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Dai Yueheng watched Wang Qiu'er's expression from the side, secretly worried. He knew Wang Qiu'er was from Shrek Academy and a classmate of Huo Yuhao, and that she once had some feelings for him. However, Huo Yuhao was ruthlessly killed by the shui clan leader.
Dai Yueheng couldn't help but worry that she was here to cause trouble.
"So, Miss Wang Qiu'er, about Huo Yuhao..." Dai Yueheng probed, trying to understand her thoughts.
Wang Qiu'er paused, then showed an indifferent expression. "Huo Yuhao? That's all in the past. Why bring him up?"
"I'm here solely to see the shui clan leader, nothing else."
Wang Qiu'er acted as if she didn't know Huo Yuhao at all.
"Well, that's good then," Dai Yueheng was slightly taken aback but nodded.
Girls nowadays do change their minds quickly, he thought. But you changed a bit too fast, didn't you?
Still, it seemed Wang Qiu'er genuinely didn't care about Huo Yuhao, not just pretending. This made him feel relieved.
Soon after, Wang Qiu'er and Dai Yueheng's group finally reached the depths of the Soul Beast Mountain, where a tall figure stood before them.
This imposing man, clad in a shui clan robe, stood there with eyes like lightning, deep and clear.
Seeing Shui Wuya, Wang Qiu'er sighed in relief. "Junior greets the shui clan leader!" Wang Qiu'er suppressed her excitement and bowed respectfully.
"Rise," Shui Wuya said, noting that Wang Qiu'er didn't seem to be here for trouble. His eyes showed a hint of confusion. Something was off about this girl.
He closed his eyes, and a powerful mental force emanated from him, enveloping Wang Qiu'er. He sensed her mental fluctuations and was surprised to find her soul completely still. On the contrary, the ancient aura lurking deep within her was vibrant and imposing. It was the soul of the Star Dou Forest's divine beast, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
In that instant, Shui Wuya understood everything.
So that's how it is.
Wang Qiu'er was no longer truly Wang Qiu'er but the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. Her soul had been replaced, making her a completely different person.
Shui Wuya didn't show his inner surprise; instead, he smiled slightly, looking at Wang Qiu'er with gentle eyes. She was no longer the same Wang Qiu'er.
The previous Wang Qiu'er might have sought him for revenge, but as for the divine beast within her, it was quite the opposite.
"Why have you come here, Wang Qiu'er?" Shui Wuya asked knowingly, his voice calm and deep. His bright eyes quietly observed Wang Qiu'er, their depth seemingly penetrating her soul.
"I..." Under such scrutiny, Wang Qiu'er felt a bit pressured, and her heartbeat quickened. Her face turned slightly red.
However, she also felt an inexplicable sense of relief, knowing that Shui Wuya bore no ill will. If he did, she would already be dead without a trace.
"Water tribe leader, I..." Wang Qiu'er's voice trembled slightly as she struggled to suppress her inner tension. "I need your help."
Shui Wuya nodded slightly, signaling her to continue.
"I..."
However, Wang Qiu'er glanced at Dai Yueheng beside her, stammering and hesitant.
"Heh, I understand," Shui Wuya said knowingly, nodding and indicating that Wang Qiu'er need not worry. He then instructed Dai Yueheng, "Stay here at Soul Beast Mountain to protect Xu Sanshi and the Dragon Turtle during their fusion. Ensure no one disturbs them. I'll be back shortly."
"Yes, clan leader," Dai Yueheng responded, dutifully taking his position at the entrance of Soul Beast Mountain to guard Xu Sanshi and the Dragon Turtle's fusion from any interruptions.
"Come with me. We'll talk as we walk," Shui Wuya said, leading Wang Qiu'er through a waterfall toward his palace.
As Wang Qiu'er followed Shui Wuya to the palace, she remained shy and reserved. Watching them, Dai Yueheng couldn't help but let his thoughts wander.
"Damn, is this for real? First Ma Xiaotao, now her... The clan leader's charm is really something else."
Inside the palace, Shui Wuya led Wang Qiu'er to a private room. There, under dim lighting, they were alone. Shui Wuya gazed at Wang Qiu'er, waiting for her to speak.
Wang Qiu'er hesitated for a moment before she finally said, "Clan leader, I must tell you that I am not Wang Qiu'er."
Shui Wuya smiled faintly. "I know. You are not Wang Qiu'er. You are the divine beast, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion of the Star Dou Forest. The real Three-Eyed Golden Lion."
His voice was incredibly calm.
"Clan leader!" Wang Qiu'er exclaimed in surprise. She knew of Shui Wuya's great abilities but didn't expect him to recognize her true identity so quickly. She was indeed right to seek him out—he was truly the leader of a hidden family.
Her admiration for Shui Wuya grew even deeper. "Yes, you are correct," Wang Qiu'er admitted.
"So, why have you come to see me?" Shui Wuya asked, his deep gaze fixed on her, waiting for her answer.
"I wanted to personally thank you, clan leader," Wang Qiu'er said gratefully. "I was trapped deep within this girl's soul, in endless darkness. If not for you awakening me, I would still be lost in that darkness."
"It was just a small effort. Tell me, how did you come to occupy this body?" Shui Wuya asked, intrigued by Tang San's daughter's soul.
Wang Qiu'er paused briefly before recounting the events that led to her current situation. "It started when Yan Shaozhe went to the Shui Family. Wang Qiu'er, knowing Shrek Academy intended to ally with the Shui Family, decided to lead the Tang Sect away. However, she clashed with Beibei and others. When she tried to leave forcefully, Elder Lin knocked her unconscious. When I awoke, I had taken over this body," Wang Qiu'er said, shaking her head at the intricacies of fate.
"My visit to the Shui Family is not only to thank you but also for two other reasons. First, Shrek sent me to apologize and to clarify misunderstandings with Tang Ya," Wang Qiu'er explained.
Shui Wuya nodded. "And the second reason?"
"The second reason is that I seek your help to remove the other soul, so I can permanently inhabit this body," Wang Qiu'er revealed, her words tinged with hidden anxiety.