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Douluo Dalu_ Legend of the Ancestral Dragon_chapter_0032
Chapter 32
Chapter 32: Heading to the Star Dou Great Forest
This academic year passed in a relaxed and carefree manner for Aotian.
He'd attend class when he felt like it and skip when he didn't. Occasionally, he would return to Spirit City to see Bibi Dong.
On Qian Renxue's birthday, he even made a trip to Heaven Dou City to bring her back to the Pope's Palace.
Xiao Wu also had a very carefree and leisurely time. As a 100,000-year soul beast who had undergone human form transformation, her talent was naturally incomparable to ordinary people. Even without much cultivation, her strength was steadily increasing.
Inside the dormitory, the work-study students were packing their bags. Tang San was also packing his things.
The holiday started tomorrow, and they were already eager to return home.
After staying at the Academy for nearly a year, how could they not miss home?
Tang San, in particular, was worried about how his father was faring without him. He had even bought a new forging hammer to take back as a gift.
In the dormitory, only Aotian and Xiao Wu weren't packing.
Aotian was leaning comfortably on his bed; he had nothing to pack at all.
Xiao Wu was also leaning on her bed, a somewhat lonely look in her eyes as she watched her roommates busily packing.
Aotian glanced at Xiao Wu and asked with interest, "Why aren't you packing? Don't you plan on going home?"
Xiao Wu said, looking a little sad, "I probably won't go home. I'll just stay at the Academy."
Hearing her words, all their classmates looked over, wondering if something had happened to Xiao Wu's family.
"Why not? You've been away from home for so long. Don't you miss your mother?" Aotian asked.
He knew that Xiao Wu's Mother hadn't died. Back when Bibi Dong was advancing to Titled Douluo, he had personally helped her select a more powerful soul beast, allowing that rabbit to escape.
Xiao Wu seemed conflicted. She suddenly leaned close to Aotian's ear and whispered, "It takes several days to get back to the Star Dou Great Forest. I was lucky and didn't run into any bad people on my way here. But that black-clothed person who broke into the Academy last time really scared me to death. I... I don't dare go back."
She felt it was safer to stay in the Academy. If someone were to see through her identity on the road, it would be a dead end for her.
But she also missed her mother dearly, so she was very conflicted.
Aotian joked, "You're telling me this... don't tell me you want me to escort you home?"
He didn't lower his voice, instantly drawing everyone's attention again.
Hearing Aotian's words, the dormitory erupted in teasing laughter.
"Sister Xiao Wu, are you two going to meet the parents so soon?" someone teased.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Xiao Wu, flustered, her face flushing red, reached out and pinched Aotian's arm hard.
A moment later, she calmed down and said, "You're only at the Soul Master realm right now. You can't protect me at all."
Aotian smiled. "Have you forgotten? I still have a big brother."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she was very tempted.
Aotian's big brother could chase away a Titled Douluo, which meant his strength should be extremely formidable among Titled Douluo, more than enough to protect her on the way back to the Star Dou Great Forest.
"No!" She suddenly shook her head like a rattle drum. How could she bring a powerful Titled Douluo to her home?
Wouldn't that endanger her mother, and endanger Da Ming and Er Ming?
She felt that while Aotian's big brother wasn't interested in her soul bone, that might not be the case for other 100,000-year soul beasts.
How could Aotian not see Xiao Wu's worries? He said, "I can have my big brother not go inside. He listens to everything I say."
"Really?" Xiao Wu looked at Aotian, feeling tempted again.
Aotian nodded. "Really. Whatever I tell him to do, he has to do."
"Let me think about it first, then." Xiao Wu didn't agree immediately. She had to consider the risks.
"Fine." Aotian was indifferent.
Xiao Wu thought for a moment, then her eyes suddenly brightened. She asked, "Aotian, is your home far from here? Why don't I go to your place to play?"
"It's about the same distance as your home," Aotian replied.
He suddenly said in a low voice, "My home is in Spirit City. Do you dare to go?"
"Ah—" Xiao Wu cried out in alarm, quickly covering her mouth and shaking her head repeatedly. "Then I'm not going."
Aotian just smiled and said nothing more.
Wang Sheng suddenly stood up, clapped his hands to get everyone's attention, and said, "I became a Soul Master this semester. A few days ago, my dad sent a letter saying the village will hold a celebratory banquet when I get back. Anyone who wants to come, food and lodging are covered."
"I'll go."
"Me too."
"..."
As soon as they heard there was food, a few of them couldn't resist.
"Tang San, are you going?" Wang Sheng asked.
Tang San shook his head. The village where Wang Sheng lived was quite far from Holy Spirit Village, and he didn't want to waste so much time.
There were only a few months left on the bet between Grandmaster and Aotian. When the Academy started again, it would be time for him and Aotian to face off.
Therefore, he had to seize every moment for cultivation.
"Aotian, what level have you reached? And just how strong are you?" Tang San thought to himself, looking at Aotian who was leaning on the bed.
Ever since their match on the small hillside, the two had not fought again.
Throughout this semester, Tang San had never seen Aotian cultivate, nor had he seen him make a move. Therefore, he had no idea what realm Aotian had currently reached.
"Aotian, Sister Xiao Wu, what about you two?" Wang Sheng looked at Aotian and Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu said, "I'll think about it."
Aotian shook his head. "Not going."
Aotian's answer was within Wang Sheng's expectations. How could a rich young master possibly be interested in a village banquet?
That night, Xiao Wu tossed and turned, unable to sleep, her mind preoccupied with the thought of going home.
Could Aotian really be trusted?
As she mulled it over, her mind suddenly cleared.
Aotian's brother was a Titled Douluo. Even without her to lead the way, he could find his way into the interior of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Moreover, Aotian's brother knew her identity as a soul beast. If he really wanted to use her to threaten her family into surrendering, he could just capture her and take her back, even if she refused to go.
So, no matter what she chose, the outcome was the same.
"Then I'll let him take me home. I trust him." Xiao Wu turned her head and glanced at Aotian.
Over the past year, she had discovered that she had grown accustomed to Aotian sleeping beside her.
If one day Aotian were to suddenly disappear, she thought, she would probably be lonely for a very long time.
"I wonder if I'll squeeze over to his side again tonight..." Xiao Wu thought, mortified.
This past semester, she had woken up on Aotian's side of the bed almost every single morning.
After it happened so many times, she finally had to believe that she rolled over there in her sleep.
The phenomenon was bizarre. As soon as she fell asleep, she wouldn't roll in any other direction, only inching her way toward Aotian.
As she thought about it, her cheeks flushing slightly, she closed her eyes. *I'll just suffer a small loss,* she thought. *He's still so young, anyway. It's not like he can do anything bad.*
Early the next morning, Tang San, Wang Sheng, and the others left impatiently.
"Have you made up your mind? If you really don't need me to take you, I'm leaving," Aotian said, looking at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu gave a sweet smile and said, "Didn't you say a long time ago that you wanted to show me the secrets within the Star Dou Great Forest? Let's go then."
(end of chapter)
This academic year passed in a relaxed and carefree manner for Aotian.
He'd attend class when he felt like it and skip when he didn't. Occasionally, he would return to Spirit City to see Bibi Dong.
On Qian Renxue's birthday, he even made a trip to Heaven Dou City to bring her back to the Pope's Palace.
Xiao Wu also had a very carefree and leisurely time. As a 100,000-year soul beast who had undergone human form transformation, her talent was naturally incomparable to ordinary people. Even without much cultivation, her strength was steadily increasing.
Inside the dormitory, the work-study students were packing their bags. Tang San was also packing his things.
The holiday started tomorrow, and they were already eager to return home.
After staying at the Academy for nearly a year, how could they not miss home?
Tang San, in particular, was worried about how his father was faring without him. He had even bought a new forging hammer to take back as a gift.
In the dormitory, only Aotian and Xiao Wu weren't packing.
Aotian was leaning comfortably on his bed; he had nothing to pack at all.
Xiao Wu was also leaning on her bed, a somewhat lonely look in her eyes as she watched her roommates busily packing.
Aotian glanced at Xiao Wu and asked with interest, "Why aren't you packing? Don't you plan on going home?"
Xiao Wu said, looking a little sad, "I probably won't go home. I'll just stay at the Academy."
Hearing her words, all their classmates looked over, wondering if something had happened to Xiao Wu's family.
"Why not? You've been away from home for so long. Don't you miss your mother?" Aotian asked.
He knew that Xiao Wu's Mother hadn't died. Back when Bibi Dong was advancing to Titled Douluo, he had personally helped her select a more powerful soul beast, allowing that rabbit to escape.
Xiao Wu seemed conflicted. She suddenly leaned close to Aotian's ear and whispered, "It takes several days to get back to the Star Dou Great Forest. I was lucky and didn't run into any bad people on my way here. But that black-clothed person who broke into the Academy last time really scared me to death. I... I don't dare go back."
She felt it was safer to stay in the Academy. If someone were to see through her identity on the road, it would be a dead end for her.
But she also missed her mother dearly, so she was very conflicted.
Aotian joked, "You're telling me this... don't tell me you want me to escort you home?"
He didn't lower his voice, instantly drawing everyone's attention again.
Hearing Aotian's words, the dormitory erupted in teasing laughter.
"Sister Xiao Wu, are you two going to meet the parents so soon?" someone teased.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Xiao Wu, flustered, her face flushing red, reached out and pinched Aotian's arm hard.
A moment later, she calmed down and said, "You're only at the Soul Master realm right now. You can't protect me at all."
Aotian smiled. "Have you forgotten? I still have a big brother."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she was very tempted.
Aotian's big brother could chase away a Titled Douluo, which meant his strength should be extremely formidable among Titled Douluo, more than enough to protect her on the way back to the Star Dou Great Forest.
"No!" She suddenly shook her head like a rattle drum. How could she bring a powerful Titled Douluo to her home?
Wouldn't that endanger her mother, and endanger Da Ming and Er Ming?
She felt that while Aotian's big brother wasn't interested in her soul bone, that might not be the case for other 100,000-year soul beasts.
How could Aotian not see Xiao Wu's worries? He said, "I can have my big brother not go inside. He listens to everything I say."
"Really?" Xiao Wu looked at Aotian, feeling tempted again.
Aotian nodded. "Really. Whatever I tell him to do, he has to do."
"Let me think about it first, then." Xiao Wu didn't agree immediately. She had to consider the risks.
"Fine." Aotian was indifferent.
Xiao Wu thought for a moment, then her eyes suddenly brightened. She asked, "Aotian, is your home far from here? Why don't I go to your place to play?"
"It's about the same distance as your home," Aotian replied.
He suddenly said in a low voice, "My home is in Spirit City. Do you dare to go?"
"Ah—" Xiao Wu cried out in alarm, quickly covering her mouth and shaking her head repeatedly. "Then I'm not going."
Aotian just smiled and said nothing more.
Wang Sheng suddenly stood up, clapped his hands to get everyone's attention, and said, "I became a Soul Master this semester. A few days ago, my dad sent a letter saying the village will hold a celebratory banquet when I get back. Anyone who wants to come, food and lodging are covered."
"I'll go."
"Me too."
"..."
As soon as they heard there was food, a few of them couldn't resist.
"Tang San, are you going?" Wang Sheng asked.
Tang San shook his head. The village where Wang Sheng lived was quite far from Holy Spirit Village, and he didn't want to waste so much time.
There were only a few months left on the bet between Grandmaster and Aotian. When the Academy started again, it would be time for him and Aotian to face off.
Therefore, he had to seize every moment for cultivation.
"Aotian, what level have you reached? And just how strong are you?" Tang San thought to himself, looking at Aotian who was leaning on the bed.
Ever since their match on the small hillside, the two had not fought again.
Throughout this semester, Tang San had never seen Aotian cultivate, nor had he seen him make a move. Therefore, he had no idea what realm Aotian had currently reached.
"Aotian, Sister Xiao Wu, what about you two?" Wang Sheng looked at Aotian and Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu said, "I'll think about it."
Aotian shook his head. "Not going."
Aotian's answer was within Wang Sheng's expectations. How could a rich young master possibly be interested in a village banquet?
That night, Xiao Wu tossed and turned, unable to sleep, her mind preoccupied with the thought of going home.
Could Aotian really be trusted?
As she mulled it over, her mind suddenly cleared.
Aotian's brother was a Titled Douluo. Even without her to lead the way, he could find his way into the interior of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Moreover, Aotian's brother knew her identity as a soul beast. If he really wanted to use her to threaten her family into surrendering, he could just capture her and take her back, even if she refused to go.
So, no matter what she chose, the outcome was the same.
"Then I'll let him take me home. I trust him." Xiao Wu turned her head and glanced at Aotian.
Over the past year, she had discovered that she had grown accustomed to Aotian sleeping beside her.
If one day Aotian were to suddenly disappear, she thought, she would probably be lonely for a very long time.
"I wonder if I'll squeeze over to his side again tonight..." Xiao Wu thought, mortified.
This past semester, she had woken up on Aotian's side of the bed almost every single morning.
After it happened so many times, she finally had to believe that she rolled over there in her sleep.
The phenomenon was bizarre. As soon as she fell asleep, she wouldn't roll in any other direction, only inching her way toward Aotian.
As she thought about it, her cheeks flushing slightly, she closed her eyes. *I'll just suffer a small loss,* she thought. *He's still so young, anyway. It's not like he can do anything bad.*
Early the next morning, Tang San, Wang Sheng, and the others left impatiently.
"Have you made up your mind? If you really don't need me to take you, I'm leaving," Aotian said, looking at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu gave a sweet smile and said, "Didn't you say a long time ago that you wanted to show me the secrets within the Star Dou Great Forest? Let's go then."
(end of chapter)
