Upon learning the truth that Xiao Wu was a Spirit Beast, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were struck as if by lightning, standing frozen in place, their mouths slightly agape, their expressions a colorful mix of shock, confusion, and doubt.
Ning Rongrong was the first to recover, her eyes suddenly lighting up: "Wow, this is too cool! It's my first time seeing a living shapeshifting Spirit Beast!"
She pressed down on Xiao Wu's shoulders, examining her from head to toe, muttering 'tsk tsk tsk' non-stop.
"Xiao Wu~ Are your rabbit ears real?"
"You, you kept this a secret from us! Didn't we say we were best friends?"
"Now I finally understand why you were acting so strange after meeting Bone Grandpa that day!"
Her excitement grew: "If you had told me sooner, I wouldn't have let you worry needlessly for those few days!"
Zhu Zhuqing listened to their conversation, deep in thought.
She knew that what Xiao Wu wanted most right now was their acceptance.
So, was Ning Rongrong genuinely finding this cool, or was she displaying great wisdom disguised as foolishness?
She stepped forward, gently pulling Ning Rongrong aside, then held Xiao Wu's slightly cool hand, her face sincere: "No matter your identity, you will always be my third junior sister."
Suddenly, many things clicked for her.
No wonder Jiang Yunzhou had defended Xiao Wu in front of Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo that day—was he backing her up?
No wonder Xiao Wu had been so abnormal then, even not daring to show herself for several days.
She glanced at Jiang Yunzhou, thinking that her teacher must have known her identity all along, right?
Recalling the playful smile on Jiang Yunzhou's face when he first met Xiao Wu, it seemed all of this was part of his plan, wasn't it?
Whether it was her, Ning Rongrong, or Xiao Wu, the teacher's goal had always been very clear.
This teacher, he really was cunning!
So, she and Ning Rongrong were the only ones kept in the dark, huh!
Xiao Wu was a bit bewildered by the two girls' reactions.
The 'being ostracized' and 'being feared' scenarios she had imagined never materialized; instead, she received two sincere expressions of care.
Her nose tingled, and she was so moved she almost cried again.
Now that she thought about it, being human wasn't that difficult after all!
As long as you meet the right people and treat them with sincerity, you really will be rewarded!
Jiang Yunzhou watched the three girls hugging each other, putting on a show of sisterly affection, and couldn't help but interject:
"Alright, pause the emotional part. Besides getting your spirit rings, we're also here to meet Xiao Wu's family."
"Fa-family?" Ning Rongrong looked at him, bewildered.
Jiang Yunzhou tilted his head slightly and said calmly:
"Yes, actually, deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, there's a Lake of Life..."
He briefly described the situation there, and the more Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing listened, the more their scalps tingled.
She subconsciously hugged his arm, openly burying her face in his neck.
"Teacher, do we really have to go? I-I-I'm a little scared..."
Xiao Wu heard this and felt a bit awkward, unsure how to explain.
After all, her family consisted of two 100,000-year-old Spirit Beasts, which indeed sounded a bit terrifying.
Jiang Yunzhou patted Ning Rongrong: "What's there to be afraid of? With Xiao Wu here, there'll be no danger, right, Xiao Wu?"
Suddenly called upon, Xiao Wu couldn't stop nodding: "Ah, yes, yes, yes..."
Jiang Yunzhou added: "Besides, for the matter of our spirit rings, I'm still hoping for their help."
The three girls simultaneously: "???"
Jiang Yunzhou looked at the three bewildered girls: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Ning Rongrong raised her hand to speak: "Teacher, shouldn't you personally take action, then 'whoosh whoosh whoosh' casually grab a few Spirit Beasts for us to kill?"
Jiang Yunzhou waved his hand: "No, no, no! Since we've come to their territory, of course, Xiao Wu's family should extend their hospitality."
"Da Ming and Er Ming have to eat, right? When they're eating, let's absorb our spirit rings first, and then they can eat. Isn't that fine?"
"Besides, hunting Spirit Beasts in front of Xiao Wu—wouldn't your consciences hurt?"
"Honestly, you have no foresight at all." He gave her a disdainful look.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong exchanged glances, unsure how to respond.
So, spirit rings could be acquired this way?
It seemed to make sense, but was it really possible?
Jiang Yunzhou's words completely broke Xiao Wu's emotional defenses.
This man always spoke the most moving words in the most casual tone.
She tried hard not to cry; she had promised her teacher she wouldn't cry anymore.
"Teacher, do you really think that way?"
"Ah? Is there a problem? This way, it's not only convenient for us, but you should also feel better about it, right? It's hitting two birds with one stone."
Ning Rongrong immediately understood and chimed in: "Ah, yes, yes! Xiao Wu, our spirit rings depend on you!"
Zhu Zhuqing also gave her a resolute look.
Xiao Wu's voice softened with emotion: "Thank you for caring so much about my feelings; you're really too kind to me..."
As they spoke, their steps were unhurried but steady, moving forward.
Xiao Wu pushed aside a large patch of thorns, smoothed her disheveled hair, and suddenly her eyes lit up. Why was she working so hard to clear a path?
"Actually, I can have Er Ming come pick us up."
"Alright, it's getting dark anyway."
Jiang Yunzhou also realized. Yes, how could he have forgotten this?
Wouldn't it be faster and more convenient to have a helper lead the way?
With his approval, Xiao Wu used some method, and before long, several earth-shattering roars echoed from a distance.
Birds in the forest took flight, and beasts scattered. Looking into the distance, one giant tree after another crashed down, sending up clouds of dust.
A massive figure was crashing through the forest, forcibly carving out a path.
"No, Xiao Wu, does your Er Ming always make such a grand entrance?" Jiang Yunzhou couldn't help but complain; the commotion was a bit too much.
Xiao Wu gave an awkward laugh; she hadn't expected Er Ming to be so straightforward.
She thought about it, probably because her arrival had made him too excited!
He just bulldozed his way through like this; this little commotion could be considered them setting off firecrackers to welcome them.
She looked at Jiang Yunzhou, and at Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, who were clinging tightly to his arms on either side, feeling a mix of amusement and helplessness.
"Th-that, uh, do you want to wait here for a bit? I'll go say hello to Er Ming first..."
Jiang Yunzhou gave the two girls a reassuring look and told Xiao Wu: "No need. When have I, your teacher, ever needed you to protect me?"
"It's just a big gorilla..."
Before he finished speaking, he felt his arms being hugged even tighter.
"T-t-teacher, he-he-he's coming!" Ning Rongrong hugged him even more tightly.
Zhu Zhuqing's heart also raced. What was she seeing? A mountain of flesh?
Er Ming's size had an incredibly powerful visual impact on her.
"Roar—"
As soon as Er Ming arrived, he immediately pounded his chest and stomped his feet, excited about something.
Xiao Wu directly shouted: "Er Ming, be quiet! You're scaring my senior sisters!"
Unexpectedly, upon hearing Xiao Wu's words, Er Ming really quieted down obediently, even looking at Xiao Wu with a wronged expression.
He then glanced at Jiang Yunzhou and the two girls, his eyes turning fierce again.
"Er Ming, long time no see. Did you miss your Sister Xiao Wu..."
As Xiao Wu spoke, she stepped forward and patted Er Ming's giant toe, then wiped her hand on her clothes with a look of distaste.
"Roar..."
"You're really so stupid; you still can't speak human language after all this time!"
"Roar..."
"Hmm, I'm doing very well, don't worry."
"Roar..."
"Oh, you mean them? Come, come, let me formally introduce them to you..."