A Night Meeting with Xiao Wu

Zhu Zhuqing wiped away her tears, her gaze turning resolute.

"I have nowhere left to go! Either way, I'll die. Rather than die alongside that good-for-nothing Dai Mubai who refuses to better himself, I'd rather resist. Even if I fail, I can still set an example for those who come after me!"

"Your ideological awareness improved quite quickly! But you have another choice—Dugu Yan, the granddaughter of Poison Douluo."

"If you gain Poison Douluo's protection, I believe the Star Luo Empire won't provoke a Titled Douluo over you—especially this Poison Douluo."

"That's right! I can ask Grandpa to take you as his disciple. Then you won't have to fear the Star Luo Empire!"

Being able to obtain a Titled Douluo's protection was certainly a good thing, but Zhu Zhuqing did not answer immediately. Instead, she looked at Lan Hong.

"I want to resist, not merely gain protection. Please tell me what I should do."

"Are you afraid of death?"

"I am! But I'm not afraid of danger! I'm afraid of dying meaninglessly!"

"Become my disciple, and I'll guide your cultivation! At the same time, you'll become my lab rat. If it succeeds, your strength will increase greatly. If it fails, you'll die!

"I am Lan Hong, twelve years old, a level 52 Spirit King. Think carefully about whether you accept!"

"You're only twelve? The same age as me? How is that possible?"

"Believe it or not, I need your answer!"

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent for a long time before she finally spoke.

"Greetings, Teacher!"

"Mm! You won't regret today's decision!"

Afterward, the three of them rented three rooms at the Rose Hotel and went to rest separately.

Inside his room, Lan Hong fiddled with the damaged Soul Tool he had bought from Flender's shop. Under Lan Hong's repairs, it was soon usable again.

"Tang Hao really is a stalker! I'll have to avoid him if I want to see Xiao Wu!"

That night, Xiao Wu rolled around sleeplessly on a large heart-shaped bed.

"Damn it! Who was talking during the day? If you were going to speak, you should've made yourself clear. Now Sister Xiao Wu can't even sleep!"

"Really?"

"Who's there?"

"It's me!"

Lan Hong emerged from the shadows. Avoiding Tang Hao had taken quite a bit of effort.

"You are..."

"What? You don't recognize me after just a few years?"

"Lan Hong! Is it really you?"

Xiao Wu pounced on Lan Hong and hugged him tightly, refusing to let go.

"Alright, alright! Don't get so excited. Don't forget Tang Hao is still watching you!"

"That guy is still around? I hate him! And that Tang San is such a nuisance too! I still have to keep him on the hook. It disgusts me!"

"You've done well. You've already trained Tang San into a qualified simp!"

"I don't want him! Looking at that face too much makes me want to throw up! He might as well write the word 'hypocrite' right across his face.

"Enough about me. How have you been these past few years? You've changed so much that I almost didn't recognize you!"

"I went to Heaven Dou City these past few years and stayed at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. I finished reading their collection of books, and now I'm preparing to continue training across the continent."

Hmph! Hmph!

"Hmm? What are you doing?"

"Why do you smell like another woman?"

"I got to know Poison Douluo Dugu Bo. His granddaughter, Dugu Yan, is traveling with me now!"

"Hmph! Then why did you come looking for me?"

"I'm talking business with you. Stop changing the subject with this nonsense!

"Are you going to Shrek Academy with Tang San?"

"Yeah! I've never even heard of this Shrek Academy, but Tang San insisted on coming here because of that Yu Xiaogang."

"Shrek Academy's dean, Flender, is an old acquaintance of Yu Xiaogang's. The Golden Iron Triangle used to be somewhat famous as well!"

"If he knows Yu Xiaogang, then he can't be that impressive, can he?"

"No! Flender is a level 77 Soul Saint, with the Martial Soul Cat Eagle! Shrek Academy truly is lousy, but you can't underestimate it! You're only a three-ring Soul Elder right now!"

"Then what is your strength now?"

"A five-ring Spirit King!"

"So you're a Spirit King. What? A Spirit King?! How is that possible? Which one of us is the Shapeshifted Spirit Beast here, you or me?!"

"Don't get worked up! I had some Mysterious Encounters that allowed my strength to rise so quickly! Now, you have a chance to escape Tang Hao's control!"

"What chance?!"

The moment she heard that, Xiao Wu immediately perked up. Over the past few years, she had thought constantly of breaking free from Tang Hao. To her, Tang Hao was a Sword of Damocles that could fall at any time!

"After you and Tang San join Shrek Academy, one of the academy's students will break through level 30. At that time, they'll organize a trip for all of you to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt spirit beasts.

"Once you reach the Star Dou Great Forest, it'll be your territory. Tang Hao, who has hidden injuries, won't be able to catch you with Da Ming and Er Ming protecting you."

"What about you? Where are you going? Are you going to abandon me again?"

"After that, I'll go to the Star Dou Great Forest to see you. I might even stay there for a while.

"But you need to keep your two younger brothers under control. I'm no match for them right now!"

"Hmph! Of course! If you bully me, Er Ming can knock you flat with one punch!"

Lan Hong smiled without saying anything. He could not defeat Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape, but he could still run away.

"I'm leaving now. Ninety miles is halfway through a hundred-mile journey. You can't reveal any flaws over the next few days, or Tang Hao might notice something wrong and imprison you."

"Mm! I understand!"

Just then, someone knocked on the door. Xiao Wu turned to look toward it, but when she turned back, Lan Hong had already left.

Xiao Wu opened the door angrily and saw Tang San standing there with a smile, holding a large bag of carrots.

"Xiao Wu, I bought you your favorite Crystal Carrots!"

"Hmph! Don't you know it's already late? Leave the carrots and go. Don't disturb Sister Xiao Wu's sleep!"

Xiao Wu shut the door, leaving Tang San standing there in disarray. Yet he seemed to have gotten used to it. As long as Xiao Wu accepted the gift, he was already happy.

Inside the room, Xiao Wu held a wooden comb. She had wanted Lan Hong to comb her hair again, but Tang San had ruined it.

Lan Hong watched the scene from the shadows as well, wondering whether Tang Hao had won Ah Yin over in the same way.

Sincerity could move even metal and stone. This method really did work on innocent girls.

Not bothering to mock Tang San further, Lan Hong returned to his room and continued cultivating cross-legged. If he wanted to grow stronger, he could not waste even a moment of time.

The next day, he got up early as usual and woke Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing along the way.

Dugu Yan was fine, but Zhu Zhuqing was still bleary-eyed, perhaps because she had slept too late or was unaccustomed to rising early.

After washing up, Lan Hong led them toward Shrek Academy.

"What are we going to Shrek Academy for?"

"Hearsay is not as good as seeing for yourself. I'll let you see what Shrek Academy is really like, so you can completely give up on it!"

"I've already completely given up on Dai Mubai!"

Lan Hong did not respond. Whether she had truly let go was something only Zhu Zhuqing herself knew.

He was more concerned with checking on the situation, lest anything unexpected happen on Xiao Wu's side.

Here is the first chapter. It's a new week, so please continue supporting me with bookmarks and recommendation votes. Please, please!