"Thank you all for helping, cough, cough... If you hadn't arrived, Xiao Wu and I would probably have..."
Xiao Wu’s Mother leaned against the tree trunk, forcing a weak smile onto her pale face. Her gaze toward Qian Daoliu was full of gratitude, but before she could finish, another violent coughing fit shook her. The eerie blue energy on her shoulder seemed to stir, beginning to writhe slowly again.
Bibi Dong hurriedly pressed a hand against her shoulder and said softly:
"Auntie, don't talk. Just rest for now."
Qian Daoliu waved a hand, his expression grave, but said nothing more.
He knew just how much weight her thanks carried-with the pride of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, she would never have bowed her head to humans so readily unless her life had been at stake.
And everyone present, whether Golden Crocodile, Guang Ling, or Jiang Mo, tacitly avoided that sensitive subject.
The God-Making Plan!
With Xiao Wu’s Mother gravely wounded and Xiao Wu still shaken, bringing it up now would only deepen the divide between them.
Guang Ling put away his bow and arrows and walked to Qian Daoliu's side, his gaze sweeping over the wound on Xiao Wu’s Mother.
"Boss, her injury..."
"The evil-effect energy has been locked down for now, but the energy near her heart meridians is difficult to deal with. I have to keep suppressing it with holy soul power. If I were still at my peak, this would be easy to resolve."
Qian Daoliu spoke in a low voice.
"The Star Dou Forest may be safe, but neither Da Ming nor Er Ming has the power to counter this evil energy."
Bibi Dong's grip on Xiao Wu’s Mother's arm tightened slightly. Looking at the benefactor who had once saved her, she said softly:
"Auntie, come with us. That way, my teacher can stabilize your injuries whenever you need him."
Xiao Wu’s Mother's clouded gaze turned toward Bibi Dong. The frail little girl from back then had grown into a powerhouse capable of standing on her own. She knew Bibi Dong spoke the truth, but...
"Da Ming and Er Ming can't leave the Lake of Life. If I go, then Xiao Wu..."
"We're here. Please don't worry."
Da Ming's voice came from above the trees. His blue-green bull's head lowered, his eyes filled with resolve.
"As long as we're here, nothing will happen to Xiao Wu. Go get your wounds treated first, and come back when you're well."
"That's right! Don't worry. I'll look after Xiao Wu!"
Er Ming chimed in as well.
Her eyes red, Xiao Wu threw herself beside her mother and clutched the hem of her clothes.
"Mom, I'm coming with you! I don't want to be apart from you!"
Xiao Wu’s Mother stroked her daughter's soft head, her own eyes growing wet.
But she knew she couldn't agree. Although Xiao Wu was already a ninety-thousand-year soft bone rabbit, she had yet to survive her hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation and couldn't take human form. Her soul beast aura was far too strong.
If she left the Star Dou Forest with Qian Daoliu and the others and someone detected her, the consequences would be unthinkable.
"Be good, Xiao Wu."
Her voice choked.
"Stay here with Da Ming and Er Ming. Mom will be back soon..."
"No!"
Xiao Wu burst into tears.
"I want to stay with Mom! That big tiger was so evil! I'm scared it'll come back for you!"
Seeing how unwilling the mother and daughter were to part, Golden Crocodile couldn't help frowning.
"Big Brother, this..."
Qian Daoliu fell silent for a moment, his gaze settling on Xiao Wu.
Though young, Xiao Wu possessed an exceptionally pure vitality, and the stubbornness in her eyes was just like her mother's. He raised a hand to rub his brow, sinking his consciousness into the depths of his mind.
"Senior,"
he called silently,
"Is there a way to conceal this little rabbit's soul beast aura?"
A deep, resonant voice rang out in his mind, carrying a measure of authority.
"What difficulty is there in hiding the aura of a mere ninety-thousand-year soul beast? It will simply cost some soul power each day."
"How much?"
Qian Daoliu pressed.
"In your current state, maintaining the One-Percent Maintenance Barrier will consume one percent each day. You only need to sustain it until she survives her heavenly tribulation and takes human form."
The Chaos Bell's voice held no emotion.
"Is it worth it?"
Qian Daoliu looked at Xiao Wu’s Mother's hands, tightly clasped around her daughter's. Even gravely wounded, she had never once let go.
He remembered what they had seen upon arriving: even after taking a blow from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, Xiao Wu’s Mother had remained determined to protect her daughter.
"It is."
Qian Daoliu opened his eyes, pale golden light flowing through them.
"Xiao Wu, come here."
Xiao Wu froze for a moment and looked timidly toward her mother.
After a brief hesitation, Xiao Wu’s Mother nodded.
"Go on. Listen to him."
Xiao Wu walked up to Qian Daoliu, looking back with every few steps, her little body still trembling.
Qian Daoliu extended a hand, gathering a soft, pale golden glow in his palm, and gently pressed it to the top of her head. Warmth instantly enveloped Xiao Wu, as though she were bathing in spring sunshine.
Her soul beast aura seemed to be covered by an invisible membrane. It gradually receded and faded, until it vanished from the air entirely.
Guang Ling and Jiang Mo both raised their eyebrows in surprise. They could no longer sense any soul beast aura from the little rabbit at all. It was as though they were looking at an ordinary rabbit.
"This..."
Golden Crocodile was somewhat taken aback as well.
"Big Brother, what did you..."
"Nothing much. I simply used my Chaos Bell martial soul to conceal Xiao Wu's aura."
Qian Daoliu withdrew his hand, his tone calm.
Shock flashed through Xiao Wu’s Mother's eyes, then gave way to even deeper gratitude.
"Thank you for making this possible!"
She knew Qian Daoliu was taking a risk. With less than twenty percent of his full strength remaining, spending soul power every day would undoubtedly pile snow atop the frost.
Qian Daoliu waved a hand.
"We need to finish our business as soon as possible. Afterward, we'll find you a safe place to settle in Spirit Hall, or..."
He looked at Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu, when you reach a Hundred-Thousand-Year cultivation, do you want to choose to become human and cultivate anew, like your mother?"
Xiao Wu looked at her mother, her ruby-red eyes filled with resolve.
"I do!"
"Then would you be willing to take me as your teacher and learn about the human world from me?"
Qian Daoliu looked calmly into Xiao Wu's eyes.
"Take... a teacher?"
Xiao Wu repeated the words in surprise, her heart full of uncertainty. She didn't know whether she should agree.
Xiao Wu sank into thought.
She was indeed full of curiosity about this world and eager to learn more.
Besides, he saved us. And where else would I find such a handsome teacher?
"I'm willing."
Xiao Wu gritted her teeth and finally made her decision.
[Congratulations to the host on a successful binding. Bound object: Xiao Wu.]
As soon as the words fell that afternoon, the system's notification sounded.
Qian Daoliu nodded in satisfaction, the corners of his mouth lifting into a barely perceptible smile.
"Very good. From today onward, you are my disciple."
"But the path of learning won't be easy. You must be prepared to endure hardship."
Bibi Dong's eyes lit up as she looked at Xiao Wu. She had gained a junior sister so soon.
Da Ming and Er Ming were happy for Xiao Wu as well.
Qian Daoliu then said to Golden Crocodile:
"Let's return to camp and rest for a while."
"Yes!"
Everyone answered in unison.
Bibi Dong helped Xiao Wu’s Mother to her feet, and Xiao Wu hurried back to her mother, sticking close to her side.
Er Ming sheltered them in his hands, while Da Ming's enormous body cleared a path ahead, driving away any low-level soul beasts nearby.
After returning to camp and resting for a short while,
Qian Daoliu looked at everyone and said,
"Pack up. We'll leave as soon as possible. Golden Crocodile, lead the way; Guang Ling, watch the skies; Jiang Mo, bring up the rear."
"Yes!"
The three answered in unison.
Before leaving, Xiao Wu’s Mother glanced back toward the Lake of Life. Da Ming and Er Ming's figures appeared and disappeared among the dense trees.
She knew that leaving this time was not merely about healing her wounds. It was also an attempt at trust and cooperation between humans and soul beasts.
Qian Daoliu walked at the very front of the group, pale golden soul power flowing steadily through his palm.
He could feel the Chaos Bell trembling faintly in the depths of his consciousness, and he could also feel the barrier concealing Xiao Wu's aura slowly consuming his strength.
He had to recover his strength as quickly as possible to find a way to eradicate the evil-effect energy completely. In the meantime, he also had to keep Xiao Wu and her mother safe.
Throughout their journey out of the Star Dou Forest, everyone was mostly silent.
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's escape was like a thorn embedded in every heart.
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