I, Tang San, Am Going to Stand Up!

"I-I'm happy too."

Looking at Xiao Wu, who wore the same smile, Zhu Zhuqing silently comforted herself:

Maybe they really are just siblings?

"That's great! Now I'll have another friend."

Grabbing Zhu Zhuqing's arm, Xiao Wu reminded her:

"Sister Zhu, once we get back to Notting Academy, you must be careful of an Ugly Ghost called Tang San. He..."

"What? There's actually someone like that?"

"Not only that, he's petty, creepy..."

"Someone like that is absolutely disgusting!"

It had to be said that friendship between girls was indeed strange. Just by badmouthing Tang San, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing had practically become inseparable best friends.

Du Cheng was naturally more than happy to see this happen.

One was adorably innocent, the other cool and aloof. That contrast, that disparity... slurp...

"Zhuqing is still injured. We should head back to the academy first."

Glancing at the two girls, Du Cheng spoke up.

"Once we're back, you can chat for as long as you want."

"Thank you, Cheng Gege."

Hearing Du Cheng's words, Zhu Zhuqing froze for a moment before quickly nodding with a blush.

Handsome, powerful, considerate... and then there was Tang San as described by Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu. Only one thought remained in Zhu Zhuqing's mind:

They're all men living under the same Blue Sky, so why is the difference so huge?

After leaving Douluo Forest with Zhu Zhuqing, Du Cheng and Xiao Wu quickly found the coachman still waiting where they had left him.

"Yo~"

When he saw Zhu Zhuqing beside Du Cheng, the coachman froze for a moment before breaking into a smile full of envy.

"Young Master, you came out so quickly?"

"The matter's settled, so of course we came out."

Du Cheng nodded and tossed a Gold Soul Coin into the coachman's hand.

"I'll have to trouble you. Make the carriage ride back a little steadier."

"Rest assured, Young Master."

Carefully wiping the Gold Soul Coin in his hand before tucking it into his clothes, the coachman's face gained several more wrinkles from his grin.

"In all of Notting City, no one understands driving a carriage better than me, Gou Lao San!"

Perhaps it was the effect of the Gold Soul Coin, but the carriage ride back truly was much smoother than the ride there.

The only pity was that, with Zhu Zhuqing present, Xiao Wu was noticeably more restrained in her actions, causing someone's Cao Cao Enthusiast soul to dim considerably.

"This is Seventh Dormitory."

After spending ten Gold Soul Coins, Zhu Zhuqing's entire enrollment process took less than a minute.

Bringing Zhu Zhuqing to Seventh Dormitory, Xiao Wu introduced the place while pushing open the door for her.

"Starting today, you'll sleep..."

Halfway through her sentence, Xiao Wu suddenly froze.

It wasn't her fault. The gazes that shot toward her in that instant were simply too frightening.

"Cheng Ge, Sister Xiao Wu, you're finally back!"

Xiao Wu might have frozen, but the others in the room did not.

Almost instantly, Wang Sheng rushed over with an excited expression.

"Cheng Ge, Tang San, he..."

"You're finally back!"

Before Wang Sheng could finish, Tang San, who had been sitting nearby, had already walked up to Du Cheng.

"I've successfully obtained my First Soul Ring and become a Soul Master."

"Oh."

Du Cheng nodded calmly, looking utterly unconcerned.

He's just a Soul Master. Who isn't?

"You..."

"I want to challenge you!"

After suffering so much humiliation and finally enduring until he could vent it, Du Cheng's reaction was the last thing Tang San had expected. He nearly fainted from rage on the spot.

I, Tang San, have never been inferior to anyone. How can you look down on me like this?

"If I win, not only will you apologize to me, you'll also make Xiao Wu follow me from now on, and..."

His gaze fell on Zhu Zhuqing, who stood beside Xiao Wu, and Tang San's eyes immediately lit up.

"And her!"

As he spoke, Tang San's heart was filled with jealousy.

Why? Why is there another pretty girl beside this bastard?

But in an instant, Tang San regained his composure.

I've already become a one-ring Soul Master. You, Du Cheng, are destined to become my stepping stone. They... they'll all belong to me!

"A match is no problem."

Watching Tang San act as though his nose were in the air, Du Cheng nodded slightly.

"But whether Xiao Wu and Zhuqing follow you isn't something I can decide."

After a pause, Du Cheng continued.

"They have their own freedom and will. They aren't objects to be traded."

Du Cheng had always believed that he was someone with fairly solid principles.

Although he possessed the heart of a Cao Cao Enthusiast, whether it was Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, or anyone else he might meet later, he maintained the most basic respect for them.

Tang San, who came from an era where men were revered and women were beneath them, clearly could not understand this.

"They're just two women. What's so..."

"One thousand Gold Soul Coins!"

Seeing Tang San about to continue, Du Cheng cut him off.

"If you win, I can give you one thousand Gold Soul Coins. But if you lose..."

After a brief pause, Du Cheng's gaze fell on Tang San's finger.

"That ring will be mine!"

Gulp!

Hearing Du Cheng's words, Tang San could not help swallowing.

Having grown up in Holy Soul Village, where he could never even eat his fill, when had he ever heard of such an enormous sum?

"I agree!"

Although Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were highly tempting, compared to such a huge amount of money, Tang San decisively chose the latter.

I can win. Only an idiot would keep liking a loser!

Besides, isn't Du Cheng only liked because he has money? If I have money too...

As for Moonlit Star Tower on his hand, Tang San did not pay it much mind at all.

Since victory is certain, why should I consider the price of failure?

"Let's go. We'll have our match outside right now."

Thinking of everything he would obtain after winning, Tang San's heart brimmed with excitement.

I, Tang San, am going to stand up!

"No problem."

Du Cheng naturally would not refuse such a good opportunity to gain a spatial Soul Tool for free while showing off his strength.

Following behind Tang San, Du Cheng could not help speaking up.

"There's something I'd like to ask."

"Ask."

Tang San shot Du Cheng a sidelong glance, disdain flashing in his eyes.

In his view, this guy had most likely developed cold feet at the last minute and wanted to probe his strength.

What Tang San failed to notice, however, was the strange smile that appeared on Du Cheng's face after he spoke.

"Going to Douluo Forest to hunt a Soul Ring probably isn't easy, right?"

After a pause, Du Cheng continued.

"I heard Master isn't very strong. He didn't get injured in there, did he?"

"If he was injured, then as his disciple, shouldn't you be attending to your teacher right now?"

"That's none of your concern!"