Return to the Star Dou Great Forest
The wind whipped against Chu Tianxiu's face as he flew, a stark contrast to the stillness that had settled in his heart. Leaving the Spirit Hall, leaving Bibi Dong, felt like severing a part of himself. The confrontation replayed in his mind—her tears, his own bloody cough, the finality of his departure. A deep, cold disappointment had taken root where warmth and loyalty once flourished. He had done everything for her, to secure her power, to eliminate her enemies, and she had protected the very man whose abandonment had caused her so much pain.
He pushed the Amethyst Winged Lion King harder, the landscape below blurring into a smear of green and brown. He wasn't running away, he told himself. He was regrouping. The plan had faltered, but it was not broken. Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were wounded, scared, and on the run. They were weaker now than they had been before. This was a setback, not a defeat.
His destination was the only place that felt like it could offer any semblance of solace or, at the very least, a distraction from the human complications that had soured so quickly—the Star Dou Great Forest.
As the familiar, towering canopy of the ancient forest came into view, a strange sense of calm began to seep into him. This was a world of simpler rules: strength, survival, the raw, uncomplicated essence of power. He guided the lion king down toward the serene lake that was home to Da Ming and Er Ming.
But the calm was shattered before he even landed.
A wave of murderous intent, sharp and uncontrolled, radiated from him. It was the residue of his fury, the bitterness of betrayal, the cold satisfaction of the Title Douluos he had slain. It was a scent that did not belong in this peaceful part of the forest.
The waters of the lake churned violently. From its depths, the massive, serpentine form of the Azure Bull Python, Da Ming, erupted, his colossal bull head breaking the surface with a roar that shook the trees. Simultaneously, from the shore, the earth trembled as the Titan Giant Ape, Er Ming, burst from the treeline, his powerful fists slamming into the ground, ready for a fight. They sensed an enemy, a powerful, hostile presence invading their sanctuary.
"Human!" Da Ming's voice boomed across the water, thick with threat and a protective fury. "Leave this place!"
It wasn't until Chu Tianxiu, standing on the back of the descending lion king, lifted his head and threw back his hood that the two guardian beasts recognized him. The murderous aura was coming from him.
"Da Ming, Er Ming," Chu Tianxiu said, his voice quieter than usual, laced with a weariness they had never heard before. "It's me. I'm back."
The transformation in the two beasts was immediate. The aggressive postures melted away. Da Ming's towering form relaxed, and a low, confused rumble echoed in his chest. Er Ming's fierce expression shifted to one of bewildered concern, his head tilting like a giant, confused puppy.
"Roar…?" Er Ming grunted, his massive eyes blinking.
"Tianxiu?" Da Ming's voice, though still a deep rumble, was now filled with confusion and worry. "It is you... but this aura..."
Chu Tianxiu offered them a tired smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's a long story."
...
In the days that followed, Chu Tianxiu settled back into the rhythm of the forest. With the help of Er Ming and a small army of obedient soul beast subordinates, a new, sturdier wooden structure was built near the lake—more of a rustic lodge than a simple hut. The familiar, physical labor of shaping wood and stone was a welcome numbness.
The happiest of all was undeniably the Titan Giant Ape. On a bright morning, by the sun-dappled shore of the lake, the two friends faced each other once more. Chu Tianxiu, having shed his robe, stood bare-chested, his lean muscles coiled with power. Er Ming loomed over him, a mountain of fur and muscle.
With a shared, understanding look, they charged.
Their fists collided—a tiny, human fist against a boulder-sized, fur-covered one. The impact created a concussive BOOM that sent a gust of wind tearing across the clearing, ripping up patches of grass and sending leaves swirling into the air. The ground beneath their feet cracked.
This was their dance, their language. With Chu Tianxiu's increased soul power and refined physical strength, Er Ming could finally unleash more of his true power without holding back. The Titan Giant Ape swung his left arm in a wide, sweeping arc, a blow that could level a small hill. Chu Tianxiu didn't meet it head-on. He dropped low, the wind of the passing fist ruffling his hair, and then exploded upward, driving his own fist into the thick fur of Er Ming's chest.
The force of the counterattack was immense. Er Ming's massive body, thousands of pounds of pure power, was forced back several staggering steps, his huge feet carving deep trenches in the soil until he finally splashed to a stop at the very edge of the lake.
Seeing an opening, Chu Tianxiu pressed his advantage. He pushed off with his toes, becoming a human projectile, zig-zagging through the air to avoid Er Ming's meteor-like fists, aiming to unbalance the giant.
Thwarted and stirred by the challenge, the Titan Giant Ape's innate ferocity surged. His right arm bulged, muscles knotting like ancient tree roots, growing larger and denser. The air around his fist began to warp and hum.
'Titan Sky Cannon,' Chu Tianxiu realized, a split second before Er Ming unleashed the innate soul skill.
The fist slammed forward, a shockwave condensing at its tip. The air itself seemed to tear. The attack disrupted Chu Tianxiu's fluid offensive and connected with a sound like a mountain breaking.
BANG!!
The deafening crash echoed for miles. A massive crater appeared in the earth. Chu Tianxiu lay at its center, his trousers shredded, his upper body crisscrossed with fine, bleeding cuts from the energy blades that had accompanied the physical force. He pushed himself up onto his elbows, a soft "pfft" escaping him as he coughed up a mouthful of blood. He looked up at the Titan Ape with a wry, pained grin.
Seeing his condition, Er Ming's triumphant roar died in his throat. He realized he had gotten carried away, lost in the joy of a real fight. He lumbered forward, his massive face etched with concern, and gently reached down, his enormous fingers carefully supporting Chu Tianxiu's swaying body.
Chu Tianxiu leaned against the rough, warm skin of Erming's fingers. "Erming," he said, his voice raspy but good-natured, "it seems I still can't beat you."
Erming scratched the back of his head with his other free hand, a sheepish, rumbling sound vibrating in his chest. He appreciated the praise, even earned through his own momentary lack of control.
Chu Tianxiu focused inward, assessing the damage. Then, several dark, beast-like spirits—remnants of his Spirit Binding Technique—materialized around him. They surged into his skin, their energy knitting together muscle and flesh, sealing the wounds inflicted by Er Ming's unleashed power. In moments, he was whole again, though the beast spirits dissipated, their energy spent.
It was then that several ape-like spirit beasts came scrambling out of the forest, chattering excitedly to Er Ming. After listening for a moment, Er Ming growled a response, and they stood quietly to the side.
Once they had left, Er Ming turned back to Chu Tianxiu, gesturing with his large hands and making low, rumbling sounds. After years of companionship, Chu Tianxiu had learned to interpret the giant ape's intent.
His brow furrowed. "Erming, are you saying there's a group of human soul masters chasing a little girl in the forest?"
Er Ming nodded vigorously, a happy, affirmative grunt echoing from his chest.
Chu Tianxiu thought for a moment. The forest was vast, and human conflicts within it were common. But something about this pricked at his conscience. "Then Erming, you stay here. I'll go take a look."
Er Ming nodded again and gestured to one of the smaller ape-like soul beasts, which promptly scampered over to Chu Tianxiu, ready to lead the way. A hunt, even a minor one, was a welcome distraction from the thoughts that haunted him. He followed the guide, disappearing into the deep, shadowed embrace of the Star Dou Great Forest, the mantle of the hunter settling comfortably upon his shoulders once more.