Brush My Hair

Bang!

"Fifth Soul Skill: Dark Star Collapse! Third Soul Skill: Instant Teleportation!"

"Third Soul Skill: Gravity Enhancement! First Soul Skill: Immovable Bright King Body!"

"Second Soul Skill: Spiritual Storm! First Soul Skill: Ten Thousand Transformations, One Edge!"

"Damn it, that move again! Martial Soul Avatar! Kid, can't you use something else?"

In Shrek Academy's square, a battered Zhao Wuji released his Martial Soul Avatar and glared at the young man and woman across from him. "I'm done. You two Little Monsters—I'm no match for you anymore unless I use my Martial Soul Avatar."

Qin Muchu put away his Dancing Shadow Sword and smiled. "If you'd gone all out, Teacher Zhao, Xiao Wu and I would have lost long ago."

Zhao Wuji waved him off. "Quit being modest, kid. If I had to go all out against a Soul Ancestor and a Soul King, I'd be disgraced all the way to my grandmother's house. Anyway, aren't you about to break through to level fifty? Get ready and think about what kind of fifth Soul Ring you want."

"Xiao Wu and I are going home when the break starts tomorrow. I'll take the opportunity to get my fifth Soul Ring."

Qin Muchu went home every year, a habit carried over from his previous life. Back then, he had grown up in an orphanage, and its director had treated him like his own son. After Qin Muchu grew up, no matter how busy he was, he always returned during the Spring Festival to see the old man and the children there. This world had no Spring Festival, but his parents' remains were still preserved in Nuoding City. To him, the courtyard where he had grown up was his home in this life.

Zhao Wuji patted Qin Muchu's shoulder. "All right. I won't say more than I need to. Be careful on the road, and come back a few days early next term. We'll be recruiting new students then—don't miss it."

The next day, once Xiao Wu and Qin Muchu had finished their preparations, they boarded a carriage for Nuoding City.

The carriage swayed along the road. Xiao Wu had never been one to sit still, and the dull routine of studying at Shrek had long since left her restless. As soon as the carriage left Suotuo City, she stuck her head out the window to admire the fields and villages, letting the breeze send her Scorpion Braid fluttering.

Before long, though, she lost interest and pulled her head back inside. "Little Chu, after we get home, are we going to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for your Soul Ring?"

Qin Muchu gave her an amused look. "Why would we go there? Have you forgotten my godfather always prepares a Soul Beast for me?"

Only then did Xiao Wu remember that he had no need to go out hunting Soul Beasts. Her cheeks puffed up, and she said indignantly, "I knew it! You were lying when you said I could come with you to get your Soul Ring once you reached level fifty."

Qin Muchu's eyes widened. "Huh? It took you six months to figure that out?"

"Qin Muchu! You're dead!" Xiao Wu seized the tender flesh at his waist and twisted it a full hundred and eighty degrees.

"Hiss! That hurts, that hurts! Go easy!" Qin Muchu sucked in a sharp breath. He had discovered that no matter the world, girls seemed to learn the art of pinching a boy's side without anyone teaching them.

"Xiao Wu, aren't you going back to the Star Dou Great Forest this time?" Qin Muchu rubbed the spot she had pinched and suddenly asked.

"I..." Xiao Wu stroked her braid without thinking, her gaze darting away from his. She lowered her head, her lashes trembling slightly. Her lips moved, but after that single word, nothing else came out. She had guessed that Qin Muchu knew what she was, yet hearing him bring it up so plainly still left her at a loss.

Qin Muchu placed his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her to face him. His gaze was earnest and unwavering. "Xiao Wu, remember this. Whatever you are, all I know is that you're one of the most important people in my life, and someone I'll protect for as long as I live."

Xiao Wu stared at the resolve in his eyes. A mist gradually clouded her beautiful eyes, and she threw herself into his arms, lightly pounding his chest. "You idiot," she sobbed. "Why are you so good to me? I've been lying to you all this time..."

Qin Muchu held her trembling body tighter and gently patted her shoulder. "If I'm not good to you, who should I be good to?"

After a long while, Xiao Wu sat up, her face red. She glanced sheepishly at Qin Muchu's chest. "It's your fault. You made me cry my eyes out." Qin Muchu smiled and wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks, then asked again, "Do you want to go back this time?"

Xiao Wu shook her head softly. "Something strange happened in the forest. I can't go back until I'm strong enough." She hesitated, then took a wooden comb from the Bunny Bag she carried. Looking at it, she remembered what her mother had said when she gave it to her: "Xiao Wu, my dear daughter, when you meet someone you want beside you for the rest of your life, let him brush your hair."

She placed the comb in Qin Muchu's hands and said softly, "The wind tangled my hair. Brush it for me."

Qin Muchu took the comb, emotion stirring in his eyes. Of course he knew what it meant. He undid Xiao Wu's Scorpion Braid and drew the teeth through her soft, dark hair. The smooth strands slipped between his fingers, their faint, delicate scent lingering beneath his nose.

It was dusk. A slanting ray of sunlight spilled through the carriage window, edging the glossy tips of her hair in warm gold. Qin Muchu lightened his touch, patiently working the tangles free. Neither of them spoke; they simply enjoyed that rare quiet.

"Is it because of what happened at the Lake of Life?" When he finished, Qin Muchu tied her hair into a High Ponytail. Compared with her Scorpion Braid, the new style made her look a little less playful and a little more dashing.

Xiao Wu sat obediently in front of him, leaning lazily against his chest. "Brother Sky Dream told you, didn't he? After the trouble at the Lake of Life, lots of powerful Soul Beasts appeared. The forest is much more dangerous than it used to be."

"Do you know what that creature from the core region is?" Qin Muchu asked, voicing the question that had been troubling him.

Xiao Wu thought for a moment. "I only know that Soul Beast is called the Heaven-Gazing Hou. It seems to have a grudge against two of my friends, but I don't know the details. It came out of the core region, and I've never been there. Ever since what happened to Dad back then... Mom and I lived near the edge of the forest's central area, so I don't know what's in the core region."

"The Heaven-Gazing Hou?" Qin Muchu searched his memories. The original story had never seemed to mention such a Ferocious Beast. Where had it come from? Even if it hadn't appeared in the first part, surely it should have shown its face in the second. Yet he had never heard the name Heaven-Gazing Hou.