...
Behind Notting College, in a secluded grove of trees.
This place is rarely visited; the only sounds are the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Xuan Hao released Xiao Wu's hand and, without saying a word, directly activated his soul power, instantly enveloping Xiao Wu in a soft pink light.
"The Other Side of Dreams".
Xiao Wu felt a blur before her eyes, and her consciousness was instantly pulled into a dream filled with warmth and familiarity.
In her dream, she saw Arou.
Not the Arou who was chased to the brink of death by a titled Douluo and covered in blood, but the mother who gently braided her hair and told her stories about the human world by the lake in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Arou told her the whole truth.
She told her how Xuanhao risked his life to save them, how he used the Golden Dragon's Roar to summon the beast tide, and how he tried to fight for their survival at the last moment.
"Xiao Wu, don't blame him."
In the final moments of the dream, Arou gently stroked her daughter's face, her eyes filled with love.
"If it weren't for him, your mother might have died at the hands of that pope long ago, and you wouldn't have escaped either. He did his best."
"Although Mom is gone, she will always be with you, in this piece of your soul, by the side of this big brother..."
"When you're out there alone, you need to learn to protect yourself, and you also need to learn... to trust him."
"..."
Half an hour later.
Xiao Wu slowly woke up, her already swollen eyes now looking like two ripe peaches from crying.
But when she looked at Xuan Hao again, the hatred and hostility in her eyes had dissipated, replaced by a complex and dependent feeling.
"Thanks..."
Xiao Wu's voice choked with sobs. She lowered her head and twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingers. "Mom told me everything.
If it weren't for you... I might never have seen Mom again."
"You're welcome."
Xuan Hao leaned against the big tree.
"This is what I owe your mother. I don't like owing favors, especially this kind of... favor that I risked my life for."
"Alright, stop crying. Since I'm here to be the older brother, I should act like one."
"Let's go, I'll take you to buy some things."
After saying that, he pulled Xiao Wu up again and led her out of the academy, where they strolled around Nottingham City.
Although he is now a "fugitive," that doesn't stop him from being a tycoon.
During his two years at the Martial Soul Academy, after deducting expenses, he had saved up more than 50,000 gold soul coins in his private savings, which was a huge sum of money in this remote small town.
In one afternoon, Xuanhao meticulously prepared everything for the girl, from bedding and toiletries to small trinkets.
He bought Xiaowu everything she wanted.
By the time the two returned to Notting College, it was already dusk.
Xuan Hao didn't take Xiao Wu back to that messy Dormitory 7, but instead took her straight to the Academic Affairs Office again.
"Bang!"
Before Director Su, who was drinking tea, could even ask a question, a heavy bag of gold soul coins was slammed onto the desk, making the teacup jump.
"Director Su."
Xuan Hao looked at the bewildered Director Su and said calmly, "Here are five hundred gold soul coins."
"I want to change my sister's dorm room.
It needs to be a single room, in a nice environment, and preferably quiet."
"This..." Director Su was a little taken aback.
"This isn't in accordance with the rules... Part-time students all live in Dormitory 7..."
"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible."
Xuan Hao then took out an even larger money bag and gently placed it next to the five hundred gold soul coins.
"There are also one thousand gold soul coins here."
"From now on, please take good care of Xiao Wu at the academy.
Don't let her be bullied, and don't let anyone bother her."
"In addition, our family situation is a bit special... Her mother just passed away, and because of some internal family disputes, she didn't want to stay at home, so she ran away."
"I don't want any gossip to spread, and I especially don't want people who shouldn't know about her to find out."
Do you understand what I mean?
Director Su looked at the 1,500 gold soul coins on the table, and then at Xuan Hao's indescribably noble temperament and Xiao Wu's proud demeanor that clearly did not belong to an ordinary family.
Instantly, he imagined a grand drama of feuds among the wealthy and powerful.
An illegitimate daughter of a powerful family?
Suppressed by the legal wife?
Her mother's unexpected death?
Her brother's secret protection?
No wonder this little girl had a work-study student certificate from the village, yet possessed the innate talent of full soul power!
That explains it! It was all to deceive others!
"I understand! I understand! I completely get it!"
Director Su pressed down on the two bags of gold soul coins, a knowing and solemn expression on his face, and patted his chest to assure them:
"Don't worry! This girl is at Notting Academy, so she's my own niece!
I'll be the first to object to anyone who dares to bully her!
As for her background, I'm the most discreet person I can keep quiet about!"
"That's good."
Xuan Hao nodded in satisfaction.
Having settled the accommodation and "protection" arrangements, Xuan Hao didn't linger.
He led Xiao Wu out of the Academic Affairs Office and back to the grove of trees behind the mountain.
A cool night breeze rustled through the trees.
Xuan Hao stopped and turned to look at Xiao Wu, who had been silently following behind him.
"From now on, you can live here in peace.
No one will dare to bully you.
Director Su has taken the money and will treat you like royalty."
Xiao Wu hugged the things in her arms, looked up at Xuan Hao, and her eyes shone with reluctance:
"And what about you?
Are you leaving?"
"I can't stay here any longer," Xuan Hao said.
"My identity is too sensitive, and since I escaped from the Spirit Hall, many people will definitely be searching for me all over the world.
If I stay by your side for too long, I will only bring you danger."
He pointed to the cloak and mask he hadn't had time to take off:
"As you can see, I've been wrapped up tightly all afternoon, just so no one can remember my face.
If the Spirit Hall's spies find out, we're both doomed."
Hearing this, the light in Xiaowu's eyes dimmed slightly.
She lowered her head and nervously twisted the hem of her clothes.
"but..."
Xuan Hao changed the subject, "As long as I'm sure I'm safe, or have found a place to stay, I'll definitely come back to see you when I have time."
"I'll use that soul skill on you then.
Whenever you miss your mother, I'll let you have a good dream and see her in your dream."
Xiao Wu suddenly raised her head, her red eyes regaining their sparkle.
She looked at Xuan Hao, at this boy who looked exceptionally handsome in the moonlight yet possessed a touch of roguish charm, and an indescribable emotion welled up within her.
It was gratitude, dependence, and a sense of relief at surviving a catastrophe.
Sudden.
Xiao Wu took a step forward, stood on tiptoe, and before Xuan Hao could react, she leaned in and gave him a big kiss on the cheek.
Xuan Hao froze completely.
He instinctively covered his cheek, staring wide-eyed at the six-year-old girl in front of him, his face filled with astonishment.
"What...what are you doing?"
"You little brat, you're so young and you're already learning bad habits, trying to take advantage of me like a female hooligan?
Are you some kind of hooligan rabbit?"
"You—you're the one who's a pervert!"
Xiao Wu's face instantly turned bright red, like a ripe apple.
She took two steps back, put her hands behind her back, and argued with some embarrassment and annoyance, "This is...this is to express gratitude!
It's etiquette! Don't you understand etiquette?!"
"What kind of etiquette is this? I've never heard of it..."
Xuan Hao was about to make a joke to ease the tension when suddenly, his heart clenched.
An unprecedented feeling of palpitation surged into my heart without warning, and the hairs on my body stood on end in an instant.
Tang Hao?!
That drunkard who only knows how to swing a sledgehammer is approaching this way!
"Listen!"
Xuan Hao spoke very quickly, reaching out to roughly rub Xiao Wu's head, making her originally smooth scorpion braid a little messy:
"I'm leaving."
"Be happy in the academy, don't think too much, eat well, and cultivate diligently."
"Also... don't be too rowdy, tone it down, and don't cause trouble."
"Hmm... I understand." Although Xiao Wu didn't know what had happened, she nodded obediently when she saw Xuan Hao's face suddenly become extremely serious.
"Hurry back! Director Su should have already arranged a dormitory for you.
Don't keep him waiting too long!"
Having said that, Xuan Hao didn't dare to linger any longer.
He flashed away and quickly disappeared into the dense forest.
"elder brother..."
Xiao Wu looked in the direction where Xuan Hao had disappeared, called out softly, then bit her lip and turned to run towards the dormitory building.
...
On the other side.
Xuan Hao moved swiftly through the shadows of the forest, without using teleportation, as such a sudden fluctuation of soul power would attract the attention of experts of that level.
Relying solely on his physical strength and his perception of the terrain, he silently distanced himself from Notting Academy.
He ran wildly for five or six miles until the suffocating feeling of palpitation completely disappeared before Xuan Hao finally stopped.
"Huff... huff..."
Xuan Hao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and looked back in the direction of Notting Academy.
Tang Hao has arrived at Notting Academy, and Tang San is going to hunt for spirit rings again tomorrow.
Tang Hao will definitely be following him in secret.
As a result, this guy will definitely not return to the vicinity of Holy Soul Village in the next few days.
When the tiger goes out, the tiger's den is empty.
"The advantage is in our hands this time!"
Without any hesitation, Xuan Hao determined the direction, then disappeared into the darkness, heading straight for Holy Soul Village.
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