In this life, I live only to protect you

"Xiao Wu, watch out!"

The blood was still warm when it landed on my face.

Before I could cry out his name, I saw that man, cold as ice yet more sincere than anyone, collapse in a pool of blood.

Tang San had attacked from behind and killed Shi Meng!

And they had only ever had one goal.

To turn me into a Soul Ring belonging to Tang San.

Better to shatter as jade than survive as a worthless tile.

Shi Meng was dead. I no longer wanted to live alone.

I forcibly unleashed all my power, determined to drag Tang Hao and Tang San down with me, even if it meant burning myself to nothing.

At the final moment of my self-destruction, I glanced down.

Bibi Dong, who had always stood high above everyone, was holding Shi Meng and sobbing like a mother who had lost her child.

A thought suddenly came to me.

If there is another life...

I don't want to be Tang San's little sister again.

I only want to follow Shi Meng forever and protect him, just as he once protected me.

Xiao Wu slowly opened her eyes.

Sunlight streamed through the windows of Dorm Seven, warm and gentle.

She looked down at her little hands.

Six years old.

There were still six years until she first met Shi Meng.

Six years. She could wait.

But...

Xiao Wu drew a deep breath, turned around, and glanced at Tang San, who was sitting on his bed healing the injuries on his face.

In her previous life, she had accepted him as her brother because she had believed he was worthy.

But from the moment he killed Shi Meng, they had become enemies.

In this life, she didn't need a brother. She only needed Shi Meng.

Xiao Wu glanced out the window.

That was the direction of Spirit Hall.

She wanted to go there. She wanted so badly to find him right now.

But she couldn't.

Shi Meng was now a member of Spirit Hall, and its Holy Son at that.

He didn't know her yet.

If she went there rashly, she would only put herself in danger.

More importantly, Xiao Wu knew that ever since she entered Nodtin Academy, Tang Hao, lurking in the shadows, had been keeping her penned up as a gift for his son.

Tang Hao, Tang San's father, the Clear Sky Douluo.

He had been protecting Tang San in secret while keeping an eye on her.

If she showed even the slightest abnormality, only death would await her.

So, over these six years, there was only one thing she could do.

Grow stronger.

Fight with everything she had to grow stronger!

Wait until she was twelve, until she was strong enough, until Shi Meng appeared.

Then she would never let anyone hurt him again.

Xiao Wu clenched her fists. "In this life, I live only to protect Shi Meng."

Six years. Shi Meng, wait for me.

"Senior sister, are you sure you want to stay here tonight?"

Suotuo City.

Shi Meng stood at the entrance, looking at the luscious roses on the sign, his brow furrowing slightly.

It wasn't that he didn't know what plot event this hotel triggered in the original story.

Precisely because he knew, he didn't want to come.

But Hu Liena wouldn't have it.

"This is the grandest hotel in all of Suotuo City! What's wrong, little junior brother~? Your senior sister has been traveling all day. Could you really bear to make me stay in some shabby little inn~?"

As Hu Liena spoke, she raised a hand and pretended to wipe at the corner of her eye, putting on a pitifully aggrieved expression.

Seeing this, Shi Meng could only sigh helplessly.

It wasn't that he didn't know what plot event this hotel triggered in the original story.

Precisely because he knew, he hadn't wanted to come.

The less trouble, the better.

But since his senior sister insisted, they might as well stay.

They were merely Dai Mubai and Little Scumbag. Could they really overturn the heavens?

He was Spirit Hall's current Holy Son, with strength far beyond everyone else's, and the two Douluo, Chrysanthemum and Ghost, guarding his path!

They had barely entered the lobby when a receptionist approached with an apologetic expression.

"I'm terribly sorry, honored guests. We only have one suite left."

Before Shi Meng could speak, an utterly brash voice sounded behind him.

"The last one? Perfect. I'll take it."

Shi Meng turned and saw a young man with waist-length golden hair and differently colored eyes stride inside.

He had an arm around each of two scantily clad twin girls, his face practically proclaiming, "I'm the boss."

The corner of Shi Meng's mouth twitched.

Well, well. His entrance was exactly the same as in the original story.

This was undoubtedly Dai Mubai.

"Sorry, but we asked for this room first."

Hu Liena stepped forward, her brows slightly knitted as she looked at Dai Mubai with undisguised disdain.

Dai Mubai glanced at her, and his eyes lit up.

Oh, wow! This chick is seriously hot!

She's leagues above these twins beside me.

But who was Dai Mubai?

The Star Luo Empire's third prince and the top dog at Shrek Academy. Naturally, picking up girls required patience.

Especially a girl of this caliber.

"Miss, first come, first served also depends on who can afford the price. I'll pay triple for this suite."

As Dai Mubai spoke, the twins beside him chimed in.

"Exactly! Do you know who Young Master Dai is? Who do you think you are, competing with him?"

"Little girl, be sensible and give it up. Young Master Dai isn't someone you want to cross."

Hu Liena's expression instantly turned cold.

Triple?

That's it?

She was Hu Liena, Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden and Pope Bibi Dong's personal disciple. What fine treasures hadn't she seen? He thought paying triple would make her yield?

"Why bother with triple? We're taking this room. If you don't like it, name your terms and let's settle this with a fight."

No sooner had Hu Liena spoken than a crowd gathered both inside and outside the hotel.

Some were guests staying at the hotel; others were passing Soul Masters.

Someone recognized Dai Mubai at a glance.

"Isn't that Young Master Dai? He's a regular at the Rose Hotel. I hear he's also a student at Shrek Academy."

"Shrek? That academy that only accepts monsters?"

"Young Master Dai has already reached rank thirty-seven at such a young age. That talent is far beyond anything an ordinary person could match."

"Yeah. Aren't these two kids courting death, then? Just look how young they are. Their ranks can't be high."

The crowd's discussion grew louder and louder, and quite a few people had already begun taking Dai Mubai's side.

"Young Master Dai, teach these two brats who don't know the heights of heaven or the depths of earth a lesson!"

"Exactly! They dare fight Young Master Dai for a room without even asking around to find out who he is."

Listening to the flattery around him, Dai Mubai's lips curled higher and higher.

He glanced at Shi Meng.

This pretty boy looks young, but he's quite handsome. No wonder this girl follows Shi Meng around.

"Boy, you heard them, didn't you? My martial soul is the White Tiger, and my soul power is rank thirty-seven. You haven't even grown your hair in yet. If you know what's good for you, get lost!"

Hu Liena was about to erupt, but Shi Meng reached out and stopped her.

"Senior sister."

Hu Liena paused, then turned to see Shi Meng take a step forward.

Dai Mubai raised his eyebrows, then laughed.

"Oh? Finally willing to step out? I thought you planned to hide behind a woman forever."

Shi Meng folded his arms across his chest, his eyes languid, looking as though he didn't take Dai Mubai seriously at all.

"Why would I need to lift a hand over something this trivial?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Dai Mubai's expression darkened.

Shi Meng yawned.

"Nothing. I just wanted to say..."