Chapter 278: Xiao Wu: "Chang'an, I Miss My Mother."
One month isn't long, but for the girls of Crimson Rose Academy, this month was anything but easy.
Throughout it, Li Chang'an and Liu Erlong put the seven girls through brutal special training. In Li Chang'an's words, this was their Potential Ignition Plan.
What did "potential ignition" mean? His explanation was simple: the greater the pressure, the stronger the drive—and the easier it is to unlock potential.
So the plan boiled down to relentless combat. Their opponents were only two: the "Corner of Slaughter," Liu Erlong— and the "handsome man," Li Chang'an.
Liu Erlong wasn't the strongest at Shrek Academy back in the day; her soul power was slightly lower than Zhao Wuji's and Flender's.
But in actual battle, even Zhao Wuji and Flender were wary of her. Her fighting style was a volcanic onslaught—furious, smothering, leaving opponents no room to breathe.
As for Li Chang'an, there was nothing more to add. His Martial Soul and strength were comprehensive by nature—defense, offense, and the elements of ice, fire, and lightning—forcing the girls to experience and adapt to a wide range of situations.
Daytime, Li Chang'an pushed them hard in training;
nighttime, some of the girls would "get even," ensuring he ended the day just as exhausted as they were.
The nightly commotion even drifted to the rooms of the Miao Ling and Ye Lingling, who ended up sealing their hearing with soul power to sleep. On certain nights—out of curiosity—they'd listen for a while before silencing the noise.
All told, it was a tiring month for everyone. The girls' bodies were sore and worn out; Li Chang'an, meanwhile, felt… drained in his own way.
With the advancement tournament's opening ceremony tomorrow, everyone wordlessly chose to rest tonight. After all, if the day is hard, piling on more at night hardly helps you compete the next morning.
Yet, just as Li Chang'an was about to sleep, a figure in pink sleepwear stepped into his room.
"Brother, it's me."
At the familiar voice, Li Chang'an casually lit the soul-guiding lamp.
Under its light, Xiao Wu's delicate features looked even more radiant—those bright, dark eyes; the long scorpion-braid; those strikingly long legs. Though she wore a simple pink pajama set, a fresh, gentle fragrance seemed to spill from her presence.
"What's wrong—can't sleep?" Li Chang'an slipped an arm around her and gently buried his face in her soft hair.
"Yes." Xiao Wu's voice dipped. "Brother… I miss my mother."
As she spoke, her eyes reddened. She sagged against his chest, sadness overtaking her strength.
"Do you?" Li Chang'an's voice softened. "Then let me tell you something. When the finals are over, I'll help you bring your mother back. How about that?"
"Bring her… back?"
Shock swept away Xiao Wu's sorrow in an instant. How could Mother possibly return?
"Yes," he said. "Truly bring her back. When have I ever lied to you?"
Seeing disbelief still clouding her eyes, he continued:
"Before this, I went to a mysterious place and received a god's inheritance—as well as a reward. It's called Soul Ring Rebirth: it can restore a soul beast that has already become a soul ring."
"I swear it's true. If I'm lying to you, then let—"
Before he could finish, Xiao Wu pressed her hand over his mouth, tears shimmering.
"Brother, you don't have to say any more. I believe you. Thank you…"
She threw her arms around him and held on tightly, unwilling to let go even for a heartbeat.
She knew what divine power meant—especially human divine inheritances, which could be strange and wondrous. Incredible as it sounded at first, coming from Li Chang'an's mouth, it felt different—credible.
With that thought, her mood lifted; she could hardly wait for the moment the finals ended.
"Silly girl, we're family. What's with the 'thank you'?"
Li Chang'an chuckled and gave her a light tap on her soft, curving hip, making her blush.
"Xiao Wu, if I can bring your mother back… could you set down your hatred?"
"Hatred…" Xiao Wu's gaze turned inward. Then, recalling her suspicions, she met Li Chang'an's earnest, expectant eyes. A small smile touched her lips as she shifted slightly in his embrace.
"Don't worry, Brother. I'm not a rabbit who clings to grudges. If everything can be restored to how it was at the beginning… then hatred won't mean much anymore, will it?"
"Thank you, Xiao Wu."
Li Chang'an let out a long breath of relief. Her mindset mattered most of all. It seemed she had guessed a few things—yet in the face of bringing her mother back, everything else had softened.
"Silly Brother, you wouldn't let me say thank you, and now you're thanking me?" Xiao Wu tapped his shoulder, teasing.
"Brother, the finals are in Spirit Hall City. Even with the aura-concealing item you gave me, I don't know why, but I feel uneasy. I'm worried my identity might be exposed in a place filled with so many powerful experts."
After all, her true body was a hundred-thousand-year Soft-Boned Rabbit. How many could truly withstand a creature of that level? And Spirit Hall City was practically paved with Title Douluo. With so many outside Title Douluo coming for the finals, who could say there'd be no risk?
"Silly Xiao Wu, what are you afraid of? Don't you trust your Brother's treasure?" Li Chang'an soothed, fingers combing gently through her long, dark hair. His eyes shone with calm confidence.
"Even if you're exposed, I can protect you. That's my promise to you."
He trusted the quality of what his "system" produced. He trusted his own strength and status. And he trusted that his teacher would not stand against him.
That was his confidence.
"I believe you, Brother. I should go back now." Xiao Wu rose from his embrace to leave.
"Wait." Li Chang'an stopped her, stepped behind, and carefully gathered up her hair, which now trailed along the floor.
"Let me comb your hair. Then you can go."
A rosy flush bloomed on Xiao Wu's cheeks. She reversed her grip to hand him a comb and lowered her head.
Xiao Wu's hair was about one meter and sixty centimeters long—silky and obedient, easy to comb. Yet Li Chang'an took a full half hour, and compared to last time, the braid he finished now was much neater and lovelier. In that quiet, tender peace, his heart suddenly became startlingly clear.
Unknowingly, fifteen years had passed since he came to this world. Here he had found his loved ones, his parents, and his responsibilities.
He wondered how the people on earth were doing. Had the pandemic finally passed? Was his motherland still bright with a million lights, the nation safe and at peace?
For once, Li Chang'an's mind stilled. Thoughts flowed freely—of this life and the last—until, for a moment, he felt as though he could touch earth.
Then Xiao Wu realized he had entered a meditative state—perhaps an epiphany, or deep contemplation.
She quietly pulled over a small stool, sat beside him, and kept silent watch—protecting him as he cultivated, gazing at him with calm devotion.