Tang San glanced at the withered tuft of Wolfbrush Grass, now slumped in what could only be described as "post-ecstasy exhaustion," then looked at Romantina covered head to toe in fuzz and seeds. His worldview practically imploded on the spot.
What the hell did I just witness?!
She drained the soul beast?
And it was a plant-type soul beast at that?!
He wasn't the only one shocked. Zhou Qing and Xiao Wu were equally floored by Romantina's... unconventional behavior.
When it came to depravity—
Romantina might not be unmatched for all time, but she had certainly blazed a trail no one dared follow!
Even a certain "youngest" Titled Douluo on the continent, hidden in the shadows and observing everything, was left utterly speechless. For a moment, he doubted whether he'd been away from the soul master world too long—was he hallucinating?
This girl... is deranged! If Little San stays around her, will he turn into a degenerate too?!
Tang Hao was suddenly deeply concerned about his son's future.
Still, he didn't come out of hiding. He believed Tang San would have his own judgment...
Zhou Qing also understood now why the other adventurers at the Notting Guild kept their distance from Romantina and never competed with her for missions. It wasn't just because she was the daughter of the vice city lord.
It was because her brand of twisted behavior had no off switch!
Worse yet, she didn't even try to hide it. She might actually enjoy the attention.
Why does she feel like a character straight out of a Japanese light novel?
Zhou Qing was completely at a loss for words.
Eventually, Romantina recovered. She got up, dusted herself off, and shook loose the seeds clinging to her clothes. Then she pulled out a piece of cloth from her bag, carefully collecting the seeds. With a serious expression, she explained, "Wolfbrush Grass seeds, once roasted, are delicious."
Yeah, right!
Zhou Qing desperately wished he had a camera soul tool to record her earlier behavior—but unfortunately, soul cameras hadn't been invented yet.
"Go on, Tang San. Uproot that Wolfbrush Grass and burn it. Absorb the soul ring," Zhou Qing said with a deep breath, deciding to ignore Romantina's pathetic excuse. He gave Tang San a push toward the pitiful plant, now drained of all its 'vital essence.'
"I really don't want to!"
Tang San protested, but his body moved on its own. He stepped forward and gripped the base of the plant, ready to pull it out.
But—
Even with his soul power, the plant wouldn't budge. This Wolfbrush Grass had over 300 years of cultivation; its roots ran deep.
Left with no choice, Tang San took out a dagger and started digging around it. After half an hour of hard work, clearing all the nearby stalks, he finally managed to extract the whole plant.
Meanwhile, Romantina had already pulled out a large pot, filled it with water, and added a few steamed buns. She crushed the Wolfbrush seeds, blew off the husks, and tossed the pearl-white, sesame-sized grains into the pot, stirring continuously.
Nearby, Zhou Qing and Xiao Wu gathered dry grass to build a fire.
Tang San folded and tied up the Wolfbrush Grass, tossed it into the flames, and watched as it curled, sizzled, and groaned—almost like it was crying out in agony. A faint guilt stirred in his heart.
Poor thing.
Most soul beasts at least got a clean death. But this one?
First, it was thoroughly "manipulated" by Romantina. Then Tang San dug it up by the roots and threw it into a fire. To be fair, the Wolfbrush Grass only had itself to blame—it was simply too tenacious.
Unlike other plant-type soul beasts that died when their main stem was cut, this one wouldn't perish until root, stalk, and leaf were all destroyed.
So, aside from Romantina's twisted antics, Tang San was innocent.
As the pot began to bubble, a yellow soul ring emerged from the fire and floated above it. At the same time, Romantina's seed porridge was done cooking.
Floating in the gray-brown mush were countless pearl-white grains. It looked… thoroughly unappetizing.
But to avoid revealing their storage soul tools and because their stomachs were growling, Zhou Qing and Tang San braced themselves and each scooped a bowl.
"It actually tastes pretty good!"
Zhou Qing took a bite and was surprised—especially the seeds. Though tiny, they were chewy and springy. Once swallowed, they warmed the stomach, and his soul power stirred slightly.
No doubt about it—Wolfbrush seeds were a food that could aid a soul master's cultivation. But they'd need to be eaten regularly over a long time to show real effect.
"Well? All my effort wasn't in vain, right?" Romantina gulped down her porridge. For some reason, a blush crept across her face, and her whole body trembled slightly.
"You didn't have to go that far just to get some seeds, did you?" Xiao Wu asked suspiciously. She was pretty sure Romantina just enjoyed the "massage."
"What do you know? That's the best way to get the seeds to come out on their own!"
Romantina defended herself, but in truth, she had enjoyed the tormenting process. She knew she was a full-blown pervert. Around adults, she suppressed herself. But with kids like Zhou Qing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu—just six years old—she let loose without a care.
As for whether she'd feel embarrassed if they met again after growing up? Romantina never worried about the future. Her motto was to live in the moment.
What she didn't realize was—
Neither Zhou Qing nor Tang San were really "kids." Even the seemingly innocent Xiao Wu had a thorough understanding of "the birds and the bees."
After all, in the Star Dou Forest, soul beasts weren't exactly shy when it came to mating.
After dinner—
Not even an hour had passed when the soul ring was still hovering. Tang San released his Blue Silver Grass martial soul, channeled his soul power, and began to draw the yellow ring toward him.
"Come on—my first soul ring!"
The yellow soul ring slid into the Blue Silver Grass.
Instantly—
A rush of heat surged down the vine and into Tang San's body.
He activated Xuan Tian Technique, guiding the warmth as it fused into his body. The Blue Silver Grass on his right hand began to grow, faint silver patterns flashing briefly on its surface.
Faint.
Gone in a blink.
But Zhou Qing saw it!
As expected—absorbing a plant-type soul beast's ring strengthens the Blue Silver Grass!
Zhou Qing nodded to himself. Then he noticed something strange: strands of greenish-blue energy began leaking from the soul ring and into the Blue Silver Grass.
In an instant, the vine's leaves grew wildly, wrapping around Tang San's hand like a living glove woven from Blue Silver Grass...