Chapter 25:
Tang San turned around, his eyes filled with confusion above the mask. He didn't understand. He didn't understand why Xiao Wu spoke for Lin Bai, whether he was right or wrong to challenge him, or how he could have lost so thoroughly.
The gray clouds overhead blocked out the sun, mirroring Tang San's mood. Without another word, he turned and left, supporting Yu Xiaogang as they disappeared from view.
Lin Bai glanced at Xiao Wu and said, "Follow me."
Then he walked off toward Qishe. Xiao Wu hesitated, still feeling a lingering shadow from Lin Bai, but his impatient gaze made her shrink her head.
"Oh—coming."
She hurried to catch up, kicking a small stone along the path as she walked, her thoughts unclear.
When they reached a quiet corridor, Lin Bai led Xiao Wu to a secluded corner. He pulled out a pen and paper from his storage ring and quickly scribbled a few lines before handing it to her.
"Don't speak. Don't ever mention transformed soul beasts. Tang San's father is a Titled Douluo and has been watching over him nearby. I suggest you find somewhere else to absorb human aura. This place isn't safe for you."
Xiao Wu read the message, her face paling. Her mouth opened slightly, and she looked at Lin Bai in panic.
"Then what should I do?"
Lin Bai didn't answer immediately. He took back the paper, releasing a sharp pulse of soul power from his palm, cutting it into pieces before storing the remains in his ring.
Only after confirming that Tang Hao was nowhere nearby—most likely having gone to check on Tang San—did Lin Bai finally speak.
"You can talk now. Don't worry. You stood up for me just now, which probably annoyed Tang San's father. Since you helped me, I'll help you find a solution. The good news is that a Titled Douluo doesn't need a hundred-thousand-year soul ring."
He paused before continuing, "You have two options—leave Notting College after graduation or slip away during the holidays and return to where you came from."
"The choice is yours."
Xiao Wu calmed down under Lin Bai's clear analysis, though her mind remained conflicted. After a long moment of deep thought, she finally exhaled and smiled, regaining her usual carefree attitude.
"I don't know what to do, but Tang San doesn't seem to mean me any harm. You also said his father doesn't need a soul ring. If I go to another academy, I risk being discovered. At least here, I've been safe for more than a year."
Xiao Wu clenched her fists, determination flashing in her eyes. She had chosen this path of transformation for a reason—she couldn't back down now. The enemy who had taken her mother from her was still out there.
Lin Bai shrugged. "Fine. If you're staying, then come over here and rub my shoulders. I just fought Tang San—I need to relax."
"What?! I just spoke up for you!"
Xiao Wu puffed up her cheeks in outrage, glaring at him.
Lin Bai remained unfazed. "That was separate. Your past offenses don't disappear just because you said one nice thing. I've decided—you're my maid now. If you're staying, you'll be under my protection."
Well, if he couldn't get a beast-eared girl, a rabbit-eared maid would have to do.
"Pervert."
Xiao Wu looked at him with disgust, as if she were staring at an unburnable pile of trash.
She was now completely certain—Lin Bai was not a transformed soul beast. Only a human could be so shameless as to make a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast act as a servant.
"Stop dawdling. Come here and rub my shoulders."
Lin Bai led the way back to Qishe, waving her over.
His decision to accept Xiao Wu as his "maid" and bodyguard wasn't purely self-indulgent. The Yin-Yang Nine Dragons Art already gave him a fast cultivation speed, but dual cultivation with the opposite sex could multiply that speed several times over. Even just cultivating True Qi together would double the effect.
As a pragmatist, Lin Bai had no reason to let this major advantage go to waste.
Besides, his Ruyi Qiankun Spear was of the Ultimate Gold attribute. Once his Ultimate Martial Soul reached Level 30, the extreme compression of soul power would drastically slow down his cultivation speed. If he didn't prepare now, he'd lag behind his peers.
For a while, he debated whether to attempt dual cultivation with Xiao Wu. But after visiting Qian Renxue and seeing that even two Titled Douluo were just guards, he made up his mind.
The nature of this world was simple—the strong ruled, and the weak perished.
Lin Bai sat on his simple bed, his folded quilt beside him. Xiao Wu reluctantly plopped down, stretching out her fair hands to rub his shoulders.
Of course, he didn't actually need a massage. His body, refined by dragon blood, was far beyond ordinary limits. The fight with Tang San had been nothing more than a warm-up.
This was all just the beginning of his long-term plan.
Ten minutes later, sensing Xiao Wu's increasing impatience, Lin Bai decided to move forward. Too much too soon would be counterproductive.
"Sit in front of me and press your palms against mine."
"What now? Just because I didn't argue doesn't mean I agreed to be your maid. I'm still the big sister here—"
Xiao Wu grumbled, clenching her fists. If she were strong enough, she'd have already shown him why she was the eldest.
"Stop whining and do it."
Lin Bai's serious tone made her falter.
"Ugh, fine."
She sat cross-legged in front of him and pressed her palms against his.
Lin Bai closed his eyes and activated the Yin-Yang Nine Dragons Art. The soul power in his body surged like a furious dragon, rushing into Xiao Wu through their joined hands.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"S-So much! So much soul power! What are you doing?!"
She instinctively tried to pull away, but Lin Bai's grip held firm.
"Stay still. Transfer your soul power to your palms and let me control it."
As Lin Bai absorbed and circulated their combined energy, Xiao Wu felt a rapid transformation inside her. The core essence of her spirit beast heritage was being refined at an incredible rate.
Her cheeks flushed with excitement. "This cultivation speed—it's twice as fast as normal!"
Lin Bai frowned. "Focus. Keep the flow steady."
Xiao Wu pouted but complied. Now that she saw the benefits, she stopped resisting and fully committed to the technique.
As time passed, both of them sank into deep cultivation, their senses fading from the outside world.
Somewhere in her subconscious, Xiao Wu glimpsed the scene inside Lin Bai's soul.
Thirteen spears lay motionless in his spiritual sea, their edges constantly tempered by an overwhelming force of mental energy. A massive platinum-winged dragon rested lazily within, its mere presence radiating an aura that made her very soul tremble.
Compared to that, she was nothing more than a small rabbit gazing up at giants.
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