"Bro, what is it?"
Xiao Wu looked at Chen Yang's secretive expression, utterly puzzled.
"Xiao Wu, do you have any high-level Soul Beasts in your family?
I was thinking that once I reached level 20, I could bring your family in too. That way, we'd both have protection, and you could see your family whenever you wanted."
After saying that, Chen Yang quietly waited for Xiao Wu's answer, but a long while passed without a sound from beside him.
Xiao Wu silently lowered her head, hiding her face so he couldn't make out her expression.
Chen Yang's heart tightened. He raised a hand to rub her head and asked softly, "Xiao Wu? What's wrong? Did I say something I shouldn't have?"
"No..."
Xiao Wu slowly lifted her head, her eyes rimmed with red.
"I just think you're so good to me, Bro. And I really miss Da Ming and Er Ming."
She carelessly wiped her tears away with her arm and continued.
"Da Ming and Er Ming are both hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts. I chose to take human form, while they chose to keep their beast forms to protect me.
If possible, I'd like to stay with them forever too... Thank you, Bro."
Chen Yang hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Xiao Wu. He waved a hand casually.
"Hey, it's nothing. That's what a big brother should do."
"Do you know why I keep having you fight them?"
Xiao Wu shook her head. Wasn't it to satisfy his perverse fondness for watching people fight?
"Because of my Martial Soul's special properties, once you became my Pokémon, fighting would earn you experience points. Once your experience bar fills up, you can level up.
And I receive half as much experience as you do. Do you understand what I mean?"
Realization dawned on Xiao Wu. No wonder she had leveled up while fighting earlier.
She had thought she was exceptionally gifted, a one-in-ten-thousand cultivation prodigy. It turned out it was all because of her bro.
Hearing "Pokémon," a word she had never encountered before, Xiao Wu tilted her head and asked with curious eyes:
"Bro, what does Pokémon mean?"
"Uh... a companion who fights by your side."
"Oh, I see! Then you're my Pokémon too, Bro!"
Chen Yang's mouth twitched violently. For a moment, he had no idea how to respond.
"Heh heh, as long as you're happy."
Xiao Wu didn't understand why her bro Yang had suddenly become unhappy. She scratched her head in confusion.
"So if I want to see Da Ming and Er Ming sooner, I need to fight more and help you level up?"
Chen Yang nodded and gave her a thumbs-up.
Xiao Wu's enthusiasm for battle flared to life. To see Da Ming and Er Ming, she would go all out!!
She quickly put on her shoes and burst out the door.
She kicked open the dormitory doors one after another, beating up everyone she saw.
"Aooow!! Stop hitting me!! I surrender! Aaaaah!!!"
"Boss! Sister Xiao Wu! Stop hitting me! My teeth, my teeth! My teeth!!"
"Aaaaah!! Run!!"
Seeing Xiao Wu go berserk, everyone in the other dormitories was so frightened that they either shut their doors tight or fled outright.
People ran ahead while Xiao Wu and Chen Yang chased after them.
After they had run some distance, someone suddenly appeared and blocked Xiao Wu's path.
Chen Yang's expression turned a little odd. Tang San? Why was this kid sticking his neck out?
He didn't seem like the sort to stand up against injustice. Was he really kind enough to take on such a thankless task?
"Hey! Why are you getting in Sister Xiao Wu's way?"
Xiao Wu planted her hands on her hips, looking thoroughly displeased.
Tang San's expression didn't change, and his voice sounded like an NPC's.
"I don't think what you're doing is right. We're all classmates. Why resort to violence at the slightest disagreement?"
He didn't know why he had stepped forward to speak up for those children either, but something inside him kept urging him to form a connection with Xiao Wu. Otherwise, he would surely regret it.
Xiao Wu glared at him in irritation.
"What do you know? Sister Xiao Wu is cultivating!"
Tang San immediately frowned and retorted.
"My teacher said cultivation requires calming your mind in a suitable environment. Cultivating through fighting is simply impossible."
Chen Yang stepped forward, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "Your teacher wouldn't happen to be Yu Xiaogang, would he?"
Tang San nodded in confirmation.
Chen Yang inwardly clicked his tongue. Well, damn, I actually guessed right. It's only been a few days, and these two have already hit it off like a turtle locking eyes with a mung bean?
This world's timeline convergence is seriously ridiculous.
Suddenly, his eyes shifted. He put an arm around Xiao Wu's shoulders and said,
"Could your teacher be lying to you? Xiao Wu's been picking fights these past few days and has already gained two levels, yet your teacher's still telling you to cultivate quietly?"
Xiao Wu chimed in repeatedly.
"Exactly, exactly! Your teacher is a fraud. And you-we were kind enough to take you along to register before, but now you're turning around and opposing us. You're no good either."
Hearing Xiao Wu dare to speak about his teacher like that, Tang San's face instantly turned cold.
"Shut up! I won't allow you to slander my teacher like that!"
Despite his words, uncertainty lingered in his heart.
Could Teacher really be wrong? Could fighting actually improve cultivation?
Weren't there examples in my previous life of people suddenly gaining enlightenment during battle and greatly increasing their power?
Ding! Congratulations, host. You have caused a crack in the Child of Destiny's trust in Yu Xiaogang, slowing his cultivation speed and plundering a small amount of destiny. Reward: Secret Technique Disc: Cut (After a Pokémon learns it, it can unleash a tremendously powerful slash, dealing massive damage to an enemy. In the wild, it can also cut through shrubs to open new paths.)
Oho, a gold drop!
And it isn't one of those single-use discs, either. It's a Secret Technique Disc that can be used endlessly.
Since Xiao Wu, this human beast, can't gain skills by leveling up, a Secret Technique Disc should work, right?
Chen Yang mentally selected the Cut disc and used it on Xiao Wu.
[Da-da-da~ The Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit learned a new skill: Cut.]
Nice, it even has a special sound effect.
Xiao Wu merely felt a swelling sensation in her head. Just like when she had kicked that rock before, she had suddenly learned an additional Soul Skill.
She looked at Chen Yang in terror, her calves trembling.
"Bro, isn't this going a bit far? I'm scared..."
"Shh, shh, shh!"
Chen Yang extended his index finger and held it against Xiao Wu's lips.
"Don't worry. This is different from last time."
Gulp-
Xiao Wu swallowed, still feeling uneasy. The pain of her broken leg last time remained as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.
Meanwhile, Tang San watched the two ignore him and flirt away as though no one else were there.
His fists clenched tightly. Could you show me some respect?!
Am I a person? Am I even a person to you?!!
Chen Yang finally came back to his senses and addressed Tang San.
"You... what was your name again?"
"Tang San."
"Right, Tang San. Since you don't believe us, have a fight with Xiao Wu. Then you'll understand."
Chen Yang raised his chin, then leaned close to Xiao Wu's ear and whispered.
"He's the last one you need to level up."
Xiao Wu's ears instantly perked up, even suppressing her fear of breaking her leg.
"Come on! Sister Xiao Wu's going all out against you!"
Tang San readily agreed as well, wanting to verify whether their claims were true. He immediately summoned his Martial Soul.
"Tang San. Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Level 10 Soul Scholar."
"Xiao Wu. Martial Soul: Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit. Level 14 One-Ring Soul Master."
Tang San's expression stiffened. In his heart, he now believed seventy percent of what they had said.
Before you continue