Starting from Douluo to Capture Goddesses

Cradled in Xu Ran's embrace, a very pleasant masculine scent surrounded Xiaowu, causing her delicate body to tremble slightly. She didn't push him away.

Xu Ran was now the only person she could trust. If he were gone, she didn't know who else she could believe in.

In all the world, only Xu Ran would never deceive her. Everyone else, all the people from Nuoding Academy, she dared not trust. Tang San – had all six years of their relationship been a lie? How could she hope for the truth from anyone else?

The wind raced and the rain poured. The wind howled madly, and the rain drenched them both.

Xu Ran simply closed his umbrella, freeing his hands to hold Xiaowu tightly, trying to give her as much warmth as possible.

"If you really can't hold it back, it's okay to cry out," he said.

"From now on, I'll be by your side, and no one will dare to bully you," Xu Ran whispered, gently patting Xiaowu's back as if soothing a child.

Xiaowu didn't speak, just buried her head in Xu Ran's chest and sobbed softly. For some reason, she found his presence incredibly warm. Feeling his breath, her grievances became even more unbearable.

Tang San had deceived her all these six years, harboring evil intentions. Yet Xu Ran, whom she had known for only a few days, treated her so kindly. The contrast between the two was stark.

In her mind, two figures appeared – one was Tang San's, the other Xu Ran's. Tang San, with his litany of lies, seemed nothing short of laughable, like an actor. Xu Ran, despite being an Auspicious Beast, was righteous and humble, without a hint of arrogance. A vivid contrast formed between the two men in her heart.

Without comparison, there would be no hurt.

Upon comparing them, she realized how hypocritical Tang San was, and how good Xu Ran was to her.

Xu Ran's injuries had mostly healed by now, but he hadn't abandoned her to escape alone. Instead, he intended to help her as much as he could, to awaken her to reality, and then escape together. How could she let down a man who didn't even care for his own life for her sake?

"Xu Ran, I'm sorry," she said.

"I've failed in my duty as a soul beast to protect the Auspicious Beast, and I've caused you to be exposed to so many people for my sake. I even missed the best chance to escape," Xiaowu spoke, feeling a heavy sense of guilt and self-reproach. Her heart ached unbearably. For the sake of someone as despicable and shameless as Tang San, she had put both herself and Xu Ran in a dire situation. If Tang San told Tang Hao about her and Xu Ran—if Tang Hao learned that she had seen through their plot, what would he do? She and Xu Ran would then be in grave danger.

"It's okay. The important thing is that you've recognized who the bad person is. Tang San has always been deceiving you, and it's good that you understand that now. As for the rest, it's fine as long as I'm here. My strength isn't too weak," Xu Ran said, a trace of sarcasm in his voice. He sensed Tang San's presence and held Xiaowu even tighter. Since he hadn't reached Xiaowu, he certainly wouldn't take advantage of her directly; he just needed to let Tang San misunderstand the situation.

"Xiao Wu," he said softly.

"My precious Xiao Wu."

Tang San knew Xiao Wu's character well. Seeing the rain coming down so heavily, he had come with an umbrella looking for her, but he didn't expect to witness such a scene.

At that moment, Xiao Wu's clothes clung tightly to her fair skin, draped with a black coat for men. But her alluring youthful body was still inevitably outlined perfectly.

This Xiao Wu, even more feminine and delicate than the lively and radiant girl she was before, looked as though she could captivate endless gazes.

But now this stunningly beautiful Xiao Wu was held in Xu Ran's arms.

"Beast Xu Ran, let go of Xiao Wu, release her!" Tang San roared furiously, standing in the street. Not even he had touched Xiao Wu yet—what gave Xu Ran the right? Xu Ran, a despicable and shameless thing, had stolen Xiao Wu with his disgraceful methods. How could someone like him have the audacity to hold such a beautiful girl in his arms?

"Pfft."

Tang San was so angry he felt like spitting blood, Xu Ran's hand was such an eyesore in his view at that moment. Xiao Wu was so beautiful, her delicate form trembling slightly, still just a girl yet like a flower about to bloom. This budding quality, coupled with Xiao Wu's delicate beauty, made her truly outstanding.

"Ding, the System has detected the Host being insulted. To protect the Host's perfect image, Tang San's remarks have been directly blocked by the System. In consideration of the Host and Soul Land's female lead Xiaowu being in a delicate emotional phase, Xiaowu will also not hear the slanderous remarks from Tang San," the sweet voice of the System announced, almost making Xu Ran want to laugh.

He knew there was something odd about Tang San, gesticulating with no clear intent; it turned out the System had blocked his speech.

The System's intervention was quite high-end!

Tang San, keep on cursing if you must—after all, he couldn't hear it.

Xu Ran couldn't help thinking, is there any system under the heavens that could surpass the System? Not only is the service function of the System powerful, but it can also transform into a human form to continue serving the "Host" in the future. He remembered the System saying that once it transformed into human form, it could serve the "Host" even better. What exactly that meant, he wasn't quite sure, only that the System would be very strong after transforming.

"Beast Xu Ran, I'm telling you to let go of Xiao Wu, can't you hear me?" he bellowed.

"A person like you, revealing your lustful intentions right after snatching away Xiao Wu, how will she fare by your side in the future? Unthinkable. You are a devil, and sooner or later, Xiao Wu will face danger in your hands."

"..."

"Xiao Wu, did you hear that? Xu Ran is not a good person. He has always been lying to you."

Tang San shouted desperately, watching Xu Ran in the distance, who seemed to still be taking advantage of Xiao Wu. In actuality, Xu Ran's palms were still a centimeter away from touching her body, not making any contact at all. But it was a rainy night, the sky so dark, and Tang San was a bit too far to see clearly.

Besides, in Tang San's heart, Xu Ran was now an irredeemable devil. In his eyes, Xu Ran's methods were extremely low; what kind of man would act this way toward a girl? If he could be so presumptuous now, what worse might he do once he had her completely? He had heard of girls being forced into unfavorable situations by men who had caught their weaknesses, pushed to do things they despised.

Obviously, Xu Ran was such a man.