While Oscar and Xiao Wu were talking, the Titan Giant Ape, who was secretly eavesdropping in the distance, caught every word.
When it heard Xiao Wu call it family, its heart was filled with joy, but at the same time, there was also a strange, indescribable feeling. Was it… just family?
Later, when it heard Xiao Wu say she would bear the consequences of this accident herself, the Titan Giant Ape felt its heart break. After all, this accident happened because it couldn't restrain itself and took action, which ended up injuring Xiao Wu's companions.
To think, it the mighty King of the Forest, the undisputed ruler of the Star Dou Great Forest would actually let Xiao Wu shoulder the consequences in its place?
But because of Xiao Wu's earlier warning, it dared not show itself now and could only listen quietly to the conversation between her and Oscar.
Still, the Titan Giant Ape was fairly satisfied. This human really seemed to care deeply about Xiao Wu. When they first met, he even helped Xiao Wu check her body a proper examination, not something inappropriate.
But just as the Titan Giant Ape was starting to feel a hint of goodwill toward this human, it heard him say that it needed to "give him an explanation"?
What explanation? It, the King of the Forest, had already shown mercy when it struck. Didn't this human have even a little self awareness?
When Xiao Wu heard Oscar say this, she also looked a little embarrassed. In her heart, she thought: Senior, I know you're angry because Sister in law was hurt, but… but Er Ming is a true hundred thousand year soul beast…
Xiao Wu fidgeted slightly, then softly advised:
"Senior, Er Ming really didn't mean it, and besides, it's already gone. I can't find it now anyway. Why don't we just hurry back? Otherwise, Sister in law and the dean will be worried…"
Oscar glanced at her calmly and said:
"Xiao Wu, I'm not just looking for your friend for an explanation. There are other matters I want to discuss with it."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu was stunned. "Other matters to discuss?"
Oscar nodded.
"It's about you. Of course, it also has something to do with Tang San."
Once she heard Tang San's name, Xiao Wu no longer thought of stopping him. Since Senior said so, naturally he had his reasons.
But now that Er Ming had already left, the only way to find it would be to return to Star Lake. From here, though, that meant crossing a vast stretch of the Star Dou Great Forest and passing through many powerful soul beasts' territories.
Even though Senior's strength was formidable, traversing half the forest to reach Star Lake wasn't something that could be done in just a few hours.
Wouldn't wasting too much time worry the dean and Little San?
Just as Xiao Wu was thinking this over, she suddenly sensed a familiar aura. Looking toward the direction Er Ming had vanished, two massive trees parted, revealing the towering figure of the Titan Giant Ape.
"Er Ming?" Xiao Wu exclaimed in surprise.
The Titan Giant Ape gave her what it thought was a handsome smile.
"Xiao Wu, I'm back."
Then it turned to Oscar. The smile vanished from its enormous face. Although Oscar couldn't really tell whether it had been smiling, the moment it looked at him, a chilling aura locked onto him. Just its gaze alone gave Oscar an incomparable sense of oppression.
This… was the terror of a hundred thousand year soul beast.
Although Oscar's avatars often stayed with Dugu Bo and the others, none of them ever exerted such crushing pressure on him like the Titan Giant Ape did.
This was, in fact, the first time Oscar directly faced a pressure comparable to a Titled Douluo.
"Human, you want me to give you an explanation?"
The Titan Giant Ape's voice was no longer warm as it was with Xiao Wu, but deep and cold.
Oscar stared straight into its massive golden eyes without flinching. Instead of answering directly, his calm voice rang out:
"So you hadn't left after all. Hiding in the shadows was it because you were worried I might hurt Xiao Wu?"
Hearing this, the Titan Giant Ape fixed its crystalline yellow pupils on him.
"I have to say, you made the right choice."
"Heh." Oscar chuckled lightly.
"Since you've heard everything, I won't waste words."
At this point, Xiao Wu tugged gently at Oscar's sleeve, softly saying:
"Senior, Er Ming is usually very gentle. He's just not used to strangers. And… and you also know that our soul beast clan generally doesn't have a good impression of humans. Er Ming is the king of the forest whatever it is you want to discuss, you can also talk it over with me."
Oscar gently patted her small hand.
"Don't worry. Faced with a forest king on par with a Titled Douluo, I wouldn't provoke it recklessly. What I want to discuss is something you should know as well."
The Titan Giant Ape saw how intimate they seemed and felt an inexplicable irritation in its heart. But since Xiao Wu clearly trusted this human, it suppressed the discomfort.
"A human who knows his place. I can see your kindness toward Xiao Wuj. Tell me what do you want to discuss? As long as it isn't something unreasonable, I can agree, as repayment for protecting her."
This time, its voice was calm, without the heavy oppression from before.
Oscar smiled.
"Good. Since time is short, I'll be brief.
The reason I wanted to meet you is indeed to discuss something. But before that, I need you to give me and everyone at Shrek Academy some compensation.
You can see from me how we treat Xiao Wu. But today, because of you, our entire academy was injured. Not to mention our schedule being delayed, my own plans have also been affected…"
The Titan Giant Ape didn't grow impatient at Oscar's words, especially since Xiao Wu nodded in agreement beside him.
It didn't know Oscar well, but Xiao Wu had come to understand him in the past two months. He was someone who always planned several steps ahead. So she didn't refute him, and naturally, the Titan Giant Ape followed her lead.
When Oscar finished, the Titan Giant Ape slowly said:
"What kind of compensation do you want? I can help you and your friends find suitable spirit rings. But I won't aid in senseless slaughter."
Oscar's eyes brightened at that. But instead of answering immediately, he said:
"Relax, I won't hunt indiscriminately. You can even ask Xiao Wu throughout our journey, aside from necessary spirit rings, we've never killed any extra soul beasts."
Xiao Wu nodded.
"See, Er Ming? Senior really is a good person. Otherwise, I wouldn't even be alive now."
Oscar gently patted her head.
"Don't think like that. You're 'purehearted.' Even without me, you'd live just fine."
Hearing that, Xiao Wu felt warmth in her heart, and even the Titan Giant Ape couldn't help but gain a bit more favor toward Oscar.
Of course, Oscar had said that deliberately to build goodwill. After all, could a rabbit that had lived for tens of thousands maybe even a hundred thousand years really be that simple minded?
Oscar continued:
"The biggest problem isn't spirit rings it's the senseless slaughter by humans. A soul master only needs at most nine rings in their lifetime, and only a very few ever achieve that. But how many soul beasts does a soul master kill in a lifetime?
Even on this trip, we couldn't avoid killing ten and hundred year beasts that attacked us. After all, soul beasts aren't just about spirit rings the stronger and rarer ones are valuable all over their bodies.
As for those who live by hunting soul beasts, the number they kill is exponentially higher. If this continues, won't the day come when there are no soul beasts left for rings?"
Hearing this, both Xiao Wu and the Titan Giant Ape were struck deeply. It was true. Beyond spirit rings, soul beasts had countless uses. Greedy humans would never stop hunting.
If this continued, wouldn't soul beasts really be driven to extinction?
Humans grew far faster than soul beasts. The Titan Giant Ape itself had taken tens of thousands of years to reach the hundred thousand year level. Yet powerful humans could surpass it in just a hundred years.
If all humans thought like Oscar, would the hatred between humans and soul beasts lessen? Probably not. Oscar could control himself, but not everyone else. Still, his words were enough to win the Titan Giant Ape's favor mainly because Xiao Wu trusted him.
Otherwise, if any other human had said such things, the Titan Giant Ape would have dismissed it as empty words to save their life. After all, in its eyes, humans were all greedy except Oscar, who wasn't even tempted by hundred thousand year rings or bones.
It was strange. Oscar, with such talent and strength, wasn't moved by the sight of a hundred thousand year ring or bone.
Thinking he truly was a decent human, the Titan Giant Ape sat down and asked:
"So, what compensation do you want?"
Oscar smiled faintly.
"You're a hundred thousand year soul beast, the emperor of the forest. Over the years, you must have killed more than a few humans and beasts. Surely you have some soul bones stored away?
Even if you can't absorb them, you wouldn't just eat them, right? Except for a few special kinds, most soul beasts can't absorb the power within soul bones."
The Titan Giant Ape's expression turned a bit odd. It had just thought Oscar wasn't tempted by such things yet here he was asking for soul bones?
Even Xiao Wu was surprised. She hadn't expected her Senior, who wasn't tempted by her own hundred thousand year ring or bone, to ask Er Ming for one.
Seeing their reactions, Oscar only chuckled.
"I just wasn't interested in Xiao Wu's rings and bones. That doesn't mean I don't care about soul bones at all. Why are you both looking at me like that?"
Xiao Wu blinked, then softly said:
"Senior, hearing you say that… actually makes me happy. It proves you truly care for me."
The Titan Giant Ape nodded in agreement.
Oscar added:
"Besides, I'm not asking for myself. Tang San has twin martial spirits. If he wants to attach rings to his second one, aside from cultivation, he'll need soul bones to strengthen his body and resilience."
The moment she heard it was to help Tang San, Xiao Wu immediately perked up and turned to the Titan Giant Ape:
"Er Ming, do we have any soul bones stored?"
Er Ming replied:
"We do. But do you think I don't know their value? Even if you treat Xiao Wu well, if I just hand soul bones over, won't we be on the losing end?"
Oscar, however, was inwardly delighted. He had only asked casually, not expecting they really had some.
So why hadn't this appeared in the original story? Then he remembered in the original, when Tang San first met Da Ming and Er Ming, Xiao Wu had already sacrificed herself for him. Later, when they met again, the two beasts sacrificed themselves as well. By then, Tang San was already full of hundred thousand year bones why would he care about any leftovers?
Still, later Tang San gave the Shrek Seven Devils several bones. Perhaps some of those came from Da Ming and Er Ming's stockpile…
In any case, since Er Ming admitted they had them, Oscar wouldn't let the chance slip by. Even if he had to coax them, he'd get them.
Hearing Er Ming's words, Oscar grew displeased.
"Losing out? No you'd be losing out if you traded your treasures for my ordinary items. But those soul bones of yours are just collecting dust, useless to you. If you give them to me, not only can I grow stronger, but I'll also remember your kindness."
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