Chapter 15: The premise is that you can't leave his sight!

"Don't call me Little Bunny!"

Xiao Wu yanked her hand away from Ye Qiu, scrunching up her face as she took a few steps back to put some distance between them.

"Alright, alright! I won't call you that. But are you coming or not?"

Ye Qiu shrugged.

He just found it amusing to tease this pink bunny—her expressions were simply too cute.

"Are you serious?"

Xiao Wu rubbed her sore backside, blinking her panda-like eyes as she eyed Ye Qiu suspiciously.

"Of course, I am!"

Ye Qiu nodded solemnly.

After two years of selling candy, he had saved up a little. Buying a couple of simple blankets was well within his budget.

Besides, this was the perfect chance to test something—if he wrapped Xiao Wu up, how much would his power increase? Would he gain any new abilities...?

Seeing that Xiao Wu was still hesitating, Ye Qiu ran out of patience.

He grabbed his small bundle, asked Wang Sheng where he could buy blankets in the city, and then walked straight out the door.

"Hurry up and follow me!"

It wasn't until Ye Qiu's voice came from outside that Xiao Wu snapped out of her thoughts. She quickly grabbed her little pink satchel and scurried after him.

Her movements, however, were a bit... awkward.

"Hey, slow down... It still hurts..."

Frowning, Xiao Wu clutched her backside and lower back as she quickened her pace to catch up to Ye Qiu.

"Wait for me, Ye Qiu!"

After a while, she finally caught up and, without hesitation, grabbed onto his arm.

"I'm not 'hey'!"

Slurp~

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes as he sucked on a lollipop.

"But… but didn't you say you only had one left? You tricked me!"

Xiao Wu stared at the candy in his mouth, her pink lips twitching with longing.

Ye Qiu glanced at her but ignored her complaint.

"Ye Qiu! I'm talking to you!"

Xiao Wu frowned and raised her voice, clearly displeased.

"I didn't lie. I said there was only one carrot-flavored one left. This one is grass-flavored."

As he spoke, Ye Qiu pulled the green lollipop from his mouth and waved it in front of Xiao Wu.

Her eyes followed the candy eagerly. Then, forcing herself to be patient, she pleaded softly, "It doesn't have to be carrot-flavored... I'm not picky... Can you give me one?"

"Sure..."

"Really?! Hurry up, give it to me... Ah~"

Hearing Ye Qiu agree, Xiao Wu's face lit up with joy. She opened her mouth, waiting expectantly.

But Ye Qiu shook his head. As she pouted in disappointment, he explained, "I'll give you one—but not now. If you cooperate with me later, I'll give you one."

"Can't you just give it to me now?"

Xiao Wu held onto his arm and swayed slightly, pouting her soft pink lips like a tempting pudding.

"Nope!"

Ye Qiu refused firmly. He then glanced down at her small hands gripping his arm and shot her an exasperated look.

"Why are you still holding onto me?"

"I... I still hurt... This makes it easier to walk."

Xiao Wu's face darkened as she explained. Then, as if remembering something, she suddenly huffed.

"Hmph! It's all your fault!"

"Haha..."

Ye Qiu let out an awkward chuckle.

Well, she wasn't wrong. He was the one who hit her. He supposed it was only fair to help her walk.

Being responsible was one of his few virtues.

She was sticking close to him now, but compared to later—when he'd wrap her up in Venom's form—this level of closeness was nothing.

Side by side, the two of them made their way out of the academy.

Xiao Wu kept sneaking glances at Ye Qiu, looking almost like a girl admiring her beloved—though, in reality, she was eyeing the candy in his mouth.

Ye Qiu, amused, would occasionally tease her by calling her "Little Bunny" again, thoroughly enjoying the way her expressions kept shifting.

So soft, so pink...

They hadn't walked far when Ye Qiu's grin widened. The fine hairs on his body, which had been slightly raised, slowly settled back down.

He knew.

His Spider Sense had just warned him.

At this moment, he had completely slipped out of Tang Hao's watchful gaze.

—

Beneath the dormitory building, hidden in the shadows, stood a figure.

Underneath the black bamboo hat was a scruffy, unshaven face. A tall, burly body wrapped in dirty, tattered linen.

It was Tang Hao.

He watched as Xiao Wu and Ye Qiu walked away, his expression unmoved. But in his dull, lifeless eyes, a sharp glint flickered.

His luck was incredible.

He had run into yet another hundred-thousand-year-old transformed soul beast, and coincidentally, it had become classmates with his son—just like before.

At first, Tang Hao had hoped this one would form a bond with his son, just like he had with Ah Yin, to make things easier in the future.

But after observing Xiao Wu and Ye Qiu together, he changed his mind.

His goal was never just a hundred-thousand-year-old soul ring...

His goal was the restoration of the Clear Sky Sect!

If possible, he didn't want his son to develop real feelings for the soul beast. He didn't want Tang San to end up living a life of regret and guilt, just like himself.

Even if Tang San obtained a hundred-thousand-year-old soul ring...

If he ended up a broken man like his father, then what was the point?

But now, things were different.

If Xiao Wu ended up with Ye Qiu, things would be much easier.

He could control Ye Qiu, force her to sacrifice herself, and then eliminate all loose ends.

Tang Hao stood there for a long time, watching until the two disappeared from sight.

His throat felt dry. He glanced at the empty wine bottle in his hand, then looked once more in Xiao Wu's direction before quietly sneaking away—to steal more alcohol.

His decision was made.

No matter who Xiao Wu ended up with...

That hundred-thousand-year-old soul ring and soul bone—Tang Hao had already reserved them for his son.

But first—

That soul beast must not leave his sight.

—

By the time Ye Qiu and Tang San arrived at Notting Academy, it was already afternoon.

Now, the sun was setting.

The sky glowed golden, and in the west, the horizon looked like a radiant sword stretched across the mountain peaks.

Ye Qiu carried two new blankets, his expression less than pleased as he trudged toward the dormitory.

Xiao Wu followed behind him, hugging a large quilt.

Her eyes were still damp, and her gait had become even more awkward. Her once-perfect right eye now sported a dark circle—making her a certified protected species.