Although Dai Mubai was useless, he still added a bit of entertainment value.
Bai Mu felt he was still somewhat useful.
As for whether this guy would live long enough to keep being useful—
"It all depends on your performance… and my mood."
Bai Mu gave Dai Mubai a long, meaningful glance.
In his eyes, Dai Mubai had never been worth taking seriously. At best, he was a tiger without teeth or claws—something you could toy with, and discard when bored.
But if he could still bring some amusement, then he might as well be kept around.
"Once we return, it'll be time to start building power."
Bai Mu thought calmly.
His strength was rising rapidly, but he was still far from invincible.
Still, with a Poison Douluo and the Dragon-Snake duo under his control, he already surpassed most sects and clans.
Whether or not he joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School no longer mattered much.
If the pressure was useful, he would step in and play along. If not, he would ignore it.
Simple as that.
In the end, everything depended on strength.
"Xiao Wu… you must wait for me."
A faint light flickered in Bai Mu's eyes.
He desperately wanted to find his "beloved little sister," to make her part of him—completely, irreversibly.
Meanwhile, Tang San stood not far away, expression dark but focused. Driven by the goal of becoming stronger and finding Xiao Wu, he continued his intense training without pause.
In a shadowed corner—
Tang Hao silently watched his son.
Guilt and frustration twisted in his heart.
He had thought that with his secret protection in Soto City, Xiao Wu would remain safe.
But in a moment of negligence—
Xiao Wu was gone.
A 100,000-year soul ring. A 100,000-year soul bone. His son's "sister." His future "daughter-in-law."
All of it slipped away right under his nose.
Every time he thought about it, his heart bled.
"No matter who you are…" Tang Hao's eyes turned cold. "If you dare touch what I've chosen… I will kill you."
Then a trace of regret flashed across his face.
"If I had known… I should have destroyed that soul bone from the beginning."
He took a heavy gulp of wine.
What he didn't notice was a transparent Z-cell quietly recording everything nearby.
Including every word he said.
---
After the group dispersed.
Ning Rongrong happily clung to Bai Mu like a little bird, chattering about everything that had happened over the past two months.
"By the way! How's your soul ring absorption?"
She looked at him with concern.
"Dad said the soul beast you're hunting is very old…"
"Of course it went smoothly. I'm extremely strong now."
Bai Mu smiled meaningfully.
"Want to experience it yourself?"
"Huh? T-this… in public… isn't that inappropriate…"
Ning Rongrong's face instantly turned red as she looked around nervously.
Her understanding wasn't shallow—in fact, it was the opposite.
After all, she always carried certain "special knowledge" with her.
"What are you thinking about?" Bai Mu gave her a strange look. "I meant this."
He rolled up his sleeve and flexed slightly.
"Oh—THAT kind!"
Ning Rongrong coughed awkwardly, then curiously reached out and touched his arm… then touched it again.
Strong. Very strong.
Stronger than she had expected from a separated martial soul user.
Nearby, Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly.
Her gaze occasionally drifted toward Bai Mu, then quickly shifted away again.
Like a stray kitten wanting to approach, but too cautious to move.
Bai Mu noticed everything.
As evening fell, before parting ways, he leaned slightly toward Zhu Zhuqing and whispered:
"Rose Hotel. Blue Enchantress. I'll be waiting."
Warm breath brushed her ear.
Zhu Zhuqing's body trembled slightly. A faint blush spread across her usually cold face.
She said nothing—just pretended she hadn't heard.
"What did they say?"
Ning Rongrong saw it, and a faint disappointment flickered in her eyes.
---
After leaving the academy, Bai Mu's expression changed instantly.
Relaxed. Playful.
"That old poisoner… actually did a good job."
"And not a single leak either."
As expected of a man like Dugu Bo—when survival and family were involved, he could be surprisingly reliable.
"My little Xiao Wu… are you ready to receive me?"
He licked his lips.
At the same time, deep within the Yin-Yang Eye of Ice and Fire—
Xiao Wu sat curled up in a wooden shack, her limbs bound by soul-sealing restraints.
Poison suppressed her strength completely. Escape was impossible.
She had been imprisoned for a full month.
At first, she tried to resist.
But when she realized where she was—and who her captor was—despair swallowed her.
"How… did you find me…?"
Her voice was weak.
Dugu Bo stood at the door with a strange, stiff smile.
"Little rabbit… it's one thing to transform into a human, but hanging around Tang Hao's son?"
"Do you know how much effort it took to catch you?"
Xiao Wu froze.
"Tang Hao?"
Dugu Bo chuckled.
"Same surname as Tang San. Don't you think?"
"…!"
He continued casually:
"That guy's been watching you from the shadows for months."
"If he hadn't 'slipped up' once, I wouldn't have gotten this chance."
Xiao Wu's breathing turned uneven.
Dugu Bo's smile deepened.
"I think Tang Hao probably intends to raise you… wait until Tang San grows strong enough… then take your ring and bone."
"After all, a 100,000-year treasure is priceless."
"Nonsense!" Xiao Wu shouted. "Third Brother would never—!"
"Wouldn't he?"
Dugu Bo's tone was calm, almost amused.
"Then explain why a titled Douluo who knows your identity… never told his son?"
Silence.
Dugu Bo leaned closer, voice like poison.
"Maybe he thinks… having a 100,000-year soul beast as a future daughter-in-law is a blessing?"
Xiao Wu's lips trembled.
No answer came.
Because she couldn't find one.
But she still clenched her fists, refusing to believe it.
"No… Third Brother would never do that."