To clarify, You Chen had confirmed the whereabouts of the original protagonist, Xiao Wu, three days earlier. If it had been any other hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast, You Chen would have concocted a logical reason to appear before them.
But knowing this was a love-struck continent and that this was Xiao Wu, he felt exhausted by overthinking. After confirming Xiao Wu's route, he carelessly chopped down a roadside tree and sat on the newly made stump.
He hadn't lied; there were indeed bandits roving the area, so stopping a child-like Xiao Wu was entirely reasonable.
"Bandits?" Xiao Wu scoffed, waving her small fists. "If any bandit dares to mess with Sister Xiao Wu, I'll teach them a hard lesson!"
As a one-ring soul master, she couldn't completely ignore a mob of ordinary people. However, Xiao Wu had a certain wild instinct, an innate ability to sense and avoid danger, and far more combat experience than typical children her age. She wasn't particularly afraid of ordinary bandits.
You Chen shook his head: "You look like a young lady who ran away from home. You've never experienced the harshness of the world and don't know how ruthless bandits can be."
'Underestimating my Sister Xiao Wu's life experience? If you knew my real age, it would scare you!' Xiao Wu thought, channeling an A-Q spirit as she silently dismissed You Chen, her lips pouting: "Mister, aren't you afraid? I've heard some bandits don't discriminate, and after months without tasting meat, even seeing a man makes their eyes red! You look like a weak scholar; they might drag you back to be their hard-working star!"
While the first part was reasonable, the latter part made You Chen's forehead darken with lines.
'Is that Xiao Wu's character setting?'
He recalled a scene where Xiao Wu asked Tang San if he was afraid she'd overpower him, which earned her the nickname "Rogue Rabbit" among fans.
If it were a real kid saying such things...well, that would be something. But considering Xiao Wu was an old rabbit?
"Freeze!"
You Chen's eyebrow twitched as he uttered a sharp command. A crack was heard. Before Xiao Wu realized it, her rear had been slapped.
Self-Created Soul Skill—Lightning Speed Spanking Hand for Lolis!
"Ouch!"
Xiao Wu yelped, jumping up and clutching her rear with a teary-eyed, indignant glare at You Chen: "You perverted old man!"
"Hmph."
Having found the same joy in spanking Xiao Wu as he did with Hu Liena, You Chen felt much better. He crossed his arms with a sage-like demeanor: "You uncultured little brat, I haven't even mentioned your verbal disrespect, yet here you are playing the victim! I merely showed you what happens when you act recklessly with strangers. If I were a villain, you might have been captured and sold due to your looks! This is for your own good!"
You Chen's righteous lecture had at least three levels of persuasion!
But Xiao Wu wasn't the type to back down easily.
"Not to be trifled with? You only caught me off guard! Sister Xiao Wu will show you who really crossed the line!"
Xiao Wu charged, but predictably, she ended up kneeling in defeat.
She realized that You Chen's earlier spanking wasn't a fluke but a result of the absolute power gap between them!
"Do you know your mistake?" You Chen asked.
"I-I do..." Xiao Wu, like a rabbit under a roof, had to lower her head.
"Then tell me what you did wrong," You Chen pressed further.
Xiao Wu glared defiantly: "You perverted old man, don't push it! Didn't you say I was a runaway young lady? Watch out, or my family might catch up and teach you a lesson!"
Seeing Xiao Wu vexed yet helpless, You Chen smiled, patting her head like a ball.
Xiao Wu seethed but sensed no real danger from this "perverted uncle."
Perhaps because, through this brief interaction, she realized the man was genuinely a good person.
Someone who, seeing an aimless runaway, decided to meddle and offer guidance.
So, even if she showed a bit of anger or hostility, it wouldn't lead to any real threat.
"Alright, remember to be more cautious with strangers next time!"
You Chen withdrew his hand, feeling that he'd imparted enough wisdom. Xiao Wu's display of her soul master abilities reassured him about her safety, so he turned to leave.
Watching You Chen leave, Xiao Wu breathed a sigh of relief.
But as his figure grew smaller, a thought struck her.
'Wait, didn't he say he was going somewhere remote?'
Having just left the Star Dou Forest, Xiao Wu's knowledge of the human world was limited, having gathered only some information about Barak Kingdom during her travels.
She entered the human world to absorb human energy to refine her cultivation, ideally finding a place without too many powerful individuals to safely pass her infancy stage after transforming.
Since this human seemed to be heading to a remote area and was a "good person"...
"Wait, mister!"
Seeing You Chen walking at a leisurely pace yet surprisingly fast, Xiao Wu hurried to catch up, even activating her first soul skill and calling out loudly.
"What is it, little one?"
You Chen turned around, his lips curling slightly as he concealed his "all according to plan" expression, showing a face of feigned confusion.
"Umm, may I ask where you're heading?"
Xiao Wu realized her sudden change in attitude might seem odd, her eyes widening slightly as she timidly asked.
Clearly, she was using her childlike charm to sway You Chen.
You Chen, not one for pretense, replied, "I'm crossing the border of Barak Kingdom to Farsno Province, to a small place called Nordin City. Why, do you want your so-called perverted uncle to kidnap you?"
Faced with You Chen's teasing, Xiao Wu's breath hitched, her fists clenching subtly.
But she feigned surprise: "Nordin City!? That's where I'm headed! Kind mister, didn't you say there are bandits around here? Could you...take me with you?"
She put on a pitiful look, selling her cute appeal.
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