The next day, at the Lake of Life in the Star Dou Great Forest's core.
A colossal beast more than fifteen meters tall sat slumped by the lakeside—ape-like yet not, jet-black from head to toe, arms thicker than its legs, its body knotted with muscle. Out on the lake opposite it, a bull's head over four meters across, crowned with massive horns, rose from the surface.
Strangely, beneath that bull's head was not a sturdy, four-legged body but an enormous serpent's trunk, dark blue-black and thicker than a water vat. Only a small portion of the snake-body broke the surface, yet even that much already dwarfed the fifteen-meter giant on shore.
Hard to imagine how titanic the bull-headed serpent would be if its whole body emerged.
"Hou—"
The shorebound giant gave a dispirited rumble.
"Er Ming, don't worry. Sister Xiao Wu is smart—she'll be fine."
A deep voice rolled out. It was the serpent in the lake, comforting the giant on the bank.
These two were none other than Xiao Wu's younger brothers: the 100,000-year Skyblue Bull Python, Da Ming, and the 100,000-year Titan Giant Ape, Er Ming.
"Hou hou—"
Er Ming answered with a string of roars, clearly unconvinced.
It couldn't speak human words, but that didn't make it foolish. Er Ming knew all too well how dangerous the human world was.
Especially since when Sister Xiao Wu left for the human world, she had just taken human form, her former power gone. If she had bad luck and met a human soul master over rank 80, the consequences were unthinkable.
Worse, the "smart" Sister Xiao Wu Da Ming spoke of… wasn't necessarily much smarter than Er Ming.
The human world teems with danger, and Sister Xiao Wu isn't exactly shrewd. Years have passed with no news. How could Er Ming not worry?
Truthfully, Da Ming worried just as much. But as the elder brother, he couldn't show it in front of his little brother, or the big lug would only fret more. And the human world isn't the forest; worrying changes nothing.
All the brothers could do was quietly pray that the legendary Beast God would protect their Sister Xiao Wu.
Just then, a fire-red figure flew in from the distant sky. A white-clad girl stood on its back.
"Da Ming, Er Ming, I'm back to see you!"
Waving toward her little brothers in the distance, Xiao Wu called out.
"Hou? (Who's that human?)"
Hearing the voice, Er Ming looked over, his lantern-sized, topaz-like eyes blinking. He rumbled a question at Da Ming.
"She sounds like she knows us?"
Da Ming shook his massive bull head and peered hard at the girl riding the phoenix. He was doubtful.
You couldn't blame them for not recognizing her. Eight or nine years ago, when Xiao Wu first took human form, she was the size of a six-year-old human child—nothing like the young maiden before them now. And thanks to the Absolute Control art, Xiao Wu had masked her aura well; neither brother sensed anything familiar from her.
"Idiots! You don't recognize me? You're making your Sister Xiao Wu mad!"
Seeing their puzzled looks, Xiao Wu landed by the lake and fumed.
Da Ming and Er Ming didn't recognize their own Sister Xiao Wu?
"You're really Sister Xiao Wu?"
Even with the pair of rabbit ears on her head, Da Ming still hesitated.
"Hmph, now I'm angry!"
She invoked her Soft Bone Rabbit spirit, letting her aura show. Xiao Wu puffed her cheeks.
"Hou hou hou!!!"
Er Ming, listless a moment ago, thumped his chest in delight.
This white-clad girl was Sister Xiao Wu—much stronger than before, but that familiar aura and the Soft Bone Rabbit spirit left no doubt.
"Moo—"
Da Ming, in the lake, also threw back his head and bellowed in excitement. The waters surged as his immense body undulated toward the shore.
Seeing her two little brothers so happy, Xiao Wu forgot her annoyance at not being recognized. She toed the ground, flashed up, and landed on Er Ming's broad shoulder.
"Da Ming, Er Ming—how have you two been in the forest while Sister Xiao Wu's been away?"
Xiao Wu asked.
"Hou!"
"We've been well, Er Ming and I. What about you, Sister Xiao Wu? Did you run into danger among humans?"
"Haha, do you know who I am? I'm your clever Sister Xiao Wu. How could I run into danger?"
Hands on hips, Xiao Wu said proudly.
"Sister Xiao Wu, if we remember right, you've been in human form less than ten years. How did you reach the human soul master's seven rings so fast?"
Da Ming stared at the seven rings blooming behind her—such a configuration was far from ordinary—and asked in confusion.
Her talent was high, yes, but comparable to a human born with full innate soul power. Less than ten years to reach Soul Sage? Was heaven really that partial to humans?
"Hehe."
Xiao Wu grinned. "Shows what you know. After I took human form, how could I be like common soul masters?"
"Hou—?"
Er Ming glanced at the fire phoenix circling overhead and grumbled doubtfully.
That red-feathered bird… something felt off.
He'd seen Fire Phoenixes before—noble, yes—but this one didn't feel like a normal Fire Phoenix.
"That's Xiaohong, my brother's summoned spirit. Hm? Who's my brother? Let me tell you…"
Xiao Wu gave a brief account of her first trip to the human world.
After a while, Da Ming and Er Ming fell silent, looking at Xiao Wu's face glowing with happiness.
Sister Xiao Wu… fell in love?!
"Huh? Er Ming, why are you crying?"
Seeing Er Ming suddenly bawling like a waterfall, Xiao Wu hurriedly asked.
"Woo—woo—"
Her words only made the big ape cry harder—like a hundred-thousand-year-old child.
Sister Xiao Wu fell in love with a human and didn't want her little brothers anymore. Sad. So sad.
Four days later, Xiao Wu bid her brothers farewell, stepped onto Xiaohong's back, and linked up with Chu Chengzhou to leave the Star Dou Great Forest.
Chu Chengzhou didn't go meet his two future brothers-in-law. Da Ming and Er Ming disliked human soul masters, and both seemed to secretly have a crush on Xiao Wu. If he showed up as Xiao Wu's boyfriend, that blockhead Er Ming would probably pound him.
Guys like She Long at the Titled Douluo level he could beat now, but against a 100,000-year Titan Giant Ape, all he could do was get pounded.
He also didn't teach Da Ming and Er Ming things like Jiu Xi Fuqi, Bumie Jinshen, or Yi Nian Yongheng. Not because he was stingy, but because they weren't in human bodies—those arts weren't suited to soul beasts.
The soul core method was an exception. He had Xiao Wu bring them the method for condensing a soul core.
With Xiao Wu's guidance, the stronger Da Ming even succeeded in condensing his first soul core.
Other arts wouldn't work for them, but this one would. In later eras, the great Ferocious Beasts all had soul cores—especially the Gold-Eyed Black Dragon King Di Tian ten thousand years hence, who condensed complementary yin-yang dual cores and was widely acknowledged the strongest being on the continent. It seemed the soul core method worked for both soul masters and soul beasts.
It might even have been invented by soul beasts in the first place and only spread by human soul masters later.
Da Ming condensed a core; Er Ming didn't.
Forming the first soul core isn't all that hard—reach the power threshold and it's doable. But this little brother's head isn't quick. He's pure muscle-head; his mental power and fine control lag far behind his brute strength.
Xiao Wu knew her big lug of a brother well and hadn't set her hopes high. Failing to condense one quickly was within her expectations.
She didn't stay to wait. Da Ming had learned it; he could teach Er Ming slowly.
That evening.
"I'm home!"
Back in Tian Dou City, the moment Xiao Wu stepped through the gate she called out.
Hearing the commotion, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing hurried out to meet her.
But their smiles vanished as soon as they saw Chu Chengzhou beside Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu, you're back just in time. We three sisters need to discuss something important."
They threw Chu Chengzhou a glance, then took Xiao Wu one on each side and headed straight for the rear courtyard.
"Hey? Rongrong, Zhuqing—you two don't see me?"
Watching them ignore him, Chu Chengzhou felt a little aggrieved.
After days apart, shouldn't they be warmly fussing over him? What was this attitude?
"Hmph. We'll deal with you in a minute."
They shot him a fierce glare and, without looking back, whisked a puzzled Xiao Wu into the back.
Chu Chengzhou: …
He sank into thought.
Had he accidentally offended these two little ancestors?
Rear courtyard.
"What's going on with you two?"
Xiao Wu asked, confused.
The pair exchanged a look. "Rongrong, you say it," Zhu Zhuqing said.
Ning Rongrong nodded and pulled out the letter Hu Liena had sent for Chu Chengzhou that they'd intercepted.
"I'm in Tian Dou City. Meet me tomorrow night in Room 506 at the Tian Dou Grand Hotel. Love you, mwah."
Xiao Wu blinked after reading it, still not quite getting it.
"The scumbag has another woman outside. This is from the vixen out there," Ning Rongrong huffed.
"Vixen? Really?"
Xiao Wu's eyes went wide. Hard to believe.
They were with Chu Chengzhou almost all the time. Even under such tight watch, some vixen still managed to hook him?
"Of course it's real. Zhuqing and I went to check that night. The big scumbag really does have someone outside."
"Who?!"
Xiao Wu's eyes narrowed.
The little rabbit does not have a big heart. She could tolerate Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing sharing only because of their sisterhood; without that, forget it. Now a Hu Liena jumps out of nowhere? No way.
"The Spirit Hall's new Saintess—Hu Liena."
"Hu Liena?"
Xiao Wu froze.
How did Chu Chengzhou end up tangled with Hu Liena?
As far as she remembered, they barely had any contact at all.
She couldn't figure out how two people who barely interacted at the tournament had gotten involved.
"Unforgivable!"
The next second, she was grinding her teeth. Her good mood vanished.
Bibi Dong of Spirit Hall was her mother-killer. Hu Liena was Bibi Dong's disciple. Of all the people to get involved with, Chu Chengzhou had to pick Hu Liena?
No—he couldn't get involved with anyone.
"Xiao Wu, you're our eldest. You decide what we do."
Ning Rongrong said solemnly.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, face set. They were the second and third rooms; such big matters, they followed the first wife's lead.
Ten minutes later.
In the main hall, Xiao Wu had the servants summon Chu Chengzhou.
"It's getting late. Have you had dinner?"
Chu Chengzhou, seeing the three girls all present, smiled as he entered.
Xiao Wu flicked him a cold glance and waved a hand. "You may all withdraw. Close the doors."
"Yes, First Lady."
Click.
The doors shut. Only the three sisters and Chu Chengzhou remained in the bright hall.
Chu Chengzhou had a bad feeling. This was the setup for a tribunal.
Bang—
Xiao Wu slapped the table. "Confess and be treated leniently, resist and be punished severely. Honestly explain—what have you done to wrong us three sisters?!"
"Xiao Wu, even if he confesses, don't be lenient," Ning Rongrong whispered, tugging her sleeve.
Xiao Wu nodded slightly.
Right. Even if he confessed, they couldn't go easy, or he'd only push further next time.
"Uh… what are you talking about? Even when you arrest someone you have to state the charge, right?"
Chu Chengzhou raised his right hand, baffled.
Chu: I'm more wronged than Dou E!
"Hmph. Open your eyes and look."
Xiao Wu drew the letter from her soul guide and flicked it right into Chu Chengzhou's face.
Chu Chengzhou: …
He took it down and read.
At the familiar handwriting and words, his heart sank. Not good.
Busted.
Chu Chengzhou: Okay, so this time it really is my fault.
Now he understood the "surprise" Hu Liena had mentioned back in Spirit City.
Unfortunately, an accident had turned the surprise into a shock.
Still, if he could get through this hurdle, a happy life awaited… probably?
Bang—
"Talk! When did you and Hu Liena get together?!"
Xiao Wu slapped the table again, glaring.
"Well…"
He hesitated, thinking to quibble. But he hadn't prepared a story, and nothing came to mind in the moment.
"Fine, won't talk? Then go live with that vixen. Rongrong, Zhuqing—we're packing up. No point staying in this house!"
She rose, pulling her sisters to make a show of storming off.
Leaving home wasn't the goal; it was leverage. Otherwise that vixen would get a bargain.
"Stop!"
Chu Chengzhou barked.
The three turned back to look at him.
"I was wrong."
He came clean, crisp and neat.
"Oh? Rare. Lord Chu Chengzhou can be wrong? What exactly?"
"I shouldn't have gone looking for another woman."
"Will you do it again?"
"I won't."
Seeing the repentant look, Xiao Wu nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then cut ties with that vixen."
"Can I… not break up?"
He tried a thick-skinned plea.
Break up with the little fox? Absolutely not.
If it had been only a little flirtation with no line crossed, maybe he could have cut it off. But since he'd taken responsibility for her, to dump her now would make him a true scumbag.
"Impossible! I will never agree to Hu Liena stepping over this threshold."
Xiao Wu jumped to her feet, face set.
She was Bibi Dong's disciple, and Bibi Dong was the murderer of her mother—how could she become Xiao Wu's "sister"? Absolutely not.
"Why not?"
Chu Chengzhou asked.
"Hmph. She's Spirit Hall's Saintess. You yourself said Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect don't get along. Have you thought about Rongrong's position? And did you forget who killed my mother?"
Her eyes reddened; tears threatened.
How to argue your way out when you've been caught?
"Don't cry, don't cry. I thought of exactly that—that's why I got together with Hu Liena."
Chu Chengzhou stepped in to hug her and—cough—explain.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing blinked in shock; Xiao Wu stared at him, dumbfounded.
What kind of shameless excuse was that?
"Ahem. Hear me out while I slowly… explain.
Spirit Hall's true strength is far beyond what people think. Xiao Wu, Rongrong, Zhuqing—you probably don't know this yet, but just their Titled Douluo alone number over twenty, nearly thirty.
Among them are seven Enshrined Elders, each at least rank 96. The Grand Enshrined, Qian Daoliu, is known as 'Unrivaled in the Sky,' a rank-99 Peerless Douluo—half a step from godhood, unmatched in the world.
And the Pope, Bibi Dong, has twin spirits and is likewise among the strongest on the continent, very likely to reach the hundredth level and become a god.
With Spirit Hall so strong, I have to plan ahead.
If they ever clash with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, what then?
Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone can't stand against so many Titled Elders. For the sect's legacy, I had to get close to Hu Liena.
She's the Saintess and future Pope. If Rongrong and she become close 'sisters,' she won't have the heart to move against our sect, right?"
He cleared his throat and spoke gravely.
Ning Rongrong: …
By that logic, you're offering yourself up to the tiger?
For the sect's inheritance… as the sect's young lady… maybe she couldn't refuse entirely?
After all, she wasn't the only one "sharing" anymore—going from one-third to one-fourth wasn't that big a difference…
Then Chu Chengzhou added a private transmission to Xiao Wu: "Compared with revenge, I think dissolving enmity is better.
I told you before—when soul masters reach the hundredth level and become gods, if they're willing, they can resurrect the soul beasts whose rings they took.
From what I know, Bibi Dong carries a divine inheritance. If she reaches godhood, then our mom has a chance to return.
But as we are, why would Bibi Dong help resurrect her?
If you and Hu Liena become close sisters, with that relationship in place, she might not refuse."
He didn't say this part aloud. No one but him knew Xiao Wu's true identity; better it stayed that way forever.
Xiao Wu fell silent. Did her mother truly have a chance?
Her mother had loved her so much. For her mother's sake, the little bunny could endure.
Seeing that he'd basically swayed two of them with a few words, Chu Chengzhou silently gave himself a thumbs-up for quick wits.
As for Zhu Zhuqing—
Catching the big cat looking at him, he faltered. He didn't have a good pretext ready.
He chose "practical action." He activated the Xumi Huanjie illusion art and drew her consciousness into the domain.
"Zhuqing, let's forget our troubles and be happy together."
He didn't give her a chance to refuse, and pulled her into shared "happiness" in the illusion.
At first, Zhu Zhuqing, still angry, resisted. Soon enough, she was lost in it.
The next morning, a letter reached the Tian Dou Spirit Hall and landed in Saintess Hu Liena's hands.
Chu Chengzhou began with a sincere apology.
Even a toe could guess what had happened: Hu Liena, who had booked the room at the Tian Dou Grand Hotel, waited with high hopes for her beloved… only for Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing to show up instead. Getting caught—mortifying.
Naturally, the letter was also soaked in syrupy affection.
In closing, Chu Chengzhou wrote that he had already smoothed things over with the three at home, and asked her out to dinner to talk—so they could strive together toward a harmonious, happy future.
"This little brat settled it that fast?"
Reading that, Hu Liena raised a brow, surprised.
Perhaps every outstanding man is good at keeping his back courtyard in order.
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on most of my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle