"We never asked who you intend to recruit. Are you going for Xiao Wu?" Yue asked as we arrived, her crimson eyes filled with curiosity. She had read through Douluo Dalu and knew most of the details.
"Not entirely," I replied, glancing around at our new surroundings. "If we can get her on our side, great. If not, I have no intention of harming her."
Xiao Wu was relatively harmless, despite being a 100,000-year-old spirit beast. Her real form was a Soft Bone Rabbit, and she was set to appear at the Nuoding Primary Spirit Academy. I wouldn't mind adding a bunny girl to my peerage, but she wasn't my main focus.
Before Yue could ask more, Serenity spoke up.
"He's going for Zhu Zhuqing," she said with absolute confidence. "Her personality fits Master's desires best—hardworking, loyal, and determined. He also has a habit of saving people. Add in her rather impressive assets, his love for cats, and his dislike for assholes like Dai Mubai, and you've got his target."
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Seems my little assassin knows me best. Yes, Zhu Zhuqing is the one I plan to recruit. I'll need your help later."
"Understood." Serenity nodded.
Yue pouted before sticking out her tongue playfully. "Okay, so why are we here then? Zhu Zhuqing lives in the Star Luo Empire."
"Just taking a few precautions," I said. "Besides, if we interrupt Zhu Zhuqing's path too soon, it could change her personality. People appreciate salvation more when they understand what they're being saved from."
"Ah, I see," Yue hummed, finally understanding.
With that settled, we moved through the city, gathering the necessary supplies. Each of us received a spatial ring, 100,000 gold spirit coins, and our identification papers. Rachel and Fleur had already given their money to us, bringing our total to 500,000 gold spirit coins—an obscene amount.
This wealth meant we had no need to register at Spirit Hall for their stipend system, which recruited talented spirit masters by offering financial incentives. While harmless for most, anyone with true potential was either absorbed into their ranks or eliminated before they could become a threat.
With several months before the academy began, I planned to locate Xiao Wu early and start building a bond.
~~~~
The next day.
I turned the small bottle of shimmering gold potion in my hand. Liquid Luck. Enough for twelve hours of unimaginable fortune.
I had never used it before—Liquid Luck was best taken in moderation, as excessive use led to serious side effects. But now seemed like the perfect time.
I popped the cap, admired the potion for a moment, and downed it in one gulp.
A rush of warmth filled my chest, confidence blooming in my mind like a flower in full bloom. Suddenly, I just knew where to go.
I walked through the city, following my instincts, and within minutes, I found a small pouch on the ground. Picking it up, I inspected the contents—a lost spirit guidance device, shaped like a small, rune-engraved bag. These were incredibly rare, used to store items inside like my spatial ring. The owner was nowhere in sight, and I felt no guilt in pocketing it.
Continuing my stroll, I spotted a group of nobles gambling in a back alley. Feeling a pull of luck, I joined in, wagering only a tiny sum. Within minutes, I walked away with an additional 500 gold spirit coins.
Passing by a weapons shop, I found an abandoned dagger lying in the dust near the entrance. Picking it up, I immediately recognized its craftsmanship—spirit-forged silver. A noble-grade weapon someone had carelessly misplaced or dropped.
Things kept escalating. I found money tucked into the cracks of walls, stumbled upon a rare medicinal herb just growing on the side of the road, and even overheard a conversation that revealed the location of a hidden black-market auction. Every step I took, fate seemed to reward me.
And then, fate led me to her.
Guided by intuition, I wandered outside the city, deep into the woods. The sun had begun to set, golden light filtering through the leaves. As I pushed through the underbrush, I heard the faint sound of rustling ahead.
There, sitting on a fallen tree, was a girl.
She looked to be about six years old, dressed in ragged clothes, her hair messy and disheveled. Her rabbit-like red eyes were alert yet tired, scanning the surroundings as if searching for danger.
Xiao Wu.
She was clearly alone, which meant she had either gotten lost or had purposefully been traveling through the forest.
I stepped forward, making sure not to appear threatening. "Hey there," I called gently. "Are you okay?"
Her ears twitched—an instinctive reaction from her beast heritage—but she didn't flee. Instead, she studied me warily, as if trying to gauge my intentions.
I smiled, kneeling to her level. "You look like you've had a rough time. Need some help?"
Xiao Wu hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Maybe..."
I extended a hand, my earlier luck ensuring that our first meeting would go smoothly.
"Come on, let's get you something to eat first."
She stared at my hand for a moment before taking it.
As we walked back toward the city, Xiao Wu remained quiet, glancing at me every so often with cautious curiosity. She wasn't fully convinced of my intentions yet, but she was clearly hungry and exhausted.
Luckily, my streak of fortune wasn't over.
The moment we entered town, I felt a pull toward a small restaurant tucked away in a side street. The scent of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air, making Xiao Wu's stomach growl audibly. She immediately looked away, pretending it didn't happen.
I chuckled. "Looks like we should eat first."
She pouted. "I guess…"
As we stepped inside, the owner, a kind-looking elderly man, approached us with a broad smile. "Ah! You're my first customer's we just opened today! That means you get a free meal for two!"
I blinked. Of course.
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, her hunger momentarily overriding her wariness. "Really?! Anything on the menu?"
The owner laughed. "Anything at all, young lady."
We took a seat by the window, and I let Xiao Wu order whatever she wanted. She went all out—steamed buns, spicy tofu, and even a large plate of carrot stew.
As we ate, she gradually became more talkative.
"So, what's your name?" she asked between bites.
"Ryan," I said. "And you?"
She hesitated for a split second before grinning. "Xiao Wu! But you can call me Sister Xiao Wu!"
I smirked. "Sister? I don't know about that."
She huffed. "It's only fair since I'm older than you!"
I raised an eyebrow. "You look six."
She puffed out her cheeks. "Hmph! Age is just a number!"
I chuckled, letting her have her moment. By the time we finished eating, she was far more relaxed around me.
After the meal, I figured it was time to get Xiao Wu some new clothes. Her current outfit was torn, faded, and barely holding together.
Guided by luck once more, I led her to a tailor's shop. The moment we walked in, a clerk greeted us excitedly.
"Congratulations!" she announced. "You're our 100th customer! That means you get a full outfit, free of charge!"
Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled. "No way!"
The clerk nodded. "Please, pick whatever you like!"
She wasted no time, dashing around the store and grabbing everything that caught her eye. By the time she was done, she had a new red and white qipao-style dress, a set of casual training robes, and a warm coat for colder days.
I expected the store owner to get annoyed, but instead, he smiled and added a pair of high-quality boots at an 80% discount.
Xiao Wu spun around in her new dress, beaming. "What do you think?"
"It suits you," I said honestly.
She grinned. "Of course it does! I have great taste!"
After shopping, we walked through the marketplace. Xiao Wu eyed a few street vendors selling accessories, and once again, my luck struck. A merchant was hosting a game where you could win prizes by drawing a number from a box.
I casually pulled out a slip.
"Number one! Grand prize winner!" the vendor shouted.
Xiao Wu gasped as the man handed me a beautiful jade hairpin, perfect for her. I turned to her and offered it. "Here, this suits you more."
She hesitated before taking it, a soft smile forming on her lips. "Thanks, Ryan."
By now, she was completely at ease with me.
As the sun began to set, we found a quiet spot by a fountain to rest. Xiao Wu kicked her feet back and forth, twirling her new hairpin between her fingers.
"You're really lucky, you know that?" she said. "A free meal, free clothes, free accessories… are you some kind of fortune god?"
I chuckled. "Maybe today is just special."
She looked at me for a long moment before nodding. "You're a good person. I can tell."
Her words carried weight, considering her past. Xiao Wu had always been wary of humans, but today had shattered any doubts she might've had.
"Come on," I said, standing up. "Let's find a place to stay."
She grabbed my hand without hesitation.