Especially those females close to him, or mythical beasts like Di Mingli, which possessed special bloodlines and fates—the God King would likely target them even more.
At present, they still didn't have the strength to confront the God King directly, so it was best to avoid a head-on conflict for now. Thus, the only option was to temporarily avoid the brunt of the danger.
Having Di Mingli stay in the core area of the forest might not keep the secret hidden forever, but it would buy them some time, which was still beneficial. Besides, if Di Mingli were to face a calamity, Su Yu, the one destined to face it, would inevitably be involved. As long as he stayed away, the God King's plan couldn't proceed.
Moreover, unless things reached a truly desperate situation, the God King wouldn't act lightly. Typically, the God King would only intervene in person when the entire plan was about to fall apart. When that time came, the God King would no longer care about playing fair. For example, he could secretly threaten Juzi not to change the name of the Douluo Continent, or use her child to blackmail her, and so on.
In the original story, even Huo Yuhao's affection for Wang Dong'er had traces of Tang San's interference. Otherwise, why would Huo Yuhao suddenly think of the Goddess of Light when he started developing feelings for Juzi? It's something that those who understand will understand.
What is the God King's bottom line? It's the emotional bond with Tang Wutong, which is like a leash. As long as that emotional connection remains intact, the God King will stay calm. But if anything threatens this connection, the God King will start causing trouble.
This was something Su Yu had figured out over the years. As for Tang Wutong herself, well... Su Yu could only say that he liked Di Mingli and sympathized with Wang Dong'er, but he had no feelings for Tang Wutong.
Di Mingli was willing to sacrifice herself for the one she loved. Wang Dong'er dared to love and hate and was willing to sacrifice for love. But Tang Wutong? All she ever talked about was, "My dad's great," and "My dad's amazing." She was a typical "daddy's girl." When it came to choosing between her lover and her father, Tang Wutong would always choose her father.
This was what Su Yu disliked the most. A mama's boy is not marriage material, and neither is a daddy's girl—especially when that father happened to be the God King. Such a person should be avoided even more. The God King wasn't looking for a son-in-law; he was looking for a dog he could command. This was best proven by Huo Yuhao, who was completely tamed in the later part of the story.
Speaking of Huo Yuhao, Su Yu didn't have much hatred for him, but he didn't particularly like him either. Huo Yuhao's experiences were indeed tragic, but constantly playing the pity card with everyone was excessive. Especially around pretty girls like Tang Ya, Juzi, Wang Dong'er, and Di Mingli. He would always accidentally reveal things like, "I'm an orphan," or "My mother is dead," or tell stories like the one about the shaobing bread. The whole gist was, "I've had it rough, so everyone should feel sorry for me."
Of course, this was just Su Yu's personal feeling. Others might feel differently. But the fact that Huo Yuhao changed his surname to Dai and completely forgot about Electrolux was undeniable. He kept saying he wanted to avenge his mother, but in the end, he killed no one. Wasn't that Huo Yuhao too? Is that what you call avenging your mother?
Su Yu couldn't understand it. If it were him, he wouldn't rest until not even a fly could escape from the Duke's Mansion. For a grudge like that, for the hatred of his mother's murder and humiliation, he would at least wipe out the entire White Tiger Duke's lineage. He'd scatter the yolks of their eggs, flood the ant holes with mercury, and even chop the earthworms in half. Even the dogs in the Duke's Mansion would be slaughtered for hotpot. Only then could he confidently tell his mother, "I've avenged you." Not, "You kneel once, and I'll forgive you." What kind of revenge is that?
Su Yu's thoughts wandered far, but he quickly reined them in.
Di Mingli looked at Su Yu's serious expression and nodded.
"I understand. I won't leave the core area."
"When will you be back?"
Di Mingli asked, looking at Su Yu with bright eyes.
"As soon as I can. Maybe in one or two years, or maybe three or four," Su Yu replied with a smile.
There was something in the system that could seal the Divine Realm, but he hadn't obtained it yet. If he ever did, and sealed off the Divine Realm, then he could return as he pleased. At that time, he could do whatever he wanted.
"Oh, and make sure you don't transform into a human and leave the core area. Got it?"
Su Yu suddenly remembered something and warned her sternly. He was worried that Di Mingli would just be humoring him and would secretly transform and sneak out to find him. If that happened, it would be a disaster.
Di Mingli froze and looked at Su Yu in surprise. How did he guess what she was thinking? When Su Yu mentioned being gone for three or four years, she had indeed thought about sneaking out of the Star Dou Forest. She hadn't expected him to see right through her.
"I knew it."
One look at her expression, and Su Yu's lips twitched. He understood everything immediately.
"Behave and stay in the core area. If you dare to sneak out, I'll ignore you," Su Yu warned her firmly.
"Why? I just won't!"
Di Mingli retorted, turning her head away in defiance. She was determined to sneak out now. Who wasn't a little princess with a bit of a rebellious streak?
"I'll have Uncle Di Tian ground you. Let's see where you can go then," Su Yu said ominously.
"You..."
Di Mingli was furious. Su Yu's status was higher than hers, so Di Tian would listen to him. A sense of grievance welled up inside her, and her eyes began to redden.
"You're just bullying me. I don't want to talk to you anymore."
Di Mingli looked as if she had suffered a great injustice, with such a pitiful expression that it seemed like Su Yu had mistreated her.
Su Yu was helpless. He glanced at Bi Ji, who shrugged, indicating that he had made the mess, so he had to clean it up. Rolling his eyes, Su Yu had no choice but to comfort her himself.
"Alright, I'm sorry. It's my fault. I'm just worried about you, you know? Your identity is so important, and the outside world is dangerous. If something happened to you, I would be heartbroken."
Su Yu gently comforted her, and Di Mingli's emotions stabilized a bit, though she was still defiant.
"If it's dangerous for me to go out, isn't it dangerous for you too? Why can you go out, but I can't?"
Di Mingli stared at Su Yu, pressing him for an answer.
Su Yu smiled helplessly, hugging her head and gently stroking her.
"I'm human, so the risks are different. But if you were to transform and someone recognized you, what then? How about this—I promise you, once I've established myself in the human world and have the ability to protect you, I'll take you out to have fun. Deal?"
Su Yu spoke sincerely.
"Really?"
Di Mingli looked into Su Yu's eyes, half-believing, half-doubting.
"I swear on it!"
Su Yu vowed confidently.
"Alright then, I'll trust you this time."
Di Mingli reluctantly agreed.
"I knew you were the best, Ming Li."
Su Yu breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Bi Ji, signaling her to keep an eye on her. Bi Ji nodded slightly, indicating she understood.
After stroking her fur a few more times, Su Yu smiled and said, "I should get going. It's getting late."
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to the Master?"
Bi Ji asked.
Su Yu laughed awkwardly, feeling a bit guilty.
"No need, I already saw her earlier, so I won't bother her now."
Of course, just a little while ago, he had stolen a kiss from her. How could he dare go back now?
At that time, Gu Yuena had been caught off guard by his sudden move, her mind in disarray. Worried she might accidentally hurt him, she had held back, which allowed him to take advantage and escape unscathed.
Now that her emotions had surely calmed, meeting her again would be like walking straight into a trap, right? He would surely get a beating!
He didn't need to think twice to know how harshly Gu Yuena would retaliate. At a time like this, it was best to avoid her. His bones couldn't withstand the kind of beating Gu Yuena could dish out.
"Young Master, why do you have that expression? Did you do something to anger the Master?"
Bi Ji looked at Su Yu with suspicion.
It wasn't entirely impossible. Over the years, Su Yu had teamed up with Di Mingli, and Wild couldn't even begin to describe their antics. They were the little tyrants of the Star Dou Forest, and there was nothing the two of them wouldn't dare do.
If Su Yu had caused trouble and provoked the Master, it would fit perfectly with his usual behavior.
"Aunt Bi, you're overthinking it. Nothing like that."
Su Yu scratched his head and laughed it off.
"Alright, it's getting late, I should be going now."
With that, Su Yu bid farewell to Bi Ji, ruffled Di Mingli's head, and quickly made his exit. If he didn't leave soon, who knew what else Bi Ji might ask? It was better to leave early.
Watching Su Yu flee in such haste, Bi Ji became even more convinced he must have done something to anger the Master. Otherwise, why would he act like that?
"Such nerve..."
Bi Ji shook her head helplessly. This was Su Yu, after all. Anyone else who dared offend the Master would have been reduced to ashes by now. But Su Yu? He was still alive and kicking.
"Let's go, Mingli. Time to head back!"
Bi Ji gently said to Di Mingli and led her deeper into the forest.
...
At the bottom of the Lake of Life, Gu Yuena and Di Tian appeared.
Gu Yuena, dressed in a silver gauze dress, looked divine and noble, as radiant and peerless as a goddess. Di Tian stood respectfully beside her, his head slightly lowered.
At that moment, a screen floated in front of the two, displaying Su Yu's figure.
"Master, are you sure you don't want me to go protect the Young Master?" Di Tian asked with concern as he looked at Su Yu's figure on the screen. "The human world is full of powerful individuals. The Young Master may face danger."
"I've already given him my reverse scale. If he encounters any life-threatening danger, I will sense it. You don't need to worry about that," Gu Yuena's voice was cold, her expression as icy and untouchable as a snow-capped mountain, radiating an aura of coldness.
"I see, but… this way, the Young Master is bound to suffer a lot."
Di Tian hesitated, voicing his concern. Without protection, even if his life wasn't in danger, the hardships he would face would be significant.
"Young people should experience hardships."
Gu Yuena looked at Su Yu on the screen, her voice calm, though there was a hint of gritted teeth behind her words.
"But the Young Master is still so young..."
"Young?"
Gu Yuena sneered internally at that. He was already bold enough to steal a kiss from her at such a young age. What would he do when he grew up? Wouldn't he turn the world upside down?
This little scoundrel needed to face more hardships and be properly disciplined. Otherwise, he would never learn!
"Enough, you don't need to say anymore. I have my plans for Su Yu."
Gu Yuena waved her hand, cutting off Di Tian's words.
"Understood, Master!"
Di Tian had no choice but to obey.
"Dismissed."
"Di Tian takes his leave."
Di Tian bowed and quietly left the subterranean space.
Now, the vast space was left with only Gu Yuena. She stared at Su Yu's figure on the screen, no longer concealing her emotions.
Her delicate face showed a mix of shame, anger, and some other indescribable feelings.
"You little scoundrel, if you've got the guts, don't ever come back."
Gu Yuena touched her lips, her mood suddenly complex. After a long while, she let out a deep sigh.
...
"Achoo!"
Walking through the jungle, Su Yu suddenly sneezed heavily. For a moment, he felt a chill down his spine. He didn't need to think twice to know that Gu Yuena must be thinking about him.
Perhaps, right now, Gu Yuena was keeping a close eye on him.
Su Yu rubbed his nose, feeling a little guilty. To be honest, what he did to Gu Yuena was indeed less than honorable.
In short, he had taken advantage of her emotional innocence, deliberately using tricks to open her heart and plant a seed.
Even though Gu Yuena had lived for a long time, she was completely inexperienced when it came to emotions—truly a blank slate. Su Yu was the first to forcefully take her first kiss and also the first to confess his feelings to her. There was no way she wouldn't remember him.
Moreover, Gu Yuena was trapped at the bottom of the lake, with little interaction with the outside world. To put it plainly, she was incredibly bored.
In such a situation, with only loneliness for company, she would frequently think back on this incident. And the more she thought about it, the longer it lingered in her mind. Without realizing it, she would naturally develop different emotions toward Su Yu.
Whether it turned into love or something else, Su Yu would firmly imprint himself in Gu Yuena's heart. At the very least, Gu Yuena would remember Su Yu for a long time.
To be honest, this method was a bit underhanded. But Su Yu didn't have much of a choice.
"I'm honestly scared," Su Yu muttered, shaking his head helplessly.
Gu Yuena's actions in Soul Land 3 were too reckless. The leader defecting to the enemy—who could handle that? He certainly couldn't.
In Soul Land 3, Di Tian was nothing more than a tragic figure, the ultimate clown. Once Gu Yuena fell in love, what did the soul beast race even matter to her? She had long thrown it out of her mind.
That's what happens when someone is too absorbed in romance.
"Instead of letting you fall in love with someone else and betray the soul beast race, pulling the rug out from under us, it's better if you fall in love with me."
That was Su Yu's thought process. Yes, she might be a romantic fool, but if she loved him, there wouldn't be a problem. Betrayal? Sabotage? None of that would exist.
After all, his goals and ideals aligned with Gu Yuena's.
Of course, he had considered pursuing a normal relationship with Gu Yuena, spending time together and letting feelings grow naturally. But time was not on his side.
The protection period for novices was about to end, and the God King would soon be eyeing him. Who knew when he'd be able to return or how long he'd be able to spend with Gu Yuena? It was all too uncertain.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have resorted to something like this at this time.
Didn't he know he was only eleven? Originally, he hadn't even considered getting involved in romance at such a young age. He had planned not to think about relationships until he was at least fifteen.
In short, it was the circumstances that forced his hand.