Chapter 81: The Epic Deadweight Teammate, Xiao Wu

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"Master, thank you. Without your help, I would've been finished." Qian Renhan retracted his Shura Sword. 

"You have only been cultivating for a short time. It's normal that you couldn't defeat that black dragon. Its cultivation has surpassed seven hundred thousand years, and its bloodline is extraordinary." A stern yet slightly irritated voice echoed from the blood-red sword mark on his forehead. 

"When you attain enough strength, go and kill that black dragon to use as a soul ring for your Fallen Angel Martial Soul. Its soul ring will be a perfect match for your martial soul." 

"You don't even need to say it, Master. I was already planning to." 

Qian Renhan nodded. His battle with Di Tian had given him a rough gauge of his abilities. He could put up a brief fight against an Ultimate Douluo, but if he faced a demigod, it would be nothing short of suicide. 

His Fallen Angel Martial Soul activated once again. Without hesitation, he absorbed the soul power of a few passing soul masters, draining a portion of their strength before soaring toward Spirit Hall. His task here was complete—it was time to focus on Spirit Hall's development. 

On the other side, Tang San circulated his Mysterious Heaven Skill, treating his wounds as best as he could. He glanced at Xiao Wu, who stood beside him, eyes brimming with tears. He didn't know how to begin speaking. Though his soul bone had been forcibly extracted, he had remained conscious enough to know that Xiao Wu had brought a hundred-thousand-year soul beast to save him. 

Xiao Wu anxiously asked, "Brother, how are your injuries?" 

"The bleeding has stopped for now, but I still need a healing-type soul master to fully recover." Tang San deliberately downplayed his injuries to keep Xiao Wu from worrying. Then he hesitated before asking, "Xiao Wu, you…" 

"Brother, I am actually a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form. Do you… still see me as your sister?" Xiao Wu lowered her head, her voice trembling. 

For a brief moment, Tang San was silent. Then, he reached out and gently ruffled Xiao Wu's hair, his voice soft. "Silly girl, does it matter if you're human or a soul beast? All I know is that you're my little sister, my most adorable Xiao Wu." 

"Brother!" Xiao Wu's face lit up with joy, her rabbit ears perking up. Then, as if recalling something, she asked with expectation, "Just your sister?" 

"Of course," Tang San answered matter-of-factly. "You will always be my sister." 

Xiao Wu's expression darkened, anger rising. "Hah… That's not the same! You're such a blockhead." 

Tang San quickly changed the subject. "By the way, Xiao Wu, those soul beasts that helped you earlier—who were they?" 

"Brother, that was my mother and my two younger brothers. We need to check on them quickly!" 

Xiao Wu's expression grew tense. She had been so focused on Tang San's injuries that she had momentarily forgotten about her mother and brothers, who had stayed behind to cover her escape. Er Ming had even lost half an arm in the battle. 

"Xiao Wu, let's go together." 

Despite his severe injuries, Tang San couldn't let Xiao Wu go alone. Taking out a few Dragon Beard Needles, he clenched his teeth against the pain in his back and followed her toward the Star Dou Forest. 

— 

The battlefield where Qian Renhan and Di Tian had fought was now a barren wasteland. Not a single blade of grass remained, and the remains of the Titan Giant Ape and Azure Bull Python had been reduced to ashes in the aftermath of their clash. 

Xiao Wu's heightened sense of smell caught a familiar scent. She rushed forward, and when she saw what lay ahead, she immediately covered her mouth as tears streamed down her face. 

A massive ox head lay before her. Though its features were unrecognizable, its sturdy horns remained mostly intact. Xiao Wu recognized them instantly—it was Da Ming, the Azure Bull Python's head. 

But only the head remained. The enormous python body that had once stretched over a hundred meters had completely vanished. The temperature of the ox head was steadily dropping. 

"Da Ming!" Xiao Wu screamed in anguish, then desperately called out for Er Ming and her mother. But no one answered. Even if she had been slow to realize it, the truth was now undeniable. If the strongest among them—Da Ming—had perished, then the chances of her mother and Er Ming surviving were slim. 

"Xiao Wu…" Tang San had already guessed the outcome. He walked up to her but had no idea how to console her. 

"Brother!" Xiao Wu suddenly threw herself into Tang San's arms, completely forgetting his injuries. She clung to him, sobbing uncontrollably. "Brother, Da Ming is dead! Er Ming and my mother… they're probably gone too. I have no family left… I have no family left! I want revenge! Revenge! Wuuuu—"

Tang San's forehead was drenched in a fine layer of cold sweat from the searing pain in his back. But to keep Xiao Wu from feeling even more guilty, he forced himself to stay calm. His lips trembled as he solemnly vowed, "Revenge… We must take revenge. Xiao Wu, your enemies are my enemies. I will help you." 

Xiao Wu lifted her tear-streaked face, touched by his words. But then, noticing something, she asked in confusion, "Brother, why are you sweating so much?" 

Tang San smiled faintly. "It's… too hot. Just too hot." 

"Brother, let me wipe it off for you." Xiao Wu took out a handkerchief and gently dabbed at his sweat. "Lower your head just a little." 

Her soft voice rang in Tang San's ears. He clenched his teeth, minimizing his movements as much as possible, and slightly lowered his head. But even with that small motion, his wounds were pulled, sending sharp pain rippling through his back. 

At this moment, he felt as if his injury was on the verge of reopening. If it worsened any further, his back might start gushing blood again. But seeing Xiao Wu happily focused on wiping his sweat, he swallowed the urge to sit down and meditate to heal himself. He could only hope she would finish quickly. 

Five seconds felt like five centuries. Finally, Xiao Wu put away the handkerchief, satisfied. 

Just as Tang San thought he could finally sit and activate his Mysterious Heaven Skill to heal, movement surged around them. One after another, hundred-year and even thousand-year soul beasts emerged from the dense forest, their green eyes gleaming hungrily as saliva dripped from their mouths. 

These beasts had been drawn by the overwhelming scent of blood left behind by the shattered remains of the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape. For these lesser soul beasts, the flesh of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast was an unparalleled delicacy—just a single bite could increase their cultivation by an entire year. 

And it wasn't just the weaker beasts—deep within the forest, a series of tremors echoed. Powerful ten-thousand-year soul beasts were charging toward them, their intentions clear. They weren't just here for the remnants of the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python—they were also after Xiao Wu. A hundred-thousand-year transformed soul beast? Devouring her would be worth tens of thousands of years of cultivation. Before, they had feared the Titan Giant Ape, the Azure Bull Python, and even the legendary Soft Bone Rabbit Empress. But now? Now that her protectors were gone, nothing could stop them. 

Feeling the murderous intent closing in, Tang San didn't care about his gushing wound anymore. He grabbed Xiao Wu's hand and activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, fleeing toward the outskirts of Star Dou Forest at full speed. 

At the same time, his free hand frantically retrieved hidden weapons from Moonlit Night on Twenty-Four Bridges, hurling them toward the hundred-year soul beasts blocking their path. 

Wherever Tang San and Xiao Wu passed, the air was filled with streaking metal projectiles, while blood from Tang San's open wound splattered in their wake. 

— 

By the end of their desperate escape from Star Dou Forest, Tang San and Xiao Wu had both gained something: their third soul rings. 

But their losses? 

Xiao Wu lost her mother, Da Ming, and Er Ming. She was no longer the feared "Big Sister" of Star Dou Forest. Instead, she had become a hunted target, chased by the very soul beasts she once ruled over. 

Tang San, on the other hand, lost six years' worth of accumulated hidden weapons—every single one painstakingly crafted during his time working in the forge. Six years of effort, completely wasted. Six whole years! 

The pain—the sheer pain! 

And that wasn't all. He also lost his Eight Spider Lances external soul bone and an immeasurable amount of blood. 

And through it all, aside from Qian Renhan ripping out his soul bone, most of these disasters had been triggered by Xiao Wu. 

Truly, an epic-level deadweight teammate. 

(End of Chapter)