Xiao Xiao

He murmured to himself.

The next second, the space before him gradually warped, and a figure identical to him appeared.

This was the effect of his first soul skill: creating a clone with fifty percent of all his abilities.

Just then, Xiao Xiao, who had been running toward him, finally came into view.

Behind her, the Demon Wind Wolf's thundering footfalls rang in their ears, accompanied by the constant crack of branches snapping or being knocked aside.

"Ah, this clone skill really is useful. It's just a pain that it keeps draining my soul power after I summon it."

He muttered under his breath, his gaze wavering slightly.

The clone that had appeared before him and been jogging alongside him suddenly shot toward Xiao Xiao like an arrow loosed from its bow, as though it had received an order.

Lin Mo himself veered ahead to the left, trying not to make any noise.

He was not the only one moving. Huo Yuyao was moving too. Watching Lin Mo draw ever closer to danger, she bit her lip and hurried toward him on her short little legs.

Although Lin Mo had told her before leaving that she only needed to stay where she was, Huo Yuyao did not want to remain behind him.

She wanted to help him too, but her soul skill had a limited range. All she could do was hope that by getting closer to Lin Mo, she could shift the range of Spiritual Detection and make it easier for him to act.

Through Spiritual Detection, he finally noticed who had shouted "Xiao Xiao" earlier.

Within Huo Yuyao's Spiritual Detection range, there was actually more than one Demon Wind Wolf. To be precise, there were three: two four-thousand-year wolves and one two-thousand-year wolf.

"You beast! Just try hurting my daughter!"

Not far away, a slightly portly middle-aged man had just finished dealing with one of the four-thousand-year Demon Wind Wolves and was directing three enormous cauldrons toward this one.

But the Demon Wind Wolf's claws had already reached Xiao Xiao.

"Go!"

With a mental command, he drove his Puppet Clone forward at an almost suicidal speed, its body angled slightly sideways and both hands gripping the Suspended Sword.

Sure enough, the Demon Wind Wolf's temperament was exactly as the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had described. Just as he was about to bring his claws down, he noticed a sword-wielding boy burst out of the woods, the blade aimed straight at his belly. Instinctively, he withdrew his claws and backed away.

Seizing that opening, Lin Mo's clone struck Xiao Xiao, who was about to crash into him, with his palm and sent her to his left. The blow was strong enough to knock her a short distance through the air.

No one was more bewildered than Xiao Xiao. She had thought she truly was going to die here and had been on the verge of tears when a black-haired, black-eyed boy suddenly sprang from the grass before her, his sword aimed at the Demon Wind Wolf behind her.

Just when she thought she was saved, the boy pushed her with such force that he sent her flying.

"Waaaah!"

Xiao Xiao screamed as she flew, only to be caught securely by Lin Mo, who had been hiding on the left all along.

He caught each of her flailing arms with one hand and set her firmly on the ground.

Xiao Xiao still had not recovered from the shock, however. Even after her feet touched the ground, her legs felt weak, and she sank into a sitting position.

On the battlefield, the Demon Wind Wolf who had been forced back immediately sensed the sword-wielding boy's strength. Discovering that his opponent was pathetically weak, he charged at him in fury.

But Lin Mo's clone was not the only one there. Before the wolf's furious attack could reach him, three enormous cauldrons slammed into the beast and sent him flying.

"Awooo!"

Watching the Demon Wind Wolf literally fly through the air from behind the bushes, Lin Mo could not help dubbing him in his mind.

"Awooo! I'll be back!"

At the same time, Huo Yuyao reached Lin Mo's side, though the girl did not dare look at him.

"Honestly, didn't I tell you not to come over because it was dangerous here?"

Ignoring Xiao Xiao, who was still recovering on the ground, Lin Mo turned to the girl who had completely disregarded his instructions.

"Um, sorry..."

Huo Yuyao held up both index fingers and kept crossing them before her chest, forming an X, her little face looking utterly forlorn.

Seeing his little sister's expression practically say, "Sorry, I know I was wrong," Lin Mo could only pat her head helplessly.

"Next time, put your own safety first, understand?"

"Mm-hmm."

Huo Yuyao's dejected expression instantly brightened.

"Honestly."

As the two spoke, a couple hurried over from the distance.

"Xiao Xiao!"

Hearing the calls draw closer, Huo Yuyao abruptly looked at Lin Mo.

"Brother Xiao Mo, should we hide?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

It was not just Lin Mo who let out a surprised, puzzled sound. The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm floating above her head did too.

"Eh? W-we don't need to?"

Seeing the girl ask this with a perfectly serious expression, both of them slapped their foreheads.

"All right, enough joking. Come on, let's head out. We saved this girl's life. They ought to thank us, at least."

After saying that, he first asked Xiao Xiao about her injuries. Once he confirmed that her legs were hurt, he and Huo Yuyao helped her walk out.

Outside the bushes, the two were greeted by Xiao Xiao's parents. The middle-aged man was slightly portly, with dark green hair exactly like Xiao Xiao's. Beside him stood a beautiful, slender woman with light green hair.

Xiao Xiao actually inherited both her parents' martial souls. Come to think of it, did she inherit her father's hair color and her mother's looks? She really picked all the best bits. Too bad she barely got any moments to shine later in the original story. If I can, I'll bring her along to the Sun Moon Empire. Hehe.

"Dad, Mom!"

When Xiao Xiao saw her parents as the two helped her out, she was so overwhelmed that she nearly cried.

After all, she had truly felt she might meet her end here just moments ago.

"Xiao Xiao!"

"Xiao Xiao!"

Seeing that their daughter was not seriously hurt, Xiao Xiao's parents rushed over and embraced her excitedly.

At the sight, Lin Mo led Huo Yuyao a little farther away. This was their family reunion, after all.

Led aside, Huo Yuyao stared blankly at the family embracing, an indescribable feeling stirring in her heart.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm could naturally sense Huo Yuyao's feelings, but he did not know what to say either. Just as he was about to give Lin Mo a reminder, Lin Mo acted first.

He gently drew Huo Yuyao to his side and stroked her head.

"You still have me."

Feeling the warmth beside her and hearing that familiar, gentle voice, Huo Yuyao reached out and tightly clutched Lin Mo's shirt. She nodded firmly without saying a word.

After a little while, Xiao Xiao's parents gave her injured legs some basic treatment, then led her over to Lin Mo and Huo Yuyao.

The middle-aged man clasped his fist in his palm and bowed slightly.

"My name is Xiao Sheng. This is my wife, Xiao Xia, and this is my daughter, Xiao Xiao. Thank you for saving my daughter's life, young friend."

"Thank you."

Xiao Xiao bowed in thanks as well.

"That man's soul power is almost at the Soul Douluo level. The woman has just entered the Soul Saint realm."

At some point, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had shrunk to the size of a kitten and settled right on top of Huo Yuyao's head. His gaze swept over the couple as he reported their soul power levels.

"There's no need for that, Uncle Xiao. We only lent a hand."

Lin Mo copied his fist-and-palm gesture and returned the bow.

"No, you saved Xiao Xiao's life. As her parents, we ought to thank you. You both look quite young. Did you come here to obtain soul rings? If you need anything, we can help. After all, even though this is the outer region, soul beasts over four thousand years old still show up sometimes, just like those wolves."

"No, thank you. We've already obtained our soul rings."

Lin Mo conversed with Xiao Sheng quite calmly. Huo Yuyao, standing beside him, watched the couple curiously, but she seemed to have had little contact with strangers. Still timid, she shrank slightly behind Lin Mo.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lin Mo, and this is my younger sister, Huo Yuyao."

"Hello..."

Hearing her brother introduce her, she stepped out to the side and bowed to the three of them.

"Did you two children come to hunt for soul rings by yourselves? Where are your parents?"

Xiao Sheng was puzzled. Even the outer region was not somewhere two children who looked this young should venture.

"..."

Both fell silent at the mention of their parents. Taking in their silence, Huo Yuyao's emotions, and Lin Mo's earlier introduction, Xiao Sheng more or less understood their circumstances.

"Ah, this mouth of mine."

Seeing the two children's spirits sink, Xiao Sheng almost wanted to slap his own mouth a couple of times.

"Ahem, young friend, where is your home?"

Xiao Sheng hurried to steer the conversation away from their parents.

"We don't have a home anymore."

Lin Mo gave an awkward smile and replied helplessly.

Uncle Xiao really knows how to pick his questions. There are only two sore spots, and he managed to hit both? Is he doing this on purpose?

Lin Mo grumbled inwardly.

Hearing that answer, Xiao Sheng opened his mouth twice, but no words came out. Beside him, Xiao Xia pressed a hand to her forehead helplessly.

Then she stepped forward and crouched slightly beside the two children.

"Then you probably don't have anywhere to go right now, do you? We're leaving the Star Dou Great Forest and heading to Maple Leaf City. If you don't have any plans, would you like to come with us?"

"We have a place to stay there. You saved Xiao Xiao's life, so we owe you a great debt. If you don't mind, you can stay there for the time being."

Xiao Xia's voice was very gentle, with a truly motherly warmth. Perhaps that was because she was Xiao Xiao's mother herself.

Maple Leaf City? In the original story, that was where the Heaven Dou Empire bordered the Sun Moon Empire. It's the same place I originally planned to settle down. I might as well go with them and save myself the trouble of finding somewhere to stay. If I cultivate there for two months, it should be about time for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's new term.

He did not answer immediately, instead looking at Huo Yuyao first.

"I'll follow my brother's decision."

Only after she said that and nodded at him did Lin Mo accept.

"Then we're sorry for the trouble."