NOVEL NEXT Chapter 192: Mother Rabbit's Hope
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--- Chapter 192 ---
After resurrecting Xiao Rou, nothing significant happened in the Dao Academy.
The appearance of Xiao Wu's mother surprisingly didn't raise much surprise among Han Yuan's companions.
For a brief moment, it was baffling, but soon everyone accepted that Han Yuan had the power to revive someone if he wanted to. That's just how numb they had become after being around him all these years.
In fact, they initially experienced two contrasting emotions: reassurance and nervousness.
They felt relief because they no longer had to fear death in battle or due to accidents, but they also felt uneasy about Han Yuan's rigorous training regimen, which his students dreaded; even people like Liu Erlong and Dugu Bo could only sigh and pretend not to see.
Han Yuan was already notorious for being exceptionally strict with his training, even with himself, and he expected his students to adopt a similar mindset.
But now, if they failed midway, he could 'simply' revive them and make them start again.
The thought of that was terrifying!
Of course, Han Yuan knew their nervousness and told them not to worry because he wouldn't abuse it unless he needed it. He also told them the requirements for resurrection were harsh, and he might not be able to do what he could with Xiao Rou for them.
There would always be 'special' cases like soul-based attacks that truly closed the possibility of revival.
As the Master of Souls, he couldn't revive someone without souls.
Anyway, Han Yuan only had to introduce Xiao Rou to everyone, and they accepted her quite well because she was Xiao Wu's mom and had a gentle personality.
While Ah Yin is very motherly and gentle, the vibe she gives is more like that of a vibrant morning grass than Xiao Rou's cheerful outlook on life.
Both have their own charms.
Even then, Xiao Rou's cheerful behavior is a way to hide the pain she has endured. Many years of torture took a toll on her spirit, mind, and soul, which prevented her from cultivating or training intensely.
She appeared cheerful because she didn't want to make Xiao Wu worried or make others uncomfortable.
But Xiao Wu, being herself, despite being rather silly, realized how uneasy her mother was. So, she stayed close to her and walked her around Dao Academy every day.
She even started learning to cook seriously, which made the girls gasp in awe.
Heck, even the people she used to prank on were surprised to see the mischievous rabbit so well-behaved when Han Yuan wasn't around.
It was surprising that the students at Dao Academy believed Xiao Wu was a doppelganger. It infuriated Xiao Wu internally, but she managed to hold back her anger.
...
Xiao Wu and Xiao Rou are walking side by side. They are currently on Winter's Bloom Mountain, which is in the northern part of the Desolate Mountain Range.
This mountain is named Winter's Bloom because a flower with that name, a paper flower kind with towering black vine trees and snowy white flowers, grows all over the mountain.
To top it, some winter bloom flowers were bred with blue silver grass, thus gaining blue, icy-like roots.
While this mountain wasn't as effective as a mimetic training ground, it was supposed to be a blue silver grass field, and cultivating here could act as a healing space because of its beauty.
Xiao Wu hugged Xiao Rou's arm as the mature rabbit said, "Xiao Wu, you know that you don't have to accompany me every day, right?"
"Mom is alright, and healthy."
Xiao Wu stubbornly shook her head and then grinned, "No! Xiao Wu is here because Xiao Wu missed Mom so much!"
"I love being around Mom!"
"Mom is the best!"
Xiao Rou felt helpless. She, of course, feels her daughter's worry and care in the past few weeks. Nevertheless, she knew this unique academy was incredibly competitive.
Not just in study, such as cultivation and others, but also love!
When Ye Xuelan teased Xiao Rou by saying, "Welcome her to Han Yuan's Harem," the mature rabbit would have never thought it wasn't a joke at all because the competitiveness between girls is that insane.
She wanted the best for Xiao Wu and Han Yuan; being her benefactor and master is definitely the best option. Unfortunately, after meeting those beautiful and talented girls (women), Xiao Rou knew her daughter's chance of winning was slim.
Although winning or losing doesn't seem to affect Xiao Wu much due to her unique position in the group, Han Yuan is generally accepting as long as there is no bullying and things run smoothly. However, Xiao Rou wants the best for her daughter!
Xiao Rou has met Ye Xuelan and her daughter, Ye Lingling, who are openly pursuing Han Yuan's affection. This encounter made Xiao Rou realize that she could take similar actions to Xiao Wu. Initially, she felt unconfident about this idea, but for the sake of a better future, she is willing to proceed.
At the end of the day, they are servants of Han Yuan.
Xiao Rou pulled Xiao Wu's hands and clasped them together, "Xiao Wu, listen to Mom."
"Do you like Master Han Yuan?"
"W-What? Why all of a sudden?" Xiao Wu blushed, looking right and left in panic.
Xiao Rou smiled, "I see. You do like him very much."
"You should have asked him to comb your hair a few times, right?"
"I..." Xiao Wu blushed even more. To Xiao Wu, combing her hair with the wooden hair comb given by her previously deceased mother is like confessing her love toward someone.
And she did ask Han Yuan a few times to do it.
It means she accepted him in her heart.
From the way he saved her from a Title Douluo at Nouding Academy to this day.
Han Yuan might not be so romantic, but all these years, he has cared for her more than anything. Maybe because she was a vital source for his research, but he never harmed her.
He also didn't reject Xiao Wu just because she was a transformed spirit beast, and he will accept her request, including combing her hair.
Xiao Rou smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mom supports you. But you can't stay like this."
"Master Han Yuan is a man with limitless potential."
"His strength is growing beyond common sense."
"Even a transformed 100,000-year-old spirit beast like us couldn't catch up to him."
"We can't even dream about it."
"However, that doesn't mean we can't give him support from the side and help him through mundane days."
"So, from now on, Mom will help you to become a fine lady!" Xiao Rou said with determination in her purplish-red eyes.
Xiao Wu was speechless, "But..."
"No but!" Xiao Rou stared at her daughter intensely. She doesn't want Xiao Wu to experience the same helplessness she did.
That dark, cursed place.
She doesn't want Xiao Wu to enter such a place.
As transformed spirit beasts, their fate will always stay the same if they are weak. Their only option was to look for a strong, towering tree that could provide them with shade and protection.
And that strong, towering tree is none other than Han Yuan!
Seeing the crazed look on her mother, Xiao Wu couldn't help but gulp nervously because it seemed Xiao Rou was becoming unfamiliar. Then, again, Xiao Wu didn't have much choice but to agree.
After hiking for a while in Winter's Bloom Mountain, Xiao Rou dragged Xiao Wu to a small community town beneath the Dao Academy.
That day, Xiao Wu finally understood the meaning of ruthless, iron-fisted parenting!
...
...
While nothing really momentous happened in the Dao Academy, we can't say otherwise outside. A group of greedy nobles has rallied themselves, gathering to discuss how to get their hands on Dao Academy, especially their resources.
It's dangerous, but being a greedy person means making a profit at any cost. As long as they didn't provoke Dao Academy's Title Douluos, they were confident everything would be alright.
...
Heaven Dou Empire - Gilded Blue Cross County.
At the Blue Mountain City, where the meeting was 'secretly' held, two enchanting figures walked past the gate. One is wearing an azure-green dress with an open back, while the other is wearing a purple-silver dress with a veil.
"Is this the place?" asked the beauty in the azure-green dress.
The beauty in a purple-silver dress nodded, "Mm."
"According to our informant, a group of nobles is ready to sabotage Dao Academy's trading route with Heaven Dou City. They also have stolen the exchanged resources that some academies bought with points at the Dao Meeting."
The beauty in the azure-green dress's eyes transformed into those of a dragon's eyes, "Heh, they actually dare to slap Dao Academy's credibility by doing so."
"Who would want to attend the Dao Meeting in the future if they did this?"
"Wouldn't that make Xiao Yuan's effort go to waste?"
The other beauty rolled her eyes, "You just wanted an excuse to beat some people up, Yanyan!"
"Who doesn't know that Xiao Yuan hasn't spent much time with us in the past few months?"
"Hmph, it's that angel girl's fault. She has been hogging Xiao Yuan for too long." Dugu Yan snorted unhappily. "But damn, she's quite strong."
"Lingling, we must unite!"
Ye Lingling smiled faintly, "Why do you think I am here?"
Yes, the two beauties are none other than Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling!