You're Just a Little Girl~

"Holy... crap?" His eyes widened as he stared incredulously at that cherry-small mouth. "You swallowed it in one bite? How did you do that?!"

A roast chicken bigger than a huge braised pork hock, down in one gulp-what kind of feat was that?

Even Liangzi couldn't do that!

In the distance, Yan Shaozhe finally came to her senses, realized there was no one behind her, and whipped her head around.

In a fleeting glimpse, she spotted Gu Xingyue beside the tree roots, one hand still resting on a little girl's head.

Her pupils contracted sharply, and she reached out with an Erkang-style hand. "What are you doing-?!"

But it was already too late.

The little girl patted the grease off her hands and looked up. Her voice was still that same childish little-girl voice, but her tone was that of an old hand. "Hmph, you've got some nerve, daring to touch my head. But since you're new here, and this is your first offense-I'll spare you a spanking."

She paused and planted both hands on her hips, her snow-white twin tails swaying gently with the movement. "Remember this: I'm an elder of the Sea God Pavilion, and I'm old enough to be your great-grandmother!"

Gu Xingyue turned to stone on the spot, as though a wheel were spinning madly inside his head, whirring and buzzing.

He opened his mouth, but all he managed to squeeze out was, "Majika..."

Yan Shaozhe sprang over and slapped him hard on the back.

The pain finally jolted Gu Xingyue out of the whirlpool, but he still looked dazed, his face blank with bewilderment as he questioned his entire existence.

Yan Shaozhe's heart lurched. Oh no. Young people really are too young. He can't even handle this?

Isn't staying forever young just standard stuff for a Titled Douluo? How did that scare him senseless?

If they really scared him stupid, her teacher would surely string her up and whip her to death, and the one standing before her would suffer along with her.

She hurriedly turned and called to the little girl, "Oh, honestly, look at you! How could you do that?"

The little girl immediately realized what she was doing-she was trying to shift the blame.

Of course, she had also heard Gu Xingyue announce his martial soul: the Thunderclap Infernal Prison Vine. That was a divine soul beast bloodline; its importance went without saying.

If that person found out she had frightened a promising child with an ultimate attribute into developing problems, she would probably be the one strung up in the secret chamber and treated to the whip instead.

She hurriedly waved her hands, her expression innocent. "Hey, little Yan, you can't blame me for this. Nothing to do with me, nothing at all."

"I'm not listening! I'm not listening!" Yan Shaozhe covered her ears and played deaf and dumb.

The little girl's lips curled into a wicked Dragon King smile identical to Yan Shaozhe's, and then a voice transmitted through spiritual power poured straight into Yan Shaozhe's mind.

"You little punk. You think I can't handle you?"

Yan Shaozhe felt a buzzing explode inside her head, as though hundreds of bees had started holding a concert at once.

Her legs gave way on the spot, and she hugged the little girl's calf and wailed, "Please, venerable one, rein in your divine powers! I admit I was wrong! I was also the one who sneaked into the kitchen and stole Teacher's food last time! It was me!"

"Hmph!" The little girl tossed her twin tails and flashed a victor's smile. "Wouldn't it have been easier to do that from the start? Hahaha-"

While the two were making merry, Gu Xingyue slowly opened his eyes beside them, his expression having recovered from its initial shock to a peculiar sort of calm.

He drew a deep breath and said, "I've grasped the core of this parallel world."

Then he abruptly turned to look at the little girl.

She neither flinched nor avoided his gaze; she even picked at her ear, wearing an expression that said, "Go on."

Gu Xingyue mustered a smile. "I've completely adapted now."

"I see. Then you can puff out your chest with pride."

After saying that, she looked at Yan Shaozhe again. "See? Isn't everything fine now? You were just scaring yourself earlier. How embarrassing." The little girl gave her a contemptuous glance, waved her hand dismissively, and kicked Yan Shaozhe away.

Yan Shaozhe got up from the floor and dusted herself off, giving as good as she got. "If you really weren't nervous, why did you bother arguing with me just now? The facts prove it-you were scared too!"

Who wouldn't be scared?!

She had experienced that person's methods plenty of times before. She never wanted to set even half a foot in a place like that secret chamber again in her life.

But she still refused to concede outwardly. "Weakling. Small fry. Troublemaker. Shoo, shoo, shoo."

She waved Yan Shaozhe away as though shooing off a fly, then jutted her chin toward Gu Xingyue. "Hurry up and escort this real venerable ancestor out!"

Yan Shaozhe raised her head haughtily without another word, turned, grabbed Gu Xingyue by the arm, and strode away.

After a series of twists and turns, the two finally stepped inside the Golden Tree.

For Gu Xingyue, the "twists and turns" along the way amounted to a critical hit to his psyche. The dense barrage of information was practically no less overwhelming than watching "Here Comes the Bull" ten times in a row.

He had felt utterly exhausted in mind and spirit, yet when he actually stood inside the ancient tree, that weariness melted away like ice and snow.

Rich vitality seeped into every limb and bone with each breath. He felt as though he were soaking in a warm, soothing spiritual spring, his whole being faintly tipsy.

Yan Shaozhe was unsurprised by Gu Xingyue's reaction. After all, the concentration of life energy inside the ancient tree was far beyond anything outside.

He stopped before a plain, old-fashioned wooden door, raised his hand, and knocked lightly.

"Come in."

A clear female voice came from within. Its gentleness carried a strange, soothing power, as though it could smooth away the tension deep in one's heart.

Yan Shaozhe pushed open the door and led Gu Xingyue inside.

As Gu Xingyue looked up, his breathing involuntarily grew softer.

What greeted his eyes was a woman seated upright.

Her white hair cascaded down like flowing clouds, without the slightest trace of dryness or withering; instead, it shimmered with a lustrous glow.

An exquisite golden hairpin held up her long hair, making her face seem all the more cool and otherworldly.

She wore an everyday robe of moon-white, a faint, pale-golden sheen playing about her brows and eyes. Like a flower on a lofty peak, untouched by mortal dust high above the nine heavens, her beauty was overwhelmingly imposing, yet inspired not the slightest profane thought.

Gu Xingyue drew a deep breath and silently marveled, That presence-she's an absolutely stunning mature beauty!

Remarkably, he actually managed to keep his expression completely composed this time!

He even had enough composure to award her an exceptionally high appraisal in his mind.

Mu En delicately moved her fingertips and picked up the warm teacup from the table, her movements flowing like clouds and water.

She lowered her eyes and took a light sip before slowly looking up, her tone calm yet carrying unquestionable certainty. "Little Yan, since you've made a special visit today, I presume there's something important?"

Her expression was composed, as though she had anticipated their arrival long ago.

Yan Shaozhe's expression grew solemn. She bowed slightly, her tone respectful yet grave. "Your disciple would never dare disturb your quiet cultivation without cause, Teacher. But today's matter concerns the future of our Shrek Academy, so I had no choice but to report it to you."

One asked, and the other answered.

Yet Gu Xingyue, standing to the side, was paying no attention whatsoever to their conversation.

His gaze was fixed on Mu En's right hand holding the tea, then traveled upward along her spine, straight as a pine. Only one question remained in his mind:

Wait, there's nothing wrong with your spine?!