Xiao Wu, who was still dazed, heard Old Jack's narration. She couldn't help but feel scared again. This woman was royalty—and that face…
Xiao Wu's thoughts spiraled. If she really is royalty, then there's only one person who could've given birth to her…
Yup. No questions needed. It's her. That bitch.
But if she was really her daughter, then why was she here, lost?
And why did she look like a living corpse?
Xiao Wu sank into deep thought—or so she thought. In reality, her mind was wandering through even more mysteries, one after another. She was still scared, but when she looked into the woman's dark purple eyes, she felt something strange.
They were completely devoid.
Her expression screamed a single message: Who gives a fuck about your existence.
That alone made Xiao Wu reflect on herself.
Then she heard Tang San agree to help her reach Suotuo City. Old Jack followed with many warnings and lectures directed at both of them, but Xiao Wu wasn't listening at all.
Because the woman was now standing behind Old Jack.
She was tall—around six feet or so.
When Xiao Wu finally saw her up close, she couldn't believe it. She could smell her scent—an intoxicating, alluring scent that made her head feel light. Her skin was so pale it was as if blood itself was afraid of her… or as if someone had sucked every last drop out of her.
And yet, all of Xiao Wu's worries vanished the moment she caught that scent again.
For some unknown reason, she felt heat creeping up her body.
Tang San noticed Xiao Wu's gaze lingering on the woman. He saw her cheeks flushing, her face turning completely red.
That alone made him jealous.
And angry.
The only reason he didn't explode was because the other person was a woman… and because of that dangerous feeling she gave off.
Lol. Lili's got a dick—and it's bigger than your father's.
Anyway, that was what he was thinking inside his forty-year-old brain.
On the outside, he was smiling politely and listening to Old Jack's instructions.
Old Jack finally said, "That's all. Remember what I warned you about, Tang San, Xiao Wu. Take care on your way. Though… perhaps you won't need it anymore, seeing how strong you already are."
Then he noticed a shadow towering over him.
Old Jack gulped and slowly turned his head toward the woman.
"F-forgive me, Y-Your Highness," he said nervously. "T-these two are the ones I was t-talking about. Y-you can follow them, a-and they w-will h-help you reach S-Suotuo City."
His tone was no longer that of an elder villager.
He was scared.
Lili simply looked at them.
Intrigued. Curious.
Yesterday, he had met them but didn't care enough to give a damn. But now, as he focused on them properly, he recognized them—the future couple of this Douluo Dalu.
His lips parted.
With a deep, feminine, hoarse voice, Lili spoke:
"A needle… and a ring."
♤
"Hm…"
Old Jack, Tang San, and Xiao Wu heard her voice.
It didn't just reach their ears—it vibrated inside their heads.
"Needle…" Tang San muttered. His gaze sharpened as he looked at the woman in front of him.
Inside his mind, alarms went off.
Does she know something?
His thoughts raced as he rapidly calculated scenarios, routes, counters—about his weapons.
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, felt her heart sink when she heard the word ring.
Those words terrified her to her core.
A ring… does she know?
Is she aware of anything?
This is dangerous…
Her thoughts spiraled. A ring… I'm really exposed this time…
Old Jack, however, had no idea what the hell she was talking about. He simply stood there, dumbfounded, watching the strange tension unfold.
Silence fell over the small circle.
An assassin who believed his weapons and skills had been exposed.
A woman who thought her very identity had been seen through.
And an old man who was… just chilling.
Tang San and Xiao Wu both went on guard, ready to question the woman—
—but they were cut off when she spoke again.
"Lovebirds…"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Have you slept together already?"
The world froze.
For a moment, their minds went completely blank.
Then their thoughts snapped back to the words needle and ring.
A minute later, realization hit them like a hammer.
She wasn't talking about weapons.
She was talking about something lewd.
A needle.
A ring.
And sleeping together?
Xiao Wu's face instantly turned red as she covered it with both hands. Tang San started coughing—once, twice, then again… nearly ten times.
Old Jack, who had lived long enough and possessed a few old-man hacks, immediately understood what the woman meant. His mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Seriously.
From deep suspicion one moment to blushing embarrassment the next—just because they finally got the joke.
That's Douluo Dalu for you.
A world full of lust and love.
But the truth was, their first interpretation wasn't entirely wrong.
The needle represented Tang San—the assassin.
The ring represented Xiao Wu—the transformed beast.
As for Lili?
He was just a sarcastic bastard who casually asked whether they'd already done it in bed.
Two questions.
One sentence.
But to them, it meant something else entirely.
Xiao Wu and Tang San were still blushing when Old Jack finally decided he'd had enough of this awkward nonsense.
"Now… now…" he said loudly. "Go already, or you'll miss the ride!"
Then he turned toward the woman and bowed slightly.
"Y-Your H-Highness, p-please f-follow them. T-they know t-the way."
With those words, the embarrassing moment finally came to an end.
They composed themselves once more.