Chapter 52: Killing.
Flanders looked at Zhao Wuji and said, "Old Zhao, you stay at the academy and keep an eye on the children. No one should go out before we return. The three of us will go find someone."
Zhao Wuji nodded seriously and said, "Don't worry."
Ning Rongrong couldn't help but curl her lips when she heard this. She had been away from Tiandou for a long time and was thinking about visiting the night market there tonight and then returning to the sect tomorrow to ask her grandfather to help her hunt for spirit rings. Now, because of Tang San's affairs, everything would be postponed.
Then the three of them slipped away. Zhao Wuji looked at the Shrek people and said, "Did you hear that? You all should keep quiet for a while. If there is anything, wait until the dean comes back to discuss it. You should arrange your own training these few days."
Everyone in Shrek nodded when he heard this, except Xiao Wu, who looked absent-minded.
Shi Yi, having almost finished his meal, slowly stood up and said to the others, "Take your time eating. I'm going back to the dorm."
Upon hearing Shi Yi's words, Xiao Wu instantly stood up, as if venting her inner anxiety, and shouted at Shi Yi, "What kind of senior brother are you? Xiao San was arrested, and you ignored her, as if nothing happened..."
Everyone looked at Shi Yi with different expressions. Ning Rongrong wanted to say something, but Shi Yi stopped her.
"So, what do you want me to do? Go find him? Save him? And then get caught like we did in the Star Dou Great Forest, leaving you waiting for the teachers to clean up your mess?" Shi Yi asked meaningfully.
Seeing Xiao Wu remained silent, Shi Yi continued, "Everyone is responsible for their own actions. You, me, and Xiao San all grew up together. Do you think your usual words have no effect on Xiao San? Not everyone would be like me, a senior brother, indifferent to your words, or even smile at them. It was you who personally sent your third brother to his doom. Do you understand?"
Shi Yi's words were harsh, but no one could find fault with them. Xiao Wu's face paled immensely, her tall figure seeming to shrink, trembling slightly.
Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai's eyes flickered with relief, but they remained silent.
"Alright, Xiao Yi," Zhao Wuji said softly to Shi Yi. A hint of impatience crossed his face as he looked at Xiao Wu.
Indeed, Xiao Wu was often unbridled, even to teachers like them, speaking whatever she wanted. If Zhao Wuji called her a little bastard, Xiao Wu would respond with a blind bear.
"All I can do now is pray that Xiao San is alright," Shi Yi said calmly to Xiao Wu.
With that, Shi Yi slowly left the private dining room in the academy cafeteria. Ning Rongrong then secretly rolled her eyes at Xiao Wu before leaving with Zhu Zhuqing.
"Running away from the academy out of guilt to find her third brother, hmm... this scenario is quite good," Shi Yi thought to himself as he returned to his dormitories, his lips curled slightly.
"However, after using this trick, I'm afraid Tang San will be very dissatisfied with me."
Shi Yi pondered. The words he had just spoken at the dinner table were a trigger, and those words were laced with Shi Yi's hints. Shi Yi guessed that given Tang San's hypocrisy, he wouldn't blame Xiao Wu's disappearance on himself, but would more likely blame it on his senior brother. Therefore, Shi Yi had to use some clever method to avoid Tang San's hatred.
"Given Xiao Wu's impulsive nature, if she listens to me, she'll most likely find her way out. She'll even come to me and ask me to lead the way. If she escapes on her own, then I'll refuse and appease her. If she does, that'll be a good opportunity. I'll publicly refuse, but then secretly follow and kill her."
"Tang San doesn't know Xiao Wu's soul beast identity right now. Her disappearance doesn't guarantee death. Even if it attracts some hatred for the sake of a 100,000-year soul bone, it's worth it."
"I need to appear in more crowded places lately, so I have a perfect alibi."
Thinking of this, Shi Yi, sitting on his bed, slowly fell into meditation.
A silent night followed. The next day, Shi Yi, after a quick wash and brushing his teeth as usual, ran around the academy until lunchtime, heading to the cafeteria. Upon entering the dining hall, he saw many unfamiliar boys gathered around Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing's table.
Shi Yi smiled, grabbed some food from the window, and then walked over with his plate, slowly sitting down in front of the two.
The moment he sat down, he felt countless eyes focused on him.
"Good morning, Zhuqing, Rongrong. Not bad, you've just arrived at the academy and you're already so popular," Shi Yi said with a smile.
"Good morning," Zhu Zhuqing replied calmly, seemingly unconcerned.
Ning Rongrong snorted, "I've long said that the number of people pursuing me would stretch from Tiandou City to Xingluo."
Shi Yi stroked his stubbled chin and chuckled, "You should pay attention to your image. I think the number of women pursuing me would also stretch from Tiandou City to Xingluo."
Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at Shi Yi, her image of Shi Yi's neat appearance from that day flashing back to her mind.
The three of them finished their meal quickly, and as they were about to leave, Shi Yi's smile widened as he saw the figure running towards them. Not wanting to betray his inner joy, he quickly suppressed it.
"Love truly is stronger than gold! She's here after all," Shi Yi thought to himself.
"Xiaoyi, no, Senior Brother, I have something to talk to you about..." Xiao Wu said, looking at Shi Yi with a guilty look on her face.
Ning Rongrong was about to activate her taunting skill when Zhu Zhuqing stopped her.
Shi Yi looked at Xiao Wu and said calmly, "If you want me to help you find Xiao San, don't waste your energy. I won't go. I advise you to just wait patiently. If the dean and his men can find Dugu Bo before Xiao San gets hurt, Xiao San will return safely after negotiation. Even if I lead you to find Xiao San now, you alone won't be able to save him."
"But what if the dean and his men don't find Xiao San before Dugu Bo takes action? Xiao Yi's perception is very sensitive and can detect danger. If we find Xiao San before the dean, we can also buy time. Take me with you, please? I beg you, Xiao Yi! If Xiao San doesn't return safely, I'll be…" Xiao Wu pleaded, her eyes reddening as she tugged at Shi Yi's sleeve.
Even Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were moved by Xiao Wu's expression. Although Xiao Wu was annoying, her relationship with Tang San was something they both envied.
Seeing this, Shi Yi sighed slightly and said, "Xiao Wu, don't be like this. Even if I'm willing to take you, how could I possibly match Dean Flender's speed in finding someone? Dean Flender's Cat-Owl spirit excels at aerial reconnaissance. All we can do now is trust Dean Flender and the teachers and mistresses."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu lowered her head in frustration. She understood all this very well, but if she were asked to do nothing, she would go mad. Every word Shi Yi said yesterday still lingered in her ears. It was she who had personally sent her third brother to his doom.
Shi Yi sighed slightly and said to Zhu Zhuqing, "Zhuqing, go get Xiao Wu some food."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded and quickly came over with a plate.
Looking at the plate Zhu Zhuqing handed over, Xiao Wu shook her head in frustration. How could she possibly eat at this hour?
Then, Xiao Wu left, feeling lost. Shi Yi watched her back and chuckled to himself, "Let the bullets fly for a while. If you can resist going out to look for them, even God will spare your life."
Shi Yi estimated that if Flanders and the other two didn't return today, Xiao Wu would most likely go out to look for them tonight. If she left the academy during the day, with so many people watching, she would easily be tracked down.
Then, Shi Yi said helplessly to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, "Let's go, training."
"Are you really not going to help her?" Ning Rongrong hesitated and asked cautiously.
"How can I help? I'm not as fast as the dean, and Xiaoyi's perception is probably only slightly better than the teacher's. But the dean, the mistress, and I don't have spirit fusion skills. If we're just looking for someone, the teacher won't be in trouble. Xiao San is, in a sense, more important to him than I am," Shi Yi said helplessly.
"That's true," Ning Rongrong nodded.
"If Dugu Bo really kills Xiao San, he won't have a good life," Shi Yi sighed softly.
"Does Tang San have someone behind him that a Titled Douluo can't afford to offend?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
"Even Titled Douluos have strengths and weaknesses. Xiao San's last name is Tang," Shi Yi said meaningfully, looking at Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong was startled at the words and muttered, "Haotian Sect?"
"Alright, stop worrying too much. To be honest, it's useless for us to worry," Shi Yi said to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
The two nodded, and soon the three of them found Zhao Wuji and began training.
Time flew by during the training, and soon night fell. Seeing Xiao Wu sitting at the table, tucking into her food with retaliation, Shi Yi understood that Xiao Wu would be on the move soon, clearly replenishing her energy.
"I'm done, take your time," Shi Yi said to the others, and slowly left.
Shi Yi finished his meal quickly, but the others didn't pay much attention. In their eyes, Shi Yi was a man of decisive action, a loner.
Taking advantage of the darkness, Shi Yi arrived at the academy gate. There, hidden by the greenery, he waited silently.
As time passed, and in the stillness of the night, a familiar figure sneaked out of the academy.
"Xiao Wu, where are you going?" A familiar voice reached Xiao Wu's ears, startling her. She looked in the direction of the voice, only to see Shi Yi slowly emerge from a hidden spot.
Seeing it was Shi Yi, Xiao Wu breathed a sigh of relief and pleaded, "Xiao Yi, you should know what I'm going to do. Please don't stop me, okay?"
Shi Yi pretended to sigh and said to Xiao Wu, "Let's go. Since you're not giving up, I'll go with you. But let me make it clear: if we do find her, you'll follow my lead."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up at this, and she said excitedly, "I knew you were worried about Xiao San, too. I'll do whatever you say."
Shi Yi nodded and said, "Let's go."
Then Shi Yi led Xiao Wu southwest.
"Xiao Yi, how do you know Xiao San's direction when you haven't even summoned your spirit?" Xiao Wu asked, somewhat puzzled.
Shi Yi said to Xiao Wu, "Dugu Bo has always had an eccentric personality and specializes in studying toxins. Snake spirits are best cultivated in forests, so people like him wouldn't normally live in the bustling Tiandou City. Tiandou City is located in the heart of the empire. To the northeast lies the Sunset Forest, a gathering place for spirit beasts. Normal human spirit masters wouldn't settle there. Therefore, it's likely Dugu Bo lives southwest of Tiandou City, close to the Tiandou Royal Academy, making it convenient for him to visit his granddaughter."
Xiao Wu was thrilled by Shi Yi's well-reasoned and convincing reasoning, and no longer had any doubts about Shi Yi's decision.
Soon, the two of them left Tiandou City under cover of night. Once outside, Shi Yi summoned his spirit, and Xiao Yi, following Shi Yi's instructions, continued to explore.
"Xiao Yi, lead the way. Xiao Wu, you stay in the middle. I'll cover the rear," Shi Yi said softly.
Xiao Wu naturally had no doubts about this considerate arrangement, and even developed a fondness for Shi Yi.
Soon, the two entered a dense forest, rich in vegetation, and the two were in close proximity.
"This kind of close-range surprise attack has a near-perfect success rate. At this distance, she can't instantly complete the spirit possession and teleportation. I've been playing Dai Mubai for once," Shi Yi secretly estimated.
By then, the two had reached a deserted area. Feeling they were about the right spot, Shi Yi pretended to push aside branches and instantly struck Xiao Wu on the back of the head. Xiao Wu, caught off guard, felt her vision go black, and without any resistance, she fainted.
Looking at the unconscious Xiao Wu, Shi Yi pulled out a hair crystal from his soul guide. Without a moment's delay, the hair crystal instantly deformed in Shi Yi's hand, and the hair-thin hair crystal instantly pierced Xiao Wu's forehead.
The entire process was seamless, without a single word. Suddenly, a powerful pink light erupted from Xiao Wu's body. The hair crystal penetrated her brain, instantly stimulating her awakening. Xiao Wu looked at Shi Yi in disbelief, "So... you knew all along..."
Shi Yi listened to Xiao Wu's final words with indifference, then said calmly, "Don't be a spirit beast in your next life."
As Shi Yi finished speaking, a massive surge of soul power erupted from Xiao Wu's body, revealing her true form. A massive blood-red spirit ring appeared before Shi Yi.
Shi Yi's eyes flickered with regret as he gazed at the enormous, blood-red spirit ring, but he didn't have time to lament. The massive surge of soul power had probably already alarmed many.
Shi Yi dug the spirit bone from Xiao Wu's true form, collected the hair crystal, and tossed it into his spirit guide. He then fled at his fastest speed, finishing his business.
At that moment, Dugu Bo, who was confronting Flanders and his men in Sunset Forest, instantly felt this fluctuation of soul power. Inside the Tiandou Palace, Citun and She Long exchanged a look of shock, "A hundred-thousand-year soul beast!"
"Go tell the young lady, I'll go take a look," She Long said to Citun.
In the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Gu Rong and Chen Xin also suddenly opened their eyes.
Tang San, hidden in the cave by Dugu Bo, also awoke with a start, suddenly realizing he had lost something very important.
Shi Yi returned to the academy at top speed. It was late at night and there would be no witnesses. Then, Shi Yi pretended nothing had happened and fell into meditation.
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