Ah Rou: I Have a Plan

"Why should I?"

Seventh Elder Tang Lie suddenly roared.

He had finally managed to come across two Hundred-Thousand-Year Transformed Soul Beasts today. The cooked duck was practically at his lips, yet his second brother had made his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone fly away with just a few words.

Selfishness was carved into the bones of the Tang Family. When their own interests were at stake, how could they have any foresight?

"I finally broke through to Level 90. Am I not a member of the sect too? Can't I even kill one rabbit for my Ninth Soul Ring?"

Tang Lie pointed at Tang Xiao and Tang Hao and cursed:

"Those two brothers have been out enjoying themselves, each holding a transformed beast in his arms like a treasure. Why should my Ninth Soul Ring be sacrificed for them? I'm killing one today, no matter what!"

"Seventh, how dare you!" The Second Elder unleashed the pressure of a Level 94 Titled Douluo.

"I have my own plans. How can I let you make trouble as you please? I said we're taking them back to the sect. If you dare pursue your selfish interests, don't blame me for dealing with you according to sect law."

"To hell with your damned sect law!" Tang Lie was completely beside himself. Soul Power surged around him, and he actually raised his great hammer, ready to fight the Second Elder.

The Third Elder hurried to stop them. For a time, spittle flew as the three argued, unable to reach a decision.

While the three elders were caught up in their quarrel, Ah Rou quietly sent Xiao Wu a voice transmission.

I distinctly sensed Da Ming and Er Ming's presence just now. They should be nearby. I've already called for them both, so why haven't they responded?

Hearing her mother's question, Xiao Wu recalled the scene of Hao Gege's ordeal and immediately told Ah Rou what had happened.

After listening to Xiao Wu's account, Ah Rou was baffled. That didn't sound like something those two simp beasts would do.

As a master of romance, Ah Rou quickly set her rabbit brain to work.

After a while, understanding dawned on Ah Rou, and she sent her analysis by voice transmission:

You silly girl, you don't understand. In the human world, there's a particularly twisted, off-putting breed called the "extreme simp."

These simps are meek and submissive most of the time, but once they discover that their goddess has been snatched away by another man, they start thinking, "If I can't have her, I'll destroy her." Yet they can't bear to kill their beloved goddess, so they transfer all that hatred to the man at her side.

Their minds are twisted. Since they can't have you, they use saving you as an excuse to destroy your true love, sow discord between you and your lover, and make your relationship fall apart in the end.

Hearing Ah Rou's analysis, Xiao Wu felt as if enlightenment had been poured into her head.

No wonder Da Ming and Er Ming, usually so docile and obedient, had suddenly gone mad.

They had actually dared to scheme against her with such sinister, vicious methods. They truly had a way to die.

Xiao Wu made up her mind on the spot, and evil courage rose in her heart:

In that case, those two gloomy, off-putting simp beasts must be spying on us from the Lake of Life right now. These Clear Sky Sect elders are after Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts' Soul Rings and Soul Bones, so let's lure them to the Lake of Life and use those old fellows to hammer Da Ming and Er Ming both to death, avenging Hao Gege.

Ah Rou clicked her tongue inwardly. She hadn't expected her daughter's lovestruck mind to have turned cancerous to such an extent.

To vent her anger on her lover's behalf, she was going to turn around and send the playmates who had been with her for tens of thousands of years to the chopping block?

But...

Ah Rou's eyes flickered slightly as she began making calculations of her own.

She had desperately released her rabbit musk to call for help just now, yet Da Ming and Er Ming had played deaf and mute. Clearly, they didn't dare face her.

Since those two beasts wouldn't come when called, she could lure the three old geezers from the Clear Sky Sect over instead and let them bite each other like dogs.

With the strength of those three, they certainly couldn't be a match for Da Ming and Er Ming.

At worst, once both sides had fought until they were badly wounded, she could take advantage of the chaos to slip away with Xiao Wu. Why should she go to the Clear Sky Sect and become a bird in a cage?

With that thought, Ah Rou immediately sent an approving voice transmission:

We'll do as you say, but remember: when the time comes, only say you know where a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is hiding. Don't let slip that there are two.

"Seventh, if you dare keep making trouble, don't blame me for putting righteousness above family!"

"Second Brother, if you don't give me an answer today, I'm not letting this go."

The Second Elder and Tang Lie were still grappling with each other, red in the face, looking ready to swing their hammers and slaughter their own sect brothers.

"Everyone, please stop arguing."

A voice suddenly rang out, interrupting the three men's quarrel.

"I just heard you elders discussing the Ninth Soul Ring. I actually know the lair of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast," Xiao Wu said.

The arguing stopped abruptly.

All three elders were stunned.

"What did you say?"

Xiao Wu continued, "Earlier, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast sensed my presence and deliberately ambushed us from the shadows. That was what forced Hao Gege to absorb a Ten-Year Soul Ring. It and my mother and I have a blood feud. If the Seventh Elder needs a Soul Ring, I'm willing to lead the way. I only hope we can avenge Hao Gege."

Tang Hao's heart stirred. So that was how it was. The root of the unbearable humiliation of being forced to absorb the Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo lay entirely with Sister Xiao Wu?

After a brief moment of astonishment, Tang Hao's selfishness immediately stirred.

This all started because of her... I sacrificed my Eighth Soul Ring to save her. After I break through to Level 90, wouldn't it be only right for her Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone to compensate me?

At that thought, more than half of the lingering humiliation in Tang Hao's heart actually dissipated.

Meanwhile, Seventh Elder Tang Lie woke as if from a dream.

That was right.

The three of them had originally come because they sensed the activity of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. The two transformed Soul Beasts had distracted them along the way, and they had cast their original target beyond the ninth heaven.

"Hahahaha! Good! Good child!"

Delight spread across Tang Lie's face. His fierce old face bloomed into a chrysanthemum of a smile as he rushed forward and warmly patted Xiao Wu on the shoulder:

"Truly a fine niece-in-law of our Clear Sky Sect. You understand the greater good and know what's right. Once you join the sect, your Seventh Granduncle will back you up. You'll be the most precious young madam in our Clear Sky Sect."

Xiao Wu's body swayed slightly from the pat, but when she heard the words "fine niece-in-law" and "young madam," her lovestruck mind flared up again.

Did you hear that?

What did he call me?

He actually acknowledged my status as the Clear Sky Sect's young madam in front of everyone.

Xiao Wu thought of Da Ming and Er Ming. Those two ungrateful, gloomy simp beasts would at least have some value in death.

To pave the way for their Sister Xiao Wu's future and become the Ninth Soul Ring of a Clear Sky Sect elder-that was an immense honor for them.

The core region, the Lake of Life.

Ripples shimmered across the mirrorlike lake, where rich life Qi gathered.

Da Ming and Er Ming had actually sensed everything that happened in the mixed region clearly. When they saw that Xiao Wu and Ah Rou's identities as Soul Beasts had been exposed, they immediately wanted to go to their rescue.

But as soon as the two beasts took a step, they felt a suppression from their bloodlines. The two simp beasts trembled with fright and didn't dare take another half step.

Now, sensing the group about to enter the area, Da Ming's eyes lit with a trace of hope.

"We were going to go out and help just now, but Lord Beast God stopped us from moving. This time, though, those humans are courting death by coming in themselves. If we save them here, surely Lord Beast God won't be able to find fault with us?"

Before the two beasts could make sense of the situation, the group of seven arrived.

At the sight of the two enormous creatures, the smiles on the three old fellows' faces abruptly froze.

The Second Elder immediately understood. That damned rabbit had tricked them.

"Wretched beasts!"

The Second Elder's face turned ashen. He glared at Xiao Wu and Ah Rou and shouted:

"For Tang Xiao and Tang Hao's sake, I kindly agreed to take you mother and daughter back to the sect for protection, yet you dared lure us into danger. You truly have a way to die."