Chapter 18: Tang San Spits Blood, Is This a Gift for Me?

"The Hat of Fate?" Xiao Wu stared blankly at the hat in Xu Ran's hands.

Despite her vast experience of a hundred thousand years, she couldn't decipher the material of the hat. Even her soul power was completely blocked when she tried to sense the hat.

This hat was incredibly mysterious, seeming to ward off all attempts to probe it.

Xiao Wu had heard from her mother that Auspicious Beasts are born from the fortunes of heaven and earth. They possess the power of destiny, which is crucial to the rise and fall of the soul beasts. Clearly, this Hat of Fate was also forged from the power of destiny by an Auspicious Beast.

"Brother Xu Ran, you already know?" Xiao Wu couldn't help but give a wry smile. She had never told Xu Ran about Tang San; had he already found out?

"Of course, you wear your heart on your sleeve, Xiao Wu. You're so innocent that you wouldn't even know if someone deceived you. Your sister Ah Yin is a prime example. To humans, every part of a soul beast is a treasure. Why would they ever be sincere?" said Xu Ran, his palm gently stroking Xiao Wu's long, silky hair. Xiao Wu had her hair styled in a scorpion tail braid, and Xu Ran knew that when her hair was let down, she looked her most beautiful.

The most captivating parts of Xiao Wu were her legs and her long hair. Once he truly won her over, he could enjoy the sight of her flowing hair and even lay on her beautiful legs, sharing an intimate world just for the two of them.

"Brother Xu Ran..." Xiao Wu's heart clenched, filled with fear. She couldn't bear to imagine how devastated she would be if Tang San turned out to be such a person.

From the moment she entered Nuoding City, it seemed that someone had already calculated her every move.

Even Tang San's closeness to her was because he coveted her soul bone.

His father, Clear Sky Douluo, was exactly this sort of person. Ah Yin had already fallen victim to him. And he taught Tang San to act the same way, experienced as he was in such matters. Did Tang Hao manipulate Ah Yin's feelings effortlessly just to acquire her soul ring, and now intends for his own son to do the same?

Her suspicion was almost akin to conviction in her heart. But she couldn't dare to entertain such a thought. They had studied together for six years; was Tang San really such a despicable person? She couldn't see it. Could it be, as Xu Ran suggested, that she was too naive?

"If you still don't trust your own judgment, put the hat on his head. Everything will be revealed in time. If that person harbors ill intentions, the Hat of Fate will radiate a dazzling green light," Xu Ran said, handing the Hat of Fate to Xiao Wu.

The Hat of Fate carried profound symbolism. If Xiao Wu were to place it on Tang San herself, it would make the moment all the more ceremonial...

Of course, Xu Ran's claim that the hat could detect Tang San's honesty was a complete fabrication. His goal was to sow discord between Tang San and Xiao Wu.

Wearing this hat could potentially crack even the strongest relationships.

Xu Ran was already imagining Tang San's reaction when the time came. Would it be despair or regret?

"Alright," Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment but finally took the Hat of Fate into her hands. She wanted to trust Tang San, but couldn't bring herself to do so. His father, Tang Hao, had killed her sister Ah Yin and even plotted against the Auspicious Beast. How could she convince herself to trust the son of such a man?

And Tang San, born with full soul power and the son of Tang Hao, was a prodigious genius. How could he have ended up sharing a dormitory with her in the seventh block? Would the son of a Titled Douluo really be so strapped for cash that he'd become a work-study student?

There had been too many bizarre coincidences between Xiao Wu and Tang San. These coincidences seemed heaven-sent, having nothing to do with Tang San. However, under Xu Ran's influence, these coincidences now felt like orchestrated schemes, as if Tang San had meticulously planned them.

It wasn't Xiao Wu's fault for suspecting Tang San; it was Xu Ran's skillful manipulation that sowed the seeds of doubt. One trap led to another, making it hard for Xiao Wu not to suspect Tang San unless she was utterly brainless with love. How could she not be suspicious?

Would an Auspicious Beast resort to such dishonest schemes? In Xiao Wu's mind at that moment, Xu Ran was considered an Auspicious Beast, the king of soul beasts. Why would he do such a thing?

"Brother Xu Ran, I'll be going now," said Xiao Wu, clutching the hat in her hands as she headed towards the door, somewhat absent-minded.

Tsk, what a shameless host, full of tricks, said the system with a playful smile. Host was incredibly audacious, asking Xiao Wu to give Tang San the hat. Wouldn't Tang San be infuriated?

"Bad boys attract girls," Xu Ran chuckled. After all, he had come to the Douluo Continent to pursue many beautiful women and, on the side, to thwart Tang San.

Tang San was a coward when faced with strong opponents and avoided trouble when faced with weaker ones.

Later on, he became more powerful and yet acted arrogantly in front of Zi Zhenzhu. Without the pirate gang, all seven of them would've been soul beast fodder by now. How could he afford to be haughty? Moreover, he used a newborn child to threaten a mother who had just given birth. Could a person really do such a thing? Did he even remember that he was an enforcer of divine laws? Wasn't he just enforcing his own laws?

Such a worthless character naturally needed to be tormented—the more miserable, the better.

...

The next day, after school.

Xiao Wu and Tang San walked together, neither speaking. Each was lost in their own thoughts.

Tang San found himself reflecting on what he had heard the day before, realizing upon further thought that there were many inconsistencies. Xiao Wu, being such a virtuous young woman, would never hastily give herself to someone else, even if she had developed feelings for them. This possibility was almost negligible.

Furthermore, Xiao Wu had always been by his side, accompanying him to and from school. When could she have even had the chance to meet someone else?

He hadn't actually seen anything conclusive yesterday, only overhearing some conversations which led him to misunderstand Xiao Wu. Could he have been too hasty in his judgment? The person with her might well be a relative, not necessarily a romantic partner.

Thinking this over, Tang San felt a sense of relief wash over him.

"Xiao Wu, I..." Tang San turned around, intending to speak his mind, but found himself at a loss for words.

He was dumbfounded,

Completely dumbfounded, standing there frozen in place.

Because at that moment, Xiao Wu was holding a green hat in her hands. The hat was intensely green, reflecting strands of green light in the sunshine...

The hat was unmistakably as green as green could be...

Why on earth would Xiao Wu be holding a green hat? Tang San felt a sinking sensation in his heart, his body trembling uncontrollably. An ominous premonition suddenly filled his mind.

"Brother, how long have we known each other?" Xiao Wu tilted her head, looking somewhat dazed as she gazed at the man before her.

"Six years," Tang San replied, still fixated on the hat in Xiao Wu's hand.

"Yes, six years. I'm ashamed to admit that in all that time, I've never given you a gift. It's always been you who spent money on me. Now, I want to give you a gift." Xiao Wu looked at the hat, the so-called Hat of Fate. She had heard that the stronger one's destiny, the deeper the shade of green would be. The power of destiny is immeasurable and taboo. If Tang San were to wear it, his destiny would change as well.

This was her ultimate reason for deciding to give the hat to Tang San.

Not only would the Hat of Fate reveal if Tang San had any ill intentions towards her, but it would also imbue him with the power to turn bad luck into good fortune.

"Is this for me?"

Tang San was trembling, unable to believe his ears. Xiao Wu was actually giving him a "green hat."

What did this mean? Was Xiao Wu trying to "cuckold" him? Tang San couldn't help but stagger backward a few steps, looking from the glaringly green hat to Xiao Wu's gentle face. He lost his balance and fell to the ground.