Star Dou Forest — the largest soul beast habitat on the Douluo Continent. From ten-year cubs to hundred-thousand-year kings, they all roamed here.
At the small town outside its entrance, Bibi Dong strolled ahead with a spring in her step, looking entirely too pleased with herself. Behind her, Gu Han followed, wearing the look of a man resigned to his fate.
"I said, Senior Sister, why exactly am I here?" he asked, half helpless. "Didn't Teacher say he could just catch it for you? All you had to do was wait. Why run all the way out here?"
Bibi Dong turned with a knowing little smile and wagged her finger.
"Brother, even if we have a special status, we can't just sit around waiting for things to be delivered. We're grown now — it's time we saw more of the world."
Her tone was serious, but Gu Han knew the truth. It wasn't that he didn't want to come; it was that along the way, she'd been stopping to gawk at everything, playing here for a day, lingering there for two. Somewhere along the road, the 'mission' had gotten lost in a pile of candied fruit stalls.
Worse, whenever she went out, she insisted on dragging him along. The first few days were fine. After that, he realized he was terrified — not of danger, but of endless shopping.
"Xiao Dongdong is right. You should learn from her," came a teasing voice from behind.
Gu Han's mouth twitched. He didn't need to look to know it was Yue Guan, one of the two escorts with them. The other, wrapped in a black robe, had barely said a word the entire trip. Ghost — who else could it be?
With these two titled Douluo following, as long as they avoided the core area, safety wasn't a concern.
"Yes, yes. I'll learn from Senior Sister," Gu Han said, letting the words pass without argument.
"Don't be upset, Brother. Here." Bibi Dong rummaged through her soul tool and pulled out two sticks of candied hawthorn, handing one to him with a smile.
"Thanks." He bit into it. Sweet and sour — surprisingly good.
"Brother, the Star Dou Forest is just ahead. Do you think we'll see a cute little rabbit in there?" Her eyes lit up at the thought. She'd once seen a soft-bone rabbit in a book with Gu Han, and had sworn that, given the chance, she'd catch one as a pet.
"There's bound to be some. Maybe even a hundred-thousand-year one if we're lucky." Gu Han said it casually.
Yue Guan nearly choked on air. "A hundred-thousand-year-old soft-bone rabbit? Kid, you're dreaming. You'd be lucky to find a thousand-year one, and that's rare enough."
Gu Han only smiled. "You never know. The forest's been here a long time."
Bibi Dong imagined an enormous pink rabbit and quickly shook her head. "Forget it. Small ones are cuter."
"Senior Sister, are you hungry?" Gu Han asked suddenly.
"I'm not—" gurgle.
Her cheeks flushed as her stomach betrayed her. "Okay… maybe a little."
Yue Guan chuckled, Ghost's lips twitching in the closest thing to a smile he ever showed.
"Senior Yue Guan, if you keep laughing, I won't talk to you anymore," Bibi Dong said, puffing her cheeks.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop." Yue Guan raised his hands in surrender, though his grin lingered.
"Come on, let's find a tavern," Gu Han said smoothly. "I'm starving." The words offered Yue Guan a way out and gave Bibi Dong an excuse to drop her mock anger.
"Fine. Since you said so, I'll forgive him. Let's eat." She led the way again.
Yue Guan let out a relieved breath and gave Gu Han a thumbs-up. "You're good."
"It's nothing. Senior Sister's easy to talk to if you know a few tricks," Gu Han replied.
"What tricks?" Yue Guan asked curiously.
Before he could answer, Bibi Dong called from ahead, "What are you two whispering about? Hurry up!"
Gu Han didn't miss a beat. "Just asking Senior Yue Guan about flowers and plants."
"Yes, exactly!" Yue Guan nodded quickly.
"Mm. Then hurry. I'm hungry too."
Soon, they reached a small tavern. The place was plain — rough wooden walls, old tables, nothing fancy.
"Little Er! Bring some side dishes, two pots of wine, and juice!" Yue Guan called in his flamboyant voice.
"Roast chicken," Ghost added simply.
Bibi Dong and Gu Han didn't bother ordering — Yue Guan had already covered it. All that was left was to eat.
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