Chapter 127. Xiao Wu
"Mama! Mama!" A young girl called out to a woman as she ran towards her.
"Xiao Wu, don't run too much. You might hurt yourself." Bai Wu replied as she gently stroked Xiao Wu's hair.
After Rei had left clutching his head from his internal turmoil, Bai Wu soon realised that she was pregnant with their child and decided to wait for Rei to return. She didn't want to leave just yet as leaving could in turn bring danger to her child. So she decided to wait for Rei's return.
So Bai Wu sat by the lake as she waited, from days, weeks to months. Eventually came the time when Xiao Wu was born and Bai Wu realised that she looked almost exactly like a child version of her and decided to call her Xiao Wu.
"Lei, can you feel my happiness? This is our child...I called her Xiao Wu since she's like a tiny me." Bai Wu said as he held baby Xiao Wu in her arms.
Xiao Wu was born looking like a human but cultivated rings like a spirit beast. She was also immortal but Bai Wu thought that she just had a longer lifespan.
"Mama, where's papa?" Xiao Wu asked one day as she looked at Bai Wu.
Bai Wu felt sadness wash over her.
"He's away right now. He can't come because he has something important to deal with." Bai Wu said as she looked at Xiao Wu's innocent eyes.
"Ehh? When will papa return? Xiao Wu want's to see papa." She pouted as she rolled around on Bai Wu's lap.
"Shall I tell you stories about your papa then?" Bai Wu said as Xiao Wu nodded her head in excitement.
"Hmm, let me tell you about the time when your papa took me to a human city. That time mama was still young, your papa bought me a comb and lot's of pretty clothes as he had always looked after mama. He said that the comb makes your hair look pretty so he bought me one." Bai Wu said as she took out a comb from her storage belt.
"Can I have it?" Xiao Wu asked with sparkling eyes.
"Of course, let mama show you how to use it." Bai Wu said as she sat Xiao Wu down in front of her and started to comb her hair.
"So back then, mama loved papa but mama had to try very hard to get your papa's attention. But mama knew that your papa cared for me." Bai Wu continued as she combed Xiao Wu's hair.
"Because when mama felt sad, your papa waved his hand and changed the world. He made the lake freeze and made it snow. The white snow covered everywhere as it was one of the most beautiful things mama had ever seen." Bai Wu said with a fond and nostalgic smile.
"It was also there that mama promised to make your papa fall in love with me." Bai Wu laughed slightly.
"Heh~ papa could change the weather?! Papa must be very powerful!" Xiao Wu smiled widely as she bobbed her head around.
Bai Wu chuckled as Xiao Wu's comment.
"Your papa was the strongest in the world. At rank 30 spirit grandmaster, your papa was able to defeat a rank 90 titled douluo." Bai Wu said as Xiao Wu grew more excited.
"REALLY?! Didn't mama say titled douluo's are equal to 100,000 year spirit beasts?" Xiao Wu said looking at Bai Wu.
"Indeed, your papa could defeat titled douluo's at rank 30. No one else can do it." Bai Wu said as she gently turned Xiao Wu's head forward again.
"And then? And then?!" Xiao Wu asked as she wanted to hear more.
"So before your papa defeated the titled douluo, he had actually took mama to a festival. It was a crystal festival where we had to make the best sculpture using crystals. In that event mama tried to win by making a carrot." Bai Wu laughed a little as she remembered what she did.
"Is it because mama is a rabbit? So mama made a carrot." Xiao Wu asked.
"Un, your papa however made a sculpture of himself holding mama when she was just a tiny spirit beast. It was the second best sculpture that mama had ever seen." Bai Wu said as she retrived the sculpture. Since the event, they had kept the sculpture in the belt and she decided to take it out today to show her daughter what Rei had created.
"Wah!~ So pretty! Hey mama, what's the most beautiful sculpture that you saw?" Xiao Wu asked as he examined the little sculpture and saw What Rei looked like.
"Mama, papa is so handsome!" Xiao Wu said as she looked at Rei's face.
"Un, your papa was the most handsome man in mama's eyes. And the most beautiful sculpture mama had saw was also made by papa. It was called the thousand year dream. Your papa had carved the crystal to look like mama when I participated in the festival. In the end, mama and papa decided to leave it in the city so that everyone could see what your papa had made." Bai Wu smiled as she remembered the sculpture Rei had made in Suotuo city.
"Mama can we go have a look at it?" Xiao Wu asked as her interest was peaked.
"Hmmm..." Bai Wu thought about it.
"Pretty please?" Xiao Wu asked with puppy eyes.
Bai Wu smiled as she relented to her daughter.
"Ok, let mama finish combing your hair and then I'll take you to the city ok?" Bai Wu smiled as she combed Bai Wu's hair.
"Mama, can Er ming and Da ming come?" Xiao Wu asked. She had met the two as they apparently said they were looking for her papa after they had left the inner area.
"I'm afraid those two can't come. Humans would harm them if they saw them." Bai Wu shook her head as the two spirit beasts didn't recultivate into humans. Da Ming was a Green Ox Python of The Heavens like the beast monarch that Rei had met before. Er Ming on the other hand was a Titan Giant Ape.
"Haaa, Er Ming! Da Ming! We can't take you sorry!" Xiao Wu shouted out as Er Ming sat up in the forest while Da Ming appeared in the sky.
"It's fine Xiao Wu, just stay safe out there." Da Ming said as he smiled at her.
"Da Ming, Er Ming. Watch the lake for me while I'm gone ok?" Bai Wu said as she looked at the two.
"As you wish queen." Da Ming said as he bowed his head.
"Hais, I told you many times not to call me queen." Bai Wu said as she sighed.
"After my father had passed away, his last words were to pass the title to your husband which makes you the queen." Da Ming said.
"Fine fine whatever." Bai Wu said as she waved her hand lazily.
"There Xiao Wu, what do you think?" Bai Wu said as she finished combing Xiao Wu's hair and tied it into a braid.
"Un! Xiao Wu likes it. Come on mama let's go!" Xiao Wu said as she bounced around.
"Hahaha, you're just like mama when I was younger. Every time your papa took me to the city I would be so excited like you." Bai Wu said while she held Xiao Wu's hand and stood up.
"Da Ming, Er Ming, Bye bye!" Xiao Wu waved her hand as Er Ming waved back.
As they approached the barrier, Bai Wu held onto Xiao Wu as she started to teleport them to the city.
They reached the city as Xiao Wu looked around at all of the people with curiosity.
"Wow mama, there are so many people!" Xiao Wu said as people also looked in awe as they saw Bai Wu.
"Un it's a city after all. Come, mama will show you the statue." Bai Wu said as she led Xiao Wu by the hand.
It didn't take long for them to approach the plaza where the city had placed the statue.
Xiao Wu widened her eyes as she could see the similarities between Bai Wu and the statue.
Xiao Wu ran up to the statue in eagerness as Bai Wu followed with a smile behind her.
"Hey mama! You're right! It looks just like you when mama was younger!" Xiao Wu said with excitement in her voice.
"Un, come on Xiao Wu. We don't want to damage it." Bai Wu said as Xiao Wu jogged back to her.
However, what Bai Wu didn't know was that the future supreme pontiff Bibi Dong was visiting the city today which means that there were alot of hidden guards. One of them heard the conversation between Bai Wu and Xiao Wu. He frowned as he placed a tracking ability on them as he rushed to Bibi Dong. He could feel the aura of a spirit beast coming from them. Even though it's faint, he had to report back.
Bai Wu frowned slightly when she felt an aura suddenly flare with spirit energy before leaving the area with speed around spirit king levels (51-60).
'Hmm, this is suspicious....' Bai Wu thought as she sent out her senses.
'This isn't normal. There are too many high level spirit masters.' She thought.
"Xiao Wu, mama just remembered that we forgot something back home. Let's go back shall we? We can come back later." Bai Wu smiled towards Xiao Wu as she didn't want to worry her.
"Eh? Fine, but we have to come back ok?! Promise Xiao Wu." Xiao Wu said as she looked at Bai Wu.
"Un, mama promises." Bai Wu said as she held Xiao Wu hand before quickly walking away from the city. Once she was out, she teleported away with Xiao Wu in her arms as quick as possible.
Back in the suotuo city, Bibi Dong sat with a frown hearing the report of the guard.
"So you're telling me that there is a chance of two 100,000 year changed spirit beasts." Bibi Dong said as the guard nodded.
"Interesting...I'm just in need of my 9th ring. COME! Call everyone, we're going to the Star Luo forest to hunt some beasts." Bibi Dong smirked as she stood up. The guard nodded as he went to inform everyone else.
Bai Wu and Xiao Wu had just returned to the star duo forest when Bai Wu saw a tracking mark and realised that they were found out.
'Shit! This is bad if they find Xiao Wu...' Bai Wu thought in worry.
"DA MING! ER MING!" Bai Wu shouted out as the duo appeared.
"Take Xiao Wu and quickly get out of here. Strong humans are coming, I'll go buy some time!" Bai Wu said as she knew by the time she found out, they would have already pinned down their location. While she, Da Ming and Er Ming can protect themselve. She didn't want to take chance with Xiao Wu being here.
"Get as far as you can. The further the better." Bai Wu said as Da Ming realised what had happened.
"No we cannot leave you behind-"
"If you see me as the queen then I command you!" Bai Wu said serious as Da Ming relented and nodded towards Er Ming who took Xiao Wu.
"Eh Mama what's happening? Why is everyone frowning?" Xiao Wu asked.
"Xiao Wu, you need to get away quick. Bad people are coming. Remember to listen to Da Ming and Er Ming. Mama will go find you once she takes care of the bad guys." Bai Wu said as she gave Xiao Wu a kiss on the forehead as she sent them away.
"Wait! Mama! No Er Ming let me down! We can't leave Mama!" Xiao Wu shouted as Bai Wu could only smile sadly.
She could feel a few titled douluo's with a entire party as they approached at a fast pace towards her location.
"Lei, watch me. I'm not the weak person I was before." Bai Wu muttered as she exploded with the aura of a rank 93 titled douluo.
*PING!!!
A shattering sound could be heard as the barrier Rei set thousands of years ago broke from the attacks.
Bai Wu looked behind her as she saw Bibi Dong and several titled appear looking at her not long after the barrier broke. Each looked at her with hostility as they released their rings ready for combat.
"Hou~ to think a beast like you became a douluo." Bibi Dong said as she felt Bai Wu's aura.
"Hmph!" Bai Wu scoffed and said nothing as she materialised her rings. 8 black and 1 red ring could be seen as it glowed menacingly behind her.
"Leave my home human." Bai Wu said as she looked at the people in front of her with a serious expression.
"Hahaha, just you alone? What a joke. Go! Remember don't kill her. I need her ring." Bibi Dong said as five titled douluo's nodded as they materialised their rings. Each of them had the same set up of 2 yellow, 2 purple and 5 black rings.
Bai Wu frowned as her doppelganger appeared. Her doppelganger had evolved with her ring as it held 100% of her power.
She materialised her essence spirit as shoes and stockings covered her legs before she dashed forward with her doppelganger and teleported in front of two titled douluo's.
*BANG!!! BANG!!!
Two resounding hit's were heard as Bai Wu and her doppelganger kicked the two titled douluo's causing them to be launched back.
The three other titled douluo's frowned as they tried to attack Bai Wu. One had a spear, one had a whip and the last one was like an eagle.
Bai Wu only frowned slightly as she kicked the ground causing a tornado to appear around her forcing two of the douluo's back while the eagle douluo charged into the tornado with ease.
"Tsk!" Bai Wu clicked her tongue as stomped down once more causing the gravity to increase as the eagle douluo fell downwards. Switching places with her doppelganger, Bai Wu stamped on the eagle douluo's spine as she increased the speed of which he fell.
*BOOMM!!!
A crater was formed as Bai Wu broke the eagle douluo's spine killing him.
"Anyone else?!" Bai Wu said as some of the guards subconsciously took a step back in fear.
The whip douluo's suddenly sent his whip forward as it tied Bai Wu up and sent her into the air.
"PIERCE!!" The spear douluo shouted as his spear shot toward's Bai Wu.
She frowned as she switched places with her doppelganger once more.
She compressed wind element on her legs as she kicked horizontally causing a sharp blade of wind to speed towards the douluo's.
"Reinforce!" One of the earlier douluo's Bai Wu kicked away shouted as a shield protected her targets.
Bai Wu frowned as she knew fighting against this many douluo's might be a stretch but she had too as Xiao Wu hadn't gone far enough yet.
"Demoness avatar!" Bai Wu said as dark armour covered her body with gaps at the shoulder and stomach to allow her to still be flexible. She still wore her stockings and shoes, but they held the colour scheme of black instead. This was one of her new spirit rings that he had materialised as it increase every stat especially her attack and defence.
Bai Wu crouched down as she dashed towards the douluo who protected the other two.
"Acceleration." Bai Wu thought as her speed increased even more. Suddenly appearing in front of a titled douluo, Bai Wu was about to attack him when she had to quickly turn around and round house kick the spear that tried to stab her. Jumping away, Bai Wu looked at the douluo's gathering together with a frown.
Each of them no longer let their guard down as they had their real guards activated.
'Che this'll be alot harder now.' Bai Wu thought as her doppelganger had already been killed and couldn't be used again for a while.
"Little beast, you've truly made this harder than it should be." Bibi Dong said as she looked at Bai Wu.
Bai Wu only smirked mockingly as she had pink mist spread out from her palms.
"Illusion Realm..." Bai Wu muttered as the pink mist spread across the entire area.
"Charm!" Bai Wu combines the two abilities as Illusion Realm to make them see what they desire and charm to take advantage of that moment.
Seeing that it had worked, Bai Wu dashed towards one of the douluo's and tried to kill him.
*BOOOOMMMM!!
She was suddenly hit in the side as she didn't realise that someone acted as if they were effected to trick her.
Bai Wu looked up and saw that it was Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong waved her hand as she dismissed the pink mist causing the four douluo's to snap out of it.
The douluo with the whip, restrained Bai Wu once more as she saw Bibi Dong walking towards her with a neutral face as she was about to kill her for her ring.
'At least Xiao Wu escaped...' Bai Wu thought as she closed her eyes since she couldn't escape from the bindings. The whip constantly drained spirit energy from her causing her to not be able to summon up her strength.
A terrifying pressure suddenly hit the area as it forced everyone to kneel heavily on the ground.
Gentle foot steps could be heard as a figure landed nearby.
"What do you think you're doing with my wife." A familiar voice could be heard as Bai Wu suddenly felt emotional as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Lei..." She said as she looked at the familiar figure.
"Sorry I took so long Bai Wu." Rei said as she smiled gently at her.
He looked back at the people kneeling before frowning as he suddenly traced out Gae Bolg and pointed his finger at the douluo with the whip.
Before anyone even realised, the douluo's body was pierced as he was killed before they even realised it.
Rei glared at them for a moment as he sent out 4 1,000,000 year rings as the pressure started to increase. Some of the weaker spirit master's died instantly as they couldn't stand against the pressure.
Rei bent over as he picked up Bai Wu into a princess carry. Four wings appeared on his back as he flew off with Bai Wu.
'Tsk, I'm still injured and I can't exert myself too much.' Rei thought as his top priority was to get Bai Wu out of there.
"Lei...What took you so long?" Bai Wu said as she looked at him.
"Sorry, I just had to sort out my memories. I remember everything now." Rei replied as sweat could be seen forming on his head.
"So that means you remember Eve." Bai Wu said as she smiled feeling both happy and nervous. Happy because Rei was able to remember Eve and nervous since she wasn't sure if Rei was going to leave her behind.
"Yes I do. But Bai Wu, are you willing to follow me?" Rei asked as he looked at her.
"After all, you're my wife and I love you." Rei said with a smile.
Bai Wu smiled as she hugged Rei.
"Yes, but after you left I was pregnant with our daughter. I called her Xiao Wu and I don't want to leave her behind." Bai Wu said as Rei felt a new type of joy surface.
"I'm a father?..." Rei asked as Bai Wu nodded.
Rei smiled gently.
"We'll see what she chooses in a few years time. If she wants to follow us she may. But if she doesn't then I'll support her with everything I have. I want her to have the freedom of choosing what she wants." Rei said as Bai Wu nodded.
"Un, after Xiao Wu made her choice I'll follow you." Bai Wu muttered as she rested her head on his chest.
Rei hesitated for a moment before asking Bai Wu.
"Shall we let her experience the world first? I know I wasn't there for her but we can use this to help motivate her. So that in the future we can rest easy knowing Xiao Wu is strong and safe." Rei said as Bai Wu thought about it.
"But she only saw a sculpture of you. Are you really going to let her wait before she see's you?" Bai Wu asked.
"Yes but not for long. I want to support her from the shadows while she gains experience. When the time is right, we'll meet her together." Rei said.
"...I don't like it, but you're right. This is good for her to gain experience. But if she is in danger, I'll save her no matter what." Bai Wu said.
"Of course, I since I'm going to protect my daughter from the shadows." Rei smiled back as they landed near a cave. Rei sat down heavily as he started to heal his injuries.
"Wait, Lei are you still injured?!" Bai Wu said shocked.
"Well let's just say the moment I finished the struggle I felt the barrier break so I didn't have time to heal myself." Rei said with a weak smile while healing himself.
"Hais, reckless idiot." Bai Wu said as she sat next to him. Rei made a small mirror as he set it to reflect what was happening around Xiao Wu.
"This should let us watch over what Xiao Wu does for now while I heal." Rei said as he closed his eyes to focus more.
Bai Wu nodded as she looked at the mirror. Xiao Wu was crying into Er Ming's arms as she felt heart broken about her mum.
Seeing this Bai Wu almost immediately wanted to rush out to find her again as she struggled before sighing and continued to watch.
After a few months, Xiao Wu decided to leave for the outside world so that she can gain strength to protect herself under the suggestions of Da Ming and Er Ming.
"So she's going out now." Rei said as he stood up.
"Un, I'm still worried about her though..." Bai Wu said watching Xiao Wu's nervous face as she wondered out of the forest under Er Ming's help.
"Me too, which is why we'll stay near her." Rei said as he walked out of the cave with Bai Wu before he teleported him and Bai Wu using his own space laws.