P^^^on for 15+ chapters
Everything seemed to realign with the original path—Tang San still took Xiao Wu as a sister but with notable twists.
In the original story, before his martial soul's second awakening, Tang San wasn't striking but passable. Now, he looked downright comical, dimming Xiao Wu's attachment to him.
Their bond was shallower than before. She'd dragged him here hoping to rope Ning Tian into their sibling pact, an offer he flatly rejected.
Ning Tian wanted no ties with Tang San, and the sentiment was mutual. The Yu Xiaogang incident was merely a spark; the real fuel was Xiao Wu's clear preference for Ning Tian. Even without that, Tang San's jealousy would've soured into enmity.
Time slipped by like water, and five years vanished in an instant.
Ning Tian finally graduated from Nuoding Academy.
......…
Soutuo city, Balak Kingdom.
Around midday, three youths strolled through Soutuo City's west gate—two boys and a girl, all in their early teens.
The girl in the center looked twelve or thirteen, standing over 1.7 meters tall. Her skin glowed with a rosy hue, her face was lovely, and her figure neared perfection. Her long legs, hugged by white pants, could captivate any onlooker.
The boy to her left towered nearly 1.8 meters, lean and poised, with fair skin and an effortless grace.
By contrast, the boy on her right was a pitiful sight, barely 1.6 meters, stocky and short-limbed, his skin a deep coal-black, his back slightly hunched. He resembled a bear more than a boy; only his youthful face saved him from being mistaken for a grizzled man.
The girl slumped her shoulders, grumbling, "I'm exhausted. Why ditch a proper senior soul master academy for that no-name Sh—whatever it's called place?"
"Shrek Academy," the dark boy corrected with a faint smile.
"Whatever it's called, I'm tired," she whined.
"Want me to carry you?" he offered, a hopeful edge to his voice.
"No, I want Little Six to carry me," she said, leaning toward the handsome boy.
But he dodged her with practiced ease.
"If you need carrying, ask your dear brother," he said coolly. 'Little Six' was a nickname she had picked up from the Emperor Soul villagers.
"Yeah, Xiao Wu, let me carry you," the dark boy said, his tone timid, his smile strained.
These three were Xiao Wu, Ning Tian, and Tang San, fresh from Nuoding Academy.
Like the original tale, Tang San and Xiao Wu had come to Soutuo City after graduation to join Shrek Academy.
The twist? Ning Tian tagged along at Xiao Wu's insistence.
Not that he cared for her. His sights were set on Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and the Eight Spider Lances.
Ning Rongrong had Sword Douluo's backing and mastery of the Distraction Control Technique, valuable assets for his growth. Zhu Zhuqing was a beauty he desired, one he refused to let Dai Mubai claim.
Why else come to this world?
The Eight Spider Lances were non-negotiable too.
Above all, he needed the Shrek crew as pawns–scapegoats he could exploit without remorse.
Xiao Wu eyed Tang San's awkward build with distaste. "No way. Little black is too short, my feet would scrape the ground, and I'd get even more tired."
She pouted, swapping the original 'Third Bro' for 'Little black.'
Tang San's face twitched, embarrassment flaring. He didn't know why, but since awakening his martial soul, he had grown darker and stunted. Both he and Xiao Wu were Level 29 with two hundred-year soul rings, yet she stood half a head taller, and Ning Tian loomed nearly a full head above him. Worse, his frame had bulked up with useless muscle.
It distressed him that Xiao Wu favored Ning Tian over her 'brother.'
"Then walk yourself," Ning Tian said, brushing past her and walking ahead.
But the more he ignored her, the more stubbornly she pursued him.
And Tang San trailed after her just as doggedly.
Their dynamic was plain: Tang San pined for Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu pined for Ning Tian, and Ning Tian remained aloof, chasing his own goals. It echoed Team Seven from Naruto—Naruto chasing Sakura, Sakura chasing Sasuke, Sasuke chasing power.
It all traced back to that blanket Ning Tian gave Xiao Wu, planting the seed that he was cold on the outside but warm within. His generosity in Emperor Soul Village, funding roads and homes solidified her belief.
No matter how much he dismissed her, she saw it as his way of hiding a kind heart.
Meanwhile, Tang San's devotion became routine, expected—like the care of Titan Giant Ape or Sky Blue Bull Python toward her.
Thus, the absurd reality: Tang San poured his soul into her for six years, yet couldn't rival a single blanket tossed her way by Ning Tian.
Blame Ning Tian's six years of 'tinkering,' turning Tang San uglier by the day. His fate was sealed the moment his looks faded.
Soutuo City, a titan among Balak Kingdom's cities, dwarfed the backwater Nuoding City.
The trio grabbed a quick bite at a modest diner.
Afterward, Tang San covered Xiao Wu's meal as her dutiful 'brother,' while Ning Tian paid for himself.
Then, with Xiao Wu leading the way aimlessly, they arrived at the Rose Hotel from the original story. Ning Tian observed it all, as a detached spectator.
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