Xiao Wu's Revival

Xiao Wu hugged the singular velvet sky chrysanthemum and began munching on it, mumbling a question about where he had found so many wonderful things.

Just as Ye Yan was about to answer, Dugu Yan and Lingling noticed the commotion and gathered around, staring curiously at the little rabbit.

"Ye Yan, is this the Xiao Wu you told us about?"

Finding her adorable, Dugu Yan reached out to pet her. Xiao Wu rolled her eyes disdainfully, kicked off with both hind legs, and hopped onto Ye Yan's head.

"Who are you? Why are you getting so touchy-feely the moment we meet? How rude. Also, Ye Yan told you about me?"

Hey, hey, hey, you can't bring that up!

Ye Yan hurriedly changed the subject and introduced them to one another. When Xiao Wu learned that the human woman named Dugu Yan was his fiancée, she viciously bit him.

*?*

Xiao Wu, why are you suddenly biting people?

Ye Yan was utterly baffled. The story he had made up hadn't been exposed yet.

Actually, Xiao Wu herself didn't know why she had bitten Ye Yan. She had simply felt a sudden pang of discomfort. She had certainly hated him a little when he forced her to sacrifice herself, but everything had quietly changed after she regained her awareness.

Given the relationship between humans and soul beasts, it would have been perfectly normal for him to discard her after her sacrifice. Yet he had kept her by his side and cared for her all along.

Later, when he obtained the crystal blood dragon ginseng, he gave it to her simply because she wanted to eat it. How could Ye Yan have known what would happen after I ate it? What if I had just been craving a snack?

Besides, an herb capable of restoring a soul beast's intelligence after a sacrifice was incredibly precious. Even if an ordinary person obtained one, they would surely absorb it themselves rather than leave it for a soul beast who had lost her value.

With this singular velvet sky chrysanthemum added to the mix, she had thought she was living out a story about a boy scouring the world to save his beloved. She had even planned how she would teach Ye Yan a lesson afterward.

Now, however, a woman had appeared claiming to be his fiancée. What did that make her? Had she been imagining affection where there was none?

Her dream of one boy and one rabbit sharing a world of their own shattered. If she had known where to go, she would have run away. She didn't want to see this rotten man again. o(´^｀)o

After poking the naughty Xiao Wu, Ye Yan took out Ah Yin and planted her. He introduced her as the hundred-thousand-year soul beast Ah Yin, then recounted how that scumbag Tang Hao had tricked her into sacrificing herself.

Freshly planted, Ah Yin had been marveling at what sort of treasured land could have such abundant spiritual energy. Hearing Ye Yan's story, her branches and leaves trembled as she remembered all those years she had been abandoned in a pitch-black stone chamber.

Could Tang Hao really have wanted nothing but my soul ring and soul bone back then?

All three girls blazed with fury, especially Xiao Wu, who had likewise taken human form as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.

"How could something as vile as Tang Hao exist? She was his wedded wife, and all for a single soul ring... Not one of you men is any good!"

Lingling initially nodded in agreement, but shook her head upon hearing that last sentence.

"Xiao Wu, Tang Hao certainly is a piece of trash, but you can't tar everyone with the same brush because of him. Ye Yan is a good person."

Dugu Yan unconsciously tightened her grip on Lingling's arm. She didn't object aloud, but inwardly wondered, What exactly is going on between you two? You're even more eager to defend him than I am. I might as well let you be his fiancée.

No, no! She decided to keep an eye on the two of them, or one day her dear friend might really put a green hat on her head.

As they talked, a rich golden glow rose around Xiao Wu, and the white rabbit gradually transformed into an adorable girl dressed in pink.

At this sight, if Dugu Yan hadn't been there, Ye Yan would have dearly loved to shout, "Revive, my beloved!"

But he feared getting a thrashing afterward, so that was out of the question. X﹏X

Xiao Wu was thrilled to have regained human form. Her hopping and bouncing made Ye Yan and the two girls chuckle; seeing such a lively girl lifted their spirits considerably.

Soon, however, Dugu Yan could no longer smile, because Xiao Wu hooked her arms around Ye Yan's neck and swung affectionately from him.

"Ye Yan, have you got anything tasty on you? Hurry up and let me try some. I've practically starved to death lately."

Afraid she would fall, Ye Yan put his hands against her sides to steady her, then brought out a table and chairs, followed by piles of nuts, dried fruit, jerky, and snacks.

Xiao Wu happily sat down and started eating. Whenever she encountered nuts with shells, she found them too troublesome and had him help. Out of guilt toward Xiao Wu, Ye Yan began feeding her.

While he was cracking nuts, Xiao Wu gave Dugu Yan a provocative look, as though saying, Look how obedient your little man is. He does whatever I tell him to.

Dugu Yan was so angry that she ground her teeth and clenched her delicate fists, wishing she could send Xiao Wu flying with a punch. Whew. Don't get angry. Don't get angry.

Dugu Yan comforted herself that she was the rightful lady of the household. She couldn't let a rabbit ruin her health with anger. How could a little brat compete with her?

"Ye Yan, I've run into a few problems with my cultivation. Come help me take a look."

Despite telling herself all that, she didn't want to leave Ye Yan with this rabbit. Her little man ought to stay by her side every moment.

Ye Yan gave Xiao Wu an apologetic look and left with Dugu Yan. Xiao Wu waved him goodbye with a show of generosity, indicating that she was fine, while secretly plotting how to steal Ye Yan away.

Elsewhere, Ye Yan was dragged into the wooden cabin where the girls usually cultivated and given a thorough lecture about keeping his distance from other girls. Naturally, it went in one ear and out the other as he nodded along in agreement.

The days passed like this, dull and monotonous. Never mind the playful Xiao Wu-even Ye Yan was finding it hard to endure. Left with no choice, they eventually moved their cultivation grounds to Dugu Manor, where they could go shopping together in their spare time.

Of course, it certainly wasn't because he missed the older ladies or anything. He was merely considering everyone's physical and mental well-being.

One year later.

On his eighth birthday, Ye Yan broke through to level thirty, but choosing his third soul ring left him stumped.

Should he go to the Sunset Forest or Star Dou to find a thirty-thousand-year soul beast, or awaken the Blue Silver Emperor? His blue silver grass, which had absorbed two high-quality soul rings, was definitely much stronger than Tang San's after absorbing four poison-type soul rings.

The question was whether he actually possessed the imperial bloodline after absorbing the Blue Silver Emperor's soul bone. Forget it, forget it. I'll bring Ah Yin along when the time comes.

If he lacked the blue silver bloodline, he would rely on Ah Yin to persuade the Blue Silver King to willingly let himself be killed. That way, he could absorb an eighty-thousand-year third soul ring without restrictions.

Considering that Dugu Bo alone couldn't keep the situation under control, Ye Yan went to the little angel again and borrowed Snake Lance Douluo to accompany them. Having learned from his previous mistake, he also had Spirit Hall's latest detailed map of the continent's powers brought over, and discovered that the Blue Silver Forest lay hidden on the border of Yidefu Province.

Ye Yan and the two men set off in a luxurious carriage. After a month of travel, they finally reached this seldom-visited region.

Ye Yan looked up. There was no vast sea of blue stretching a thousand miles as he had imagined. Compared with the Sunset Forest, the blue silver grass was simply more luxuriant, and other animal- and plant-type soul beasts were by no means rare.

Still, he was here to awaken his martial soul, not to sightsee. He entered the forest with Dugu Bo and Snake Lance, activating his blue silver grass martial soul at the same time as he attempted to establish contact with the Blue Silver King.