Night falls, inside the room.
Dai Yao released his grip on Feng Wutong. The warm touch on his hand had barely disappeared when Feng Wutong sensed something was wrong and woke up with a start. The look of surprise on her face disappeared when she saw Dai Yao.
"Husband, what's wrong?"
Dai Yao smiled gently, smoothed the stray hairs from her forehead, lightly kissed her beautiful face, and whispered:
"It's okay, I'm going out for a bit, you go to sleep first."
Feng Wutong, unsuspecting, lay down again. Dai Yao gently closed the door, then flashed to a relatively secluded pavilion, glancing at the Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch at his waist.
"What is this? And what are you trying to do?"
Through the shared vision, Xiao Wu saw Dai Yao take out a blood-red, foot-long ginseng. She immediately frowned and asked in a cold voice in the spiritual world.
Dai Yao did not answer. He slowly took out the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, and then took out the Soft Bone Rabbit body that Xiao Wu had sacrificed herself.
When Xiao Wu made her sacrifice, Dai Yao, just like in the original story, gave the dying Soft Bone Rabbit the Love-Severing Red, which kept the rabbit alive. Then he put it in his Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch and left it alone.
The soft-boned rabbit has now recovered.
However, when it saw Dai Yao, it immediately hissed, bared its teeth, and tried to attack Dai Yao. Its ruby-like eyes revealed a human-like hatred.
"This rabbit's lost its soul; it hates me so much subconsciously. Am I really that hateful? I think I did something pretty kind. Tang San said he didn't want Xiao Wu's spirit ring, so I just took it. Wasn't I just helping someone achieve their goal...?"
Dai Yaozhen considered himself a great philanthropist.
Dai Yao stretched out his finger and flipped the Soft Bone Rabbit over, exposing its belly. But the Soft Bone Rabbit still hated him to the core. With a powerful kick of its powerful hind legs, it flipped itself over.
Baring his teeth, he still adopted a posture as if he wanted to attack Dai Yao.
Dai Yao flicked the head on the Soft Bone Rabbit. The Soft Bone Rabbit was originally furious, but when Dai Yao took out the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, the anger in the rabbit's eyes was immediately replaced by longing.
In her spiritual world, Xiao Wu witnessed her physical body's actions and was filled with anxiety. She couldn't understand what Dai Yao was trying to do! She angrily exclaimed:
"Dai Yao! What exactly are you trying to do?"
Dai Yao handed the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng to the Soft Bone Rabbit. The Soft Bone Rabbit, which had been drooling over this divine delicacy, immediately pounced and bit the trunk of the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng.
The Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng gradually shrivels up as the Soft-Boned Rabbit continuously absorbs its juices. The Soft-Boned Rabbit does not let go of the remains and swallows them.
Before long, the Soft Bone Rabbit's body was tinged with gold, and finally it was completely covered in golden fur.
Hearing Xiao Wu's question, Dai Yao looked at the golden rabbit in his hand and smiled:
"Since I'm asking you to keep your promise, I'll naturally make sure you have the body to see Tang San. Think about it, I gave you the Acacia Heartbreak Red to save you, and now I'm giving you the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, a divine product comparable to a ninth-grade ginseng king."
"I've been so kind to let you see Tang San, and instead of thanking me, you hate me. Tell me, do you have any conscience?"
Xiao Wu couldn't believe that someone could say such shameless things. She trembled with anger and gritted her teeth, saying:
"Dai Yao, why don't you just die! If you were dead, the continent would be rid of one less scourge!"
Dai Yao couldn't help but sneer, his face icy cold.
What your third brother did was far more cruel than what I did. A perfectly good divine realm was turned into a family gathering of the Tang family.
Tang Hao became the master of the plane, and Ah Yin became the Golden Ancient Tree, crawling all over the Douluo Continent sucking blood. All living beings are slaves of your Tang family.
All I did was torment the two of you. Compared to what you did, I'm a real philanthropist!
Besides, I'm helping you too, Xiao Wu.
To avoid becoming a 'scabbard' and a mere accessory to the future Tang God King, you should thank me!
Dai Yao returned to his spiritual world, his face frosty, staring intently at Xiao Wu. The chill in his eyes made even Xiao Wu, who hated Dai Yao to the core, feel a chill run down her spine.
Dai Yao said in a cold voice:
"I'm a menace?! Haha, compared to Tang San, I'm nothing. Compared to what Tang San will do in the future, tormenting you two isn't even enough to vent my anger!"
Xiao Wu was taken aback, then said angrily, "You're the troublemaker! My third brother would never do anything bad!"
Dai Yao snorted softly: "Perhaps. There's no point in saying more. Now, it's time for you to return to your body."
With a thought from Dai Yao, Xiao Wu's soul returned to the real world. The Soft Bone Rabbit's body seemed to have a powerful attraction, and before Xiao Wu could react, she was sucked into the Soft Bone Rabbit's body.
As Xiao Wu's soul returned to the Soft Bone Rabbit's body, the Soft Bone Rabbit's entire body turned blood red, just like the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, resembling a rabbit-shaped ruby.
His body became warm and moist, and he gradually closed his eyes, absorbing the immense medicinal power of the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng.
Half an hour later.
A tantalizing fragrance wafted through the air, and a thick layer of white mist enveloped Dai Yao and the surrounding area. Within the mist, a phantom figure slowly took shape.
As the white mist solidified, the illusory figure became real.
Xiao Wu happily stretched her body, the feeling of being reborn making her unable to control her emotions. However, when she looked down, she saw her naked body.
She instinctively covered her private parts with her hands, her rabbit ears drooping down, extremely worried about the presence of outsiders.
"Stop hiding, there's no one else around except me."
Amidst the white mist, Dai Yao gradually entered, glanced at Xiao Wu's naked body from head to toe, and let out a disdainful snort.
This is nothing compared to the girl beside him...
Hearing Dai Yao's disdainful voice, Xiao Wu was filled with shame and indignation. Wasn't Dai Yao her biggest worry? She was currently powerless to fight back; if Dai Yao were to force himself on her…
How can she face her third brother?
Dai Yao didn't indulge in any of the perverse pleasures of tormenting Xiao Wu in her current state; that would be too low-class. He took a piece of clothing from his soul tool and tossed it to Xiao Wu.
This is what Xiao Wu wore when she made her sacrifice; however, the blood from the battle still remains on her clothes.
"Put it on. After you're dressed, go see Tang San."
Dai Yao said calmly.
Xiao Wu stared at the blood-stained white sheer dress, momentarily stunned, then a wave of bitterness and pain washed over her. The scene of Tang San protecting her in the Star Dou Great Forest flashed before her eyes.
But she could never go back to him...
She held the white veil to her private parts, and was about to ask Dai Yao to turn around when she found that Dai Yao had already turned around. She couldn't help but think that Dai Yao still had some good points.
Xiao Wu put on a white, sheer long dress, the bloodstains on the dress were so conspicuous, and Xiao Wu's expression became even more gloomy.
Let's go.
She smiled sadly and said softly, as if resigned to her fate.
Dai Yao turned around, looked Xiao Wu up and down, and said coldly, "Don't even think about running away. Your soul is attached to a 100,000-year soul ring. I have many ways to bring you back."
"At the same time, I will also monitor your conversation with Tang San to prevent you from saying anything you shouldn't."
Xiao Wu's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but think of the blue lotus in Dai Yao's spiritual world. Since Dai Yao had given her such instructions, it meant that the importance of that blue lotus far exceeded her imagination.
"You're really cautious."
She glanced at Dai Yao sideways and said sarcastically in a cold voice.
"You flatter me."
Dai Yao didn't care.
"Alright, now it's time to go find Tang San. Those hidden weapon blueprints are up to you, Xiao Wu."
Dai Yao chuckled.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu's expression became even more sorrowful.
······
On the streets of Longxing City, Tang San wandered aimlessly through the bustling streets, his heart filled with gloom and despair.
Just now, when Dai Yao used the 100,000-year soul ring, Xiao Wu's illusory phantom's dull eyes were like a sharp sword piercing his heart.
"Xiao Wu, I'm so sorry..."
It was all his incompetence that led to Xiao Wu's sacrifice. Two lines of bloody tears streamed from Tang San's eyes. He found a secluded spot, slumped down, and bowed his head deeply, as if repenting for his past incompetence.
A streak of white hair gradually crept onto his long, light blue hair.
With Xiao Wu dead, his heart felt empty.
Three steps and your hair turns white; you become a walking corpse.
Tourists passing by on the street, seeing Tang San's strange appearance, quickly left. Some women walked away, sighing in amazement:
"So handsome, what a pity he's a madman, what a shame..."
······
By evening, Titan and the others realized that Tang San had not returned, and they left the Yu Clan in a panic to search for him.
Titan frantically searched through Dragonrise City when suddenly he noticed an elderly man with white hair sitting on the stone steps at a street corner. Just as he was about to ignore the man, his heart skipped a beat.
The white-haired man's clothes are exactly the same as the young master's!
He seemed to remember something, and his right hand trembled as he reached out to the white-haired man, slowly approaching him. When he saw the man's face clearly, tears streamed down his face, and he said sorrowfully:
"Young Master!..."
Tang San still didn't react until Titan nudged him. Only then did he wake up from his despair, slowly turn his head to look at Titan, his movements as sluggish as an old man.
"Elder Titan, you've arrived."
Tang San forced a smile and said in a hoarse voice.
"Young Master, what happened to you?"
Titan cradled Tang San's face in his hands, his long, pale hair resembling withered old wood, and wept bitterly.
"Xiao Wu is dead... Xiao Wu is dead!"
Upon hearing Titan's words, Tang San's emotions overwhelmed him, and sorrow surged within him like a tidal wave.
Hearing the commotion, Oscar and Ma Hongjun rushed over. When they saw Tang San's appearance, they were shocked. The sadness he showed was so profound that they could feel it deeply.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun exchanged a glance, then helped Tang San up. Oscar comforted him, saying:
"Little San, the past is the past. You are the sect leader of the Tang Sect, carrying the hopes of Haotian Douluo and the Haotian Sect. You must cheer up. Dai Yao will be very proud to see you like this!"
Even though Tang San hated Dai Yao to the core, despite his many years of effort, he was still no match for Dai Yao and suffered repeated defeats. Even Tang San felt somewhat dejected.
However, Xiao Wu's hatred made it impossible for him to let go.
"Xiao Ao, you're right. I will definitely kill Dai Yao and avenge Xiao Wu..."
Tang San said weakly.
He didn't know if he could do it, but he was determined to take revenge, even if it meant burning his own life away.
Oscar gave Titan a look, indicating that Tang San had finally calmed down and needed to rest. Titan understood and took Tang San from Oscar, intending to help him leave.
But after taking only a few steps, Tang San suddenly seemed to have discovered something. His empty, lifeless eyes instantly became sharp and joyful, his face full of surprise, and he murmured:
"Xiao Wu..."
Ma Hongjun continued carrying Tang San back, but upon hearing Tang San's words, he sighed and said:
"Third Brother, what's done is done. People have to look forward. Look at me, how good my life is since I joined the Heavenly Dou Royal Family..."
Before he could finish speaking, a tremendous force came from his shoulder. Tang San broke free from Ma Hongjun and Titan's grasp, used Ghost Shadow Steps, and rushed swiftly towards the end of the street, as agile as a leopard hunting its prey.
Ma Hongjun and Titan were horrified, but they gave chase without thinking. However, Tang San was too fast, and the two of them couldn't catch up at all.
Even though Titan is a Soul Douluo, he is focused on power and cannot catch up with Tang San.
Helpless, they could only watch as Tang San walked further and further away.
At this moment, Tang San's eyes were only on the white figure that suddenly appeared. The exquisite face, the scorpion braid that reached her ankles, and the white sheer dress that she wore during the bloody battle in the forest all proved that the person was the one.
"Xiao Wu! Xiao Wu... wait for me, Xiao Wu!"
Tang San chased after them with great joy.
But Xiao Wu, who was running ahead, was already in tears, her heart filled with unbearable pain.
"Brother, I'm sorry, but to protect you, I have no choice but to take your concealed weapon blueprints..."
Finally, the two left Longxing City at a speed that was impossible for ordinary people to track, and arrived in the forest outside the city. In an open space, Xiao Wu stopped.
The bright moon hung high in the sky, and Xiao Wu stood on a towering rock, like a fairy under the moon, but the blood-stained clothes on her body were so conspicuous.
After Tang San saw Xiao Wu stop, he had no time to think about these strange occurrences. At that moment, his mind was filled with Xiao Wu, and he exclaimed with wild joy:
"Xiao Wu, you finally stopped. Were you waiting for me? Do you know how much I wanted to see you again!"
Immediately, he looked at Xiao Wu, who was still facing away from him, and seemed somewhat at a loss. As if he had remembered something, he said with a struggle and guilt on his face:
"I'm sorry, Xiaowu, it's all my fault. I was too weak and couldn't protect you. You must be angry with me because of this, because I couldn't keep my promise."
"I swear to you again, if anyone dares to harm you, they will have to step over my dead body!"
Xiao Wu's face was streaked with tears. She knew Tang San hadn't broken his promise, and she forced back her sobs, looking up at the bright moon in the sky, she prayed:
"Heavens above, why are you torturing me and my third brother like this!"
Watching the ecstatic Tang San and the tormented Xiao Wu, Dai Yao couldn't help but laugh. This little bit of pain isn't enough!
He transmitted his voice to Xiao Wu and said:
"What's wrong? Can't bear it? Hurry up and take Tang San's hidden weapon blueprints, otherwise Ma Hongjun and the others will come after us."
Xiao Wu couldn't help but retort:
"You're a devil!"
"You flatter me!"
Xiao Wu wiped away her tears, forced a smile, and slowly turned her head to look at Tang San's full head of white hair. Tears almost welled up in her eyes.
"Third Brother, it's been a long time."
Hearing the familiar voice, Tang San was overjoyed. Looking at Xiao Wu, who was as beautiful as a fairy, he didn't dare to meet her eyes and said awkwardly:
"Xiao Wu, I know you still blame me. I'm willing to do anything to get you back by my side!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu could barely conceal the pain on her face. She quickly turned around, forcing back her sorrow, and said in a trembling voice:
"Third Brother, could you give me all your hidden weapon blueprints?"
Tang San, without suspecting anything amiss, assumed Xiao Wu was angry with him. He hurriedly retrieved all the hidden weapon blueprints from the Twenty-Four Bridges Under the Moonlit Night and handed them to Xiao Wu, anxiously saying:
"Xiao Wu, here you go..."
Xiao Wu grabbed the hidden weapon blueprints, tears streaming down her face, and ran wildly into the depths of the forest.
"Third brother, forget about me. I'm not good enough for you. You must live well and not go against Dai Yao. You can't beat him!"
Crystalline tears fell to the ground, and Xiao Wu's sobbing voice faded into the distance until her figure was swallowed up by the dark forest.
Tang San was taken aback, then said painfully:
"Xiao Wu, don't go! Don't go!"
Countless strands of Blue Silver Emperor energy grew wildly on the ground, resembling iron chains, attempting to trap Xiao Wu and slow her down. However, with several flashes of Xiao Wu's appearance, she eventually disappeared from Tang San's sight.
Tang San collapsed to his knees, crying out in anguish:
"No!!!"
The piercing sound was especially eerie in the dark night. (End of Chapter)