25: Chapter 25 Return to Soto

At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing was covered in scratches from head to toe, with even a trace of dried, dark red blood at the corner of her mouth. Fortunately, she had no fatal wounds. If she hadn't been wearing leather clothing but something else, with Xiao Wu supporting her, she would have been the very image of a sickly beauty.

However, certain features that didn't quite match her age automatically drew the gaze of Bai Qi, who had just turned around.

"Ahem."

Seeing Bai Qi's handsome demeanor last for less than three seconds, Xiao Wu coughed twice to pull his attention back.

Having his attention pulled back, Bai Qi glanced at Xiao Wu with a guilty conscience. Xiao Wu, who knew his temperament well, didn't look back at him. She just huffed and turned around, taking Zhuqing to tend to her wounds.

Having just escaped from being hunted, Zhuqing smiled slightly at this relatively heartwarming scene.

Bai Qi was left standing there all alone. He smiled helplessly, then found a spot next to a tree and sat down to wait for the two of them.

Before long, Xiao Wu walked over, blushing slightly as she reached out to Bai Qi and said,

"My clothes."

Hearing this, Bai Qi knew what Xiao Wu wanted. He took a package wrapped in black cloth from his ring and handed it to her.

After taking her clothes, Xiao Wu huffed at Bai Qi again and turned back.

Bai Qi could only wait there again, though he was quite looking forward to seeing what Zhuqing would look like in Xiao Wu's clothes.

After a while, the two of them, having finished treating the wounds, walked over. Compared to the somewhat self-conscious Xiao Wu, Zhuqing, wearing Xiao Wu's clothes, was clearly a bit shy.

Seeing the two of them come out, Bai Qi's gaze followed his instincts once again.

It was mainly because, even though Xiao Wu was three years older than Zhuqing, Xiao Wu really couldn't compare in terms of natural endowment.

Seeing Bai Qi's gaze wander again, Xiao Wu walked over and pinched him on the lower back.

"Hiss!"

Because the lower back is quite sensitive, Xiao Wu's pinch made Bai Qi gasp.

"Hahaha!"

Although Zhuqing's face turned even redder from Bai Qi's gaze, she was also amused by the interaction between the two.

Seeing this, Xiao Wu rolled her eyes at Bai Qi, trotted back to Zhuqing's side, linked arms with her, and said,

"Let's go, Zhuqing, let's ignore this lecher."

With that, she led Zhuqing forward.

Left behind, Bai Qi watched the two walking forward, feeling speechless—especially at Xiao Wu. Was it his fault that his eyes locked on automatically?

However, he could only follow behind and look at the scenery.

They didn't walk very far because it was too dark, so Xiao Wu had Bai Qi set up the tent.

Since there was only one tent, Xiao Wu took Zhuqing inside, but before entering, she instructed Bai Qi,

"Bai Qi, tonight you are punished to keep watch. Stay outside by yourself."

After saying this, she didn't give Bai Qi a chance to bargain and ducked into the tent.

Helplessly, Bai Qi was left out in the cold once again. He sat by the campfire, listening to the sound of them chatting and laughing inside, and began to cultivate.

Early the next morning, having learned from their conversation the previous night that Zhuqing was also heading to Soto City, Xiao Wu enthusiastically invited her to travel there with them.

After learning about their ages and Soul Power—especially Bai Qi's—Zhuqing looked at Bai Qi with the eyes of someone staring at a monster after waking up, which left Bai Qi completely confused.

Once they walked out of the Star Dou Great Forest and arrived at the first town, Zhuqing immediately grabbed Xiao Wu and found a clothing store to buy a leather outfit to change into. After all, Xiao Wu's clothes were still a bit tight on her. As for why a clothing store would sell leather outfits, don't ask—it just did.

After another two days of travel, the three finally reached Soto City. Over these two days, Zhuqing had become more familiar with Bai Qi and started calling him Brother Bai, which Bai Qi didn't mind.

Passing the city gate security check, compared to their first time entering the city, Bai Qi and Xiao Wu were no longer curious about the place. As for Zhuqing, after entering the city, she looked left and right at everything.

After entering the city, Xiao Wu, who was visiting for the second time, took Zhuqing, who was there for the first time, to tour the city and found a place to have lunch.

In the end, they returned to the Rose Hotel, though Tang San probably wouldn't come here without Xiao Wu leading him.

Standing at the hotel entrance, Bai Qi asked Xiao Wu with a headache,

"Xiao Wu, are we sure we want to stay here?"

Xiao Wu looked at the Rose Hotel and insisted stubbornly,

"Of course."

Just as they were talking, a pair of hands suddenly pulled Bai Qi and Xiao Wu into the Rose Hotel, standing them in the middle of the crowd inside.

After Zhuqing pulled Bai Qi and Xiao Wu into the crowd in the Rose Hotel, before Xiao Wu could ask what was wrong,

she saw a youth with golden hair and double pupils enter, with his arms around a pair of twins. This person was none other than Dai Mubai.

After seeing Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu complained to Bai Qi,

"Seriously, Xiao Qi, this Dai Mubai really plays around too much. You must not learn from him, or I'll have Da Ming and Er Ming beat you up."

After saying this, Xiao Wu didn't forget to threaten Bai Qi. Xiao Wu, only focused on complaining about Dai Mubai, didn't notice that Zhuqing, standing beside her, was trembling with rage upon hearing her words.

Upon hearing Xiao Wu's words, Bai Qi patted her head, indicating he wouldn't, and then looked at the trembling Zhuqing. After observing for a moment, he reached out and covered Zhuqing's hand, which was clenched into a fist so tightly that it was beginning to bleed.

Upon being grasped like this, Zhuqing suddenly stiffened and instinctively looked at Bai Qi, but by this time, Bai Qi had already turned his attention to the few remaining seconds of the system upgrade countdown—which, of course, was intentional on Bai Qi's part.

After watching Bai Qi for a while, Zhuqing looked at her covered hand. A hint of warmth rose in her heart, and a trace of a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

After Dai Mubai went inside with the twins, Xiao Wu, feeling disgusted, grabbed the two of them and walked out of the Rose Hotel.

After leaving the hotel, Xiao Wu remembered Zhuqing's unusual behavior just now and asked,

"By the way, Zhuqing, what was that about just now, suddenly pulling me and Xiao Qi inside?"

Hearing this, Zhuqing wanted to explain, but instinctively glanced at Bai Qi and said,

"It's nothing, let's hurry, Sister Xiao Wu."

With that, she pulled Xiao Wu and picked up the pace.

Sherlock Xiao Wu, listening to Zhuqing's explanation and recalling her looking at Bai Qi just now, narrowed her eyes suspiciously. It seemed she understood something, and she turned back to glare at Bai Qi with a resentful look.

When Bai Qi saw Xiao Wu glare at him, he smiled at her, though he himself didn't know why she was glaring.

Then the three of them found a decent hotel, rented two rooms, and checked in.

The next day, just as Xiao Wu wanted to say goodbye to Zhuqing and return to the academy, Zhuqing said she had come to Soto City specifically to find an academy. Xiao Wu didn't believe her and shot a more resentful look at Bai Qi—after all, who gets hunted down while looking for an academy?

Helplessly, Xiao Wu could only take Zhuqing to Shrek Academy, while Bai Qi followed happily behind because the system countdown was almost finished.