"Mmn—" Xiao Wu let out a soft, slightly pained whimper from his embrace. It startled Tang San out of the bliss and excitement that had consumed him. Only then did he realize he had been holding her too tightly. He immediately loosened his arms and looked down at Xiao Wu in his embrace. That delicate face — he could gaze at it for a lifetime and never grow tired of it.
Instead of the expected call of "Brother," Tang San found only Xiao Wu's vacant eyes and a faint look of dependence on her lovely face. Though she was completely naked, at this moment she appeared utterly serene, as light and detached as a passing breeze.
"Xiao Wu, I'm sorry — I was too excited. Did I hurt you?" Tang San whispered his apology softly.
Xiao Wu continued to stare blankly at him, not saying a word. Slowly she rested her head against his chest, silent.
"Xiao Wu, what's — what's wrong with you?" The excitement in Tang San's heart began to recede rapidly the moment he saw that vacant look in her eyes. A creeping chill rose slowly from the depths of his heart.
Xiao Wu maintained her position, offering no reply. She simply nestled quietly against him without a sound.
By now Tang San had recovered from his excitement and looked toward the bed. The rabbit was gone. On the bed, aside from himself, there was only Xiao Wu. Yes — it was definitely Xiao Wu. Tang San breathed in the delicate, elegant fragrance emanating from her body in his arms, and it was exactly the same as what the rabbit had given off before. His mind raced, and gradually he came to understand the situation before him.
The Xiao Wu nestled in his embrace had indeed been revived — and moreover, Tang San realized that she had very likely become a true human being.
The Lovesick Broken Heart Red and the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng were both heaven-defying sacred treasures. Under the influence of these two supreme herbs, Xiao Wu had reverted to human form. Her body had even been pushed directly into full maturity. In other words, the Xiao Wu before him was now, in every physical sense, a human woman.
But at the same time, Xiao Wu had not truly been revived. What had returned now was only a part of her. The current her had no soul of her own — her very existence of life was bestowed entirely by the two supreme herbs, and she possessed nothing more than the instincts of a newborn rabbit. Her form had changed, but her mind was no different from what it had been in her rabbit shape. If Tang San could not fulfill the conditions that Da Ming, the Azure Bull Python, had described, she would likely still not be truly revived. Though she now stood before him in the flesh, one could say that only half of Xiao Wu had been restored.
What Xiao Wu needed was the return of her Soul Rings and Soul Bones, the nine-ring Soul Power to help her soul re-enter her body — and perhaps the Ten-Thousand-Year Nine-Grade Ginseng King as well. The Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng had very likely already served its purpose, which was why Xiao Wu had been able to assume human form. In terms of medicinal potency, unless it had been a complete Ten-Thousand-Year Nine-Grade Ginseng King, a portion of it could never have done better than the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng.
Gently stroking Xiao Wu's smooth black hair, Tang San's eyes filled with a trace of sorrow. "So you haven't truly been revived. Only your body has been restored. But Xiao Wu, it's all right. This is already a good start. At the very least, from now on I can always look upon you in human form. I'll train hard — I will absolutely find a way to return your soul to your body as soon as possible. All right?"
Xiao Wu, of course, could not respond. Tang San did not dare look at her body, for he feared defiling the perfect image of his beloved in his heart. He silently swore to himself that before Xiao Wu's soul returned and she was truly revived, he would never allow himself any excessive intimacy with her. He loved her — loved everything about her, not merely her body.
Quickly pulling a long robe of his own from the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night, he supported Xiao Wu's body and helped her put it on, fastening the belt tightly to prevent any exposure. Undergarments for a girl were something Tang San naturally did not have, so for now this would have to do.
The robe fit loosely on Xiao Wu, but it only served to accentuate her refined, exquisite features — a face so lovely it tugged at one's heartstrings.
"Come — walk with me, all right?" Tang San took Xiao Wu's hand and stood.
Perhaps it was precisely because he held her hand — with nothing but instinct, she offered no resistance and simply followed him as they walked out together. Xiao Wu did not walk quickly, but her gait was natural enough. After all, she had once been human, and the instincts of a human body still remained. Only her Soul Power, her Soul Rings, and every last one of her abilities were gone.
When the Guard Clan members stationed outside saw Xiao Wu being led by Tang San, every one of them froze in stunned silence. Xiao Wu was not merely beautiful — she radiated a purity the likes of which they had never encountered. Immaculately clean, without the faintest trace of worldly dust.
Tang San paid no attention whatsoever to how others perceived him. As long as he could hold Xiao Wu's hand forever, that, to him, was the greatest happiness there could be.
The dining hall.
White Crane sat beside Yang Wudi, the two of them in conversation.
"What? Say that again — what did it look like?" Yang Wudi stared at White Crane in shock, his face a mask of disbelief. When it came to medicinal knowledge, the Attack Clan truly did possess its own expertise. That morning Yang Wudi had still been black and blue, and though marks still lingered on his face now, he had healed considerably.
Everyone except Tang San had already arrived. White Crane had decided to try persuading Yang Wudi first — after all, the two were closest, and he was not entirely confident that Tang San's upcoming persuasion would succeed. For the sake of his grandson, he had chosen to lay the groundwork and seize the initiative.
Yang Wudi's surprise came from the description White Crane had just given him of the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng.
When White Crane described it a second time, Yang Wudi's normally dull eyes blazed with sudden brilliance. "Good — you old fool, you had something like this and didn't bring it out sooner! Fine, I understand what you're getting at. Say no more — give me that thing, and I'll join this Tang Sect with the rest of you."
"Ah?" Even White Crane had not expected Yang Wudi to agree so readily. He himself was not fully aware of just how valuable the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng was — only that it was extraordinarily precious. But Yang Wudi, who had devoted his entire life to the study of medicinal herbs, could not possibly be ignorant of its worth. With the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, he could produce a batch of heaven-defying elixirs. For someone as obsessed with alchemy as Yang Wudi, nothing could be more enticing.
Furthermore, Tang San's victory over him that morning had struck him deeply, and on top of that, the other three single-attribute clans had all already chosen to join the Tang Sect. He might as well take the opportunity and make his decision.
Watching Yang Wudi rub his hands together in excitement, White Crane let out a tremendous sigh of relief. His face broke into a broad smile — the four single-attribute clans could be together again, and he had not offended this old brother. Though the precious herb had been given away, in his eyes it was all worth it.
Just then, Tang San arrived with Xiao Wu.
Tang San walked in front, and Xiao Wu followed behind, her hand held in his behind his back. Seated at the table, besides the four clan leaders, were Ma Hongjun, Tai Long, Niu Ben, and Bai Chenxiang. The moment they saw Tang San leading the woman behind him, the first to react were Ma Hongjun and Tai Long.
"Xiao Wu?" The two of them cried out simultaneously, leaping to their feet with such force that the chairs they had been sitting on toppled backward.
Xiao Wu wore Tang San's long robe, her jet-black hair draped over her shoulders and falling in front of her — she held it with her other hand, or it would have reached the ground. Though five years of separation had stripped away some of her former girlish innocence, her overall appearance had not changed dramatically. Ma Hongjun and Tai Long recognized her at once.
All of the other men present, including the four clan leaders well past eighty, were momentarily stunned the first time they laid eyes on Xiao Wu.
White Crane had always believed his granddaughter Bai Chenxiang's beauty to be without equal under heaven. But now, seeing Xiao Wu, he realized that Bai Chenxiang's looks had been comprehensively surpassed — in both appearance and bearing.
Bai Chenxiang herself stood frozen, her face displaying nothing but shock. Over the past two days, Tang San had demonstrated overwhelming power, defeating White Crane and then Yang Wudi in succession, leaving a deep impression on her. What young woman did not harbor romantic feelings? Tang San was so handsome and refined. Unconsciously, she had already developed a degree of fondness for him. But now Tang San had so abruptly brought a girl with him — and she was breathtakingly beautiful. An indescribable feeling arose in Bai Chenxiang's heart.
Women were perceptive, and Bai Chenxiang could tell at a glance that the clothes on Xiao Wu's body were most likely Tang San's. The closeness between the two was obvious.
Tang San led Xiao Wu forward and helped her sit down before taking his own seat beside her. He nodded to the four clan leaders. "Sorry to keep you all waiting."
Niu Gao looked at Xiao Wu and could not help asking, "Tang San, who is she?"
Tang San smiled ruefully, somewhat at a loss for how to explain. Xiao Wu had both her hands clasped in his, and she shifted slightly, her shoulder pressing against Tang San's. Her movements were entirely natural, and her dependence on him was plain for anyone to see.
"I'm not quite sure how to explain this to everyone. Let me introduce her — her name is Xiao Wu, and she is my beloved. But she lost her mind saving me some time ago, and so she cannot greet you properly. Please forgive her."
Titan tugged at Niu Gao's sleeve, signaling him not to ask any more. White Crane, though puzzled, did not know Tang San very well and was unaware that Xiao Wu had never appeared before. Yang Wudi, however, furrowed his brow. "Lost her mind? Is it a brain injury, severe fright, or poisoning?"
Seeing Xiao Wu, he could not suppress a feeling of unease and apprehension. Since Xiao Wu now appeared before him with her hair loose and wearing Tang San's clothes, she looked nothing like the Xiao Wu who had attacked him. That Xiao Wu had moved with incredible speed, her entire form a blur of afterimages, so none of them had yet recognized her as the same person whose sixth Soul Skill had nearly killed Yang Wudi that day. But some instinct still lingered, and so Yang Wudi felt a trace of fear when looking at her.
Tang San shook his head. "None of those."
Yang Wudi started, then said gravely, "None of those? Do you take me for a fool? Look at her — rosy complexion, full and luminous brow. That's clearly the picture of vibrant health, of tenacious vitality beyond measure. If it's not a blow to the head, or lingering aftereffects of severe poisoning, then it must be a fright. Apart from these three causes, I can't think of any other."
Tang San replied calmly, "Elder Yang Wudi, I trust you haven't forgotten the wager we made this morning. Why don't we settle it first?"
Yang Wudi's expression turned cold. "Of course. Yang Wudi keeps his word. Name your condition."
Tang San smiled faintly. "Actually, my condition is quite simple. I only hope you will accept a small gift from me."
Yang Wudi paused, recalling what White Crane had said to him earlier. His expression softened considerably. He exchanged a glance with White Crane beside him, then said to Tang San, "Fine. Hand it over."
By now White Crane was beaming. Titan and Niu Gao, who had been listening to the exchange, wore smiles as well, waiting for the final outcome to be sealed. In their view, Tang San had chosen the perfect way to frame his condition.
Tang San reached into the Hundred Treasure Pouch. When he withdrew his hand, he held a large flower with its stem still attached. Immediately a faint, delicate fragrance wafted outward, a refreshing scent that permeated every corner of the dining hall. Even Xiao Wu, sitting beside Tang San, turned her clear, vacant eyes toward the flower in his hand.
It was a pale pink blossom, leafless, with a stem three feet long. The flower itself was enormous — nearly a foot in diameter — and every petal looked as though it were carved from crystal, translucent and luminous.
White Crane, who had already been certain he knew what was coming, saw that Tang San produced not the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng but instead a flower, and his face drained of color. "Xiao San — the ginseng I gave you! Where is it?"
Tang San looked at White Crane with a rueful smile. "Granduncle, it's not that I'm unwilling to produce it. It's just that — Xiao Wu has already eaten it."
"What?" White Crane gaped at Tang San, his face turning an ashen grey. He knew Yang Wudi's temperament all too well. If a promise was not kept, and given Yang Wudi's existing prejudice against the Clear Sky School, there would be no chance of reconciliation with the Tang Sect. The painstakingly built arrangement was crumbling before his very eyes. Even Titan and Niu Gao's expressions grew grim. If Yang Wudi refused to join the Tang Sect, that meant White Crane and his Agility Clan could not join either. The loss would be enormous.
But to their surprise, Yang Wudi's gaze never left the flower in Tang San's hand. He rose slowly, strode forward in great steps, and came to stand before Tang San.