"Hmm?"
Lu Yuan turned his head when he suddenly sensed someone behind him. Sure enough, it was Er Ming, the Titan Great Ape, who had appeared silently at his back.
"You mean him?" Lu Yuan pointed. "He's Er Ming, my friend!"
Then he turned to the giant ape. "Er Ming, these are my friends too."
It was just a short introduction, but enough to stop any immediate bloodshed.
"Friends?" Bai He and Niu Gao were dumbstruck. "You can actually be friends with the King of the Great Forest?"
Were they hearing wrong? Were they being fooled? The Titan Great Ape wasn't attacking, as if he really did treat Lu Yuan like a comrade.
Lu Yuan's… social circle was getting a little ridiculous. He could actually befriend a soul beast king? Was he already able to communicate across species?
"Why are you two old fogeys looking at me like that?" Lu Yuan frowned, clearly displeased.
"No, no, we wouldn't dare look down on you!" Niu Gao quickly shook his head, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Didn't you just say it? We're friends now!"
He glanced at Bai Chenxiang beside him and tried to calm himself. If not for her connection to Lu Yuan, they might already be dead.
"Roar—!"
The Titan Great Ape suddenly let out a deafening roar, his lantern-sized eyes blazing with hostility. "Humans! You've come to the forest to hunt soul beasts again!"
Overwhelming pressure surged out, instantly pinning Bai He and Niu Gao in place.
This was the King of the Forest's true authority—fierce, absolute, suffocating.
"Xiangxiang, quickly! Tell Lu Yuan to have the forest king calm down!" Niu Gao strained against the pressure, his face red. "At this rate, your two grandpas will be crushed flat!"
Even though his defensive Martial Soul gave him sturdiness, his body still shook. Beside him, Bai He's face had already turned pale, his breath struggling.
"Brother Lu Yuan…"
Bai Chenxiang's pleading eyes tugged at Lu Yuan.
"It's fine. Just a small problem." Lu Yuan waved his hand. "Er Ming! Stop scaring them already."
The Titan Great Ape hesitated, then retracted his aura at Lu Yuan's command. In truth, he felt no goodwill toward human soul masters, especially those daring to trespass deep into the Star Dou Great Forest. If it weren't for Lu Yuan restraining him, he really would have smashed these intruders into mud.
"Haaah…" Niu Gao exhaled a long sigh of relief. He had been moments away from suffocating.
This boy Lu Yuan was something else. Even the Titan Great Ape obeyed him obediently.
"Brother Lu Yuan… what happened? Why are you even here?" Bai Chenxiang's voice finally regained its breath, mixed with both relief and curiosity.
"Heh, to be honest, even I'm not too sure how things ended up like this." Lu Yuan grinned casually.
"Then… where do you live now?"
"Now? Well…" Lu Yuan shrugged. "I've been living here in the soul beast forest. It's not bad at all—way more comfortable than outside."
"…" Bai Chenxiang blinked at him in disbelief.
He continued, smiling. "Xiaoyu's been staying with me too. The only downside is… well, there's no house."
Lu Yuan spoke with ease, not minding the lack of modern comfort. In fact, he enjoyed this free life—meat, wine, no human schemes. What more could he ask for?
"Big Brother Niu's very good at building houses!" Bai Chenxiang exclaimed suddenly. "With his Martial Soul, the Plate-Armored Rhino, his royal line is very skilled in construction. The last time we visited him, his mansion was entirely self-built—huge and beautiful."
Her eyes brightened, as if she had just solved a big problem.
Niu Gao nearly choked on his spit. He coughed, winking frantically at her. "Cough! Cough! Chenxiang—!"
Will you stop selling me off so eagerly?!
Her words were like knives in his chest. His own granddaughter was pitching him straight into the fire pit.
Is this how you repay grandpa? Did I treat you so poorly?!
They weren't completely out of danger yet—there was a Titan Great Ape standing right next to Lu Yuan! Shouldn't they be looking for a way to escape, not volunteering him as construction labor?!
"Old Rhino, what do you think? Let's help build a house for Lu Yuan." Bai He whispered from the side.
Niu Gao's jaw nearly dislocated. "Have you lost your mind?!"
First my granddaughter, now you. Both of you want to send me into the fire pit?
"Listen." Bai He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "The Titan Great Ape hasn't killed us right away—don't you think that means something? I admit I want to help Lu Yuan. But if you don't, then I'll step forward, beg him for mercy, and make sure at least you can return to your clan safely."
Bai He still remembered how Lu Yuan had once saved the Min Clan. He couldn't forget a debt like that.
Niu Gao was silent for a long moment, then sighed heavily. "Haaah… damn you old hawk. Alright, you win. But I have one condition. I'll build the house, but my clan must not be harmed afterward. Otherwise, I'd rather they kill me right here and now."
"As if I'd let that happen." Bai He thumped his chest. "If anyone wants to trouble my old friend's clan, they'll go through me first."
"Lu Yuan," Bai He then turned around, "old Rhino and I say we can help you build a house. Don't worry, we won't reveal your location to anyone outside. I give you my word, Bai He."
Lu Yuan tilted his head. Deep down, Bai Chenxiang's earlier words had already stirred him. A real home in the Great Forest… it didn't sound bad at all. Xiaoyu and the others deserved a safe place.
"Fine," he finally nodded.
"But on one condition." Bai He's eyes grew solemn. "Once the house is done, you must let us leave safely."
Lu Yuan frowned. "What do I need your lives for? Do I look like I enjoy killing innocent people?"
"…Uh…"
His blunt words brought a weird silence. Niu Gao's face was still stiff as stone, his jaw tighter than a donkey's.
Boom! Boom!
Er Ming slammed his colossal fists together with a thunderous crack, glaring right at Niu Gao's group.
"No, no! I was just… uh, thinking about what kind of house to build for you!" Niu Gao immediately beamed, nodding like an obedient ox.
In his heart, he wept. Heavens, what a rotten trap we've fallen into…!
Still, what could they do? They had barged into the Soul Beast Forest to hunt—and instead, ended up contracted as builders for the King of the Forest's human friend. Twisted fate indeed. But staying alive was already fortune enough.
"Brother Lu Yuan, let's go then!" Bai Chenxiang said cheerfully, unable to contain her joy. "Take me to see Xiaoyu!"
Her radiant smile was worlds apart from the tearful girl just moments earlier.
…
"Everyone listen, keep your mouths sealed! No one is allowed to reveal where we're heading or what we're doing. If I find anyone leaking this, don't blame me, Niu Gao, for turning harsh—even against my own people!"
On the way deeper into the forest, Niu Gao drilled warning after warning into his tribe.
"Dad, please relax! This time, we've only brought the elite disciples of the younger generation. They're loyal, disciplined, and absolutely won't speak a word."
"Patriarch, we swear we'll never tell anyone!"
"Yes, never!"
"Absolutely sworn!"
His tribesmen one after another pledged their silence.
…
Time flowed quickly. Half a month passed.
At first, the tribes looked at the Titan Great Ape with sheer terror, afraid to even meet his eyes. But after days of traveling together, their fear dulled, and a strange thought sometimes struck them—this giant ape was… almost kind of cute?
Of course, the thought lasted only a heartbeat before they forced themselves to look away. Cute or not, they didn't dare wander close.
"Arrived."
Er Ming's deep voice rolled like thunder.
The group looked up—and gasped.
Before their eyes, an immense crystal-blue lake spread endlessly, surrounded by dense ancient trees. The waters sparkled, as clear as jade, carrying an aura so pure and primal it made their skin tingle.
"This… this is the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest?" Bai He whispered, his heart pounding.
"Yes… it really is!"
Even Niu Gao's eyes gleamed with awe.
The air itself here was different—denser, richer, sharper. One whiff told them this was no ordinary part of the forest. This was the hidden center where few dared tread… a place even most Titled Douluo had never glimpsed.
Just stepping into this area gave them enough bragging rights to boast endlessly back home—if they could talk. But of course, they had already promised they'd never reveal a word.
Excitement and pride welled in their clansmen's hearts. They were seeing a sacred place their ancestors would never believe mortals could touch.
And they owed it all to Lu Yuan.
--
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