Impressive Proportions

In the Soul Hunting Forest, Su Xianling followed the general direction Tang San had given her, searching as she went.

At noon, she took a short break before pressing on.

Before long, the unmistakable sounds of battle came from the distance.

"Hm?"

Su Xianling's gaze sharpened. The next moment, she vanished from where she stood.

As she drew closer, the commotion grew clearer, and an all-too-familiar figure came into view.

Chu Heng.

Relief flickered in Su Xianling's eyes the moment she saw him. At least he was safe.

Then she noticed that Chu Heng had no Spirit Ring. It seemed the little fellow hadn't left his original Shelter because he had found a Soul Beast.

Since that was the case, Su Xianling saw no need to reveal herself yet. Concealing her presence, she perched on a branch some distance away.

This was a good chance to see how much Chu Heng had improved.

Up ahead,

Chu Heng was fighting a Soul Beast that had cultivated for nearly a hundred years.

A beast of that age was no weakling. Under normal circumstances, even a Soul Master who had just obtained a first Spirit Ring might struggle against it.

Yet Chu Heng looked far more composed than Su Xianling had expected.

The Soul Beast attacked again and again, but Chu Heng never panicked. His movements weren't flashy, yet every one of them was effective.

Whenever he spotted an opening, he seized it. After just a few exchanges, he had disrupted the beast's rhythm and was rapidly wearing down its ability to fight.

The surprise in Su Xianling's eyes deepened.

How long had it been? Chu Heng was already on a different level from before.

Still,

Su Xianling noticed something else.

Her gaze dropped to Chu Heng's hands.

As he fought, a faint, unusual sheen covered them. When his palms met the Soul Beast, they proved tougher than Su Xianling had expected.

"What technique is that...?"

Su Xianling narrowed her eyes.

That wasn't all. The technique Chu Heng had used when sparring with her—borrowing an opponent's force, deflecting it, then turning it against them—had grown much smoother. He could now use it naturally in a real fight against a Soul Beast.

That pleased Su Xianling more than simply seeing him learn another move.

Learning a technique was one thing. Using it in a real battle was another.

"Not bad."

A faint smile touched Su Xianling's lips.

"You've improved quickly."

Ahead, the fight drew to a close. Chu Heng landed one final blow, and the Soul Beast collapsed heavily to the ground, unable to continue.

Chu Heng exhaled, but before he could fully relax—

Clap, clap, clap.

A crisp burst of applause came from behind him.

Chu Heng stiffened and turned.

The next moment, the wariness on his face gave way to delight.

"Big Sis! You found me!"

Su Xianling leaped lightly down from the tree and gave a casual wave as she landed.

"Not bad."

As she approached, she gave Chu Heng a knowing look.

"That fight just now... I saw the whole thing."

Chu Heng's smile froze.

"..."

Wait... the whole thing? Then she saw me use Jade Hands?

Chu Heng's mind raced.

How am I supposed to explain it?

When did I learn it?

Where did I learn it?

While his thoughts spun,

Su Xianling suddenly laughed.

"Not bad. You've improved quickly."

Chu Heng stared.

"Huh?"

Su Xianling had reached him. She casually ruffled his hair.

Chu Heng looked at her, stunned.

He knew it wasn't that Su Xianling had failed to notice. She simply had no intention of asking.

Everyone had secrets of their own. This was her way of telling him she wouldn't pry.

Warmth rose in Chu Heng's chest.

The system never said... I couldn't teach these things to anyone else, did it?

The workings of techniques like the Mysterious Heaven Skill and Jade Hands were already etched into his mind. In theory, he could write them down and teach them to someone else.

Someone like... Su Xianling.

The thought had barely surfaced before Chu Heng pushed it back down.

It's not the right time.

It wasn't that he didn't want to. He was still too weak. If word of those techniques got out, the trouble they might bring was more than he could handle right now.

I'll think about it when I'm strong enough.

Su Xianling watched surprise, emotion, and then sudden conflict cross Chu Heng's face. She had no idea what was going on in that little head of his.

She assumed he had been on his own in the forest for so long that seeing her again had stirred up his emotions.

With that thought, Su Xianling stepped forward and pulled Chu Heng into her arms.

"There, there. Big Sis is here."

Chu Heng went rigid.

Su Xianling saw nothing wrong. She merely patted him gently on the back.

"You don't have to struggle through this alone anymore. I'll help you find a Soul Beast."

At that, a smile spread across Su Xianling's face.

"And... I earned some credit for suppressing the Beast Tide, so the authorities gave me one chance to arrange for a Soul Beast from the forest's inner region. This time, we're getting you your first Spirit Ring."

Su Xianling had nearly moved herself with her own speech, only to find Chu Heng utterly unresponsive. Annoyed, she pushed him away.

"What's wrong with you?"

Once free, Chu Heng gulped down air. His face reddened as he spoke sheepishly.

"Um... Big Sis... I almost suffocated..."

Chu Heng rubbed his hands together and lowered his head.

I really didn't mean to say it!

Doesn't she know how impressive her proportions are? She pulls me in like that, then asks what's wrong without the slightest idea? What else could I do but tell the truth?

Chu Heng felt terribly wronged.

At his words, Su Xianling blushed and turned her head away.

"Hmph! Little pervert!"

With that, Su Xianling stalked off, looking ready to leave Chu Heng behind.

"Big Sis! Wait for me!"

Chu Heng hurried after her and did his best to make excuses... no, to explain what he'd meant.

After much pleading and explaining from Chu Heng, Su Xianling's expression finally returned to normal.

"Where's your Shelter?"

"That's my big sis for you! You even knew I built a new Shelter!"

Chu Heng was about to keep flattering her, but Su Xianling's face turned cold. He promptly dropped the cheeky act and obediently showed her the way.

They rested and ate at the new Shelter. Then Su Xianling sparred with Chu Heng to give him some pointers.

This time, though, she was clearly still irritated, and Chu Heng learned a painful lesson.

The next day, before Chu Heng's bruises had even healed, she dragged him deeper into the Soul Hunting Forest.