"Xiao Wu, will you really behave well?" Ye Qiu leaned close to her ear and asked softly.
"Of course, of course! I will definitely listen to you, as long as you don't bully me," Xiao Wu said, unsure where to place her hands, feeling a bit awkward.
"Then you better behave and go back to Sacred Soul Village to spend this holiday," Ye Qiu's voice suddenly turned serious. He looked at Xiao Wu intently and gently let go of her.
"But I don't want to..." Xiao Wu paused, her small lips pouting as she looked at Ye Qiu with a wronged expression.
"You have to go even if you don't want to."
Ye Qiu frowned, speaking firmly. With no other choice, he forcibly grabbed her hand. Their fingers intertwined, and a black fluid wrapped around Xiao Wu's hand.
Through their connected hearts, Ye Qiu immediately told Xiao Wu that the place he was going had an existing Title Douluo.
Xiao Wu shivered, her face turned pale, and a flicker of fear arose in her heart.
Sensing her fear, Ye Qiu gently pinched her cheek:
"Now can you behave and stay in Sacred Soul Village?"
Xiao Wu stared at Ye Qiu, dazedly nodding, but looked at him with concern and asked,
"Ye Qiu, why do you have to go to such a place?"
"I can't tell you yet, but I promise that when I come back, I'll bring you a gift." Ye Qiu smiled softly, released her hand, and pinched her cheek again. "Alright, be good and help me pick up the towel."
Thinking Ye Qiu was about to leave her alone, Xiao Wu felt unhappy. She ignored the gift he mentioned, clenched her teeth, slapped Ye Qiu's hand away, and like a little scorned wife abandoned, said softly,
"Pick up your own stuff yourself. I'm Sister Xiao Wu! I'm not here to serve you."
After that, Xiao Wu glared at Ye Qiu and swiftly returned to her bed. She lay down motionless, curled up like an injured kitten.
"Quite a temper," Ye Qiu shrugged and ignored her. He turned around to get his little treasury, counting out dozens of Gold Soul Coins.
Soul Masters receive one Gold Soul Coin each month, Great Soul Masters get ten, and Soul Lords get one hundred. Over the years, he had saved quite a bit. Every year when he returned to Sacred Soul Village, Ye Qiu would give Old Jack dozens of Gold Soul Coins.
After gathering the money, he took out his little cloth bag wrapped around a lollipop and put everything together. Just as he was about to go to Xiao Wu's side, a figure appeared at the door, wearing a jeweled belt around his waist.
Before entering, Tang San greeted Ye Qiu:
"Ye Qiu, I heard you broke through to level thirty-two?"
"Xiao San, didn't expect you to have such fast news. No need to envy me, you'll get there sooner or later too!" Ye Qiu smiled brightly, lightly patting Tang San's shoulder.
His smile was more radiant than ever. He was still hoping Tang San would give him more hidden weapons so he could draw those blueprints.
"Although I'll eventually become a Soul Lord, I'm still far behind you and Xiao Wu." Tang San gave a bitter smile. At first, his cultivation was clearly ahead.
But Ye Qiu had indeed worked very hard, dragging Xiao Wu day and night to train.
"By the way, what's wrong with Xiao Wu?" Tang San looked at Xiao Wu lying still on the bed. He had never seen her like this except when Ye Qiu had beaten her badly, but Ye Qiu hadn't hit her in a long time.
"Oh, maybe she's just tired from training recently," Ye Qiu chuckled lightly, giving a plausible excuse.
Xiao Wu lay on the bed listening to Ye Qiu's voice, biting her silver teeth in silent annoyance. She was willing to train with Ye Qiu to help him and did not feel tired at all!
"Hmph!"
A cold snort came from Xiao Wu's bed.
"Ye Qiu, don't tell me you bullied Xiao Wu again?" Tang San looked at both of them oddly, teasing with a smile, sure they had quarreled again.
"No way!" Ye Qiu waved his hand. This time he really didn't bully her.
"Then why does Xiao Wu seem so unhappy?" Tang San looked surprised. Ye Qiu would admit it every time he hit Xiao Wu.
"Maybe it's because I won't be able to play with her this holiday. She's a little unhappy about that," Ye Qiu said casually, stuffing his little treasury into the bag Xiao Wu had prepared for him.
"I see." Tang San nodded but soon sensed something was off. "Hmm? Isn't Xiao Wu coming back to Sacred Soul Village with us this year?"
"Not her. It's me."
"You?" Tang San looked at him, full of confusion.
"Yes, it's me. I want to take advantage of this last holiday before graduation to go out and see the world." Ye Qiu spread his arms wide like an idealistic young man about to set his dreams free, his face full of conviction.
Tang San's mouth twitched slightly. Ye Qiu's demeanor was completely different from his usual carefree self. It felt somewhat out of place.
"Well then, I'll wish you a good trip in advance!" Tang San didn't try to stop him. He knew Ye Qiu was always strong-willed, and instead started worrying about what to do with Xiao Wu.
"By the way, what about Xiao Wu?!"
"That depends on her," Ye Qiu shrugged casually and turned to look at Xiao Wu, who had now sat up, her eyes full of grievance.
...
In the end, Xiao Wu decided to go with Ye Qiu's plan and spend the holiday at Sacred Soul Village. At least there she could eat well at Old Jack's place and be the big sister of Sacred Soul Village!
Night spread across all of Notting City, enveloping it in darkness. There was still light shining from Dormitory Seven.
Xiao Wu quietly packed her things alone.
Ye Qiu and Tang San sparred outside the dormitory.
Because Ye Qiu was hiding some of his abilities, he did not use full power.
Likewise, Tang San also did not go all out.
But even if Tang San used full power and his hidden weapons, Ye Qiu was completely unafraid; Tang San's hidden weapons couldn't hurt him.
Besides, Tang San currently didn't have any powerful hidden weapons, not even decent poisons.
Ye Qiu's third soul skill, however, perfectly countered Tang San's various toxins.
Third Soul Skill: Devouring Poison Fang!
To Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, Ye Qiu only said his teeth were simply poisonous. Actually, his third soul skill could comprehensively absorb any toxin, then transport and store it in the rows of pearly white sharp teeth soaked in venom.
If any powerful toxin was stored inside, anyone bitten would only be able to wish themselves good luck.
This was also why Ye Qiu dared to go alone to the Sunset Forest and wrestle with the solitary Bo Hu Xu.