Soft Bone Rabbit, Xiao Wu

Outside the Rose Hotel, Suotuo City

"Little San, let's go inside!"

As Tang San reached the hotel entrance, a girl walked up beside him. Her coffee-brown hair was braided into a long plait that hung all the way down to her calves. She wore a short pink dress, and her eyes still held a childish innocence. She did not seem very old.

Had Su Chen and Chrysanthemum Douluo been there, they would certainly have recognized her. This girl was the incarnation of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast-Soft Bone Rabbit Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu handed Tang San one of the grilled snacks she was holding. She ought to have been thankful. Had those snacks not tempted her away, and had she entered the Rose Hotel with Tang San, Chrysanthemum Douluo would have recognized her.

Perhaps even Su Chen had not realized certain things. His arrival had already caused subtle changes in the timeline here. Xiao Wu, who originally had not encountered Chrysanthemum Douluo ahead of time, still had not met him early despite Su Chen's influence, so her identity had not been exposed prematurely.

"The hotel's full. Let's find another one!" Tang San shrugged helplessly.

"Young Master Dai, do you... have another card?"

When Dai Mubai did not respond, Manager Wang could not help asking again.

"How much more do you need?" Dai Mubai kept his face composed, but he felt awful inside.

Anyone who had been beaten and humiliated, only to then have to pay out of pocket for all the damage, would have felt unhappy.

"Five hundred and fifty Gold Soul Coins!" Manager Wang replied.

"It's only five hundred and fifty Gold Soul Coins. Friends, you look like students heading to Shrek Academy too. Lend me five hundred and fifty Gold Soul Coins!" Dai Mubai's gaze settled on Tang San.

"What? Five hundred and fifty Gold Soul Coins!" Xiao Wu planted her hands on her hips and demanded, "We're neither family nor friends. Why should we lend you money?"

"Take these! There are six hundred Gold Soul Coins here!" Tang San brushed a finger over a gemstone on his belt, then flicked his fingers. Three bags of Gold Soul Coins floated over to Dai Mubai.

At the Junior Soul Master Academy in Nuoding City, Tang San had received Grandmaster's instruction and had not needed to attend daily classes. Like Su Chen, he effectively had permission to skip class.

In his spare time, Tang San would help out at a smithy. Since he was registered at the Junior Soul Master Academy in Nuoding City, he also received a monthly allowance. Over six years of scrimping and saving, he had accumulated a considerable sum.

"Little San!" Xiao Wu frowned slightly.

"You rely on friends when you're away from home. Who hasn't needed help in an emergency?" Tang San said with a smile, a shrewd gleam flickering in his eyes.

"Friends? What's your name?" Dai Mubai asked.

"Tang San," Tang San replied.

"Tang San! All right, I'll remember your name. I think we'll meet again soon. Once you reach Shrek Academy, if anyone bullies you, just tell them the name Evil-Eyed White Tiger Dai Mubai!" With that, Dai Mubai put an arm around each twin and left the Rose Hotel.

"Little San, why didn't you listen to me? Now that we've left the Junior Soul Master Academy in Nuoding City, do you not consider me your boss anymore?" Xiao Wu stood with her hands on her hips and her lips pursed. Her adorable appearance robbed her threat of any bite.

"You're joking, Xiao Wu. How could I not listen to you?" Tang San replied with an appeasing smile.

A smug glint flashed in Tang San's eyes.

Tang San had seen it clearly just now: Dai Mubai's martial soul was the Evil-Eyed White Tiger. Only one family in this world possessed that martial soul-the imperial family of the Star Luo Empire.

In other words, that young man named Dai Mubai was either wealthy or noble. Spending six hundred gold coins to establish a connection with a noble whose standing was unfathomable was a very worthwhile bargain.

Besides, that young man surnamed Dai came from Shrek Academy. As Tang San saw it, they would inevitably have dealings with each other in the future. First impressions mattered when getting along with others.

Xiao Wu had no idea just how shrewd Tang San was!

"Hmph! He held out his hand and asked strangers for money, and he's fooling around with two women at once. He won't even leave sisters alone. Even rabbits wouldn't play around like that. One look tells you he's no good. Little San, even if we get into Shrek Academy, we shouldn't have anything to do with him," Xiao Wu warned solemnly.

"Dai Mubai's personal tastes are none of my business. But judging by his fight with Su Chen just now, he's quite capable in every respect. Besides, what he said before leaving clearly meant that he intended to look out for us," Tang San said in Dai Mubai's defense.

Xiao Wu might not have known Dai Mubai's true identity, but Tang San already did. Still, since Dai Mubai was not presenting himself as a prince, Tang San was not foolish enough to expose that identity himself.

In fact, Tang San had obtained Grandmaster's manuscripts on martial soul research. Anyone who knew even a little about the Star Luo Empire and the basics of martial souls would have recognized Dai Mubai's true identity.

Tang San was shrewd! With some things, letting the person involved reveal them himself produced much better results than probing into them and exposing them yourself.

How could Tang San agree when Xiao Wu told him not to associate with Dai Mubai? He dreamed of making the Tang Sect flourish in this world. His memories of his previous life told him that no organization could prosper without the support of those in power.

"Who needs him looking out for us? I'm the boss of Nuoding City's Soul Master Academy!"

Xiao Wu pursed her lips disdainfully and tried again. "Little San, are you even listening to me? You always say that those near vermilion turn red, and those near ink turn black. If you spend time with him, he'll lead you astray."

"All right, all right. I understand what you mean. If he refuses to mend his ways, I'll do my best to keep my distance," Tang San replied with a cautious smile.

"That's more like it." Xiao Wu smiled. As both a rabbit and a young girl, she loved the feeling of being pampered.

PS: Tang San: I finally got to appear again! It wasn't easy! Six years! Who could possibly know how I spent those six years? Every day, when I wasn't forging iron, I was still forging iron! Nine to five, and I'm just a child!

Xiao Wu: Brother, I got to appear too.

Dai Mubai: I got to appear too. Huh... wait a minute. Why did I have it so miserable? Author, you can't play me like this!

Tang San: Fine. Since the author let me appear, I'll ask for recommendation votes on his behalf this once! Does anyone have votes to spare? Vote and get Xiao Wu! Vote and get Xiao Wu! Not three Gold Soul Coins, not even one Gold Soul Coin-all it takes is one recommendation vote and a bookmark. Listen carefully: just one recommendation vote and a bookmark, and you can get Soft Bone Rabbit Xiao Wu, the incarnation of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Step right up, and don't miss out! Once you pass this village, you won't find this shop again!

Xiao Wu: Why, you little Tang San! Now that we've left Nuoding Academy, you really don't consider me your boss anymore. Are you trying to sell me off so you can go fool around with Dai Mubai? Take this-Waist Bow!