The Story of Flatbread...

Besides that, Li Chang'an spotted two familiar faces: his classmate Song Rentou, and the shy girl Muxi.

Li Chang'an was quite surprised that Song Rentou had come along this time. That meant Song Rentou would soon advance to become a Level 50 Soul King!

Li Chang'an remembered hearing Xie Yue say that Song Rentou was not only the leader of the Elite Class, but also the leader of Spirit Hall Academy as a whole. Looking at him now, he truly deserved the title.

A Soul King under twenty was quite impressive under normal circumstances.

But Li Chang'an barely spared Song Rentou a glance. After greeting the teacher leading the group and Duolunka, he headed straight over to the shy Muxi.

"You've reached Level 10?"

Muxi had not possessed Innate Full Soul Power, so reaching Level 10 after nearly two months of cultivation was normal. Li Chang'an was not surprised to see her in the group; he was merely a little worried.

After all, they were heading to the Star Dou Great Forest. If he had not come along, it would have been strange if someone with Muxi's temperament did not get bullied. He could not help feeling that, entirely by accident, he was about to become her protector once again.

Muxi still lowered her head, staring at the tips of her shoes. She wore a simple light-pink outfit, and her long hair covered half her face. She still carried that timid, fragile air about her.

"Y-yes. What, what are you going there for?"

Even if Muxi racked her little brain to death, she would never have guessed that Li Chang'an had already advanced to Level 20 and was going to obtain a Soul Ring.

Naturally, Li Chang'an would not tell her that. He placed a hand on her delicate shoulder and said, "Didn't I hear you were going to hunt for a Soul Ring? I came specifically to protect you."

Muxi's body suddenly squirmed when she heard that. Then she foolishly raised her head and looked at Li Chang'an with those alluring peach-blossom eyes.

"Actually, actually, there's no need. I-I can handle it."

Li Chang'an shook his head. "No, no. I have to protect you. Just follow your big brother without worrying."

Li Chang'an felt a little guilty about deceiving such an innocent child.

Seeing this, Muxi could only nod.

"Thank you."

To his surprise, Li Chang'an lowered his head and blew warm air against her earlobe. "If you want to thank me, then be my girlfriend when you grow up."

Like a startled little rabbit, Muxi immediately darted away from Li Chang'an. She lowered her head without saying a word, but her cheeks had turned red on their own.

Li Chang'an did not continue teasing Muxi, because the teacher had finished counting heads and began giving instructions.

"Hello, students. I am Director Song of the academy, a Soul Saint. I will help everyone obtain their Soul Rings. If you run into any trouble, you may come to me."

"Remember this: all actions must follow orders. If anyone acts blindly on their own and something happens, the academy will not be held responsible!"

Director Song spoke simply and clearly, and he handled matters efficiently as well. After explaining the safety precautions, he called everyone onto the carriages and set off toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

The Star Dou Great Forest lay directly south of the Heaven Dou Empire. The forest stretched across the Two Great Empires, and because of the many Soul Beasts within it, this was also where the border between the two nations was least defined. Judging from the map, most of the Star Dou Great Forest lay within the Star Luo Empire.

Of course, the Heaven Dou Empire had never acknowledged that. As one of the three great wild Soul Beast habitats, this was naturally the place Soul Masters most wished to visit, because every visit here meant that they were about to advance.

No one could say how many years the Star Dou Great Forest had existed on Douluo Continent. Yet once they entered the forest, its dense canopy that blotted out the sky and sun was enough to reveal its ancient age.

Li Chang'an and the others arrived in the afternoon. Their carriages stopped only at the edge of the forest and did not venture deeper inside.

When getting off the carriage, Li Chang'an did not care whether Muxi was willing or not. He directly grabbed her little hand and pulled her down.

"C-can you let go? We're already down." Muxi's soft, gentle voice drifted over, making Li Chang'an feel thoroughly pleased.

"I won't let go. Stay close to me so I can protect you." Feeling the softness in his hand, Li Chang'an answered without the slightest politeness.

Muxi tried struggling a few more times. When she realized she could not break free, she gave up.

"Rest here for now. We will enter later. Take this time to adjust yourselves and eat something," Director Song said from the front of the group.

After all, many people had been unable to cultivate or eat properly in the carriages. After traveling for so long, entering the Star Dou Great Forest in that condition would be a bad idea.

As Director Song finished speaking, several students sat down to cultivate, while others began taking food out of their Storage Soul Tools.

Naturally, Li Chang'an was not about to cultivate. A lazy person like him had no idea what cultivation even was. He casually pulled Muxi down onto the grass, then began taking things out of his Storage Soul Tool.

At that moment, Muxi also took a flatbread from the small bag on her back. After thinking for a moment, she broke it in half and handed one half to Li Chang'an.

"D-do you want to try some? I-I made it myself."

Li Chang'an looked at the nicely browned flatbread and gave Muxi a surprised glance. He had not expected someone so young to know how to make flatbread, but when he recalled that Muxi was an orphan, he understood much more.

"Sure. You should try what I brought too." Li Chang'an stuffed a cup of fruit juice and a packet of Bing Gan into Muxi's hands without giving her a chance to refuse. After thinking for a moment, he took out a small jar as well.

"Give me another one of your flatbreads." Li Chang'an opened the jar and spoke to Muxi.

Obediently, Muxi took out another flatbread and handed it to him.

Li Chang'an tore an opening in the flatbread, then used a spoon to stuff plenty of braised meat from the jar inside. "This is called roujiamo. Give it a try. This braised meat was specially made by my family's chef."

Muxi looked at Li Chang'an warmly with her peach-blossom eyes, thanked him, then took a small bite of the roujiamo. A satisfied smile immediately appeared on her face.

This way of eating it was indeed rather special, and the meat was truly delicious...

"D-do you want some?" Muxi asked shyly as she noticed Li Chang'an watching her.

Li Chang'an shook his head. "No need. I didn't bring much braised meat. It's enough as long as you're full."

He had only brought it along casually. If Muxi had not brought flatbread, he might not even have remembered that he had braised meat with him.

Muxi firmly shook her head. She took out the half of flatbread from earlier and tore it open, then poured nearly all the meat from her roujiamo into it. Only when she had stuffed the half flatbread full, almost to the point of overflowing, did she stop.

"Y-you eat this half. Don't go hungry."

Muxi timidly held out the half flatbread filled with meat before Li Chang'an, though she still lowered her head shyly and did not dare meet his eyes.