The Forty-Third Day of the Rich Second-Gen

The preliminary rounds of the Heaven Dou Division were still in full swing. Ming Sui and Tang San had settled into a regular routine: watching matches when there were matches, cultivating and sparring when there were none. Though their parents were often away from home.

"We've watched five or six matches already, but I still haven't seen much worth noting. The gap in how different schools train soul masters is just too huge," Ming Sui said to Tang San.

Tang San felt the same way. "Those with higher-quality martial souls get priority admission to better schools. Those schools usually control more resources as well. Over time, the strong only grow stronger, while the weak fall further behind. And many outstanding soul masters join Spirit Hall or the various sects."

"Not to mention that many good martial souls come from nobles or sects to begin with. If commoner soul masters want resources, they can only attach themselves to Spirit Hall, schools, or sects. That just makes the situation worse," Ming Sui added.

It really seemed unsolvable. Ming Sui rested her chin on her hand inside the carriage. Tang San poured her a cup of water. "You haven't had any water since breakfast."

Ming Sui looked even more miserable. Ever since the holiday began, other than sleeping, she and Tang San had been practically inseparable. Naturally, Tang San had discovered one of her habits: she did not drink water. She was already a soul master, so why did she need to drink so much water?

Ming Zhen had tried to manage her, and Tang Yunhua had too, but Ming Sui always did as she pleased. This time, Tang San had finally gotten her under control. He poured her water on schedule and watched until she finished it. Ming Sui was suffering terribly.

After drinking the water, Ming Sui felt even worse.

Unlike the clear weather of the past few days, it finally rained today. Watching the curtain of rain outside, Tang San wanted to cheer up the low-spirited Ming Sui. He ruffled her hair and asked, "It's rainy and damp today. Shall we go have Tianyi Zhai's stewed fish? My treat?"

Ming Sui's eyes lit up instantly, as though someone had switched on lamps.

Tianyi Zhai was actually another business run by Ming Zhen. Its signature dish was stewed fish, which had become immensely popular among the people of the imperial city as soon as it was introduced. Aunt Maria at Ming Residence could make it too, but going to Tianyi Zhai felt more like eating out.

They entered directly through Tianyi Zhai's back entrance and went straight to their family's reserved private room on the second floor. Ming Sui opened the window and looked down at the first-floor hall. The spacious dining area was already packed with customers, while more guests waited outside for tables.

"This is when someone should question why we get to eat upstairs while they have to wait for a table!" Ming Sui sat down, her eyes sparkling.

Tang San was already very familiar with Ming Sui's train of thought. He could not help laughing. "Then you publicly announce that you're the owner of Tianyi Zhai? And someone questions how such a little girl can be the owner, claiming that the manager and waiters must be fooling them? Then you take out your tooth plaque and reveal your identity?"

Fine, fine. Third Brother was pretty good at this too. Just imagining the scene made Ming Sui's toes curl.

While the two laughed together, the manager was receiving a pair of unexpected visitors.

Besides being a popular chain restaurant, Tianyi Zhai was also one of Ming Zhen's information hubs. Before Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing left Calais City for the holiday, Ming Zhen had told them, out of appreciation and concern for the two children, that if they ever needed help, they could take the token he had given them to any Tianyi Zhai in any city, and they would receive assistance.

That truly came in handy, because Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were about to raise hell.

The succession competition in the Star Luo Empire was extremely fierce. It was reflected not only in the heirs' strength, but also in their resources. Every five years, the heir in the stronger position received a random reward from the emperor. It might be money, powerful guards, treasures, or even spirit bones.

Five years ago, Dai Mubai had not yet awakened his martial soul. This time, due to their ages, Dai Weisi was stronger than Dai Mubai.

Rumor had it that this year's reward was a year's tax revenue from a city in the north of the Star Luo Empire. That did not tempt Dai Mubai. What tempted him was another piece of news: the Star Luo Emperor had acquired two spirit bones. One was a Thunderstorm Dragon palm bone, a precious External Soul Bone. The other was a Diamond Tiger Left Arm Bone.

The palm bone was suitable for Zhuqing. The Thunderstorm Dragon possessed lightning attributes, and Zhuqing's attacks mainly relied on her hands, so it could greatly strengthen her offensive power. The Diamond Tiger Left Arm Bone was compatible with his own martial soul.

What a perfect match!

But there was one problem. Those spirit bones suited not only Zhuqing and himself, but also Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun.

His people had learned that Dai Weisi had recently been currying favor with the old man—the Star Luo Emperor—and had also set his sights on those spirit bones.

Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were a little anxious.

But they had always been decisive people. Back then, they had fled without hesitation. Now, they made their decision just as swiftly.

Zhu Zhuqing stared into Dai Mubai's eyes. "Mu Bai, I think those spirit bones are worthy of us."

Dai Mubai looked back into Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. "I think so too."

The two happily made a holiday improvement plan: go back and take the spirit bones.

Though it would be a little troublesome.

Dai Mubai's mother had passed away, but she had still left some people behind for him. Going to Calais City had not stopped him from developing his own forces. Zhu Zhuqing was the same. Compared with Dai Mubai, however, she had one advantage: her uncle was a trusted confidant of the old man, and this uncle deeply disliked Zhu Zhuyun.

The advantage was theirs.

It was known that the spirit bones were currently stored in the Spirit Bone Vault within the Star Luo Imperial Palace. It had three layers of defenses. The first consisted of palace guards patrolling the area. The second was the entrance guards, where four Soul Kings stood watch. The third was the boxes containing the spirit bones. They had mechanisms inside; opening them without the specially made keys would fire countless crossbow bolts and kill the thief.

They could slip through the first layer by taking advantage of the timing. The third layer of boxes could be handled by Shrek's little blacksmith, Tang San. But what about the second layer?

Dai Mubai tossed and turned. He and Zhu Zhuqing hid near the Spirit Bone Vault, waiting for a chance to enter.

The old man was the one who provided the opportunity.

There were eight Soul Kings guarding the gates, split into two teams of four. On that day, the old man summoned them to welcome new members. New Soul Kings would be joining the guard detail, and they had gone to meet them.

Guarding the Spirit Bone Vault was tedious work requiring little skill. No one would risk their life to steal from the emperor, and the imperial palace was not easy to enter in the first place. They were only going to meet some people, so it would not take long. Thus, all eight Soul Kings went.

Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, who overheard their movements nearby, were stunned. Was this really not a trap meant to lure them in? They carefully sensed the auras within the Spirit Bone Vault, but they had not grown any stronger either.

Go in?

What do you think?

Take a gamble?

Fine! Let's gamble!

The result of that gamble was a massive win.

Everything went smoothly—so smoothly that Dai Mubai began to suspect an ambush ahead, growing paranoid.

Then they ran into Dai Weisi on the street. Dai Weisi did not recognize Dai Mubai. He was merely puzzled as to why he sensed such a familiar aura, yet could not remember who it belonged to. Dai Mubai had been gone from Star Luo for a long time, and Dai Weisi had always looked down on this younger brother who had willingly given up on himself, so he had thoroughly forgotten him. In fact, most people in Star Luo had forgotten Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. No one imagined that these two cowards would return to steal spirit bones.

Heaven was on Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's side as well. Since awakening their martial souls and turning against their elder brother and sister, this was the first time things had gone so smoothly for them in Star Luo Imperial City.

Still, they did not dare gamble on Dai Weisi's reaction. They immediately ordered their forces in Star Luo to lie low, then infiltrated a merchant caravan about to depart for Heaven Dou Imperial City. It was not that they did not want to go to Calais City, but the caravan heading there had already left, and they could not catch it. Leaving quickly was the priority, so they could not be picky about their destination.

After arriving discreetly in Heaven Dou Imperial City, they came to Tianyi Zhai.

The manager now stood before the young pair. They held out their token and asked to be sent to Calais City.

"My lords, the Tianyi Zhai caravan from the imperial city to Calais City left only this morning. However, our master's family is currently in the imperial city. The token you hold was issued by the master. How about we bring the two of you directly to visit the master's family?"

Dai Mubai felt as if flowers were blooming across the entire world. In a daze, he agreed to the manager's suggestion. Then he and Zhu Zhuqing politely declined the manager's offer to stay for a meal. He wanted to find Ming Zhen immediately. Even someone as capable of handling pressure as him was under immense strain while carrying two spirit bones.

The manager could see that they were in a hurry. Remembering that the young mistress was currently dining upstairs, he asked them to rest briefly while he went out to make arrangements, then turned and headed for Ming Sui's private room.

The manager arrived together with the stewed fish. Ming Sui was somewhat surprised to see him. Did serving a dish really require the manager to come personally? Then she was stunned by his words.

"Young Mistress, two youths just arrived with the master's token. The number on it is 016. They wish to leave for Calais City immediately, but the carriages to Calais City have already departed. I told them the master is here, and they wish to visit the residence at once."

016 was the token given to Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. Ming Zhen had told Ming Sui and Tang San about it.

"Two youths?" Ming Sui confirmed with the manager.

"How about I go take a look with the manager?" Tang San said to Ming Sui. "Wait here. If anything happens, you can handle it." He was worried that someone might have stolen the token. If so, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's safety would be extremely important.

Tang San disguised himself as a young waiter and followed the manager into the room where Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were resting.

"Xiao San, it's you! You're here too!" Dai Mubai's voice rang out.

Ming Sui ordered two more fish.

Tianyi Zhai's signature Stone Pot Fish used fresh fish with firm flesh. The fillets were cut off, coated in batter, and fried until golden, while the fish bones were simmered into broth with fragrant and spicy seasonings.

When eating it, one first ate the fried fish, then added assorted vegetables to the fish broth to cut through the richness. Finally, the remaining fried fish pieces could be dipped back into the broth to heat through again. The fresh, spicy broth balanced the rich fragrance of the fried fish. Paired with slippery fish-broth noodles, it was perfect.

The two big cats, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, ate without even raising their heads.

Ever since the holiday began, they had been preparing to take the spirit bones, leaving them unable to eat properly. After finalizing their plan, they had spent a long time without an opportunity to break through the Soul King guards, too distracted to focus. Then, during their escape to Heaven Dou Imperial City, they had concealed their identities the entire way and pretended to be a ruined household heading to the imperial city for work. They had barely eaten enough to fill their stomachs.

Thinking back, the last time they had enjoyed a proper meal had actually been at Shrek.