Chapter 27: Consoling Xiao Wu

"Tang San, so this is who you've always been? You've been lurking around me just to obtain my soul ring?"

"Heh, the son of a Titled Douluo, born into unparalleled nobility, yet you act so pitifully. Even the clothes you wear are patched up. You really are quite the actor."

"Then again, it makes sense. How else could you have become a work-study student? You must have anticipated that I'd arrive in the human world penniless, waiting for me at the work-study dorms. All of this is deception. Your father used the same tricks to kill Sister Ah Yin; now you intend to use them on me." Xiao Wu mumbled to herself, voicing her inner grievances. She ran off alone into the distance, her heart breaking piece by piece.

There's no sorrow greater than a broken heart.

At this very moment, her love for Tang San had died.

Even as a girl who was a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast, she was emotionally fragile. No girl could withstand such a blow. Tang San, who had been by her side for six years, had only been kind to her to tie her to him, so he could extract her soul ring and soul bone once he grew stronger.

"Boom, boom, boom."

As if in tune with Xiao Wu's emotions, thunder roared and lightning flashed in the sky. Dark clouds gathered, casting a shadow over the earth. Within moments, a torrential downpour ensued.

The raindrops pattered on Xiao Wu, soaking her dress.

A chilling breeze blew, yet Xiao Wu felt no coldness. The pain in her heart was the only ache she recognized.

She walked aimlessly, not knowing where she was headed. All she knew was that her heart ached so much that she wished for the pain to end. Memories of her six years with Tang San flooded her mind.

Those once heartwarming moments now seemed so glaringly painful to her. Because those scenes, those coincidences, were all for show—acts Tang San deliberately put on to impress her.

A fake sense of warmth could only make her feel nauseated.

She couldn't understand why Tang San would do this. Were a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone really that important? Did he have to go to such lengths just to enhance his own power?

Even if he initially had such intentions, six years had passed. With such deep emotions between them, could he truly harbor the intent to kill her? Was his heart made of iron? Was it really that unyielding? Could he remain so indifferent despite six years of shared emotions?

---

Xiao Wu kept her head down and continued to walk aimlessly. Raindrops fell on her, soaking her dress, which clung tightly to her shapely figure.

She looked up at the overcast sky, feeling as though she was the only person in this vast world. She had come to the human realm, thinking she had found friends like Da Ming and Er Ming. How laughable. Could she really find kin in this human world?

Even if she did, once they discovered her identity as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, could they remain indifferent? Would they not succumb to greed, endangering her life?

"Don't go any further; come back with me."

Just then, Xu Ran, dressed in a black robe and holding a single-person umbrella, stood in front of Xiao Wu, stopping her from wandering off any further.

"Xu Ran, you're here." Xiao Wu looked at Xu Ran, tears uncontrollably streaming down her face. She couldn't help but feel a little relieved. If it weren't for Xu Ran, she wouldn't know how much longer she'd be deceived by that despicable and shameless Tang San—she might even have unwittingly helped him count the money from her own sale.

But thankfully, Xu Ran would never deceive her. In the world at large, anyone could betray her, but not a Auspicious Beast. He would never lower his pride to engage in such acts.

"Stop crying; Tang San is not worth it," Xu Ran said, removing his coat and draping it over Xiao Wu's delicate frame.

And indeed, Xu Ran was not the sort of shameless person who would harm Xiao Wu just to satisfy his own desires. With such heavy rainfall, how could her fragile body endure it? She was not the powerful hundred-thousand-year Soft-Boned Rabbit she once was; now, she was just an ordinary human girl.

After her rebirth, she was no different from any other human. But why did she, as a reborn soul beast, have to bear such a burden? The moment her identity was revealed, numerous powerful individuals would set their sights on her.

A hundred-thousand-year soul beast is a treasure, and one that has taken human form is an even greater treasure capable of stirring the continent.

Why did Ah Yin, who was also a reborn hundred-thousand-year soul beast, attract a manhunt led by Qian Xunji and numerous other powerful beings? Even a Soul Douluo would find it challenging to possess a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Their cultivation levels are high, and their combat capabilities are formidable. Most importantly, soul beasts of that tier have their own life-saving soul techniques. When they know they are facing certain death, they would rather self-destruct than allow humans to take their soul bones. Hence, hunting a hundred-thousand-year soul beast is extremely difficult; even the most powerful Soul Douluos cannot guarantee absolute success.

However, reborn hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, who are indistinguishable from humans, are much easier to kill. As a result, their presence in the human world makes everyone's eyes turn green with envy.

Xiao Wu is a treasure in herself. If other powerful soul masters were to learn about her identity, they would stop at nothing to kill her.

However, Tang Hao knew about this all along, yet he didn't stop Xiao Wu from heading to Shrek Academy or the Spirit Hall. Perhaps Tang San had no intention to kill, but Tang Hao certainly seemed to desire to stage a scene where Xiao Wu sacrifices herself for Tang San.

He had used the same methods on Ah Yin, his own lover. If he could lay his hands on her, why would he hesitate with Xiao Wu?

Xiao Wu's eyes were red, still brimming with tears. Her long hair was wet from both the rain and her tears, and they flowed down together. At that moment, she appeared vulnerable, aggrieved, and frightened.

Even as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, she had lived worry-free in the Great Star Dou Forest, protected by her mother and Da Ming and Er Ming. How could she know about the intricacies and dark sides of the human world?

Seeing Xiao Wu crying so heartbreakingly, Xu Ran couldn't help but feel pain in his heart as well.

He didn't want to see her so sad. However, if things weren't clarified, when would they truly separate? Failure to act decisively would lead to greater troubles. How much suffering had Xiao Wu experienced because of Tang San? Both she and Da Ming and Er Ming had made sacrifices.

But from now on, he would protect her. As an Auspicious Beast and with his current status, even if he needed to command other hundred-thousand-year soul beasts to protect Xiao Wu, it wouldn't be an issue.

T/N: Mnn, this guy is kinda full of shit, not gonna lie

Xu Ran looked at Xiao Wu, sighed softly, and gently stroked her rain-soaked long hair. He carefully lifted her delicate body into his arms. The weight of the situation seemed to lighten for just a moment, a small yet significant comfort against the relentless harshness of the world they lived in.