Soul King Guards

"Bang!"

With a tremendous muffled boom, the leading man in white was struck in the abdomen by the golden light Zhou Chen had transformed into. He flew back dozens of meters, plowing a deep furrow into the ground!

"My lord!"

"Impossible!"

Cries of alarm rang out. The remaining two men in white could scarcely believe their eyes as they watched their leader, sent flying by a single blow from a teenage boy.

Their leader was a Soul King above level 50! The strength of this young man was simply unimaginable.

"Pfft!"

The leader in white spat out a mouthful of blood before staggering back to his feet. He stared at Zhou Chen and said in a low voice, "What vicious methods."

The next moment, faint halos rippled as immense Soul Power suddenly erupted. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black—five soul rings quietly appeared around the leader in white!

A black scythe appeared in his hand.

The other two men in white also released their martial souls and soul rings. Both were Soul Ancestors above level 40, their martial souls respectively a Red Serpent and a spear.

Seeing all three men in white prepare for battle, Zhou Chen frowned. Golden light once more enveloped his body, clearly intending to use the same move again.

"Wait, kid. We're not enemies, so don't attack again."

The instant the Soul King in white saw the golden light emerge around Zhou Chen again, he was greatly alarmed. He hurriedly explained, "We are the young lady's guards. We released our martial souls just now only because we feared you might launch another surprise attack. It was merely for self-defense."

"Young lady? You're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Zhou Chen raised a brow and turned his gaze toward the bewildered Ning Rongrong nearby.

"That's right."

The Soul King in white gave a bitter smile. "The young lady secretly ran away from home. The Sect Master was worried, so he sent the three of us to follow and protect her in secret. When we saw the young lady with you just now, we were concerned and came over to take a look. We never expected..."

You never expected to get punched flat by an ally, did you? Zhou Chen grumbled inwardly.

"What? You were sent by Father?"

Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in disbelief.

She had secretly run away from home, thinking no one knew where she was going. Along the way, she had been as free as an unbridled wild horse, only to discover that everything had been under her father's control all along!

It left her deeply dejected.

"Get lost, all of you! Get lost! Don't follow me!"

Ning Rongrong suddenly clenched her pale little fists and shouted, her eyes red around the rims.

Hearing this, the three men in white became terribly awkward, unable to advance or retreat. In the end, the Soul King in white forced himself to say, "Young lady, it is our duty. If we leave now, the Sect Master will surely punish us when we return!"

"I don't care! Get lost! Don't let me see you!"

Ning Rongrong's little face was flushed as she spoke through tears. Zhu Zhuqing, who was still somewhat confused, hurried forward to comfort her.

The three white-robed members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were drenched in sweat. They neither dared to leave nor remain, completely at a loss.

"Ahem."

Seeing how awkward the situation had become, Zhou Chen gave a light cough and looked at the three men in white. "Rong Rong doesn't want you near her, so keep your distance. Stay twenty li away, for example. That way, you won't offend her eyes, and you can still complete the task Sect Master Ning gave you. How about it?"

"But the young lady's safety..." the Soul King in white said hesitantly.

"I'll protect her."

Zhou Chen replied calmly, then turned to Ning Rongrong and pretended not to know. "Rong Rong, where are you planning to go?"

"Me? I'm going to Shrek Academy, in Soto City of the Balak Kingdom." Ning Rongrong wiped away her tears and muttered.

"You're going to Shrek Academy too?" Zhu Zhuqing asked in surprise.

"You are too? Then we'll be classmates from now on!"

Ning Rongrong said, both surprised and delighted.

"What a coincidence."

Zhou Chen smiled, then looked at the men in white. "Since Rong Rong happens to be traveling with us, let's do as I suggested. What do you say?"

"Well... all right. Then we'll leave the young lady's safety to you, little brother."

After hesitating briefly, the Soul King in white agreed.

That punch from earlier had already proven Zhou Chen's strength. He was more than qualified to protect Ning Rongrong.

Besides, someone barely in his teens who already possessed three soul rings and could knock a Soul King like him down with one punch must have an enormous force backing him. He could not afford to provoke such a person!

Thus, he cupped his fists toward Zhou Chen and said conversationally, "This old man is Lin Mu, an outer sect deacon of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. May I ask this little brother's name...?"

"My surname is Zhou."

Zhou Chen smiled faintly but did not reveal his full name.

After all, his name had long been marked on the desks of every major power. If he gave his full name now and Lin Mu happened to leak it, Spirit Hall and the Star Luo Empire's pursuit would likely arrive before long.

Upon hearing Zhou Chen's words, Lin Mu frowned and secretly tried to recall which powerful Soul Master family bore the surname Zhou.

But after thinking it over, he could not come up with one. He could only give an awkward smile and cup his fists toward Zhou Chen and Ning Rongrong. "Young Master Zhou, young lady, then we shall take our leave."

With that, he waved his hand and led the two Soul Ancestors beside him back into the dense forest, where they vanished from sight.

The moment Lin Mu and the others left, Ning Rongrong, who had been crying just moments ago, immediately broke into a smile.

She skipped over and threw her arms around Zhou Chen. With a smack, she kissed him on the cheek and said excitedly, "Big Brother Zhou Chen, that punch of yours was so cool! And the way you drove them off just now was so domineering."

"I..."

Zhou Chen was a little dumbfounded. Was that really necessary?

I know I'm handsome, but you don't have to kiss me the moment you come over!

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze, however, turned cold in an instant.

Sensing the chill radiating from Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong quickly released Zhou Chen and explained softly, "Sister Zhuqing, don't be angry. I was just too happy."

"When they appeared just now, I thought they were going to take me back to the sect! I didn't expect Big Brother Zhou Chen to be so amazing. One punch was enough to wipe that arrogant look right off their faces."

Hearing Ning Rongrong's explanation, the chill in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes finally faded.

She smiled, took a skewer of roasted meat from the grill, and said, "Then let's keep eating. Zhou Chen, go get the wine!"