Chapter 35: Xiao Wu's Thoughts

That night, Xu Ran and Xiao Wu arrived in Suotuo City.

They found a hotel to rest for the night and left Suotuo City through its southern gate the next day, heading southward.

Suotuo City is located in the Kingdom of Barak, which is situated between the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire. Whenever the two empires go to war, the Kingdom of Barak serves as the frontline for the Heaven Dou Empire.

As the second-largest city in the Kingdom of Barak, Suotuo City is neither too large nor too small. Importantly for Xu Ran, the city is not too far from Star Luo City, Heaven Dou City, or the Great Star Dou Forest.

The location is particularly strategic, offering good connectivity.

After all, Xu Ran is now aligned with the Zhu family, which means he will frequently be traveling to their territory. And with powerful factions throughout Heaven Dou City, he will be making regular visits there as well. Additionally, once his identity as an auspicious beast is revealed, he will undoubtedly make several trips to the Great Star Dou Forest.

Most importantly, as an auspicious beast, it would be easier for him to establish a harem in Star Dou. Gu Yuena, Bi Ji, Zi Ji, and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion are all living skill points. Moreover, capturing Gu Yuena alone would be worth ten thousand skill points. And pursuing the Three-Eyed Golden Lion shouldn't be difficult, given that they are both auspicious beasts.

"Brother Xu Ran, where is Shrek Academy, the school we're going to? Isn't it in Suotuo City?" Xiao Wu complained. They had walked quite a distance since leaving Suotuo City, and all they had seen were vast fields; there were no buildings in sight. She couldn't believe a high-level soul master academy could be located in such an area.

A prestigious soul master academy wouldn't be built in the countryside, would it?

"You're not mistaken; Shrek Academy is indeed in the countryside. And it's precisely because the academy is in such a location that I dare to send you there. The city could be far less secure. If we were to encounter a powerful individual, you could end up in serious trouble. But here at Shrek Academy, safety is guaranteed," Xu Ran assured her, smiling. Besides, the teachers at Shrek Academy are generally amicable. Anyone willing to abandon their status as soul saints or soul emperors to establish a school in the countryside couldn't be a bad person.

"What do you mean by 'sending me here'? Aren't you coming to study at Shrek Academy as well, Brother Xu Ran?" Xiao Wu asked, visibly unsettled by his statement. What if Xu Ran left her alone at Shrek Academy?

"I'll also be attending Shrek Academy, but I'll be arriving a bit later. There are some minor matters I need to handle first," Xu Ran explained.

"You should know that like you, I also have a human identity. Moreover, I have a fiancée. She's about your age and is currently in the Star Luo Empire. Her name is Zhu Zhuqing," Xu Ran revealed, laying out his relationship with Zhu Zhuqing in full.

"A fiancée?" Xiao Wu's face changed dramatically, and she stood there, stunned. She never expected that Xu Ran would already be engaged.

"Brother Xu Ran, you're so terrible," Xiao Wu pouted, her eyes welling up with tears. Her unhappiness was written all over her face. Over the time they'd spent together, she had come to consider Xu Ran as the person closest to her.

And now, the person she felt closest to already had a fiancée. How could she not be upset? She had silently accepted some of Xu Ran's certain actions, implicitly acknowledging his identity.

"Why are you crying?" Xu Ran gently wiped away the tears at the corner of Xiao Wu's eyes.

"Why? It's because you've been treating me unfairly. You already have a fiancée, so why are you treating me so well?" Xiao Wu looked at Xu Ran somewhat angrily, pinching the flesh at his waist. Seeing the pained expression on Xu Ran's face, she finally felt a sense of satisfaction.

"How am I wronged here? Is it a mistake to treat you well?" Xu Ran protested, looking genuinely aggrieved. He had been nothing but respectful toward Xiao Wu during this period.

"Hmph, no excuses," Xiao Wu retorted, her face still clouded with unhappiness. "You're shameless, Brother Xu Ran. You already have a fiancée, and yet you've acted so lustful towards me, feigning innocence all the while. And now you want to wash your hands of the situation?"

"I'm tired and don't want to walk anymore; carry me," Xiao Wu demanded, stomping her foot.

"Alright," Xu Ran nodded. Leaning forward slightly, he allowed Xiao Wu to jump onto his back. Xiao Wu was light, and carrying her posed no burden for him. With his palms resting on the curve of her hips, separated only by her light blue dress, Xu Ran could feel her body heat and the soft yet resilient texture, tempting him to give a gentle squeeze.

"Brother Xu Ran, no impure thoughts allowed," Xiao Wu warned as she found herself regretting the decision to let him carry her. They hadn't reached a level of intimacy to justify such actions. Wasn't this essentially acting spoiled?

However, thinking of the fiancée that Xu Ran already had, she couldn't help but feel annoyed, and began lightly pounding her fists on his back.

As Xu Ran carried Xiao Wu along their southern route, he naturally felt a sense of satisfaction. Xiao Wu wore smooth, form-fitting clothes, and his hand felt extremely comfortable resting there, almost to the point where he didn't want to remove it.

Xiao Wu blushed the whole way but said nothing, implicitly giving her consent to Xu Ran's actions. Whether this was due to a sense of urgency upon learning about his fiancée or some other reason, she wasn't sure.

Unbeknownst to her, Xu Ran had already secured a significant place in Xiao Wu's heart.

He had helped her unveil Tang San's "true face." Furthermore, being an auspicious beast, Xu Ran would also assist her in taking revenge in the future. Whether emotionally or rationally, Xu Ran was currently the most important person in Xiao Wu's life.

After her relationship with Tang San fell apart, Xu Ran became the only one to fill the emotional void Tang San had left in her heart. Moreover, Xu Ran seemed much more perfect to her compared to Tang San; not only was he also a soul beast, but being an auspicious beast, he could even help her take revenge for her mother.

Thus, due to a myriad of factors, Xu Ran had undoubtedly become the only person Xiao Wu trusted and relied upon in the human world.

Under these influences, Xiao Wu and Xu Ran's relationship was developing at a breakneck pace. Although no substantial change had occurred yet, they had only known each other for a few days.

By the time Tang San returned to Shrek Academy, everything would likely be settled. At that point, Xiao Wu would be entirely devoted to Xu Ran, and any effort Tang San made to win her back would be too late.

Xu Ran's interference had already cast a shadow on Xiao Wu's perception of Tang San.

If Tang San came to Shrek Academy, Xiao Wu would probably be on guard, suspecting that he had followed them deliberately, perhaps intending to seize their soul rings and soul bones.

And that was the tragedy of Tang San's current situation.

No matter what he did, Xiao Wu would always think the worst of him. All the while, Tang San was blissfully unaware why she was acting this way towards him in the first place.