SS - 9

Chapter 9 Acceptance and Timeskip

How to choose, Yu Xiaogang decided to leave it to Su Xiao. He handed over a dagger. "Ah Xiao, you decide for yourself."

Su Xiao took the dagger and strode toward the mother of the Glorious Rhinoceros Dragon. The thousand-year-old soul beast did not resist and exposed the vital part on its head.

"Don't worry, since I took away your soul ring, I will take good care of the little dragon for you. How about giving it a name, just Xiao Bai?" Su Xiao said softly.

hiss—

The mother of the Glorious Rhinoceros Dragon made a high-pitched cry, seemingly acknowledging Su Xiao's words. She then turned her attention toward the little dragon. Her eyes were filled with a bittersweet longing, as if saying a final goodbye to Xiao Bai.

Su Xiao swung the dagger with precision, piercing the mother's vitals. Her eyes slowly closed, and the three-meter-long body fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

Xiao Bai, still too young to understand, repeatedly rubbed his nose against his mother's cold body, nudging her with his horn in a frantic attempt to wake her. His small body trembled with confusion, and his movements became more desperate. The high-pitched cries of a young dragon echoed in the air, filled with grief, loneliness, and a sense of abandonment he couldn't fully comprehend.

A purple thousand-year-old soul ring floated above the body of the Glorious Rhinoceros. Su Xiao absorbed it into his body without hesitation, feeling a deep connection to the soul ring. The process was seamless, yet the weight of the moment lingered.

"This mother took the initiative to sacrifice, so it was easy for Xiao to absorb the soul ring," Yu Xiaogang explained quietly, though his voice was laced with sorrow.

Su Xiao, realizing the emotional impact on Xiao Bai, gently covered the body of the mother with the black cloth, trying to shield the little dragon from the reality of her passing.

But when Yu Xiaogang and Tang San moved the body away, Xiao Bai's gaze followed with wide, confused eyes. His cries grew louder, filled with an ache that only deepened as his mother disappeared from sight. With a heartbreaking cry, Xiao Bai slammed his tiny body against the iron bars of the cage, his strength and instinct overriding his youth.

Su Xiao could feel the weight of Xiao Bai's grief, a quiet bond forming between them. He knelt down, calling to the little dragon with a calm voice. His soul power enveloped Xiao Bai like a warm, protective embrace. Su Xiao's martial soul connected with the dragon's spirit, and the first soul ring materialized around him. The deep anguish in Xiao Bai's eyes softened, as if the pain was finally being soothed by Su Xiao's presence.

With a gentle stroke on Xiao Bai's scaled skin, Su Xiao whispered, "My name is Su Xiao, and your name is Xiao Bai. From today on, we are friends. Your mother went to a faraway place, and she asked me to protect you. Do you feel better now?"

Xiao Bai, still grieving, let out a low cry. Slowly, the tension in his small body relaxed, and the anger that once surged faded into sorrowful acceptance. His expression, while not fully at ease, was now one of quiet understanding. His tail swished, and he made a small, tentative sound, as if acknowledging Su Xiao's words, a small spark of trust igniting within him.

Su Xiao smiled softly and opened the cage, allowing Xiao Bai to step out into the world. "This is the perfect place for me. From now on, we will live here, but you have to promise me not to run around and be obedient, okay?"

Xiao Bai flicked his tail, his response more subdued than before, but it was enough for Su Xiao to know that, despite the turmoil inside, the bond between them was beginning to form. Xiao Bai didn't fully understand what was happening, but he had found a new guardian in Su Xiao, someone who would protect him and guide him through the pain of loss.

When Tang San and Yu Xiaogang returned, they saw Su Xiao and Xiao Bai playing, a rare moment of peace between them. Though they were surprised by the connection that had formed so quickly, they were also relieved to see Su Xiao fulfilling his promise to the mother. The young dragon, still grappling with the recent loss, had found solace in Su Xiao's presence.

Afterward, Yu Xiaogang arranged for a small house in the backyard for Su Xiao, where he could live with Xiao Bai. This way, Su Xiao wouldn't need to return to dorm seven. Tang San shared the news with Xiao Wu, and she quickly grew fond of Xiao Bai, visiting him often. It seemed that the young dragon had taken to her as well, and the two became inseparable, sharing a bond of their own.

Six years passed quickly. Su Xiao, Tang San, and Xiao Wu were now twelve years old. In those six years, their soul power had grown rapidly. Su Xiao, with his thirty-ninth-level rank and three thousand-year soul rings, had become the strongest of the three. Tang San and Xiao Wu, both at level twenty-nine with two hundred-year soul rings, were also impressive in their own right. Together, they were the most outstanding graduates from Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy, each standing out as someone destined for greatness.

"Third Brother, Ah Xiao, there are so many intermediate soul master academies willing to admit us. Why did the master just let us go to this Shrek?" Xiao Wu complained, pouting.

Su Xiao and Tang San exchanged glances, both smiling. "Teacher, I just asked Xiao San and I to come, but Xiao Wu, you insisted on following. And now you're complaining?"

"Tch!" Xiao Wu stuck her tongue out at Su Xiao. "But this shabby academy doesn't even have a level, and it's so far away. It's so tiring!"

Soutuo City was already in sight. Su Xiao took a sip of water and fed some to Xiao Bai, who happily chomped on the fruit, letting out a satisfied cry.

"We'll be entering the city soon. Xiao San and Xiao Wu, you two go ahead and find the hotel. I need to settle Xiao Bai."

Xiao Wu jumped off Xiao Bai's back and grabbed Tang San's arm. "Finally, I can leave the stinky Su Xiao behind! Brother, let's go! There must be a lot of delicious food in the city!"

Tang San, embarrassed, allowed himself to be pulled away by Xiao Wu, glancing back at Su Xiao before he could speak.

"Ah Xiao, see you soon!" Tang San waved with a smile, and Su Xiao smiled back, watching them disappear into the distance.