It was night.
The moon hung like a silver platter amid a sky full of stars.
Xiao Wu slowly regained consciousness. Almost instinctively, she sat up and scanned her surroundings warily.
A campfire came into view, with two people beside it. One was Tang San, who lay on the ground, still unconscious. The other was Tang Hao, looking utterly dispirited, with traces of blood lingering at the corner of his mouth.
"Child, you're awake?" Tang Hao's deep voice sounded.
At his words, Xiao Wu nodded slightly. Her gaze remained fixed on Tang San. After a moment, she said, "Thank you for saving me, Uncle Tang."
"No need to thank me." Tang Hao waved a hand, then stirred the campfire with a stick. Looking up at Xiao Wu, he said quietly, "From a Soul Master's perspective, I should keep you imprisoned until Tang San needs you, then kill you and give him your Soul Ring and Soul Bone."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu cried out, "But didn't you discover my identity long ago? Did you refrain because of my relationship with Brother San?"
Tang Hao said nothing, merely nodding slightly. If he killed Xiao Wu now, he would gain, at most, a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. Tang San could not absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring yet. That was why he had never made his move.
"Uncle." Xiao Wu's eyes brimmed with tears until she was a picture of weeping.
Tang Hao smiled freely. "Child, return to where you belong. When Tang San truly needs you, he'll naturally come looking for you. You'll be safest there. I don't oppose you being together, but right now, Tang San and I are wanted across the entire continent. Taking you along would only add another burden."
"Uncle, can't I wait until Brother San