Chapter 15: The Unexpected Xiao Wu
Time flowed on, and half a year passed quietly.
Lin Yang's Soul Power level had also risen from level thirteen to his current level seventeen.
The speed was slightly slower than before, but compared to other students, his cultivation speed still remained at an extraordinarily high level.
This was naturally due in no small part to the Great Sun Meditation Method.
After all, it operated constantly. Even if the efficiency was low, it still accumulated over time.
As Soul Power levels increase, a slowdown in cultivation speed is actually normal.
At the same time, his first academic year at Nuoding City's Junior Spirit Master Academy officially ended, followed by a two-month holiday.
No student dislikes holidays, and Lin Yang was no exception.
Having been away from home for so long, he wondered how Grandma Su Xi was doing now.
With such thoughts in mind, Lin Yang packed his luggage very quickly.
He stuffed various gifts into his storage spirit tool, hired a carriage, and returned to Red Maple Village.
The carriage was fast, reaching the village entrance in just over two hours.
The moment he saw the familiar, red-painted characters 'Red Maple Village' on the stone, Lin Yang's heart was suddenly filled with an indescribable emotion.
He really wanted to shout, 'I'm back!'
He possessed memories of a past life, but the six years he had lived in this World were also real.
Quickly, Lin Yang composed himself, adjusted the bundle on his back, and prepared to head towards home.
As soon as he entered the village, he saw Village Chief Tai Lon slowly driving a donkey cart out of the village.
'Xiao Yang?'
Seeing Lin Yang, Tai Lon was surprised; he was just about to go to Nuoding City to pick someone up.
'Grandpa Village Chief,' Lin Yang greeted with a smile,
'I'm back.'
'It's good you're back,' Tai Lon nodded, then seemed to remember something and quickly added,
'Right, just in time. Hurry home and brace yourself. Your grandma is getting on in years, and recently she...'
Bang!
Before Tai Lon could finish, a gust of wind seemed to howl past, making the lone tuft of hair on his head sway precariously.
By the time he reacted, Lin Yang had already vanished.
Only two smallish holes remained in the spot where he had been standing.
Tai Lon stared blankly at the holes for a while before murmuring to himself,
'Why is this child so impatient now? He didn't even let me finish...'
Meanwhile, Lin Yang returned to the place he knew best at his fastest speed.
He walked to the door, yet dared not push it open, afraid to face the painful truth.
At that moment, faint voices came from inside the house.
Lin Yang was first stunned, then without almost any thought, he pushed the door open and strode straight towards the bedroom,
'Grandma...'
Lin Yang shouted, pulling aside the door curtain. Inside, there were two figures: one lying down, one standing.
Grandma Su Xi was lying on the bed, one foot wrapped in thick bandages, slightly raised on a propped-up quilt. A pair of crutches leaned against the bedside.
Hearing Lin Yang's voice, Grandma Su Xi immediately tried to sit up excitedly,
'Xiao Yang, it really is Xiao Yang, you're back...'
'Grandma, it's me.'
Lin Yang hurried forward to support Grandma Su Xi's arm, letting her rough hand caress his face,
'It's good you're back. You've grown taller... and stronger.'
Grandma Su Xi's voice was slightly choked, but her eyes were full of light.
'Grandma, what happened to your leg?'
Looking at the tightly bandaged foot, Lin Yang's brow furrowed.
'Sigh... I was taking a stroll near the village a while ago, wasn't paying attention, stepped into a hole and took a tumble,' Grandma Su Xi said softly with a hint of helplessness,
'If it weren't for Xiao Wu happening to pass by and bringing me home, this old bag of bones really wouldn't know what to have done.'
After saying this, she gently pushed the standing figure forward,
'Right, let me introduce you. This is the good child who brought me back, Xiao Wu.'
Upon hearing the name Xiao Wu, Lin Yang's pupils instantly constricted to pinpoints.
When he saw Xiao Wu's signature Scorpion Braid, his suspicions were confirmed.
This was really that rabbit Xiao Wu.
Meanwhile, when Xiao Wu saw Lin Yang, a faint smile appeared on her face,
'Hello, you must be Grandma Su Xi's grandson. My name is Xiao Wu, the Wu from dance.'
Coming back to his senses, Lin Yang lowered his eyelids and said flatly, 'Yes, hello. Thank you for saving my grandmother.'
'It's nothing!'
A trace of confusion flashed in Xiao Wu's eyes, but she continued,
'Grandma Su Xi is very kind. She gave me food and a place to stay.'
Lin Yang's heart jolted, and he couldn't help but turn to look at Grandma Su Xi, as if to say: Grandma, are you addicted to picking up children?
However, Grandma Su Xi misunderstood Lin Yang's gaze and smiled dotingly,
'Xiao Yang, Xiao Wu is also a poor child. She lost her family at such a young age. I saw she had nowhere to go, so I temporarily let Xiao Wu stay in your room. She can help me out on weekdays.'
Lin Yang inwardly smiled bitterly: Grandma Su Xi, you've really given me a difficult problem!
If it were just an ordinary stray child, he would absolutely not say a word.
But the problem is, Xiao Wu is a hundred thousand year Spirit Beast, and a particularly weak one at that.
In the eyes of a Titled Douluo, she's nothing but a walking hundred thousand year Soul Ring and Soul Bone.
And this rabbit too, out of all the cities and Junior Soul Master Academies on the Douluo Continent, she just had to pick Nuoding City, a place where Titled Douluo appear.
What is this?
Waiting for a rabbit?
Afterwards, Lin Yang chatted with Grandma Su Xi for a while. Seeing she looked a bit tired, he quietly left the room.
'Follow me.'
Lin Yang said softly, his back to Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu was taken aback but obediently followed him out.
After leaving the village and walking along the field ridge, Xiao Wu, who could no longer hold back, asked,
'Hey, why did you call me out here?'
Lin Yang stopped walking, flicked his wrist, and a black sun wheel blade instantly appeared in his hand.
Xiao Wu's body stiffened. She quickly retreated two steps, wariness rising in her eyes.
'What do you want to do?'
Lin Yang didn't answer. Instead, he murmured softly, 'As a Soul Master, I should kill you right now and take your Soul Ring and Soul Bone.'
Boom!
Lin Yang's words were like a thunderclap on a clear day. Xiao Wu's originally rosy face instantly turned deathly pale.
A bone-chilling cold shot straight to the top of her head, and her heartbeat even seemed to stop for a moment.
'You... you... know?'
'Of course...'
Before the words finished, Xiao Wu's figure had already turned into a crimson afterimage, charging towards Lin Yang.
'Martial Soul, Possess!'
Almost simultaneously, a red light shone from Xiao Wu's body.
Her eyes turned red, revealing a pair of furry rabbit ears, and her body seemed to grow a bit taller.
Especially her long legs, which became slender, flexible, and full of strength.
As Soul Power rippled, a yellow Soul Ring rose from her feet.
And all of this happened in an instant.
Swish!
A red glow flickered in Xiao Wu's eyes as the Scorpion Braid at the back of her head lashed out like a living thing, aiming to wrap around Lin Yang's neck.
Seeing this, Lin Yang snorted coldly. The blade of 'Scarlet Edge' gleamed with a faint, cold light as he swung it forward, a perfect arc instantly slicing through the air.
A section of hair fell with a snap, the severed strands scattering.
Xiao Wu's neatly braided Scorpion Braid instantly lost its power, flying in all directions.
But her attack didn't stop. The red light in her eyes grew even sharper.
Her hands were soft and boneless, like Martial Soul snakes trying to coil around Lin Yang's wrists.
Soft Technique!
Once entangled, even Lin Yang would find it troublesome.
But how could he give this rabbit a chance to succeed? He stepped back, his blade slashing through the air, but she narrowly dodged.
However, the sharp blade still left a one-inch-long cut on her arm, blood flowing freely.
Xiao Wu didn't care at all at this moment. She flipped and maneuvered, her long leg sweeping like a whip, and the Soul Ring beside her quietly lit up.
First Soul Skill · Bow Back!