Chapter 355: The Ten-Year Appointment

Chapter 355: The Ten-Year Appointment (Third Update)

Zhou Ru was riding on a black-striped tiger, holding a small willow branch in her hand, patting the tiger's head while stealing glances at Wang Lin.

The tiger dared not show its ferocity, drooping its head as it walked back and forth in the valley.

"Little White, lift your head!" Zhou Ru glared.

The tiger immediately let out a low roar and obediently lifted its head.

"Lower your head!"

The tiger hurriedly lowered its head.

"Lift your head!"

This went back and forth; after more than a dozen times, the tiger still obeyed. It had long since grown accustomed to this life, hoping only to satisfy the little ancestor on its back so that she would release it, just as she had released the black bear back into the mountains some time ago.

It dared not resist. Not to mention the young man, the old man meditating not far away was an existence it could not afford to provoke. It was no ordinary tiger, but a tiger spirit that had Cultivated for many years, so it could naturally sense the terrifying aura from the old man.

On the contrary, the young man had no Qi at all and was like a Mortal, but it dared not provoke him even more. A few days ago, it had seen with its own eyes several Cultivators even more powerful than that old man acting extremely respectful toward this young man.

Thus, with its tiger brain, it naturally knew that this person could not be provoked.

Therefore, even if the little ancestor on its back made things difficult, it would do as instructed. In fact, deep down, it felt a bit fortunate; it had previously seen the miserable state the black bear had been reduced to by this little ancestor.

It had never seen a black bear that could walk on its hands, nor had it ever seen a black bear that could use chopsticks to eat and pick up food. Not to mention that huge bear paw being used to massage someone's back and scratch it…

Every time it thought of this scene, it couldn't help but shiver, feeling even more fear toward the little ancestor on its back.

It considered itself a noble tiger spirit and could never do such things, but things like lowering and lifting its head were still acceptable.

Wang Lin sat cross-legged under the Pagoda, watching the seemingly aggrieved tiger beneath Zhou Ru, and smiled slightly. This tiger had over three hundred years of cultivation, but unlike a Cultivator, it only possessed cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

After Zhou Ru saw it once, she immediately had Tie Yan catch it and named it Little White.

"Fellow Daoist Ceng Niu, the ten-year appointment has arrived. I, Feng, have been ordered by Vermilion Bird Mountain to deliver the battle challenge!" Outside the valley, the voice of Feng Yushan slowly sounded.

Wang Lin's gaze moved away from Zhou Ru and fell outside the valley. After a moment, he stood up.

"Tie Yan!"

Tie Yan woke from his meditation, stood up immediately, and came respectfully before Wang Lin.

"I am going to Vermilion Bird Country. The date of my return is uncertain, but I will definitely return within eight years at most. While I am away, you must take care of Little Ru!" Wang Lin looked at Zhou Ru and said to Tie Yan.

Zhou Ru didn't look at Wang Lin, but her ears twitched. She pouted and grabbed a handful of fur on Little White's head, saying in a low voice, "Bad uncle! Bad uncle!" Every time she said it, she would pull Little White's fur.

A ten-year-old child didn't have much strength, but grabbing the fur still caused Little White some pain. After all, that was the 'King' character mark on its forehead, which was the most sensitive area. In pain, it dared not show its ferocity and could only let out a few low roars to vent.

Tie Yan agreed, his expression solemn. He hesitated for a moment and said, "Benefactor, Vermilion Bird Country is the first country of Vermilion Bird Star, and it is filled with countless experts. You must be careful when you go there."

Ever since he gave up everything to follow Wang Lin four years ago, he had changed his address from 'Master' to 'Benefactor'. Wang Lin had bestowed upon him the grace of Soul Transformation, and in his eyes, this grace was no less important than his life.

Wang Lin nodded and said, "I will leave the Pagoda here and keep it fully activated. Within a hundred miles, no one can enter except you and Zhou Ru. While I am away, you must take good care of Young Miss Ru!"

"Rest assured, Benefactor, this old man will definitely ensure the safety of Young Miss Ru!" Tie Yan immediately agreed.

Wang Lin pondered for a moment, slapped his Storage Pouch, and a white light flashed out. With a 'bang', it landed on the ground and transformed into the Thunder Frog.

When Zhou Ru saw the Thunder Frog, her eyes immediately lit up. The tiger beneath her went limp and nearly collapsed on the ground. It clearly sensed that this toad before it possessed an extremely thick Demonic Qi.

This aura immediately made its heart jump. It became even more fearful of the people in the valley. At this moment, even if it were asked to stand on its hands, use chopsticks to eat, or massage the little ancestor's back, it wouldn't dare to have any complaints.

"Little Ru, come here!" Wang Lin crouched down and said softly.

Zhou Ru pouted and ignored Wang Lin, but after thinking about it, she patted the tiger's head, stuck her tongue out at Wang Lin, and said crisply, "Bad uncle, you're going out to play by yourself and not taking Little Ru!"

Wang Lin laughed dumbly. Over these past few years, Zhou Ru had become increasingly mischievous, her personality completely different from that of Li Muwan back then. If he couldn't clearly feel the Nascent Soul of Li Muwan within Zhou Ru, he would sometimes really wonder if he had picked up the wrong person.

These few years, any wild beast inside or outside the forest that was even slightly powerful had been bullied by Zhou Ru. However, she only bullied them and never harmed them. On the contrary, sometimes when she encountered injured wild beasts, she would beg Wang Lin to treat them.

Wang Lin sometimes looked at Zhou Ru and felt a pang of heartache. To keep her by his side, she had lost the joy of a childhood playing with companions and could only be friends with these wild beasts. Was he being too selfish by doing this?

However, these thoughts only flashed for a moment before Wang Lin pushed them aside. He was not a selfless person to begin with. He wouldn't feel at ease leaving Zhou Ru at someone else's home; only by having her with him could he ensure she wouldn't meet with any accidents.

"Be good, Ru. Uncle is going out for a trip and will be back in a few days. I'll catch you a bigger tiger then." Wang Lin smiled.

"How big? Bigger than Little White?" Zhou Ru was, after all, still a child. Hearing this, she immediately became interested and stopped being angry with Wang Lin, asking hurriedly instead.

"Bigger than Little White!" Wang Lin nodded affirmatively.

Zhou Ru tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, "Alright, then you have to come back quickly."

Wang Lin stroked Zhou Ru's head and said seriously, "I will be back very soon. Little Ru, while I am away, you must be obedient and not leave the hundred-mile radius, understand?"

Zhou Ru nodded and said obediently, "Then don't forget my big tiger!"

Wang Lin smiled slightly and stood up. He glanced at Tie Yan and pondered inwardly. It wasn't that he didn't trust Tie Yan; after all, over these many years, he had come to know the man's Heart-Nature like the back of his hand. It was just that the importance of Zhou Ru to him could not be entrusted based on simple trust alone.

Therefore, he left the Thunder Frog. With this frog present, if Tie Yan had any abnormal intentions, it would certainly stop him.

In reality, Wang Lin was overthinking things. Tie Yan's nature, after being tempered for so many years, had become focused, seeking only to achieve Soul Transformation. And Wang Lin had given him hope and bestowed great grace upon him.

Furthermore, he had watched Zhou Ru grow up since she was born, guarding her from the very beginning. Over the years, he had developed a sense of protective affection for her. Even without Wang Lin's instructions, he would protect Zhou Ru's safety.

Not to mention the friendship of Li Muwan, who had refined pills for him many times back in the day.

Wang Lin sent a Divine Thought to the Thunder Frog, entrusting it to protect Zhou Ru. The Thunder Frog's belly swelled as a response, then it lay on the ground motionless, basking in the sun.

Wang Lin trusted the Thunder Frog. Sometimes, worldly affairs are just like that; beasts are more trustworthy than people.

Besides all this, Wang Lin had one final layer of protection: his main body. His main body was deep underground beneath the Pagoda. With his main body there, all dangers could be resolved.

This was the reason he was truly at ease. However, unless absolutely necessary, he did not want others to know that he possessed a main body. His main body was his true trump card, hidden deeper than any Magic Treasure!

After finishing these arrangements, Wang Lin walked out of the valley. Whether what greeted him would be glory or an end, he did not know.

But after five hundred years of cultivation, Wang Lin's heart had become as firm as one, indifferent to honor or disgrace, and would not be easily shaken. He would continue to walk the path of the Dao forever, unchanging.

Zhou Ru raised her head, watching Wang Lin's receding back. Suddenly, she grabbed Little White's fur. Little White, with a flash of insight, immediately ran forward and, with a leap, carried Zhou Ru to catch up with Wang Lin.

Wang Lin turned back. Zhou Ru jumped off Little White and came to Wang Lin's side, saying softly, "Uncle, crouch down."

Wang Lin smiled and crouched down, saying softly, "Are you reminding Uncle not to forget the big tiger?"

Zhou Ru shook her head, looked at Wang Lin, kissed him gently on the forehead, and said seriously, "Uncle, you must come back quickly. Little Ru misses you."

Wang Lin stared blankly at Zhou Ru. After a moment, he nodded and said, "Uncle will be back very soon!"

After saying this, he took a deep breath, stood up, and walked out of the valley.

Zhou Ru watched Wang Lin's back and whispered, "Uncle is gone, not playing with me… Little White, you have to play with me every day from now on, you hear?"

Little White's body trembled, feeling miserable inside. It let out a low roar as a listless response.

The corners of Zhou Ru's eyes were slightly moist, and tears fell onto the ground along her cheeks.

For these seven years, she and Wang Lin had almost never been separated, and they had long since developed a very deep bond. The longer time passed, the more she felt a warm current in her heart; this warm current was a kind of attachment, a reluctance to part.

Worldly affairs are often extremely coincidental. The spot where Zhou Ru was standing at this moment was exactly where that tear of Li Muwan had fallen all those years ago.

That tear from back then, who knows if it could bloom into a land of sorrow and grief, but at this moment, this tear had exchanged for a land of longing and reluctance.

"Little White, stand on your hands!" Zhou Ru wiped away her tears and said to the tiger.

The tiger immediately let out a sorrowful roar.

One month before the date of the great battle between Wang Lin and Hong Die, a massive event occurred within the Giant Demon Race. After one of the Old Ancestors in the clan absorbed the Immortal Jade brought back by Chi Hu, he successfully achieved a Breakthrough to Soul Transformation, becoming the first Nascent Soul Transformation stage Giant Demon Race Cultivator on Vermilion Bird Star!

Three chapters finished! The Vermilion Bird arc begins.