The back mountain was alive with laughter and merriment.
Xiao Tianyang had outdrank nearly everyone who challenged him. Even Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar—who had banded together in an attempt to take him down—ended up utterly defeated.
Now, the trio lay sprawled on the ground like limp sacks, snoring loudly, empty wine bottles clutched in their arms, their drunken murmurs slurring into the night.
"Honestly, if you can't hold your liquor, you shouldn't be trying to challenge others," Xiao Tianyang sighed, shaking his head as he glanced at Tang San. "You'll have to take care of these three."
Tang San could only smile helplessly and nod.
He had warned Dai Mubai and the others earlier not to provoke Xiao Tianyang, but they hadn't listened. Worse, they'd even scolded him for not joining their ill-fated drinking contest.
'How could one man possibly outdrink three?'
And so, this was the inevitable result.
Tang San had grown up with Xiao Tianyang and knew better than anyone—this man treated fruit wine like water. Challenging him to a drinking match? That was nothing short of suicide.
The girls at the table had barely touched their drinks. Xiao Wu, in particular, kept casting occasional meaningful glances at Tang San.
Seizing the moment, Xiao Tianyang shifted the topic. "Xiao Wu," he said with a smile, "I heard from the Grandmaster that you went missing for a while during your journey?"
Xiao Wu's cheeks flushed instantly. "It wasn't really missing," she hurriedly explained, waving her hands. "There was just a sudden spirit beast riot in the area, and we got separated." She turned to Tang San for support. "Right, Brother?"
Tang San nodded thoughtfully. "It was strange. Those spirit beasts were clearly terrified, yet they charged at us recklessly. Almost as if something was driving them toward us."
Xiao Tianyang's lips curled playfully. "Maybe a stronger spirit beast was hunting, forcing them to flee in panic."
Tang San frowned slightly. "That's what I suspect too. But at the time, I was too worried about Xiao Wu to investigate further. Still, looking back, it's odd."
"Is Xiao Wu alright?" Xiao Tianyang pressed.
"Not just alright—she even had a stroke of luck," Tang San replied calmly. "We'd planned to help her find a suitable spirit beast on the way back, but during our separation, she stumbled upon one that was already on the brink of death."
Xiao Tianyang feigned surprise. "Oh? That's quite fortunate."
Xiao Wu beamed, clearly pleased with herself.
But in truth, Xiao Tianyang was merely playing along.
The spirit beast riot, Xiao Wu's disappearance—all of it had been his doing.
His motives were simple: Xiao Wu's true identity couldn't be exposed yet. Even if Tang San already suspected something, if she refused every spirit beast they encountered, suspicions would only grow.
In the original timeline, Xiao Wu shouldn't have reached Level 40 by now—meaning she wouldn't have faced this dilemma. But this time, though she hadn't consumed the Yearning Heartbroken Red, Xiao Tianyang had given her an alternative herb to purify her soul power.
And so, this situation was of his own making. Which meant it was his responsibility to resolve it.
Even if his presence had altered events, he had to maintain the original trajectory as much as possible—at least where he could control it. The rest? He'd handle with strength.
By three in the morning, the gathering had dispersed.
Some trained soberly; others slept off their drunkenness. Even Xiao Tianyang, for once, didn't meditate. Instead, he lay in bed and drifted into deep slumber.
Just then— the sounds of footsteps started coming.
Light, cautious, barely audible. Yet nothing escaped Xiao Tianyang's senses.
He didn't react immediately, though. Only two possibilities came to mind:
It might be a Title Douluo. Only someone of that caliber could slip past Flender and Liu Erlong into Shrek Academy's depths or an ally. That would explain how they'd bypassed all defenses to reach his room.
Of course, there were other options—a spirit master with stealth abilities, perhaps.
The footsteps drew closer. Xiao Tianyang remained still, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
But then—he stopped.
'Why does it smell so sweet? A woman?'
'And this scent…it's familiar.'
Just as the intruder leaned over him, Xiao Tianyang's eyes snapped open. His left hand shot out, aimed straight for a vital point—
"Zhuqing?! Why are you here?!"
He froze mid-motion, recognizing her instantly even in the dark. At the last second, he dissipated the soul power in his palm.
But momentum couldn't be undone so easily.
Thankfully, his control was impeccable—the strike wouldn't injure her.
Unfortunately…his hand now rested squarely on her chest.
Both of them went rigid.
Then, purely by instinct—he squeezed.
"...Would you believe me if I said I didn't mean to?" Xiao Tianyang offered an awkward grin.
"Then why haven't you let go?!" Zhu Zhuqing's voice trembled.
He withdrew his hand at once. Even in the darkness, he could see her burning blush.
There wasn't any explanation needed.
"Why are you looking for me this late?" he asked, breaking the silence.
Zhu Zhuqing took a steadying breath. "Was it you? In the Sunset Forest—Edward?"
Xiao Tianyang's smile turned enigmatic. "What if it wasn't?"
"Then I'd leave right now," she said firmly, "and never appear before you again."
"Tch, asking when you already know the answer." He shrugged, then tugged at his collar, exposing a row of faint tooth marks on his neck. "See? The scars are still here."
Zhu Zhuqing exhaled in relief.
Looking back, she realized how reckless she'd been—not because of danger, but the fear of confronting the wrong person. That was why she'd issued that ultimatum.
But now, with proof before her, her purpose for coming was fulfilled.
Though remembering the incident just now…Her cheeks burned even hotter.
…
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