's younger brother had pinned him to a wall. Then Xiao Wu had left him. Then someone had cut off his teacher's legs. And after Xiao Wu came back, he had lost her all over again.

Every one of these disasters pointed to one person: Xiao Qing's younger brother!

That was right. Tang San still didn't know Lu Ming's name. The only name he knew was Xiao Xiao's, and even that was fake.

"Well, well..."

"Dorm Seven's really fallen. You've spent years lording it over us upper-year students. Time to pay for it!"

A group of upper-year students swaggered over and hurled insults at Wang Sheng and Tang San.

Their leader had once been Xiao Chenyu's... lackey. Xiao Chenyu had graduated, and now this student was the boss of the upper years.

With such a perfect opportunity before him, it was time to teach Dorm Seven a lesson.

"Hmph!"

Tang San breathed hard and activated his Purple Demon Eyes, striking their leader with a mental attack.

"Blue Silver Tyrant Spear!"

A second yellow Soul Ring appeared. The upper-year students stared in shock. Since when had Tang San become a two-ring Soul Grandmaster?

The Blue Silver Tyrant Spear shot forward like a javelin and pierced their leader's right shoulder.

The force of the blow pinned him to the wall.

Well...

Tang San knew exactly how that felt. He was all too familiar with the move!

The upper-year students scattered. Who would dare provoke someone that strong?

"Even a dying camel is bigger than a horse. If you don't understand something that simple, you deserve what's coming to you!"

Tang San's face was pale. He had taken a beating today and needed to recover quickly.

The seed of hatred had already sprouted.