"Hey…"
Su Bei sighed inwardly, massaging his temples. When Gu Yuena had clamped down on him with her overwhelming beauty and forced marriage, at least he knew where he stood: helpless, passive… but oddly, thrilling.
Xiao Wu, however, wasn't overwhelming him with divine majesty. She was instead offering him something just as dangerous: the naïve, sincere request to promise true love.
His heart tightened.
Strategy difficulty… rising like hell.
Suddenly, Su Bei even found himself reminiscing about Gu Yuena's absolute straightforwardness. She was terrifying but simple: "marry me or I'll destroy you," followed by immediate possession and eternal dominion. Direct and bloody.
Xiao Wu, by contrast, stood before him with dimples, wet eyes, and simple innocence. Asking him to comb her hair forever.
Combing hair… a promise more binding than marriage vows in this world of soul beasts.
His system chuckled mercilessly in his head, practically daring him: Choose. Strategy or sincerity, scum or savior?
Su Bei squeezed his fists. Love comes too fast. Like a tornado. If you're in the storm's center… there's no escape.
At last, he bit down, leaned close, and wrapped his arms around Xiao Wu's slim body. Her warmth surprised him—soft, fragrant with spring grass. For a moment, he forgot the world. Gently, he reached for her smooth little hand, weaving his fingers into hers.
"Of course," he whispered solemnly. "My mother told me too—combing a girl's hair is something that binds you for life. In the human world… we call that responsibility."
"R-Responsible?" Xiao Wu's eyes widened. Her small body trembled, but instead of pulling away, she nestled into his chest like a kitten burying against its master's heart.
"Yes." Su Bei smiled faintly. "From today, I'll comb your hair, and you'll be my sister. That means we're family—bound by love and loyalty, responsible for each other."
He kept his face serious, though inside he snickered. See? Scum men talk responsibility like they invented it.
Xiao Wu blinked up at him, dizzy, dazed. His words weren't the kind she'd ever heard… but something about them burrowed into her heart.
"But… how do I be responsible for you?" she asked, cheeks flushed pink.
"You'll protect me too," Su Bei said with grave dignity, then poked her cheeks mischievously. "And remember—you cannot get close to other boys. Especially the ones with martial spirits like grass. Plantain grass, blue silver grass, horsetail grass… Any kind of suspicious grass martial spirit is bad news."
"Eh? Why? Grass isn't good?" Xiao Wu tilted her head in confusion, braid swinging. "But Xiao Wu grew up eating grass!"
"Exactly." Su Bei's face turned serious. "Humans don't value grass spirits. If one looks weak, but still grows powerful… it means the boy is hiding his true martial spirit. Liars like that are terrifying, manipulative, and you mustn't ever fall for them."
Her violet eyes widened. "…Ohhh! So grass is bad. Dangerous even! I understand!"
Su Bei exhaled in relief, wiping imaginary sweat. Tang San blackened successfully. One strike to the roots.
Xiao Wu clenched her tiny fists. "Then I'll avoid any boy with a grass martial spirit!"
"Good girl." He ruffled her damp hair.
But then she lowered her gaze, murmuring shyly, "...But what if someone has a radish for a martial spirit? Radish is tasty."
Su Bei nearly choked. Radish?? Images of Old Jack—the loud grandpa who called Tang San "God King's Daddy"—flashed painfully.
"A radish spirit is fine," Su Bei allowed gravely. "But check first. Some radishes… are very old. You mustn't break their fragile bodies."
She tilted her head at his cryptic tone, nodding seriously.
Su Bei laughed inwardly. This rabbit really believed everything he said.
Their hands remained clasped tightly. Warmth mingled.
[System Trigger: Xiao Wu's Favorability +20.]
[Milestone unlocked: Ten Fingers Clasped. Reward: +1 Soul Power Level.]
[Choose 2 out of 3 bonus rewards:]
①: Blue Silver Grass Disgust Aura – target soul beasts/humans with Blue Silver martial spirits feel weakened around you.
②: Accelerated Affection Route – Xiao Wu's attachment to host increases by one tier.
③: Language Rendering Aura (★) – host's words carry natural persuasive magnetism.
Su Bei's eyes flashed. The third looked god-tier. That's basically "scum protagonist mouth." Every word shakes hearts. Isn't that the halo of Chinese webnovel MCs?
But Xiao Wu's face was already dangerously sweet right now. Best to accelerate and lock her heart early. He decisively chose ① and ②.
A pulse of strange energy surged. Xiao Wu squeezed closer, pressing halfway into his lap, eyes glazed with warmth she'd never known.
Su Bei grinned. Important time calls for important lies. He pulled a piece of sugar from his pocket—ordinary candy, but wielded like a divine treasure.
"Xiao Wu, now that we're responsible for each other, I must be honest. In the Fierce Land, there was a terrible beast—a female dragon—who coveted my beauty. She wanted to marry me. Fortunately, I escaped to find you."
Xiao Wu's jaw dropped. "A dragon… m-marriage??"
Su Bei nodded grimly. "Before she could catch me, I fled. This candy was my mother's last gift before she died. She told me: Give this to the one you love most. It carries the sweetness of life's true meaning."
He placed the candy delicately in her palm. Her eyes brimmed with emotion as she slid it between her lips, tasting. Her expression melted at the sugary burst.
"Mm! Sweet!" she said happily, dimples glowing. Then she frowned, kicking away some Blue Silver Grass by her foot. "Weird. Suddenly this weed tastes disgusting… Brother Bei, you're right. Grass is awful!"
Su Bei coughed, choking back laughter. Blue Silver Grass successfully debuffed. Tang San, my condolences. Wife stolen, martial spirit insulted, prestige obliterated.
He decided to strike while the fire was hot. Su Bei palmed the tiny vial the system had given him. He twirled it with a mysterious smile.
"And… if I told you there's a potion that makes you like me even more… would you drink it?"
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You doubt my feelings? Are you saying Xiao Wu doesn't already like you? Hmph!"
He raised both hands in fake panic. "Of course not! It's just… uhm… moral insurance."
She tapped his nose with her finger, lips curling. "…Fine. But only because you talk so well."
She snatched the vial and downed it in a gulp.
Her soft cheeks turned sunset-pink instantly. Her violet eyes flickered, brimming with confused warmth, and she turned her head away, voice small.
"Humph… Brother Bei. You really are dangerous."
Su Bei stroked his chin smugly, watching the system's glow flare again inside his mind.
The rabbit is on the hook.
--
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