Tang San stood frozen in place, his gaze locked firmly on Xiao Wu.
Was this really his Xiao Wu?
The Xiao Wu who had always loved clinging to him and calling him "Brother"?
Then a sob-filled cry, both familiar and strangely distant, reached his ears.
"Brother!"
That single word shattered every doubt and hesitation in Tang San's heart.
"Xiao Wu!"
Tears streamed down his face as he rushed toward her without restraint. His eyes reddened as he closed the distance between them.
"Brother!"
Xiao Wu's eyes were equally red as she ran toward him, her face filled with longing and grievance.
The two siblings embraced tightly, weeping in each other's arms.
It was as though they wanted to release every bit of longing, sorrow, and pain they had endured during their separation.
"Xiao Wu! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Tang San held her tightly, almost as if he wanted to merge her into his very being. His voice trembled with guilt.
"I failed to protect you. I let you suffer!"
"Brother, it's not your fault. It really isn't..."
Leaning against Tang San's chest, Xiao Wu cried so hard that her body trembled.
"It's all because I was too careless and got captured by that bad person. I'm the one who made you worry."
As she spoke, memories of everything Bai Mu had done to reshape her during this period surfaced in her mind.
Grievance, longing, and countless complicated emotions intertwined within her heart.
Unable to hold them back any longer, she cried even harder.
"It's alright, Xiao Wu. Everything is alright now. I'm here."
Tang San gently stroked her long hair, comforting her again and again.
"From now on, I'll protect you properly. I'll never let anyone hurt you again."
Xiao Wu nodded and held him tightly.
Feeling that long-lost warmth, her sobbing gradually subsided.
Yet whenever she thought of Bai Mu standing nearby, her body still trembled slightly.
She knew that nothing could ever return to the way it once was.
Tang San lowered his head and looked at Xiao Wu in his arms.
Her face had become far more mature and beautiful than before.
Alongside the joy of finding her again, an indescribable sense of unfamiliarity stirred within his heart.
Gently wiping away her tears, he spoke with utmost tenderness.
"Xiao Wu, you've suffered so much."
"It's all in the past now, Brother."
Xiao Wu shook her head, tears still glistening in her eyes.
"As long as I can see you again, no matter how much I suffered, it was worth it."
The two continued embracing as they shared everything that had happened during their separation.
Tang San spoke of his endless searching and worry.
Xiao Wu carefully avoided mentioning Bai Mu, only describing her hardships after being captured. She repeatedly condemned that mysterious culprit as evil, despicable, perverse, and unforgivable.
Standing nearby, Bai Mu's face darkened.
'Fine. Fine. Fine.'
'Badmouthing me right in front of me?'
'Looks like I'll need to give this rabbit some proper training later.'
Bai Mu silently made a note to settle the score.
After a long while, Tang San and Xiao Wu finally calmed down and slowly separated.
Tang San turned toward Bai Mu, who had been quietly waiting nearby.
"Bai Mu, thank you. Thank you for saving Xiao Wu."
A look of sincere gratitude appeared on his face as he bowed deeply.
"This kindness is beyond repayment. If you ever need my help in the future, I, Tang San, will go through fire and water without hesitation."
"There's no need to thank me, Little San. This is simply what a brother should do."
Bai Mu smiled and patted Tang San's shoulder.
"Just like you, Sister Xiao Wu is someone extremely important to me."
"Protecting her, taking care of her, and helping her grow stronger is only natural."
"Good brother!"
Tang San's heart warmed immediately.
Yet a trace of doubt soon surfaced as his gaze shifted toward Xiao Wu.
"Bai Mu, how did you find Xiao Wu?"
"And... why has she changed so much? So much that I nearly didn't recognize her."
"I happened to receive information that Sister Xiao Wu had been captured by a Fallen Spirit Master from the Star Luo Empire."
Bai Mu's expression became serious as he calmly explained.
"So I rushed over immediately and eventually rescued her from that Spirit Douluo-level Spirit Master."
As he spoke, he stepped forward and naturally took Xiao Wu's hand in front of Tang San.
His fingers gently brushed the back of her hand, his expression full of concern.
"That Evil Spirit Master used some unknown secret method to drain Sister Xiao Wu's spirit power and vitality."
"That's why her appearance aged so rapidly and changed so dramatically."
"Fortunately, I managed to find a legendary Immortal Herb. It restored her spirit power and vitality."
"But her appearance... can never return to how it was before."
"Yes. I owe Little Mu my thanks as well."
Xiao Wu's eyes reddened once more.
Turning around, she threw herself directly into Bai Mu's arms, her voice choked with emotion.
"If it weren't for him, I might never have seen you again, Brother..."
Even though, deep down, she sometimes felt it might have been better never to see Tang San again.
"It's alright. Haven't you reunited now?"
Bai Mu gently stroked her back.
His voice was gentle beyond measure.
The affection in his eyes was completely undisguised.
"This..."
Tang San stood rooted to the spot.
His eyes widened.
The smile on his face froze instantly as he stared at the two embracing figures.
All the joy and gratitude he had felt moments ago vanished in an instant.
A feeling called jealousy quietly emerged within his heart.
Then it spread bit by bit, making his chest feel unbearably heavy.
"It's fine."
"She's only grateful because Bai Mu saved her."
"That's all."
He repeatedly reassured himself.
"The person Xiao Wu likes most is still me. It has always been me."
"Xiao Wu and Bai Mu are just close friends."
"There's nothing else between them."
"That's right. It must be like that."
Tang San took a deep breath.
Suppressing the jealousy in his heart, he forced a smile onto his face and thanked Bai Mu once more.
"Bai Mu, truly... thank you."
"If it weren't for you, I..."
"It's nothing."
Bai Mu interrupted him with a warm smile, casually wrapping an arm around Xiao Wu's shoulder.
"Aren't we brothers at heart?"
"There's no need for thanks between us."
"We're family."
"Mhm, mhm! That's right!"
Xiao Wu hugged Bai Mu's waist, pressing her cheek against his chest and acting exceptionally obedient.
"We're the best!"
"That's... right."
Tang San's smile became increasingly stiff.
Watching the two of them together, he suddenly felt lost.
The jealousy in his heart surged uncontrollably.
He kept telling himself that Xiao Wu was only this close to Bai Mu because Bai Mu had saved her.
That was the only reason.
He shouldn't overthink it.
He absolutely couldn't overthink it.
Xiao Wu definitely liked him.
And even if he took ten thousand steps back—
If Xiao Wu and Bai Mu truly ended up together, then as her brother and Bai Mu's friend, he should be happy for them.
Yet no matter how much he tried to convince himself, the bitterness deep within his heart refused to fade.
His eyes reddened slightly.
His heart filled with grievance and resentment.