"Is this really Sister A Yin?"
Xiaowu was excited, leaping down directly from Xu Ran's lap, exclaiming with thrilled joy. The Soft Bone Rabbit and the Bluesilver Grass were natural enemies, but during the long years in the Star Dou Great Forest, she had already formed a deep friendship with the Bluesilver Emperor, A Yin.
"Yes, A Yin was sacrificed by Tang Hao, who planted her in a dark cave left to fend for herself. Then I went and rescued her,"
"Hao Tian Douluo." Xiaowu's eyes brimmed with icy intent to kill.
Murmuring this name, her black eyes flickered with a hint of red light.
Her hatred for Hao Tian Douluo and Tang San was only slightly less than that for the existence in the Martial Soul Hall. If she were to rank the people she hated and despised most in her heart at this moment, the Pope of the Martial Soul Hall would be first, followed by Tang San and Tang Hao.
"Don't worry, I will be here for you in the future, I will help you," Xu Ran said soothingly, taking Xiaowu's hand. He wouldn't let go of a woman like Bi Bidong, but he believed that in the future he would be able to revive Xiaowu's mother, Ah Rou, and by then the conflict between them would be resolved.
Feeling Xu Ran's presence, the deep-rooted hatred in Xiaowu's soul once again receded. Xu Ran was the Emperor's Auspicious Beast, if he said he could help her, he certainly could.
Auspicious Beasts, being the Soul Beast Emperors, have mysterious and unpredictable methods and an unmatched status. With him there, she was sure to succeed in her revenge.
"Sister A Yin, do you still recognize me?" Xiaowu stopped thinking too much, crouching down and gently caressing A Yin's leaves, while A Yin curled its leaves around Xiaowu's fingers affectionately.
Clearly, A Yin also sensed Xiaowu's presence.
A Yin and Xiaowu, both being hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, were familiar with Xiaowu, Da Ming, and Er Ming and other soul beasts.
"Xiaowu, Xu Ran, who are you talking to?" Zhu Zhuqing walked out in a black, strappy dress, her chest taut and making the dress seem a bit loose. She had her hands behind her head and used a black hairband to tie up her long hair.
Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat puzzled, her gaze turning toward Xiaowu.
Xiaowu was squatting on the ground, happily playing with a cluster of Blue Silver Grass.
"Zhu Qing, this is Sister A Yin," Xiaowu pouted, glancing at Xu Ran and then speaking to Zhu Zhuqing after seeing him nod.
"Sister A Yin? Who is that?" Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but ask. The name A Yin sounded familiar, but she had forgotten where she had heard it before.
"Haven't you heard, Zhu Qing? Twelve years ago, there was a hundred-thousand-year Transforming Soul Beast that shocked the entire Continent. Even, the former Pope of the Soul Hall died because of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast."
"A hundred-thousand-year soul beast, are you talking about Hao Tian Douluo's wife, A Yin?" Zhu Zhuqing exclaimed.
"Yes. This is Sister A Yin," Xiaowu nodded.
Then Xiaowu slowly told Zhu Zhuqing the events of the past, causing her face to drastically change. She had never imagined that there was such a huge conspiracy hidden behind the love story of Hao Tian Douluo and the hundred-thousand-year Bluesilver Emperor.
But how did Xiaowu know so much?
"Zhu Qing, actually, I am also a hundred-thousand-year Transforming Soul Beast. Tang San came to Shrek Academy because he coveted the Soul Ring and Soul Bone on my body. This is also why Xu Ran and I dislike Tang San so much," Xiaowu continued.
"So that's how it is." Zhu Zhuqing stood there, stunned, momentarily lost in thought. After all, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast was a legendary existence, one that a person could go their entire life without encountering if they weren't lucky.
To think that such an existence had spent a hundred thousand years cultivating to take human form was even rarer. And such a being had been her roommate, the one she had spent all these days and nights with. How could she not be shocked?
"Zhu Qing, will you dislike me now because of this?" Xiaowu pouted, looking pitifully at Zhu Zhuqing. Her big, watery eyes blinked so appealingly that even Xu Ran couldn't help but feel pity. Even though he knew acting pitiful was Xiaowu's go-to move, every time he saw her like this, both he and Zhu Zhuqing would soften.
"Xiaowu, how could I? You're my best friend."
"We've lived together for so long, and we know the depths of each other's hearts. How could I possibly dislike you because of your identity? If anything, I'm the one who should be worried. After all, you're a hundred-thousand-year soul beast—with a status and position who knows how much higher than mine?" Zhu Zhuqing gave Xiaowu a sidelong glance, squatting down just like her, touching the leaves of Ah Yin in the flower pot.
Ah Yin also wrapped her leaves around Zhu Zhuqing's fingers, just as she did with Xiaowu. Ah Yin and Zhu Zhuqing weren't very familiar with each other, but Ah Yin had seen Zhu Zhuqing many times in Xu Ran's dormitory. Zhu Zhuqing had a few moles on her bottom, and Ah Yin knew every one of them, so there was no sense of strangeness.
"Zhu Qing, you really won't mind?" Xiaowu looked into Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, somewhat distracted. These days, although she and Zhu Qing got along very well, sometimes even sharing the same bed, there was still a slight barrier between them.
Ever since she had found out Tang San was that kind of person, she had been wary of everyone in the world. Although, because of Xu Ran, she and Zhu Zhuqing were like real sisters, she still had her guard up.
"Mind what? We both belong to Xu Ran, what's there to mind?" Zhu Zhuqing snorted, not taking Xiaowu's identity seriously. Ever since Xu Ran had entered her world, he had become the most important thing to her.
Besides that, it was just family and Xiaowu now. Xiaowu was going to be Xu Ran's woman, just like her. In her heart, she treated Xiaowu as family.
Others might become greedy upon learning that Xiaowu was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, but not her.
After all, to her, cultivation was not as important as it used to be. The time she spent with Xu Ran was what she treasured the most.
Even though she treasured her time with Xu Ran, she wouldn't stick to him day in and day out, and often when Xu Ran came to find her, she would even refuse him.
Xu Ran was a peerless genius who was bound to stand atop the entire Continent. She would naturally not allow herself to affect Xu Ran's cultivation, or to cause his body any harm because of herself.
Her own talents were far too inferior to Xu Ran's, she was destined not to stay by his side and fight alongside him. The most she could do was to try not affecting him as much as possible.
"Enough about that."
"It's already late today, so why don't we..." Xu Ran interrupted the two and then reached out to wrap his arms around their waists.
His gaze swept over Xiaowu and Zhu Zhuqing, both of whom were wearing loose strap dresses. The hems of the dresses swayed with their movements, the alluring yet obscured view itching Xu Ran's heart.
"No, ah, Xu Ran, you're shameless."
"Xu Ran, ah!"
The two women cried out in unison, and by the time they did, Xu Ran had already scooped them into his arms. Suddenly, a flurry of playful punches rained down on Xu Ran.
"Shy for what? I'm here to help you eliminate the barrier between sisters."