Tang Yin's Pursuit

On Eastsea City's Snack Street, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie walked along eating, chatting about the interesting things happening in their respective classes.

"Class One had physical training this afternoon. The teacher measured our physical stats, and I ranked in the top four overall."

Xie Xie boasted about his results. Although he wasn't as strong as Chen Jianshu, Na'er, or Wang Jinxi, and his Spiritual Power fell short of Xu Xiaoyan's and Zhang Yangzi's, his overall score was surpassed only by the three strongest students.

"Top four? That's amazing, Xie Xie! I heard there were a lot of really strong people in Class One. There are even Soul Elders!"

Tang Wulin couldn't help marveling. Supposedly, everyone in Freshman Class One was a genius, and Xie Xie had actually managed to claim a spot in the top four among them. That was incredible!

Feeling Tang Wulin's admiring gaze on him, Xie Xie immediately raised his head. Being admired by a friend really did feel great. Outwardly, though, he waved a hand as if it were nothing.

"Oh, that? It was all right. Nothing special."

The two continued eating and chatting, until Xie Xie suddenly froze. His keen perception as an Agility Attack System Soul Master told him someone seemed to be following them.

"What is it, Xie Xie?"

Noticing that something was wrong with his companion, Tang Wulin immediately waved a hand and asked what was going on. When Xie Xie came to his senses, he silently took Tang Wulin's hand and continued forward.

"Someone's following us. They're not far behind."

"Wh... what do we do? Should we go to the Public Security Bureau and find one of the security uncles?"

Tang Wulin jolted, the hairs all over his body standing on end as unease swept through him. He instinctively edged closer to Xie Xie, helplessness flashing in his eyes. This was the first time he'd ever been followed, and he had no experience with it at all.

"Don't panic. I've read plenty of counter-surveillance novels. It's just someone following us. Watch me work."

Xie Xie held his hand to comfort him, and looking into Xie Xie's green eyes, Tang Wulin felt inexplicably reassured.

The two then pretended nothing was wrong and walked into Yuhao Grilled Fish, where they ordered grilled fish as usual.

They ate and laughed, but their gazes flicked toward the crowds coming and going from time to time. Before long, drawing on his experience as an Agility Attack System Soul Master, Xie Xie picked out an ordinary-looking figure whose face was always covered in ash.

"It's Tang Yin! Tang Yin's the one following us!"

The two were sitting in a corner of the restaurant and didn't have to worry about him overhearing them. Besides, they were keeping their voices down on purpose. From dozens of meters away, there was no way someone at the Soul Grandmaster level could hear them.

"It's him?! Why is he following us?"

Tang Wulin immediately spotted the figure who had been lingering outside Yuhao Grilled Fish for five or six minutes, passing the entrance several times. It was Tang Yin! But then a question occurred to him: why was he following the two of them?

"Maybe he really does want to get close to you. Wulin, boys have to take good care of themselves when they're out and about."

He patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder and gave him the earnest warning. An image flashed through Tang Wulin's mind: Tang Yin kidnapping him, pinning him against a wall in a corner, and confessing his love.

"Wulin, I like you. You can only be mine. Leave Xie Xie."

Just imagining the scene made his face fill with horror. No! Mom, I want to go home... boo-hoo, the outside world is so scary...

For the first time, Tang Wulin had witnessed the dangers of society. Innocent as he was, he had no idea how to deal with something like this and could only tremble helplessly on the spot.

"Don't be scared, Wulin. I'll protect you. Tang Yin's nothing—I can take him down with one punch. If he dares lay a finger on my brother, he'll have to see if I, Xie Xie, agree first!"

Xie Xie comforted him and flexed his muscles to show that he would protect him. Tang Wulin felt a sense of security as well. Sure enough, when it really mattered, a brother was the one he could count on.

While the two inside were being all affectionate, Tang Yin was gnashing his teeth outside. That damned Xie Xie! He still dared to get close to his son.

It was because of him last time that Tang Yin and his son hadn't been able to acknowledge each other. He truly had a way to court death!

But now he had to find a way to clear up the misunderstanding between them. As Tang Yin pondered, a flash of silver caught his eye. His pupils immediately contracted, and he hurriedly hid at the entrance to Little Alley.

It was Na'er, strolling along Snack Street with Xu Xiaoyan's hand in her left and Chen Jianshu's in her right. His expression darkened at once. This was troublesome. He hadn't expected the Silver Dragon King to be here too...

He bit his thumbnail and scratched at his ears and cheeks in agitation, thinking about how to handle the matter.

But the next second, two figures passed through his field of vision. In that instant, time seemed to stand still.

The calculation in Tang Yin's eyes gave way to a blank stare. It was as if his eyes held only that one person.

A beautiful woman with long black hair was smiling as she held a figure by the hand—the other person had long brown hair tied into a Scorpion Braid, bright red eyes, and a long pink-and-white dress.

"Xiao... Xiao Wu..."

Tang Yin looked at the girl, astonishment flashing in his eyes. The Xiao Wu in his mind overlapped with the girl before him. There could be no mistake.

Xiao Wu was the Asura Sword Sheath. With the Asura God position protecting her soul, she had surely been reincarnated too!

"She is... my Xiao Wu..."

Tang Yin murmured, his voice somewhat hoarse, his eyes seemingly glued to the girl before him. At the same time, the mother and daughter shopping together noticed two figures ahead.

"Is that... Tang Wulin?"

The brown-haired girl's gaze settled on Chen Jianshu, whose hand Na'er was holding. Only after checking repeatedly did she confirm his identity.

"Yu'er, did you run into someone you know?"

The beautiful black-haired woman followed her daughter's gaze to the two conspicuous figures in the distance and asked curiously. Her daughter nodded at once.

"Mm. He's the friend I met when I went into the Turbulent Period Spirit Ascension Platform before. He's really strong. I didn't expect to run into him in Eastsea City. Mom, I'll go say hello first."

After speaking to her mother, the girl immediately hurried toward the trio a short distance ahead, her little white leather shoes stepping briskly.

Tang Yin's mind was still completely blank. He continued staring foolishly as the girl went farther away, as though trying to imprint her appearance in his mind.

If Tang Yin had stats, one would probably have seen numerous IQ -1 -1 -1 notification sounds. It was as though Tang San's IQ had gradually fallen to zero after finding Xiao Wu.

But before long, he saw a sight that shattered his Dao heart. His Xiao Wu walked quickly up to a boy and suddenly reached out and took his hand.

In an instant, all Tang Yin could see was the boy and girl holding hands. His reason instantly dropped to zero, and his anger hit MAX!

Tang San's eyes immediately turned bloodshot as he watched, panting like a bull.

"How dare you defile my Xiao Wu! You already have a way to court death!"

"Hey! Tang Wulin! We meet again."

Just as Chen Jianshu and the other two were deciding which restaurant to eat at, a girl suddenly called out from behind them. The three turned to see a brown-haired girl with red eyes grab Chen Jianshu's hand.

"You're... Bing Yu?"

Chen Jianshu stared for a moment at the girl before him, her brown hair tied in a Scorpion Braid. But seeing her bright red eyes, he thought she looked exactly like the white-haired girl from the Turbulent Period Spirit Ascension Platform.

He recognized her. This seemed to be Wu Bingyu. As for her white hair back then, she must have been in her Martial Soul Possession state.

"I'm glad you still remember me. I didn't expect us to meet in Eastsea City. What a coincidence."

Hearing that he still remembered her, a smile immediately blossomed on her face. Because of her special status and the powerful killing intent in her Martial Soul, she had almost no friends.

"What a coincidence. Are you visiting Eastsea City? Do you need a guide or anything?"

The two hadn't seen each other for two years, and when they met again, they couldn't help starting a conversation.

"Brother Jianshu, is this big sister a friend of yours?"

Na'er tugged at his sleeve and asked curiously. Seeing yet another pretty girl come looking for him, Xu Xiaoyan instinctively looked at her. This guy's luck with the ladies was far too good!

"Oh, this is Wu Bingyu, a friend I met in the Turbulent Period Primary Spirit Ascension Platform. This is my little sister Na'er, and my classmate Xu Xiaoyan."

As the person who knew both sides, he naturally had to introduce them to each other. After a brief introduction, they could be considered acquainted.

"Hello, I'm Wu Bingyu. From now on, you can call me Sister Bing Yu."

"Since we have a new friend visiting Eastsea City, we have to try the seafood this coastal city is famous for! Let's eat at this Yuhao Grilled Fish restaurant. Young Master Chen will be paying for everything!"

Xu Xiaoyan rubbed her hands together. As a veteran foodie, she quickly chose where they would eat: this Yuhao Grilled Fish restaurant.

Chen Jianshu was speechless. Forget it; the meal would be paid for with the Spirit Pagoda's money anyway. Just as the group was about to head into the restaurant, he, with his powerful Spiritual Power, and Wu Bingyu, who was highly sensitive to killing intent, suddenly turned around.

They saw an ordinary-looking figure with a coal-blackened face and an Eastsea school uniform, holding a crossbow in his right hand and aiming a long, dark-blue tubular object in their direction with the other.

More precisely, he was aiming at Chen Jianshu. His face was savage, his eyes bloodshot, and he was panting like a bull as he roared at the top of his lungs.

"How dare you defile my Xiao Wu! Die!"

Na'er and Xu Xiaoyan reacted a beat later, just in time to see the man pull the triggers on the two strange objects.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Sixteen poison-coated darts and thirty-two bolts shot toward them in an instant. Wu Bingyu immediately used Martial Soul Possession. Her brown hair turned white, and the phantom of a white peacock, brimming with killing intent, appeared behind her.

She stepped forward and stood in front of Chen Jianshu. At the sight, Tang Yin's pupils contracted, and he immediately shouted:

"Danger! Get out of the way!"

She ignored him, her eyes fixed on the many objects flying toward her, all radiating a threatening presence. Gripping a white Peacock Tail Feather Sword, she slashed out fiercely.

Scarlet Sword Qi surged, instantly shattering the sixteen poison darts at the front, fired from Shadow-Containing Sand. But there was no time to block the thirty-two bolts behind them.

"Noble Phantasm Projection! Sevenfold Sky Tiger Shield!"

Chen Jianshu pulled her behind him and raised a hand, releasing his First Soul Skill. Seven Sky Tiger Shields stacked together in front of them.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A succession of sharp sounds rang out. The thirty-two Godly Zhuge Crossbow Bolts shattered six Sky Tiger Shields in turn, finally embedding themselves in the last one by the narrowest margin.

"That was too dangerous! Don't be so reckless and suddenly jump in front of me next time."

Chen Jianshu's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Wu Bingyu, whom he'd pulled behind him, his heart still pounding. Seriously, miss, do you know how frightening that was?

Wu Bingyu didn't take it seriously. After fighting alongside him several times, she had an estimate of their respective strengths. She said as though it were only natural:

"If I couldn't stop them, wouldn't I still have you? But right now, we should deal with the guy who ambushed us."

She pointed at Tang Yin across from them, who had relaxed, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. Who was this lunatic? He'd suddenly popped out and tried to kill someone.

Na'er and Xu Xiaoyan also used Martial Soul Possession and glared at Tang Yin as they scolded him:

"Tang Yin! What are you doing? Have you gone mad?!"

Xu Xiaoyan looked at the Godly Zhuge Crossbow that had broken through six Sky Tiger Shields, her heart still pounding. If those things had hit a person, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

The commotion drew a crowd. Seeing Tang Yin's sudden attack and the people facing off against him, the onlookers had no idea what had happened.

Even Tang Wulin and Xie Xie ran out of the restaurant, both summoning their Martial Souls and shouting angrily.

"I knew Tang Yin was up to no good following us!"

"It's wrong to hit people!"

Seeing how murderous everyone looked, Tang Yin finally realized he'd acted on impulse. But that man had dared hold Xiao Wu's hand!

His gaze locked onto the right hand Chen Jianshu had held Wu Bingyu's hand with, and he wanted nothing more than to chop it off. Nevertheless, he immediately tried to think of a way to handle the situation.

"Um... I thought someone was up to no good... It was all a misunderstanding..."

Tang Yin awkwardly came up with an excuse. Hearing it, Wu Bingyu's eyes grew even colder, and she immediately snapped:

"Are you saying I was up to no good with my friend?!"

After all, she was the one who had approached Chen Jianshu to greet him. Wasn't he pointing the finger at her by saying someone was up to no good?

Tang Yin's thoughts were still stuck on the idea that Chen Jianshu holding Wu Bingyu's hand meant he was up to no good with his Xiao Wu. Seeing her anger, he panicked and hurriedly waved his hands in explanation.

"No! No! That's not what I meant!"

Tang Yin thought for a long time but couldn't come up with anything to explain himself. Chen Jianshu raised a hand, instantly projecting a Blue Silver Grass Noble Phantasm that wrapped around Tang Yin and yanked him to the ground.

"Who cares what you meant? We'll beat you first and talk later!"

In an instant, everyone rushed at Tang Yin, raining blows on him without mercy. Tang Wulin and Wu Bingyu hit him especially hard.

One had been followed and targeted, while the other had nearly been seriously injured by him. Naturally, they bore the greatest resentment.

In the end, City Management's Guang Long arrived and took them all to the Public Security Bureau. At the same time, Wu Bingyu's mother silently lowered the Dark Green Peacock Tail Feather Longsword in her hand, the chill in her eyes instantly turning to worry.

At the Public Security Bureau, Tang Yin had been beaten half to death, and all the dangerous Hidden Weapons on him were confiscated. Guang Long also gave Chen Jianshu and the others a half-hour lecture.

Because they were all children, he didn't make things difficult for them. After all, they were the victims, and it was Tang Yin who had started trouble.

July 21, first and second updates, combined into one big chapter.