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After two and a half hours, Ning Tian and Xiao Wu finally concluded their fierce struggle. Xiao Wu collapsed into Ning Tian's arms, her expression one of utter exhaustion, as if she were teetering on the edge of collapse.
It took her a long while to come back to her senses. She rolled over, resting on Ning Tian's chest, and gave him a playful tap with a pout. "You're so awful! Don't you know how to go easy on me?"
"Isn't it because my Xiao Wu is just too irresistible?" Ning Tian grinned, his smug look suggesting he'd come out on top. "Take a look at this, what do you think?"
As he spoke, he reached into the pocket of his clothes strewn on the floor and pulled out a pink, heart-shaped necklace soul tool.
"A necklace?" Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled with delight.
Ning Tian smiled faintly. "Yes, it's a necklace and a storage soul tool. That ring I gave you before was too small. This necklace has five cubic meters of space which is plenty for all your things."
"Little Six, you're so good to me."
With that, Xiao Wu lifted her head and planted a kiss on Ning Tian's cheek. Then she sat up, turning her back to him. "Help me put it on."
Gazing at Xiao Wu's stunning back, Ning Tian chuckled. Truth be told, while she didn't have Little Cat's exaggerated curves, she already carried the allure of a manhwa heroine.
After securing the soul tool necklace around her neck, Ning Tian's tone grew serious. "Xiao Wu, I've figured out a way to distract Tang San's father. Spirit City is crawling with Titled Douluos, and it's still too risky for you. If your identity gets exposed, the consequences would be catastrophic. You need to leave Spirit City soon and head back to the Star Dou Great Forest to find your two brothers. Then, take the Yearning Heartbroken Red. Once you reach your mature stage, I'll come for you."
Xiao Wu's expression hardened as she listened. She asked with concern, "What about you?"
"Don't worry. Rongrong's father and Sword Douluo will keep me safe. Tang San's father wouldn't dare touch me."
Ning Tian's reassurance was genuine this time.
After all, anything could happen during the Soul Master Competition. If the Yearning Heartbroken Red slipped out like it did in the original story, it'd be a disaster.
Not to mention, Tang Hao had already been thoroughly wrecked by his schemes.
Even if he hadn't, Tang Hao wouldn't stand a chance against a Bibi Dong free of the Rakshasa's evil influence and at her full strength. He'd be too busy saving himself to help Xiao Wu.
But Xiao Wu shook her head firmly. "No, I'm not leaving."
"I'm serious. Tang Hao, that deadbeat father of Tang San really can't do anything to me."
Ning Tian laughed and sighed at once.
The more he told her not to do something, the more determined she became to do it.
Xiao Wu forced a smile. "I know, but I really don't want to leave. Look, I'm heading back to the Star Dou Great Forest soon anyway, and you've got a plan to handle that blasted Tang Hao. As long as I'm careful and keep the Yearning Heartbroken Red hidden, no one will find out about me."
Ning Tian opened his mouth to argue, but then he saw tears welling up in Xiao Wu's eyes. With a trembling voice, she said, "After this goodbye, it might be ages before we see each other again. I just want to stay with you a little longer. Is that okay?"
Seeing her like this, how could Ning Tian refuse? Helplessly, he asked, "Then how will you make sure the Yearning Heartbroken Red doesn't fall off?"
"You've warned me about this before, how could I not be ready? Look, I made a little pouch just for the Yearning Heartbroken Red."
She reached for the Shrek Academy's infamous feces-green combat uniform on the floor. Inside, she'd sewn a perfectly sized pocket for the Yearning Heartbroken Red, complete with a row of buttons. As long as she kept the uniform on, it'd stay secure and hidden.
In the end, Ning Tian couldn't outstubborn her. He decided to make the most of their remaining rest days, indulging her every night.
"While it's still dark, let's keep going," Ning Tian said, his eyes burning with intent as he looked at Xiao Wu.
"No, please, I'm exhausted!" Xiao Wu shrank back, clearly reluctant.
Heaven knew how relentless her man was in that department. He was more feral than any beast.
She was genuinely intimidated.
But Ning Tian wouldn't let her off. "Just grab some recovery sausages from Oscar later."
"No…ah!"
With Xiao Wu's startled cry, another round kicked off.
…..
Meanwhile, Tang San was in a pitiful state.
Ever since Ning Tian had shifted the Rakshasa's evil thoughts from Bibi Dong onto him, Tang San's darker impulses had surged uncontrollably.
First, there was Yu Xiaogang, the fraud who'd turned him, a twin martial soul prodigy, into a laughingstock.
He'd once suppressed his urge to kill Yu Xiaogang, but shortly after arriving in Spirit City, he realized the man was useless. Yu Xiaogang couldn't even enter the city, let alone uncover twin martial soul cultivation methods for him.
Worse still, as an outcast of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he offered no help in rallying the clan against the Spirit Hall.
Then there was Ning Tian, the scoundrel who'd disguised himself to steal Xiao Wu's heart, hurt her, and snatched the external soul bone that should've been Tang San's, using it to curry favor with Zhu Zhuqing.
He was a dead man walking, and Tang San longed to end him. He hated him more than he hated the Spirit Hall for killing his mother.
Finally, there was Xiao Wu.
She was the untouchable scale in his heart.
If Yu Xiaogang and Ning Tian were like Qian Xunji to Bibi Dong, then Xiao Wu was her Yu Xiaogang.
In Tang San's mind, Xiao Wu's place was nearly as sacred as Yu Xiaogang's was to Bibi Dong!
She was the only girl who didn't scorn his dark, rugged looks.
The only one who, after his father left, stayed by his side as a sister.
The only one who didn't abandon him after he killed Knife Brother's lackey in a rage over a debt.
The only one who, during his three months of grueling training at Shrek Academy plagued by constant diarrhea cared for him daily without a hint of disgust.
Lost in these thoughts, Tang San abandoned his cultivation and found himself at Xiao Wu's door, ringing the bell.
"Who's there?" Xiao Wu, caught mid-moment, jolted in surprise.
"It's me, Xiao Wu; Third Brother." Hearing her voice, Tang San's agitation eased considerably.
"What's wrong, Third Brother? It's so late," Xiao Wu replied, pressing her back against the door, facing away from Ning Tian, stifling any stray sounds.
"Nothing, Xiao Wu. I couldn't sleep and just wanted to see you," Tang San said, his tone as soft as he could manage.
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