Time trickled by. Finally, Xiao Wu, who had completed her advancement and successfully gained her third spirit ring, opened her eyes. Her entire demeanor subtly shifted with the emergence of the new ring.
Upon opening her eyes, Xiao Wu saw the Titan Giant Ape sitting in place, plucking petals one by one from a white flower.
The juxtaposition of the colossal Titan Giant Ape and a small white flower was inexplicably endearing. Xiao Wu let out a breath and then looked at Tang Sui, who was not far away.
She still hadn't woken up.
Xiao Wu pushed herself up from the ground.
The Titan Giant Ape set down the flower, its massive head approaching Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu chuckled and patted its head. Then, she crouched down and carefully lifted Tang Sui onto her back.
"Roar." Sister Xiao Wu, are you leaving?
The Titan Giant Ape let out a low growl. Xiao Wu nodded, a smile gracing her lips as she looked at the reluctant Titan Giant Ape. "Don't be sad, Er Ming. I'm not saying goodbye forever. When the academy has a holiday next time, I'll definitely come back to see you all. Oh, right, next time I come to Star Dou Great Forest with my companions, you and Da Ming are not allowed to come out looking for me!"
The Titan Giant Ape glanced at the sleeping Tang Sui on Xiao Wu's back, opening its mouth. It wanted to remind Xiao Wu to be careful with the little cub on her back; she still gave it a feeling of unease.
However, before its reminder could be uttered, Xiao Wu, carrying Tang Sui, gathered her strength and sprang from her spot. She skillfully and swiftly weaved through the forest, precisely retracing their path.
But when she finally found Tang San in the dense forest, carrying Tang Sui, Tang San was sitting on the ground, absorbing his spirit ring with a pained expression.
Not far from Tang San lay the corpse of a Man-Faced Demon Spider, approximately three meters tall.
"Xiao Wu! Sui Sui! You're not dead!"
The group, who had been in a defensive posture, watching the rustling bushes, widened their eyes as they saw Xiao Wu appear with Tang Sui on her back.
Xiao Wu glared at Ma Hongjun, whose face clearly conveyed, "Are you really alive and not ghosts?" She knelt on her right leg, carefully letting Tang Sui lie flat behind her, and retorted, "What, are you hoping we're dead?"
Ma Hongjun quickly waved his hands, flashing a fawning smile at Xiao Wu. "I'm just so happy you're safe and sound."
As soon as he finished speaking, Dai Mubai behind him lightly kicked his calf with his foot.
"You fatso, didn't you see Sui Sui isn't awake?" How is this considered safe and sound?
Dai Mubai glared at Ma Hongjun, filled with a sense of disappointment. Ma Hongjun sheepishly covered his mouth and made a zipping motion with his hand, indicating he would remain silent.
"Xiao Wu, how is Tang Sui?"
Zhao Wuji's joy subsided upon seeing the unconscious Tang Sui, his face filled with worry.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, even more concerned than him, had already rushed forward. They squatted beside Tang Sui, looking at her cautiously, wanting to touch her but hesitant to do so.
Xiao Wu shook her head, signaling them not to worry. "Sui Sui is fine. When she was captured by the Titan Giant Ape, she seemed to have suffered a significant mental shock. Coupled with her already weak constitution, she fainted."
Hearing this, everyone else collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhao Wuji was no exception, but he was more alert to another matter. "By the way, Xiao Wu, how did you escape the Titan Giant Ape's clutches?"
Xiao Wu faltered, her mind racing. She answered vaguely, "This... I don't know what happened. Tang Sui and I were both knocked unconscious when the Titan Giant Ape captured us. Then, after an unknown amount of time, I suddenly heard a deafening roar, and the Titan Giant Ape roared back, but its voice sounded a bit tense. When I woke up again, only Sui Sui and a pile of dazed spirit beasts were around me."
Her speech became fluent towards the end. "Then I realized my spirit power seemed to have broken through to level 30 under the Titan Giant Ape's pressure. Coincidentally, there were spirit beasts all around, dazed. I chose a thousand-year spirit beast and obtained my third spirit ring. It can be considered a blessing in disguise, and Sui Sui is also fine."
"A bull's roar?" Zhao Wuji's brows furrowed. "What kind of bull could make the King of the Forest, the Titan Giant Ape, feel tense?"
Xiao Wu shook her head. "I don't know." She couldn't fabricate a story for this, so it was best to change the subject quickly.
As she thought this, a shallow, deep purple mist covering the ground suddenly caught her eye.
This mist...
Her gaze sharpened, and she looked up, her sight passing over Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, who were blocking Zhao Wuji. She saw a familiar figure behind the two of them.
"Is that—Xiao San?!"
Xiao Wu's eyes widened immediately. She took a step towards Tang San, who was meditating on the ground, his face contorted in pain, sweat constantly beading on his forehead. Just as she was about to move closer to him, Zhao Wuji stopped her.
"Don't go over. Xiao San is absorbing his third spirit ring. Don't disturb him," Zhao Wuji said in a low voice to Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu looked at the commotion caused by Tang San absorbing his third spirit ring and the persistent deep purple mist. Her expression changed slightly. "Xiao San is also level 30? But if he's just absorbing his third spirit ring, why is it like this?"
—Author's Note—
Xiao Wu has no idea she's carrying a ticking time bomb, hiahiahia.