Soul Land: Heartbreak Makes Me Stronger

"Uh… Aunt Da Wu, could you please not bring up what happened back then…"

Qin Jian was drenched in cold sweat. "I didn't mean to treat Xiao Wu that way on purpose. It's just… I have a natural craving for physical affection…"

"Haha… So what if you did? After all, the two of you have been together for over a hundred thousand years. You're closer than family… This is nothing."

The woman laughed heartily. "Isn't it true that every time she's in heat, she runs to you to borrow Emotion Mist to solve her problems?"

Qin Jian was speechless. "Aunt Da Wu… Is Xiao Wu really your biological daughter?"

The woman snorted lightly. "Humans say daughters are supposed to be considerate, but that girl… She doesn't care about me nearly as much as you do. What's the use of having her?"

Qin Jian blinked and suddenly said, "What if Xiao Wu ends up being part of one of my Nine Trials…"

"Then I'll boil you alive!" the woman said without hesitation.

Qin Jian couldn't help but burst into laughter. He knew Aunt Da Wu had a habit of bluffing.

"Speaking of which, I wonder how Xiao Wu is doing…"

There was a trace of concern in the woman's voice.

"Aunt Da Wu, don't worry," Qin Jian reassured her. "Xiao Wu will live happily and meet some interesting people."

"Humans? It'd be better if she became part of your Nine Trials!" the woman said, displeased.

"Humans can be good or bad. Not all of them hunt us indiscriminately…" Qin Jian replied.

The woman's tone grew serious. "Xiao Qin, now that you're living in the human world, don't let your guard down. Humans are the most cunning of all beings, unlike us Soul Beasts, who are straightforward and pure."

"Yes, Auntie. I'll remember your advice," Qin Jian nodded solemnly.

Swish, swish, swish…

At that moment, a pink rabbit darted gracefully between the thick ancient trees, and the view ahead suddenly opened up.

Under the bright moonlight, a vast lake spanning several miles came into sight.

Buzz…

The glowing sphere surrounding Qin Jian and Shui Bing'er gradually dissipated. Qin Jian held Shui Bing'er in his arms and gently leaned her against the roots of an ancient tree by the lake.

Roar!

A deafening roar echoed, followed by a powerful gust of wind that made even Qin Jian stagger.

Boom!

When his vision refocused, the scene in front of him darkened—a massive ape head had appeared right before him.

The next moment, the world spun, and when things became clear again, Qin Jian found himself suspended in midair.

"Er Ming! How many times have I told you, only lift me when I give you permission! Who told you to grab me again? A few years of absence, and you're already itching for a beating?!"

With a swift step onto the Titan Giant Ape's enormous hand, Qin Jian ran along its arm and leaped onto its head.

"This spot is mine. That one's Xiao Wu's," Qin Jian said, patting the Titan Giant Ape's head.

Ho ho ho…

The Titan Giant Ape pounded its chest like a gorilla.

"Tsk, you haven't even learned to speak properly, and you call yourself strong?" Qin Jian said, sitting firmly on its head. "If you've got the guts, transform into a human. Let's see if I don't knock you senseless!"

Waa oo…

The Titan Giant Ape began walking toward the lake with Qin Jian, making unintelligible noises.

"It says if it transforms, you won't be able to return home in peace. At least for now, this place is still safe," the pink rabbit conveyed telepathically as it followed beside the Titan Giant Ape.

As they approached the lake…

Splash…

A colossal bull's head, several times larger than the Titan Giant Ape, slowly emerged from the water.

Crash…

The bull head rose skyward, supported by the immense body of a serpent beneath it.

The Sky Azure Bull Python!

"Da Ming, long time no see!"

Standing atop the Titan Giant Ape's head, Qin Jian waved enthusiastically.

"Xiao Qin…

"You've returned…"

The Sky Azure Bull Python's bull head drew closer to the Titan Giant Ape. Its boundless aura was impossible to contain, and even its voice resonated like a distant echo from the heavens.

"Hey, let's make a deal. Can you all stop calling me Xiao Qin? It sounds so awkward…" Qin Jian shouted.

"Oh? Xiao Qin, do you have a problem with the name I gave you?" The pink rabbit's tone carried a hint of danger.

"Uh… Actually, it's quite nice… Da Wu, Xiao Wu, Da Ming, Er Ming… Xiao Qin…" Qin Jian scratched his head awkwardly.

He had great respect for Aunt Da Wu, who had always looked after them, despite her strength now being weaker than the Titan Giant Ape's.

"Then what do you want us to call you?" the Sky Azure Bull Python asked slowly.

Qin Jian's eyes darted mischievously. "Since Xiao Wu calls me Brother, why don't you and Er Ming call me Big Brother?"

"No way…"

The Sky Azure Bull Python objected. "I'm older than you. You should call me Big Brother instead."

"Who says you're older? Before I transformed, I was way older than you!" Qin Jian retorted with his arms crossed.

"That's not the kind of 'older' I meant…" the Sky Azure Bull Python replied.

"Well, I don't care. I'm older, so you call me Big Brother," Qin Jian said with an air of authority.

The Sky Azure Bull Python fell silent.

The Titan Giant Ape instinctively scratched its head at the scene…

"You idiot, Er Ming! Watch it! I'm still on your head, don't you know that?!" Qin Jian scrambled onto its shoulder in a hurry.

Ho ho ha…

The Titan Giant Ape grinned widely.

"I'll make you laugh! Take this!"

Qin Jian playfully punched and kicked at the Titan Giant Ape. Though the Titan Giant Ape pretended to block, Qin Jian's strikes were nothing more than a tickle to it.

It was all in good fun.

Under the moonlight, the Sky Azure Bull Python and the pink rabbit watched quietly.

The stillness of the two and the lively playfulness of the others gradually painted a serene and heartwarming scene…

"Mm…"

After an unknown amount of time, Shui Bing'er slowly woke up under the tree.

Her beautiful eyes fluttered open, though the scene before her was still blurry. A familiar boy's voice reached her ears: "You're awake…"

Shui Bing'er blinked, then suddenly realized, "Qin Jian! You're okay!"

She leapt forward, throwing herself into Qin Jian's arms.

"I'm so glad you're safe…" she murmured.

Qin Jian wrapped his arms around her and chuckled. "Bing'er, you're getting bolder and bolder…"

"Ugh…"

Shui Bing'er pulled away slightly, lowering her head. "I… I didn't mean to…"

"Hehe…"

The next moment, she leaned into Qin Jian's warm embrace again.

"But I like it…" he said with a smile.

"R-really?" Shui Bing'er asked softly.

Qin Jian nodded. "You're at your most captivating when you're confident and bold!"

She then wrapped her delicate, icy hands around his neck. A fragrant breeze swept by, and a soft warmth grazed his cheek.

"How about this…"

Shui Bing'er's slightly flushed face appeared before him. "Do you like it?"

Qin Jian touched his other cheek and grinned. "Make it symmetrical. I've got OCD…"

"Pfft…"

With a radiant smile, Shui Bing'er left a gentle kiss on his other cheek.

"Wait, where are we?"

"And now you think to ask?"

"…."

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