What Bai Mu didn't know was that while he was out hunting, the outside world had already undergone earth-shaking changes.
---
Nearly a month earlier—
"You did very well!"
"I originally planned to put you through three months of intense training, but I didn't expect you to meet my standards in just two months."
"I've decided to give you two days off. After that, the training will enter the next stage."
Yu Xiaogang looked at the group of teenagers standing before him—faces resolute, or perhaps already numb.
"Yesss!"
"Awesome!"
"…."
Cheers instantly erupted.
Some collapsed and fell asleep on the spot, while Ma Hongjun went off to release his Evil Fire yet again.
Later that night, while Tang San and the others were having dinner, they saw Ma Hongjun return with his face swollen like a pig's head.
After questioning him, Tang San and the others immediately decided to hunt down the man named Bu Le and get revenge for Ma Hongjun at the brothel.
Just as they reached the academy gate, they ran into Xiao Wu, who was chattering away and insisted on coming along.
The five of them headed toward the brothel district and soon spotted the lecherous old man Bu Le, who was leaving with a satisfied look on his face.
"Uncle, do you know where I can buy some candy nearby?"
Xiao Wu stepped forward sweetly.
"Little girl, come with me. I'll take you there."
Bu Le smiled "kindly" and led Xiao Wu toward a more secluded alley.
Tang San and the others hid in the shadows, quietly observing and discussing Xiao Wu's Eight-Stage Throw.
"Uncle, where's the candy seller?" Xiao Wu asked timidly.
"Hehe, little girl, what's so great about candy?"
Bu Le grinned obscenely. "How about Uncle takes you to see some goldfish instead…?"
"Goldfish?" Xiao Wu tilted her head curiously. "Where can I see them?"
Bu Le began undoing his belt. "You'll see in just a moment."
Xiao Wu suddenly laughed.
"Uncle, are you going to say next, 'I've got a big sausage'?"
"…Huh?"
Bu Le froze.
At that instant, Xiao Wu's eyes flashed.
The moment her charm activated, her scorpion-tail braid wrapped tightly around Bu Le's neck. She instantly teleported behind him and used her Waist Bow, hurling him straight into the air.
Then she leaped up, following after him!
Just as Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others were about to rush forward to watch Xiao Wu's Eight-Stage Throw—
"Now's my chance!"
Dugu Bo, who had been lying in wait for two full months, suddenly lit up with excitement. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had finally arrived!
His figure flickered, sweeping through the alley like a ghost.
Before Xiao Wu could react, a precise chop struck the back of her neck.
She let out a muffled groan and lost consciousness midair.
Without the slightest hesitation, Dugu Bo pulled out the burlap sack he had prepared in advance, stuffed Xiao Wu inside, and stored her in his Ruyi Hundred-Treasure Pouch.
A burst of energy shot skyward. He lightly tapped across several rooftops and vanished into the night in the blink of an eye.
The entire process took less than two breaths.
When Tang San and the others rushed into the alley, all they saw was Bu Le crashing heavily onto the ground, writhing in pain and confusion.
"Xiao Wu! Xiao Wu!! Xiao Wu!!!"
Tang San's eyes went bloodshot with fury. Blue Silver Grass shot out as he leapt onto the rooftops in pursuit.
But it was useless.
Dugu Bo was a Titled Douluo.
Even the weakest Titled Douluo was still a Titled Douluo.
By the time Tang San reached the roof, Dugu Bo was already gone.
"Faster—faster!"
High in the sky, Dugu Bo dared not relax for even a second, flying south toward the Star Luo Empire at full speed.
Not long after, a streak of crimson light tore across the heavens, chasing in the direction he had vanished.
Within that red glow, Tang Hao's eyes were filled with raging fury.
"Damn it! Who dares steal someone under my protection—someone under Tang Hao's protection?!"
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
If he hadn't been secretly protecting Xiao Wu, he might not have been so furious.
But the reality was—
Xiao Wu had been taken, right under the nose of Tang Hao, the mighty Clear Sky Douluo!
His killing intent surged as he swore to tear the kidnapper apart.
"Heading toward the Star Luo Empire… could it be a reclusive powerhouse from Star Luo?"
Even in his rage, Tang Hao's mind remained razor-sharp.
Soto City was one of the Heaven Dou cities closest to Star Luo. It wasn't impossible that a Douluo-level expert had discovered Xiao Wu's identity and seized the opportunity to abduct her.
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Silently, he accelerated even further.
What he didn't know was—
The one he was chasing wasn't fleeing south to Star Luo, but north, back toward Heaven Dou City!
---
"We finally succeeded…"
"Tang Ritian… do you know what I've been going through these past two months?"
In the jungle below, Dugu Bo glanced in the direction Tang Hao had gone and felt a wave of bitterness rise in his chest.
He had thought completing his master's task would be easy.
Instead, he had been tightly controlled for a full two months.
"Having a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast right in front of you and not killing it—how could I not be happy?"
Dugu Bo muttered to himself as he silently changed direction several times, carefully covering his tracks.
After taking a long detour, he quietly headed north, straight toward Heaven Dou City.
This feint left Tang Hao chasing shadows.
---
For the next month, Tang San and the others searched frantically for Xiao Wu.
They even sought help from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect through Ning Rongrong, but still found nothing.
Xiao Wu seemed to have vanished without a trace.
"Xiao Wu… Xiao Wu… Xiao Wu…"
Tang San was on the verge of breaking down.
But life had to go on.
Aside from desperately searching for Xiao Wu and suffering in silence, Tang San also had to keep moving forward.
Shrek Academy had entered the stage of advancing to Silver Soul Badge battles.
Because of Xiao Wu's disappearance, Tang San vented his grief through brutal combat in the Soul Fighting Arena, quickly gaining a fearsome reputation.
Still, a heavy gloom hung over the entire academy.
---
When Bai Mu arrived in Soto City and returned to Shrek Academy, this was the scene that greeted him—
On the training field, Tang San was practicing his hidden weapons like a madman. His hands were already torn and bloodied, yet he seemed completely unaware.
Oscar stood nearby, holding a large sausage, wanting to persuade him but not daring to speak.
"Mistress… take a break. We'll definitely find her," Dai Mubai said after trying countless times.
Receiving no response, he could only give up.
But when he lowered his head, much of his worry faded, replaced by a strangely contradictory sense of satisfaction.
Tang San—wasn't he Bai Mu's best friend?
He stole my fiancée, and I had to watch them being affectionate right in front of me.
Now that you've lost Xiao Wu, you must finally understand my pain too.
Tang San!
Not far away, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing stood close together, their expressions gloomy and silent.
In the distance, Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Zhao Wuji were gathered together, discussing something in low voices.
The atmosphere at Shrek Academy was unmistakably tense and oppressive.
"Long time no see! You didn't expect this, did you? I'm back!"
Bai Mu greeted everyone enthusiastically—then belatedly realized something was very wrong.
He asked hesitantly, a trace of unease in his voice:
"W-what… what happened?"