"Roar—!"
The Titan Giant Ape that Yuanen Yehui had transformed into roared in fury. Its enormous fist blotted out the sky, bearing Destruction's power as it came within moments of pounding Xie Xie into pulp.
"Stop!"
At that critical instant, a brilliant golden dragon claw appeared out of thin air and firmly blocked the blow in front of Xie Xie.
Boom—!
Golden light and black radiance collided violently, unleashing a deafening crash. A terrifying blast swept outward, sending the surrounding vegetation swaying wildly.
As the dust cleared, Tang Wulin came into view. He withdrew his Golden Dragon Claw and surveyed the tense scene before him—Yuanen Yehui, her face covered in tears of shame and anger, and Xie Xie, lying on the ground and trembling.
"Boss..." The moment Xie Xie saw Tang Wulin, it was as though he had spotted his savior. Even his voice shook.
Tang Wulin sighed helplessly, stepped forward, and placed himself in front of Xie Xie.
"Big Sis Yuanen," Tang Wulin said sincerely, a trace of apology in his voice, "this... really was Xie Xie's fault. He shouldn't have wandered around, and he certainly shouldn't have... ahem, stumbled upon you bathing."
Behind him, Xie Xie drew his neck in aggrievedly. I didn't do it on purpose!
Tang Wulin paused, then changed tack. "But, Big Sis Yuanen, this incident... was partly my fault too."
"Your fault?" Yuanen Yehui asked through gritted teeth, her voice trembling. Tears glimmered in her eyes; she was clearly still furious.
"Yes." Tang Wulin nodded and said with some self-reproach, "If I'd come out of seclusion sooner and finished cultivating earlier, Xie Xie wouldn't have gotten bored waiting outside and wandered off. Then... this misunderstanding wouldn't have happened. So I bear some responsibility too."
He turned around, hauled Xie Xie off the ground like