My Name Is Xiao Wu, the Wu in Dancing (I)

"Lin as in forest, and Chen as in stars?" Xiao Wu wrinkled her nose, then asked curiously, "Going to school? What's school? Is it fun?"

"It means going to a Soul Master Academy to learn how to become stronger, and there are lots of kids your age to play with." Lin Chen walked over to her, took a wheat cake from his bundle, and offered it to her. "Are you hungry? I have food."

Xiao Wu's stomach happened to growl just then.

She looked at the wheat cake, then at Lin Chen's eyes, which held no malice. After a moment's hesitation, she took it and bit off a big mouthful. "Then don't mind if I do," she said indistinctly. "My name is Xiao Wu, the Wu in dancing."

"Xiao Wu, that's a lovely name." Lin Chen repeated her name, his smile growing gentler. "By the way, Xiao Wu, where are you headed?"

"Me... I don't know either." Xiao Wu lowered her head and kicked at a pebble beneath her feet. "Actually, I sneaked away from home. I wanted to venture out into the world and see just how big the continent really is."

"Then that works out perfectly. Why don't you come to Nuoding Academy with me?" Lin Chen said. "It's very safe at the academy, and there's good food too. We can cultivate together. It doesn't matter if you don't have a Martial Soul certificate; I have a way to get you in."

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up at once. She had been worrying about where to go, and this boy named Lin Chen was nice, and his presence was comforting too. Going with him didn't seem like a bad idea.

"Really?" She blinked her big eyes as she asked.

"Of course." Lin Chen nodded, then added, "And I can help you keep your secret safe. No one will discover that you're different from everyone else."

Xiao Wu went rigid and abruptly stepped back, looking at him warily. "What? You... what do you know?"

"I know you're not an ordinary child." Lin Chen didn't press her, his voice still calm. "But I won't tell anyone, and I won't hurt you. Don't worry, I'll protect you."

He raised his right hand, and the Chaos Pearl glowed faintly. A gentle power enveloped Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu immediately felt the faint presence of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast on her body being completely suppressed. She was now no different from an ordinary human child.

This was the Chaos Pearl's innate ability-Aura Concealment.

Xiao Wu was stunned. She could tell that Lin Chen meant her no harm, and that this power really could help her hide her identity perfectly.

She had grown up in the Star Dou Great Forest, and Da Ming and Er Ming had told her that the human world was dangerous. If she was discovered to be a transformed Soul Beast, she would be captured.

Yet the boy before her not only hadn't captured her, he had even said he would protect her. She knew too little about the human world for now, so she might as well follow him and see.

"Then let's go together. I'll call you... Lin Chen, um... big brother, then..." Xiao Wu's voice softened, and she sounded a little embarrassed.

"All right, you can call me whatever you like. Let's hurry. Even though this is the outskirts, it's still dangerous. We need to reach the town ahead before dark, then continue our journey tomorrow morning."

Along the way, Lin Chen told her about the rules of the human world, giving her a general overview of clothing, food, lodging, and travel so Xiao Wu could familiarize herself with them beforehand.

Xiao Wu listened intently, occasionally asking innocent questions, and Lin Chen patiently answered each one.

That evening, the two stopped at an inn in a small town, and Lin Chen asked for only one room.

"Why is there only one bed in here?" Xiao Wu asked, tilting her head.

"Mm, to save some money. I can make a bed on the floor tonight. You take the bed."

"No, no." Xiao Wu shook her head, climbed onto the bed, and scooted inward. She patted the space beside her. "The bed's so big, Brother Lin Chen. Come sleep here too."

Lin Chen glanced at the bed. It really was quite large, with more than enough room for two children. But the way she patted it, her eyes so bright, made it seem as though lying on that bed was some kind of wonderful fortune.

"It's all right, I can sleep on the floor." He shook out the quilt and spread it on the ground. "You get some rest first. I'll cultivate for a while and go to sleep later."

Xiao Wu lay at the edge of the bed and watched him. "All right, then. Get to sleep early too, Brother Lin Chen."

Half an hour later, the night breeze slipped through a crack in the window, making the candle flame flicker twice. Lin Chen opened his eyes and looked over. The wick had burned low and was almost out.

Lin Chen turned his head and saw Xiao Wu curled up on the far side of the bed, the quilt only half covering her.

Lin Chen watched her for a while and said softly in his heart:

Xiao Wu, with me here in this life, you won't have to walk that road again. You won't have to sacrifice yourself or wait all those years. No one will be able to hurt you.

He pulled the quilt up over Xiao Wu, then turned and blew out the light before lying down.

At noon the next day, the two pressed on and reached Precious Sword City, which lay within the Haagen-Dazs Kingdom's jurisdiction.

The city was famous for forging ironware. From far away, they could hear the clang of hammers ringing out from within. Smithies stood row upon row along both sides of the streets, and all manner of sabers and swords hung on racks outside their doors, flashing coldly in the sunlight.

It was Xiao Wu's first time seeing so much ironware. She looked around curiously, clutching Lin Chen's sleeve and refusing to let go.

"Brother Lin Chen, that sword is so pretty!"

She pointed at a longsword hanging in a roadside shop. Several green gems were set into its sheath, and its workmanship was exquisite.

Lin Chen glanced at it and smiled. "That's a decoration. You can't judge a truly good sword by its appearance."

"How do you know?" Xiao Wu asked, tilting her head.

Lin Chen smiled but said nothing. He couldn't exactly tell her that he had read the original novel in his previous life and knew the level of weapon forging in this world.

The two continued on, passing a vendor selling tanghulu. Bright red hawthorns coated in crystalline sugar stood on a straw rack, sparkling in the sunlight.

Xiao Wu's feet immediately stopped moving. She stared fixedly at the tanghulu, practically drooling.

Lin Chen saw this and took out two Copper Soul Coins. "One of the biggest skewers, please."

"Coming right up!"

Xiao Wu took the tanghulu and carefully bit into it. The sugar shell cracked with a crunch, and a sweet-and-sour flavor melted across her tongue. Her eyes lit up at once, and like a little fox that had stolen some grapes, she narrowed her eyes in a delighted smile.

"Delicious! It's so delicious! Brother Lin Chen, have a taste too!"

She held the tanghulu up to Lin Chen's mouth. He didn't stand on ceremony and bit off a hawthorn, the sweet-and-sour taste spreading through his mouth.

"Well? Well?" Xiao Wu looked at him expectantly.

"So sweet. It's delicious."

"Hehe." Xiao Wu smiled proudly and took another bite, her cheeks bulging like a little hamster's.

That evening, the two found a cheap inn in the city and settled in. Xiao Wu leaned on the windowsill, watching the pedestrians in the street, her eyes shining with wonder.

"Brother Lin Chen, the human world is so much fun. There are so many pretty things, and delicious food too."

Lin Chen was sitting on the edge of the bed, sorting his bundle. At her words, he looked up at her. "Then stay with me from now on. I'll show you all the fun things in this world."

"Really?" Xiao Wu turned around, blinking.

"Of course."

"Then pinky swear!"

Xiao Wu ran over and held out her little finger. Smiling, Lin Chen hooked his finger around hers. Xiao Wu's finger was warm and soft. She shook his finger three times, then smiled in satisfaction.

On the fourth day, the two entered the area around Suotuo City.

Suotuo City was much larger than Precious Sword City, with towering walls and wide streets. There were more people coming and going, and they were a more varied crowd. Xiao Wu stayed close to Lin Chen, her little hand clutching the hem of his clothes, afraid of getting lost.

"Wow, there are so many people! It's so lively here!" Xiao Wu stood on tiptoe and looked around.