Early morning sunlight bathed the earth, bringing a warm and refreshing atmosphere and vibrant life. All things revived in the bright sunshine, and a new day began.
Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, Advanced Dormitory.
After a night of soul power meditation, Zu Zong, reminded by his biological clock, got up, washed, and had a simple breakfast.
From today onwards, Zu Zong's training would include a new element: swordsmanship.
Having copied Xuan Jian's swordsmanship from the Qin's Moon world yesterday, Zu Zong practiced it several times. Although he executed it almost identically, he only grasped the form, not the essence.
Zu Zong couldn't help but sigh, "It seems the Sharingan isn't omnipotent! Compared to swordsmen like Xuan Jian who have practiced for decades, even treating the sword as their life, no matter how fast I learn, I can't reach their level in a short time with the same swordsmanship." After
an hour of swordsmanship practice, Zu Zong adjusted his breathing. A knock sounded on the
door
, and a knowing smile appeared on Zu Zong's lips. In the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, only one person could possibly come looking for him this early.
"You're here." Opening the courtyard gate, Xiao Wu's figure came into view. From her expression, it was clear she was in a good mood today.
"So slow, Xiao Zong," Xiao Wu pouted in dissatisfaction.
Zu Zong didn't speak, but directly took Xiao Wu's slender hand. With a bewildered look on Xiao Wu's face, Zu Zong led her into the house.
The doors and windows were locked, and Zu Zong stared intently at her.
Xiao Wu felt a little shy under Zu Zong's gaze, her pretty face slightly flushed.
Did Xiao Zong want *that*? No, she wasn't ready yet!
Thinking this, Xiao Wu's face turned even redder, even her neck was tinged with pink.
Zu Zong placed his hands on Xiao Wu's fragrant shoulders, his breathing becoming slightly rapid, his eyes fixed on her.
For a moment, the room was completely silent. Only their breathing could be heard.
"Little zu, isn't it in broad daylight? What if someone comes? How about we do it tonight?" Xiao Wu whispered. By the last sentence, even she herself could barely hear it.
Zu Zong seemed oblivious, pulling Xiao Wu into his arms and holding her tightly.
In a voice only the two of them could hear, he murmured in Xiao Wu's ear, "Xiao Wu, I want to tell you something."
"Mmm." Xiao Wu's face was flushed crimson.
Zu Zong said, "Actually, from the first moment I saw you, I knew you were a soul beast."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu trembled, instinctively wanting to escape, but remembering that the person holding her was Clan Clan, she calmed down, hugging him back and quietly nestled in his arms, waiting for him to continue.
"When I first saw you, I considered killing you to obtain your spirit ring and spirit bone. But at that time, I was too weak to absorb a 100,000-year spirit ring even if I killed you, so I gave up on that idea for the time being."
"Later, you pestered me all day, and I didn't give up the idea of killing you for your spirit ring until I went to sleep that night. In the middle of the night, I was awakened by a nightmare and happened to hear you talking in your sleep. You were thinking about your mother, and from your sobbing and choked voice, I could tell that your mother was probably no longer alive."
"From that moment on, my heart wavered, and I gave up the idea of hunting you. Because I am also an orphan, both before and now. But even so, I still can't truly accept you, always maintaining the mentality that humans are humans and spirit beasts are spirit beasts. Playing with you was just out of a wicked sense of humor, treating you like a little rabbit pet."
"Until you came back to Emperor Soul Village with me, Grandpa Tom, who raised me, took you as his granddaughter. Only then did I truly see you as a normal person. Looking back now, it seems so ridiculous. In fact, without realizing it, I could no longer live without you. Perhaps Grandpa Tom saw through my thoughts and took you as his granddaughter, which gave me an excuse. An excuse to treat you as true family. Perhaps I was prejudiced against you, and that starting point was wrong from
the beginning." "Do you remember the 'candy' with a strong medicinal fragrance that I gave you? That wasn't candy, but a rare medicine called 'Transformation Pill.' It can completely separate a soul beast from its beast form, giving it the long lifespan of a soul beast and the cultivation talent of a human. If you hadn't transformed and started cultivating again, and had eaten it directly, you might have been able to transform into a human and retain 100,000 years of cultivation."
"I think over the past few years, you should have noticed that you no longer have the aura of a soul beast, and your cultivation speed has greatly improved! Even those Soul Douluo chairmen at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's teaching committee couldn't tell you were a soul beast last time, which is the best proof. So now, wherever you go, you no longer need to worry about being hunted."
"But before that—"
At this point, the zu zong's eyes dimmed.
He released his hands from Xiao Wu's, took a few steps back, and, seeing Xiao Wu's astonished expression, bowed his head and extended his right hand, "I'll do everything, let me be a part of your life!"
For a long time, Xiao Wu didn't react. The zuzong awkwardly scratched the back of his head, not daring to look at Xiao Wu's face again, "Yes! I was thinking of killing you before, and suddenly I confessed to you, it's impossible for anyone to accept. Sorry, never mind!"
As he spoke, the zuzong opened the door, preparing to go out for some fresh air.
However, before Zu Zong's foot could even touch the ground, he was stopped. Xiao Wu tugged at his sleeve from behind.
Zu Zong turned to look at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu slightly opened her mouth, as if about to say something, but immediately swallowed it back down. Then, staring intently at Zu Zong, she spoke in a trembling voice, words unlike her usual style.
"Why tell me? Clearly—clearly you didn't have to say it—you didn't have to say it."
Her eyes welled up with tears as she lowered her head, her words fading in that instant.
Zu Zong, with his usual arrogance and haughtiness, raised his cheek with his usual sarcastic remark, a smile barely reaching the corners of his mouth.
"Perhaps it's because I no longer see you as a rabbit. No, I should say, whether you're a rabbit or a person, I don't want to deceive myself, and I don't want to deceive you either. Last time at the teahouse in Soto City, Zhuqing asked me if I had romantic feelings for you, and I answered yes. Now I'll answer formally again."
"Xiaowu, I like you."
"Isn't that a common deceptive phrase? Your demonstration is terrible. Is this how you tricked Zhuqing into your hands?"
They faced each other with expressions of both laughter and tears. Xiaowu took a step closer and pounded on Zuzong's chest. Her eyes, still wet with tears, stared at him.
"What about Zhuqing?" Xiaowu asked.
This time, Zuzong didn't give her the usual perfunctory answer. He reached out his right hand and wiped away the tears from Xiaowu's eyes. "You are all my wings."
Xiaowu stared at Zuzong's emotionless, bitter smile, and finally spoke hesitantly, "What is this? A harem man? You really are a womanizer."
As she spoke, Xiaowu lowered her head and pounded Zuzong's chest again.
Although it didn't hurt at all, Zu Zong still let out a pained cry.
"Ah! That hurts."
Xiao Wu snorted and nodded. Then, she gently placed her forehead on Zu Zong's shoulder.
"Then, for the rest of my life, please guide me."
From that moment on, both of them seemed to have grown a lot. Their hearts would never be separated again.