"Don't call me Little Bunny!"
Xiao Wu shook off Ye Qiu's hand, pouting and stepping back a few paces to put some safe distance between them.
"Alright, alright, I won't call you that. But are you coming or not?"
Ye Qiu shrugged.
He simply found it amusing—her cute expressions when he teased this pink bunny were quite entertaining.
"Are you really telling the truth?"
Xiao Wu rubbed her little butt, blinked her panda-like eyes, and looked at Ye Qiu with suspicion.
"Of course I am!"
Ye Qiu nodded seriously.
After selling candy for two years, he had saved up a little. Buying two decent but basic sets of bedding—he could afford that in full.
Also, this was a good chance to test something: if he wrapped Xiao Wu up using his venom ability, how much would his power increase? Would he gain any new abilities?
Seeing that Xiao Wu was still hesitating, Ye Qiu ran out of patience.
He turned, grabbed his little cloth bundle, asked Wang Sheng where in town he could buy bedding, and headed out the door.
"Hurry up and follow me!"
Only when Ye Qiu's voice came from outside the dorm did Xiao Wu finally react. She grabbed her little pink shoulder bag and, taking quick steps, hurried after him.
Though, the way she ran looked a bit awkward.
"Hey, slow down! It hurts..."
Looking at Ye Qiu's back, Xiao Wu frowned, clutching her butt and lower back, trying to keep up quickly.
"Hey! Wait up for your Big Sis Xiao Wu!"
After a while, she finally caught up and unceremoniously grabbed Ye Qiu's arm.
"Don't call me 'hey'!"
Sluuurp~
Ye Qiu rolled his eyes as he slurped on a lollipop.
"You—you said earlier that was the last one! You lied to your Big Sis Xiao Wu!"
Seeing the candy in Ye Qiu's mouth, Xiao Wu's craving kicked in, and she couldn't help but nibble at her pink lips.
Ye Qiu glanced at her but didn't respond.
"Ye Qiu… Your Big Sis Xiao Wu is talking to you!"
Xiao Wu pouted, raising her voice, clearly annoyed.
"When did I lie? I said the last carrot-flavored one was gone. This one is grass-flavored!"
Ye Qiu explained, while pulling out the green lollipop and holding it up in front of her.
Xiao Wu's eyes followed the candy. Then she softened her tone and pleaded, "It doesn't have to be carrot-flavored. I'm not picky. Can you give me one?"
"Sure…"
"Really?! Then hurry up, give it to me… ah~"
Hearing Ye Qiu agree, Xiao Wu's face lit up. She parted her rosy lips and opened her little mouth, waiting for him to give it to her.
But Ye Qiu shook his head and explained, watching her disappointed expression, "I'll give you one—but not now. If you cooperate with me later, I'll give you one."
"Can't you just give it to me now?"
Xiao Wu tugged on Ye Qiu's arm, shaking it like a spoiled child. Her soft bunny lips puckered a little, looking like a tempting pudding.
"Nope."
Ye Qiu rejected her flatly. Then he looked down at her small hand clutching his arm and gave her a look.
"Why are you holding on to me?"
"I—it still hurts… holding you makes it easier."
Xiao Wu mumbled awkwardly, then suddenly remembered—it was this jerk in front of her who caused her butt to hurt in the first place. She gave a cold snort.
"Hmph! It's all your fault!"
"Heh…"
Ye Qiu gave an awkward chuckle.
It was his fault. Since he hit her, he might as well be the one to support her.
If he had any merits, it was being thrifty and responsible.
Even though she was walking so close to him, compared to how close they would be later—when he turned into venom and wrapped her up—this distance was nothing.
The two walked side by side, heading out of the academy.
Along the way, Xiao Wu kept sneaking glances at Ye Qiu—like a girl secretly watching her crush. Or more accurately… watching the candy in his mouth.
Ye Qiu would occasionally tease her by calling her "little bunny," finding her shifting expressions endlessly amusing.
So pink and soft...
They hadn't walked far when Ye Qiu's smile grew even brighter. The fine hairs on his body, which had been faintly raised, now smoothed out.
Ye Qiu understood.
This was his spider-sense warning him earlier.
Now, he had completely escaped from Tang Hao's faintly oppressive gaze.
---
In the shadow beneath the dorm building, a figure was hidden.
Under a black bamboo hat was a scruffy, unshaven face. The man wore old, moldy burlap clothes and had a strong, rugged build.
This man… was Tang Hao!
Watching the retreating figures of Xiao Wu and Ye Qiu…
Tang Hao's expression didn't change, but a glint flashed through his lifeless eyes.
He hadn't expected to get this lucky—
He had run into yet another ten-thousand-year soul beast in human form. And by sheer coincidence, it had become classmates with his own son.
Tang Hao wasn't particularly worried about this soul beast.
At first, he had hoped something might happen between the beast and his precious son, something like what happened with him and Ah Yin—so it would be easier to make use of her later.
But after watching how Xiao Wu and Ye Qiu interacted, he changed his mind.
His goal had never been just the hundred-thousand-year soul ring...
It was to revive the Clear Sky Sect!
If possible, Tang Hao didn't want his son to develop real feelings. He didn't want him to spend the rest of his life, like himself, wallowing in guilt and regret.
Even if he got the hundred-thousand-year soul ring…
He'd end up a broken man, just like Tang Hao himself!
But now, things were different.
If that soul beast ended up with Ye Qiu instead, then it'd be much easier to manipulate.
Control Ye Qiu, force a sacrifice, then eliminate the problem completely!
Tang Hao stood there for a long time, watching until Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu disappeared from sight.
He licked his dry lips, glanced at the empty wine bottle in his hand, then looked once more in the direction Xiao Wu had gone—before quietly leaving to steal more wine.
He had already made up his mind.
No matter who Xiao Wu ended up with…
That hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone—Tang Hao had already reserved them for his son!
The only condition—
That soul beast must never leave his sight!
---
When Ye Qiu and Tang San arrived at Nuoding Academy to register, it was already afternoon.
By now, the sun was setting.
The sky had turned golden, and the western horizon looked like a shining golden sword stretched across the mountain peaks.
Ye Qiu carried two new quilts in his arms, his face showing obvious displeasure as he walked slowly back to the dorm.
Behind him followed Xiao Wu.
She was carrying a big blanket.
Her eyes were still wet, and she walked even more awkwardly than before. Even her right eye, previously fine, now had a black eye.
She was now, quite literally, an endangered animal.