**Chapter 168: How Could It Be Me?**
"Daming, Erming, I have to tell you something strange that's been bothering me lately…"
The little rabbit, Xiao Wu, attempted to express her thoughts to her two best friends, who were also like younger brothers to her. However, before she could continue, she found herself at a loss for words once again.
"Damn it!" Xiao Wu thought in frustration. "What's going on? Why can't I talk about what's in the diary?!"
It was one thing to be unable to share it with her mother, but not even being able to confide in her closest friends was maddening.
Just as her patience began to wear thin, a copy of Zhao Ling's diary appeared. Strangely, her two friends seemed oblivious to it, instead giving her curious glances as if questioning her sanity.
"Sister Xiao Wu, are you alright? Did you accidentally eat those hallucinogenic mushrooms from the Star Dou Great Forest? Auntie Rou really shouldn't be picking those for you," Daming said, his large, lantern-like eyes filled with genuine concern and a hint of amusement.
"Yes, Sister Xiao Wu," Erming added nervously. "Those mushrooms aren't just hallucinogenic—they can be deadly. Promise us you'll avoid them from now on."
Xiao Wu rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Get lost! Do you think I'm a fool? Your Sister Xiao Wu knows better than to eat those mushrooms!"
If she weren't so much smaller than these two massive soul beasts, she would have gladly kicked them both. Instead, she swallowed her irritation and focused on listening to Zhao Ling's diary.
Yet again, there was no mention of her or her mother.
"What's going on?" Xiao Wu thought, thoroughly confused. "Why does this diary say so little about me and Mom? What's the point of me even receiving it? To learn about his embarrassing antics with his wives? This is so boring!"
She pondered the matter carefully before asking her friends a question.
"Daming, Erming, why do males always try to impress females by boasting about how many women like them or how great they are?"
Both Daming and Erming froze, clearly taken aback. Although they had never pursued a female themselves, their nearly 100,000 years of experience as soul beasts meant they had seen enough to know the answer.
"Could this mean… someone is trying to pursue Sister Xiao Wu?" they thought simultaneously, their protective instincts kicking in.
To Daming and Erming, Xiao Wu wasn't just a sister and best friend—she was their untouchable white moonlight. If anyone dared to pursue her, they would crush that fool, no matter how powerful he might be.
Noticing their stunned silence, Xiao Wu gave them a pointed look, her red eyes narrowing slightly.
"Do you two know something you're not telling me? Some good brothers you are," she said, feigning irritation.
Under her intense gaze, the two brothers wilted and hesitantly shared their thoughts. Xiao Wu's reaction was immediate.
"What? That can't be right! He… He's trying to pursue… me?!"
She stopped herself mid-sentence, quickly covering her mouth with her paw. The idea was so absurd that she couldn't help but dismiss it.
"I'm just a little bunny," she thought. "Okay, technically, I'm a 100,000-year-old bunny, but when I transform, I look like a kid. Why would that mysterious voice want to pursue me?"
Seeing her disbelief, Daming spoke firmly.
"Sister Xiao Wu, as a male, I can say this with certainty: if a male brags about how popular or exceptional he is to a female, he's trying to win her favor."
Erming nodded in agreement. "Sister Xiao Wu, are you sure this male isn't trying to pursue you?"
Xiao Wu shook her head vigorously. "No way! That's impossible!"
Her vehement denial only deepened her brothers' suspicions. Furious, they silently vowed to discover the identity of this male and eliminate him.
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, couldn't shake her doubts. "If he's not interested in me, then who could it be?"
Suddenly, her mother's gentle, beautiful face came to mind. Xiao Wu's eyes widened in realization.
"Oh no, could that scoundrel be trying to pursue Mom through me?!"
It made sense—her father had vanished into the evil lands long ago, and her mother had been alone ever since. Her mother was breathtakingly beautiful, easily the most stunning woman Xiao Wu had ever seen. Surely, any male would be drawn to her.
"That bastard better stay far away!" Xiao Wu fumed. "If he dares to show his face, I'll kick him so hard he won't know what hit him!"
---
In a hidden chamber where the Silver Dragon King rested, a copy of Zhao Ling's diary appeared briefly before disappearing. Too lazy to even glance at it, the Silver Dragon King focused solely on regaining her strength.
---
Back in Tiandou Imperial City
The three women—Liu Erlong, Ah Yin, and Bo Saixi—returned to the mansion to find Zhao Ling in the courtyard, looking inexplicably energetic.
They exchanged suspicious glances. "How has he recovered so quickly in just two days?"
Although they found it strange, they didn't dwell on it. Instead, they approached Zhao Ling with sweet, affectionate smiles.
"Honey, you're finally awake!"
"Hubby, now that you're feeling better, how about we…"
"Dear husband, let Long'er give you a kiss!"
Despite the joy swelling in his heart, Zhao Ling put on an exaggeratedly panicked expression, his eyes darting nervously.
"L-Ladies, please don't touch me like that! I-I just woke up! Can't you let me rest for a few more days? Spare me! Spare my life!"
He looked every bit the helpless man caught in the web of his adoring wives, much like Tang Monk facing the Queen of the Kingdom of Women.
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(End of Chapter)