"Don't worry, Sister Xiao Wu. That Title Douluo outside won't interfere."
Bai Mu laughed lightly. "That man is Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo—an eccentric old fellow. His most important person is his granddaughter, Dugu Yan. I've already taken control of the situation, so he won't have the chance to do anything to you."
"Then… Xiao Muzi," Xiao Wu asked hesitantly, her voice trembling, "do you… know who I really am?"
"What identity?" Bai Mu replied calmly. "The leader of Dormitory Seven? A Shrek Academy student? Tang San's sister?"
"Which one do you mean?"
"…Nothing."
Xiao Wu let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Eat more," Bai Mu said with a smile. "Once you've recovered your strength, we'll leave."
He did not utter a single falsehood.
Xiao Wu nodded and continued eating, gradually regaining her energy.
After finishing, Bai Mu helped her to her feet and walked out of the wooden house first.
Xiao Wu followed.
The sudden sunlight made her squint, unused to the brightness after days in captivity. When her vision finally adjusted, her heart sank.
Before her stood two massive serpents—one black, one white—coiled silently, their strange eyes seeming to peer straight through her.
Not far away, Dugu Bo was tending to the surrounding plants. When he noticed her, his gaze lingered briefly before turning away.
Bai Mu reclined casually between the two serpents, a glass of juice in hand, smiling calmly in her direction.
"Bai… Mu…"
Xiao Wu's voice shook.
"Sister Xiao Wu," Bai Mu said lightly. "Why so distant? Why not call me Xiao Muzi anymore?"
"What… what is going on?"
Xiao Wu pointed toward Dugu Bo. "Why is he here?"
"As you can see," Bai Mu replied calmly, "he works for me now."
"…Works for you?"
Realization struck Xiao Wu like a thunderbolt.
"You… you know who I am?"
Bai Mu raised an eyebrow. "Then tell me. Who are you?"
Xiao Wu clenched her fists. "A hundred-thousand-year Soft-Bone Rabbit… transformed into human form."
"Oh?"
Bai Mu chuckled. "I've known that for a long time."
Those words shattered the last trace of illusion in Xiao Wu's heart.
Everything—the kindness, the closeness, the years of companionship—suddenly felt unreal.
"So… from the very beginning… you knew?"
"Yes."
Bai Mu's tone was calm, almost casual. "You were pretending. I simply pretended better."
"Why…" Xiao Wu whispered. "Why deceive me?"
"To you, it was a lie," Bai Mu said. "To me, it was a role."
"Life is like a play. As long as there's no conflict of interest, I don't mind continuing to act."
He set down his cup, his gaze sharpening.
"But once interests are involved, things change."
Xiao Wu stepped back, her face pale. "What… do you want?"
Bai Mu looked at her steadily.
"That depends on you."
At his command, a hidden seal within Xiao Wu's body activated. Invisible restraints locked her in place, freezing her where she stood.
Her expression turned rigid, fear flooding her eyes.
"My body… I can't move…"
Bai Mu rose slowly.
"Xiao Wu," he said evenly, "you are valuable. Extremely so."
He looked at her without warmth or cruelty—only calculation.
"For now, you will remain here. Cooperate, and you will live."
Silence filled the valley.
Between the black and white serpents, Xiao Wu finally understood—
She had never been rescued.
She had simply been captured… again.