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"Xiao Wu, you're okay! That's such a relief!"
Dai Mubai and the others hurried over, carefully examining Xiao Wu for any injuries.
Seeing this, Zhao Wuji finally let out a sigh of relief.
"So Hua Zai wasn't lying after all. Xiao Wu really did survive an encounter with the Titan Giant Ape."
Tang San rushed forward and, disregarding the propriety between men and women, embraced Xiao Wu tightly.
"Xiao Wu, thank the heavens you're safe!"
Xiao Wu didn't resist—her feelings for Tang San already went beyond mere sibling affection.
Suddenly, a question popped into her head: how had everyone from Shrek Academy been so certain she would return safely?
"Wait… how did you all know I'd make it back in one piece?"
Xiao Wu was confused. Most people knew how terrifying the Titan Giant Ape was, so she couldn't understand why they assumed she would survive.
Tang San looked awkward, still thinking Lan Minghua had just been bluffing earlier.
No one answered, which only deepened Xiao Wu's confusion.
At that moment, Zhao Wuji stepped forward to explain. "Hua Zai was in the Star Dou Forest. He said you would be fine."
"So… you all believed I'd be safe just because he said so?" Xiao Wu was stunned. She hadn't expected her safety to have been guaranteed by nothing more than Lan Minghua's word.
Seeing that Lan Minghua wasn't around, Tang San's expression shifted to one of smugness.
"Of course not. I used reverse psychology—I provoked him into killing the Titan Giant Ape. Otherwise, I wouldn't have believed a word he said. I was even prepared to risk my life to go find you."
The truth was, Tang San hadn't forgotten about looking for Xiao Wu; rather, his legs had gone so weak that he couldn't move. Lan Minghua's overwhelming strength had left him so shaken that he had completely forgotten Xiao Wu was still in danger.
Besides, Tang San wasn't stupid. Venturing alone into the depths of the Star Dou Forest to find Xiao Wu would have been suicide. Since Lan Minghua said she was safe, Tang San had simply taken the easy way out. Now that Xiao Wu had returned unharmed, he needed an excuse for why he hadn't gone after her himself.
Xiao Wu froze, her expression blank, as if she had just heard something unbelievable.
"The… the Titan Giant Ape… is dead?"
"Yeah, it's dead," Tang San replied eagerly, pointing at a nearby pile of mangled flesh. "That's its corpse over there. I played a big part in its death!"
Xiao Wu followed his finger and saw a completely unrecognizable heap of pulp lying on the ground. When she had first returned, she'd noticed a strangely familiar smell. Now she knew—it was the scent of the Titan Giant Ape's corpse.
"E-Er Ming…?!"
"Er Ming? Who's that?" Tang San noticed the fear on Xiao Wu's face and tried to comfort her. "Don't worry, Xiao Wu. The monster that kidnapped you is dead now."
From the way Tang San spoke, anyone who didn't know better would have thought he killed the Titan Giant Ape himself.
But Xiao Wu wasn't listening. Her eyes were locked onto the pile of flesh.
Er Ming… was dead?!
Xiao San… had someone kill Er Ming?!
No—that can't be true.
Right. This has nothing to do with Xiao San. It was all Lan Minghua's fault.
He must have killed Er Ming on purpose!
A deep hatred burned in Xiao Wu's eyes as she pushed all the blame for the Titan Giant Ape's death onto Lan Minghua. In her mind, regardless of the facts, Lan Minghua was the true murderer.
Just then, Lan Minghua returned with Oscar and the others, happening to overhear Tang San's boastful claims.
Watching Xiao Wu's expression carefully, Lan Minghua greeted Zhao Wuji with a casual smile.
"See, Old Zhao? I wasn't lying. And you doubted me—you owe me a drink when we get back."
"Definitely, definitely. We'll drink till we drop!" Zhao Wuji laughed, feeling a bit foolish for having misjudged him. After all, how could a mighty Title Douluo possibly launch a sneak attack on a twelve-year-old girl?
Lan Minghua nodded in satisfaction. A free drink was always a good thing. What he hadn't expected, however, was that Xiao Wu was now looking at him with hatred.
Yes—pure hatred.
But Lan Minghua had already anticipated this.
"She can forgive Tang San for his role in this, yet she resents me instead. A textbook case of being blinded by love."
Lan Minghua let out a wry chuckle. He had never underestimated the capacity for a female protagonist from one of Tang Jia San Shao's stories to be a love-struck fool. Her reaction didn't surprise him in the least.
"Hate me, then. But if you dare to raise a hand against me or my disciples, whether you succeed or fail, I will claim your hundred-thousand-year soul bone."
Lan Minghua gave Xiao Wu a single, cold glance before ignoring her completely. He turned back to Zhao Wuji. "Old Zhao, you take the others back first. I'm taking Oscar and my disciples to get Zhuqing her third soul ring."
"No problem. As long as they're with you, I know they'll be safe."
With that, Zhao Wuji led Tang San and the rest out of the Star Dou Forest.
Before leaving, Dai Mubai cast a resentful glance toward Zhu Zhuqing. He couldn't believe that in just the few short days since joining Shrek Academy, her soul power had skyrocketed from Level 27 to Level 30. If she kept improving at this rate, it wouldn't be long before she surpassed him.
Clenching his fists in frustration, Dai Mubai felt a sting of humiliation. He once believed that if Zhu Zhuqing wanted to change her fate, she would need his help. But after witnessing Lan Minghua's true power, he realized how laughable that notion was. With such a powerful master, why would she ever need his help to stand against the Star Luo Empire?
Zhu Zhuqing, for her part, didn't spare him a single glance. She no longer held any hope for the man he'd become. She would face her destiny alone.
As for Xiao Wu, although she burned with the desire to kill Lan Minghua on the spot, she knew it was impossible. Er Ming was dead. Da Ming had fallen into a deep slumber after paying a heavy price to conceal her soul beast aura. And she herself was only a Soul Elder. She stood no chance against Lan Minghua.
For now, all she could do was bury the hatred deep in her heart and wait for the right moment to strike. She was still convinced that Lan Minghua hadn't discovered she was a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast in human form. She had plenty of time to wait for an opportunity.
Little did she know, as a transmigrator, Lan Minghua had seen through her identity long ago. The Sky Azure Bull Python's great sacrifice had been utterly useless against him. Her secret was never a secret to begin with.
After the group departed, Lan Minghua led Oscar and the others deeper into the forest.
Zhu Zhuqing jogged to catch up with him. "Master, what kind of soul beast would be best for my third soul ring?"
"Patience. You'll find out soon enough."
Lan Minghua kept her in suspense, though he already had the perfect soul beast in mind.
Zhu Zhuqing, ever the obedient disciple, didn't press the issue. She was a world apart from Oscar in terms of maturity, a fact that made Lan Minghua glare at the boy.
Oscar, meanwhile, was completely baffled, his head filled with question marks.
As they ventured deeper, the ground suddenly began to shake violently.
Lan Minghua looked up and said calmly, "It's here."
"What's here? A soul beast?!" Oscar yelped like a bird startled by a bowstring, immediately clinging to Lan Minghua's leg.
Just then, a massive shadow descended from the sky, crashing toward the earth like a meteor.
As a member of an Exotic Beast Clan, Meng Yiran had extensive knowledge of soul beasts. When she got a clear look at the dark figure, she cried out in shock.
"Is that… the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger?!"
(End of Chapter)