After a few hours—
Before the morning sun rose, Salas had already moved Tang San and Xiao Wu to another location, near Shrek Academy.
After giving them both the antidote to the sleeping drug, he sat on a chair and waited patiently.
Before long, Tang San was the first to wake up.
The moment he opened his eyes, his muscles tensed. He sprang to his feet like a cheetah, summoned his Martial Soul, and stared at the masked Salas warily.
"Young man, calm down... First, look at your companion," Salas said calmly.
Even without Salas's reminder, Tang San was already by Xiao Wu's side. He checked her condition and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw she wasn't harmed—only two small scratches marked her skin. Still, he kept his guard up, never taking his eyes off Salas.
"She was drugged..." Tang San said coldly, staring at him.
"Mmm." Salas simply nodded.
Then, Tang San began asking a series of cold, serious questions. Salas didn't mind answering.
The gist of the event was like this: last night, Tang San and Xiao Wu were attacked by evil soul masters, their strength at the level of a Soul Saint. But Salas had intervened just before disaster struck and saved them both.
Though Tang San didn't fully believe it, he had no other explanation. To render him unconscious without a sound—only a Soul Saint using full power could have done that.
And since Salas hadn't harmed them, it didn't make sense for him to be the one who kidnapped them. If he were, why save them at all?
So, despite the doubts and caution still in his heart, Tang San had to accept Salas's words. He had heard a little about evil soul masters from his teacher, Yu Xiaogang.
It was said they used infant remains to cultivate, drained Spirit Masters of their soul power, sacrificed human blood... They were the dark side of the Soul Master world.
Though rare, Tang San never expected to be so unlucky as to encounter them.
Thinking of what could have happened to Xiao Wu if not for Salas's intervention, he couldn't help but tremble. He swore in his heart to grow stronger, fast. Then, looking at Salas with a bit more softness, he finally said,
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it... Sigh, I have an obligation to protect her, after all," Salas said with an emotional look.
Tang San frowned slightly, confused. "Obligation? Do you know Xiao Wu from before?"
"Alas, forget it, boy... I can see you want to protect her, and that you have feelings for her. But I still can't tell you everything." Salas casually laid a foundation for another heartwarming story.
When Tang San heard Salas mention his feelings for Xiao Wu, he couldn't help but lower his head, as if he'd just been caught doing something bad by an elder.
Salas smiled like an amiable uncle... but inwardly, he was laughing at Tang San.
"Tang San, oh Tang San… do you even know? Your wife's first kiss is already gone. I made her drink my saliva... I even sprayed my snake venom all over her face and let her gulp down some, too... Hehe. She already had my snake in her mouth yesterday," Salas mocked in his heart.
"Boy... does she know you love her?" Salas asked with a sly smile.
"No..." Tang San replied softly. He had only recently realized that his feelings for Xiao Wu had long since moved beyond that of a brother and sister.
The last time, in the Star Dou Forest, when the Titan Giant Ape took Xiao Wu away, he finally understood how much he loved and cherished her. He would've even died to protect her.
"Young man... Sigh, I won't interfere in the affairs of youth, but with your strength—you can't protect her," Salas said sadly.
Tang San lowered his head even more. He knew it. First the Titan Giant Ape, now evil soul masters... He could feel his own powerlessness. It was fine if he got hurt—but if Xiao Wu was harmed? He'd never forgive himself.
Seeing Tang San so downcast, Salas smiled inwardly.
"The first encounter and impression—successful," Salas thought.
He had to admit, Tang San truly was the definition of a loyal lover. He'd risked his life for Xiao Wu more than once. She was more important to him than even his own life. In the canon, if Xiao Wu hadn't sacrificed herself to save him during the Soul Hunting incident, Tang San would've died.
And unlike other protagonists who liked to collect wives, Tang San proved his love for Xiao Wu time and again.
Even after becoming a god—drunk with power and committing so-called "heinous" acts—his love for her never changed. He even gave up all his Supreme God-King-level power to find her again.
"Such a good boy... I must save him. I must guide him to the right path," Salas thought, clenching his fist silently. He didn't want such a pure-hearted young man—someone who could be a symbol of loyal love—to walk the wrong path. That would be a loss not just to the world, but the entire universe.
Salas continued chatting with Tang San, slowly improving the latter's impression of him.
By the time Xiao Wu opened her eyes, Tang San already held a relatively good opinion of Salas and had begun to trust him.
Of course, a big part of that was because Salas was good with words—constantly bringing up Xiao Wu, making Tang San shy and emotional.
---
Xiao Wu slowly opened her eyes. Her reaction wasn't much different from Tang San's, but unlike him, she immediately rushed into his arms. She hugged him tightly, gulping down a few mouthfuls of saliva in fear and relief.
Salas, watching from the side, smiled wickedly behind his mask.
Cough—
After letting them talk for a while, Salas cleared his throat to remind them there was a third person present.
Xiao Wu, ever innocent, bowed politely and thanked Salas. She trusted Tang San's judgment. If he said this man was their savior, then it had to be true.
Salas waved his hand dismissively.
Then, he looked at Tang San. Tang San immediately understood—Salas wanted to speak to Xiao Wu alone. He whispered something in her ear, then left.
Now, only Xiao Wu and Salas remained.
Xiao Wu looked at him curiously with her lively, round eyes.
Salas took a deep breath and sighed heavily, as if unsure how to begin.
Finally, he took out the soul imprint of Da Ming... and pressed it gently against Xiao Wu's forehead.