Chapter 139. The Sinister Slayer, the Man-Faced Demon Spider (Part 1)

Ning Rongrong, who had been standing beside Oscar, stirred from her half-conscious state and said in surprise, "Xiao Ao, what are you doing?"

Ning Rongrong's voice immediately drew everyone's attention. Zhao Wuji was a sharp man — he instantly realized something was wrong. Unfortunately, they were still a step too late.

Tang San was the first to consume a Mushroom Sausage. Six ethereal wings materialized behind his back, and in the instant before Zhao Wuji could lunge toward him, they lifted his body into the air.

"I'm sorry, Teacher Zhao. I have to go find Xiao Wu. Even if she's already dead, I have to bring back her body." At that moment, everyone finally saw Tang San's blood-red eyes. They understood at once that his grief and rage had reached their absolute limit.

"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile, second jewel — Speed." Ning Rongrong's clear voice rang out as a brilliant stream of multicolored light drifted down and settled on Tang San, causing the six ethereal wings behind him to beat much faster.

"Go, Xiao San. I support you. I've increased my Soul Power output — the speed boost should last about a minute even after you leave my Soul Power's range. You have to bring Xiao Wu back. She's my roommate too." Ning Rongrong seemed completely oblivious to the murderous look in Zhao Wuji's eyes as she called out to Tang San.

Tang San gazed deeply at Ning Rongrong. He didn't say the word "thanks," because he didn't know whether he would ever have the chance to thank her again. Already, the flying effect granted by the Mushroom Sausage was carrying him at tremendous speed toward the direction where the Titan Giant Ape had vanished.

"You… all of you…" Zhao Wuji looked at Oscar and Ning Rongrong, so furious he could barely speak.

Oscar said with a bitter smile, "Teacher Zhao, you saw Xiao San's eyes too. If we didn't let him go, he'd have tried to chase on foot regardless. I understand how he feels. If you want to blame someone, blame me."

Zhao Wuji snapped, "Blame someone? Blame who? Stop yapping and make me one of those Mushroom Sausages. If we're going after them, we're all going. So be it if we die — we'll die together. Anyone who doesn't want to go can get out of Star Dou Forest."

Though Zhao Wuji's voice was laced with fury, hearing his words brought a look of steely resolve to everyone's face. Even Ma Hongjun, the fatty, nodded firmly.

Dai Mubai strode over, Zhu Zhuqing's hand still clasped in his, and said simply, "Oscar, hurry."

Ever since he had climbed out of the pit holding Zhu Zhuqing, he hadn't let go of her hand. He had seen Xiao Wu being taken away, and he kept thinking — if it had been Zhu Zhuqing instead of Xiao Wu who was grabbed, what would he have done? Perhaps he would have been even more unhinged than Tang San. Whether it was that sense of crisis or something else, he held tightly to Zhu Zhuqing's cold little hand, and no matter how she struggled, he refused to release it.

Zhu Zhuqing didn't struggle much either. The icy expression on her face had melted away, and every now and then she glanced at Dai Mubai, her whole demeanor uncharacteristically subdued.

……

The Titan Giant Ape charged through the forest at breakneck speed, the terrain of the entire Star Dou Great Forest committed to memory as if by heart. No obstacle in its path caused it to slow down even slightly, and it never actually collided with anything. Its massive body displayed astonishing agility, each bound covering a hundred meters or more.

Though Star Dou Great Forest was home to countless Soul Beasts of every type, every one that sensed the Titan Giant Ape's aura gave it a wide berth. Who would dare block the path of this terrifying forest king?

Though Tang San had Oscar's Flying Mushroom Sausage to aid him, allowing him to travel at the flight speed of the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent, he was still far too slow compared to the Titan Giant Ape. Moreover, the Giant Ape didn't charge in a single direction — it changed course repeatedly. Tang San had no realistic chance of catching up.

If the others from Shrek Academy could have seen the Titan Giant Ape's manner of travel, they would have been greatly astonished. Xiao Wu was no longer being held in its enormous hand — she was sitting upright on the Titan Giant Ape's broad shoulder. Though the Giant Ape ran at tremendous speed, its gait was extraordinarily smooth. Seated on its shoulder, Xiao Wu couldn't feel the slightest jolt.

Xiao Wu's face was filled with worry, and she kept looking back in the direction opposite to the one the Titan Giant Ape was traveling.

"Er Ming, stop here. Don't go any farther. I need to get back as quickly as possible, or they'll be worried. Er Ming, you really shouldn't have come looking for me."

Hearing Xiao Wu's words, the Titan Giant Ape actually stopped. It lowered its body, letting Xiao Wu slide down from its shoulder to the ground. It shook its great head, and an almost innocent look crept into its enormous eyes.

Xiao Wu murmured to herself, "Xiao San was hurt, and then I was taken away by you — he must be so worried. Xiao San, please don't do anything reckless. I'll be right back. Er Ming, next time you sense my aura, observe from a distance first. Don't act rashly, or you might hurt my friends, and that would be trouble."

Today's meeting with the Giant Ape had been entirely unexpected, and under the circumstances there was no way Xiao Wu could have explained things to it. She could only use a special method to repeatedly tell it not to harm anyone. But in the end, the Titan Giant Ape had still carried her away. She knew it was out of concern for her, but the current situation was absolutely not one she wanted to see — especially Tang San's injury, which weighed heavily on her heart.

The Titan Giant Ape seemed to understand every word Xiao Wu said. Its lantern-sized eyes flickered with shifting light, and its expression was remarkably gentle.