Chapter 13: A Brief Farewell
On the battlefield, Tian E's colossal Martial Soul True Body was riddled with wounds. His golden crocodile scales, once gleaming, were now soaked in blood.
Di Tian, by contrast, bore only a slightly worsened version of his original injury. Even so, that wound had cost him dearly. Had he been at full strength—a凶 beast rivaling, if not surpassing, a Limit Douluo—he would have crushed the 98th-level Super Douluo in a single strike.
Walter fared worse.
The old butler sat slumped against a freshly splintered tree stump, breathing shallowly.
Xiong Jun stood before him, covered in countless tiny cuts—but none seemed to hinder the massive bear. After a cursory glance at his own injuries, he loomed over Walter.
"Human, I said I'd devour you alive. I've changed my mind. For a 94th-level Titled Douluo to push me this far… you've earned my respect."
"Oh? Then what do you plan to do with me, big bear?"
Walter didn't look at him. He gazed up at the sky and sighed.
Dying in Star Dou Great Forest wasn't so bad. It was just a shame—he'd barely worn the outfit Miss Frost had designed for him.
"I'll kill you cleanly, burn your body to ash, and scatter it across Star Dou."
Seeing this, Tian E let out a roar of anguish and lunged once more at Di Tian. His eyes burned with grief. *Old friend… go ahead. I'll join you soon.*
Walter caught Tian E's look and gave a faint, knowing smile. He closed his eyes.
"Do it."
Xiong Jun raised his claw—then froze.
A crimson paw intercepted his strike.
"Chi Wang? Why stop me? Did you catch her?"
*Thank the heavens I ran fast enough,* Chi Wang thought, heart pounding. *Another second, and not just canine魂 beasts—but bears too—would've been wiped from Star Dou.*
"I didn't catch her, but she's not going anywhere. And if you'd landed that blow, both bear and dog clans would've been erased from this forest."
"What are you talking about?"
Xiong Jun scratched his head. He was the classic brute-type魂 beast—strong limbs, no mind.
"What about the three girls? If they're harmed in any way, Spirit Hall and Star Dou will be locked in eternal war!"
Walter, seeing Chi Wang, instantly grasped the situation and shouted urgently.
"Relax, old man. They're fine. In fact, thank that girl—the one with the life-energy martial soul. She threatened to stab herself if I didn't stop Xiong Jun."
Just then, the clash between Di Tian and Tian E ended.
Di Tian dropped the barely conscious Tian E beside Walter with a thud.
"I heard everything," Di Tian said. "Explain."
"The girl realized we were after her. She agreed to come willingly—but swore she'd kill herself if even one of them went missing."
Chi Wang bowed his head. To Di Tian, the Beast God, he showed only reverence.
"If she's willing to come, I'd give my life for it. Xiong Jun—take these two. Let's go."
Di Tian turned toward Qian Ningshuang's location. Unlike Tian E and Walter, who couldn't afford distraction in battle, he'd kept part of his awareness fixed on her the entire time.
Time rewound slightly.
After Chi Wang departed, Qian Ren Xue strode up to Qian Ningshuang and snatched the dagger from her hand.
"Sister…"
Qian Ningshuang forced a smile, watching tears stream down Qian Ren Xue's face.
Everyone had seen it clearly—the凶 beasts were after her.
But seeing it changed nothing. What could they do?
All Qian Ren Xue could do was cry.
Her reason told her Qian Ningshuang had made the right choice—the only one that ensured their survival. She would have done the same.
But her heart refused to accept it. This was her little sister—the one who'd pulled her from the shadows of her childhood.
She wanted to scream, *Let's all fight and die together!* But what good would that do? Only corpses in return.
"Sister, it'll be alright. If they need me, I'm probably not in danger."
Qian Ningshuang wiped away Qian Ren Xue's tears.
If her guess was correct, the凶 beasts were acting on behalf of Star Dou's sovereign—the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yue Na. In that case, her life wasn't at risk. And if she played her cards right… maybe she'd even pull off what every transmigrator dreamed of: winning over the Silver Dragon King herself.
"I'm coming with you."
Staring at her tear-streaked sister, Qian Ningshuang was speechless. *Sister, why do you always turn foolish when emotions are involved—just like in the original story?*
Alone, with the凶 beasts needing her, she had leverage. But if Qian Ren Xue came along? She'd just become another hostage.
"Sister, remember this: you are the future leader of Spirit Hall. No matter what—*no matter what*—you must stay calm and rational. Never let emotion cloud your judgment."
"You carry the lives of tens of thousands within Spirit Hall on your shoulders. You bear the weight of its millennia-old aspirations!"
"Every thought you have, every move you make, will shape countless fates."
Qian Ren Xue froze, meeting the solemn gaze in Qian Ningshuang's violet-blue eyes.
She wanted to say: *I remember everything you've taught me—about duty over self, ideals over desire. But you're different! How can I apply cold calculation to you?*
But she held her tongue. She knew Qian Ningshuang's strange devotion to collective good. She knew her disdain for those who claimed they couldn't live without someone. She knew how much she hated selfishness disguised as love.
So she stood there, silent—until Di Tian and the others arrived.
"Human girl," a deep voice called. "Are you ready to come with us?"
A black-haired man with two dragon horns stepped forward.
Behind him, a hulking figure—Xiong Jun—dropped the unconscious Tian E and the barely breathing Walter onto the ground.
"Of course," Qian Ningshuang replied. "But please wait a moment."
"Ugh, so much fuss! We've brought everyone—what more do you want?" Xiong Jun grumbled.
"Hmph. Did I give you permission to speak?"
Di Tian, now in human form, shot Xiong Jun a sharp glance.
Xiong Jun ducked his head and shuffled back a few steps. Normally, he'd have snapped back—but today, he understood just how vital Qian Ningshuang was to the Silver Dragon King. He might be reckless, but he wasn't stupid.