Cleaning House

"Bring me all the strongest liquor in your tavern."

Without even raising his head, Tang Hao's icy voice rang out.

The bartender glanced at the scruffy man before him. His greasy hair was covered in dust, and yet he had ordered so much alcohol the moment he walked in. He did not look like someone who could afford to pay.

His brow furrowed slightly as he was about to refuse.

But just as he was about to speak, Tang Hao raised his head. A red glint flashed through his cold eyes beneath the hood of his robe, and the bartender immediately felt a bone-piercing chill, as though he had fallen into a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

A soul master! He was a soul master, and a powerful one at that.

The bartender's heart lurched. His pupils constricted as he looked at Tang Hao again. It was his first time seeing such a powerful soul master—someone who could make a person tremble all over without even making a move.

"Yes, respected Lord Soul Master. I'll prepare it for you right away."

If a soul master came to cause trouble, it was no longer something a mere bartender could handle. All he needed to do was pass the news to the back.

Tang Hao nodded in satisfaction this time. A trace of disdain flashed through his eyes as he looked at these ordinary people. I'm a Titled Douluo. What's wrong with having a little drink? You people should feel honored.

A moment later, you noticed the two of them. They were dressed lavishly and carried a noble air. Their faces were probably ugly too, just like yours.

Da Wu, you were protecting him, so why did he push you away?

A young man and woman walked down the street. The young man looked calm and steady, while the young woman beside him was full of excitement, curiously taking in everything around her. This place was far more fun than Nuoding City.

Unlike Da Wu, Muzhe did not have so many psychological burdens. His shadow clone was still monitoring Ding City.

Boom!

In the end, Da Wu did not dare to reject Muzhe's goodwill.

She looked at Da Wu, then at Muzhe. They were a perfect match—ah, no, an adulterous couple... no, that was not right either.

After all, Da Wu's looks were no worse than hers. There was a very real chance that she would steal Muzhe away. No, it seemed there were already signs of that happening.

So Da Wu had been forced into it too!

At that moment, if there had not been so many people around, Da Wu would have wanted to cry.

Da Wu pursed her lips and pulled Tang Hao aside. "Little Three, he's right. He didn't scare me. After all, we're old acquaintances."

Seeing Muzhe directly lay hands on Da Wu, anger instantly surfaced on Tang Hao's face. His eyes turned frosty, bloodshot veins filling them.

Besides being naturally beautiful, she had another greatest advantage—she had money!

"Seven Treasures Turn, Glazed Glass..."

Tang Hao looked at Ning Rongrong with the same puzzled expression. She looked very familiar, but he simply could not remember her.

Tang Hao could no longer suppress the fury in his heart. With a flick of his raised hand, he activated his sleeve arrow. Yet that was only the obvious attack. His other jade-colored hand swung at a strange angle, and more than ten streaks of light scattered outward. They perfectly avoided Da Wu's body, then collided with one another before all shooting toward Muzhe's blind spots.

His eyes narrowed as he immediately stepped in front of Da Wu. "I don't care who you are, but you should never have frightened Da Wu. Apologize immediately."

Da Wu and he must have had some sort of grudge, but no matter what the actual situation was, he would stand firmly on Da Wu's side.

For the past few days, he had been following behind Tang San. But the carriage ride from Nuoding City to Suotuo City was simply too slow. It had taken nearly two weeks, an ordeal for a Titled Douluo like him.

He truly deserved to die! You had not even held Da Wu's hand, yet he had directly reached out and touched her head!

"Little Three, look! That person is amazing. He can even fish like that."

Unless Muzhe was also a transmigrator from the Tang Sect, just like him!

Xiang Muzhe could not help but stare blankly. This... instead of letting the fish bite the bait, he had hooked its gills directly. That was cheating, wasn't it?

One hand swiftly rose, the sleeve arrow beneath his sleeve ready to fire at any moment. His other hand turned jade-colored, with more than ten concealed weapons pinched between his fingers.

Damn it, that had once clearly been treatment reserved exclusively for me.

A chill ran through Tang Hao's heart, as though he had fallen into an ice cavern ten thousand years old. He had stood in front to protect Da Wu, yet Da Wu had actually... pushed him away and compromised with the enemy?

No matter what the truth was, Da Wu had not done it willingly. Perhaps Ning Rongrong's compromise... had only been to protect him?

The anxious Xiang Muzhe from before now had worship in her eyes once more.

Zhang Xi would absolutely not allow such intimate behavior between them. If Zhang Xi decided she was too close to Tang Hao and no longer worth keeping, would Zhang Xi descend from the sky and kill them on the spot?

She knew how powerful those concealed weapons were. Once they were triggered, Muzhe would probably be fine, but she might die on the spot.

"What! Purple Demon Eyes! Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon!"

Tang Hao secretly swore that, no matter what, he would cripple Muzhe's arm today.

With that thought, the bloody glow in Tang Hao's eyes grew even stronger, completely overwhelming the violet of the Purple Demon Eyes. Muzhe had to die!

"You... deserve to die!"

Hearing a pleasant voice, Xiang Muzhe turned around and saw a young woman looking at her... clothes with envious eyes. She could not help puffing out her chest, her face full of pride.

He had endured it for now when Da Wu had been wronged earlier, but this was something he truly could not endure!

If he had not been worried that Tang Hao might encounter danger, he would never have been able to tolerate such boredom.

A trace of violet flashed through his eyes. With a casual, seemingly weightless motion, the concealed weapons flying toward him abruptly veered at a sharp angle.

"Da Wu, long time no see. Have you been well these past few years?"

He then looked at Da Wu beside him. Her delicate body trembled slightly, her face pale. She had clearly been frightened.

But would Muzhe be afraid of Tang Hao's hidden weapons?

"A treasure without a name..."

As Tang Hao spoke those words, a faint killing intent flickered in his eyes. He seemed to have already guessed Muzhe's identity.

Ding Cheng had long since made his plans.

One mountain could not hold two tigers. The Tang Sect's ultimate techniques were the foundation of his existence; he could never allow a second person to possess them!

He had long anticipated that Zhang Xi would be unable to resist making a move. Even without using Titled Douluo-level Spiritual Power, he could detect all of Zhang Xi's little movements with his eyesight alone.

Beside him, Xiang Muzhe showed a puzzled expression, only for a wave of sourness to follow. That smile should have belonged to her.

That demon had returned, and openly at that.

"Hm? You... know each other?"

At the side, Zhang Xipiao's eyes widened as she stared blankly at the intimate contact between Muzhe and Da Wu.

No, the reason he wanted to kill Muzhe was simply because his surname was Tang while Muzhe's was Mu. How could an outsider secretly learn the Tang Sect's ultimate techniques? He was merely cleansing the sect.

Yet the next moment, the fishing rod in Muzhe's hand flicked nimbly. The hook shook the bait apart, its sharp barb catching in a small fish's gill before lifting it straight up.

Sigh, ever since Muzhe had left, she had not had enough money to spend again. She could not even afford prettier clothes. Otherwise, she was confident she would not lose to those two.

After all, someone had just expressed dissatisfaction at such a scruffy man entering the tavern and ordering wine they had never enjoyed before. Yet Ding Cheng immediately used his pressure to suppress everyone present.

Tang Hao's gaze toward Da Wu gained a trace of warmth. He truly deserved to die for misunderstanding Da Wu!

Muzhe was not only stronger than her; he also held leverage over her that she could not resist.

Yet he still hid his killing intent perfectly. Neither Da Wu nor Xiang Muzhe sensed it—apart from Muzhe.

In any case, she could not accept this outcome.

But what had he just seen?

In the void, after confirming that Ding Cheng had no other intentions, Muzhe left behind a shadow clone to keep watch over his movements before returning to Xiang Muzhe's side.

Fortunately, Tang Hao had now entered the city as well, so he probably would not run into them again.

After coming back to her senses, Xiang Muzhe hurriedly chanted an incantation. A delicate, one-tiered little tower instantly appeared in her hand.

Although the surrounding people were dissatisfied, not one of them dared step forward to stop him.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xi found the guess increasingly plausible.

It was Muzhe, the one who had dropped out a few years ago. The last time they met, he had frightened Da Wu just as he was doing now.

After sitting down on a sofa, Tang Hao finally relaxed slightly and began enjoying the drinks provided by the bartender.

It was Muzhe! It was actually Muzhe!

He had sensed it earlier. The strongest person in the city was merely a Soul Sage, and had nothing to do with Tang Hao.

How was that possible?!

At this moment, Muzhe held a fishing rod and extended its hook toward a fish, but the direction was off. Beside him, Zhang Xipiao was quietly growing anxious.

But he possessed the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, so he naturally had no fear. He was confident that even against a Soul Elder, he could fight and win.

He had kept his Purple Demon Eyes active the entire time and clearly saw Muzhe use the Tang Sect's ultimate techniques—the Purple Demon Eyes and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon!

A hint of amusement flashed through Muzhe's eyes as he turned around as well.

Unfortunately, Muzhe had been gone for so long. It really was easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to return from luxury to frugality.

Even his inner cultivation method was the Mysterious Heaven Skill, and his Purple Demon Eyes had reached no low level—at least the third realm, Mustard Seed.

Feeling the gentle hand on her head, Da Wu was briefly dazed, but her heart immediately tensed again. She sent out her Spiritual Power, trying to sense Ding Cheng's location.

If Ding Cheng could not keep her under his control, he would naturally kill her directly—or perhaps... place her under house arrest?

Still, she was ultimately too late. Before the amplification light could shine forth, Tang Hao's hidden weapons had already been launched.

At that moment, Da Wu could not help missing the work Muzhe had provided. She only had to simply massage legs and pound backs, yet she could earn many Gold Soul Coins.

The two had suddenly started fighting, after all, and she had not expected Tang Hao to possess the hidden weapons Muzhe had mentioned either.

Have you forgotten? I once told you that if everyone wanted to kill you, then they would have to step over my corpse first.

At the side, Zhang Xipiao was still quietly annoyed when the tense, drawn-sword scene startled her in the next instant.

"Y-You... why are you like this...?"

No matter how well he had planned, he had no idea that his son was currently being humiliated right in front of him.

No, Tang Hao suddenly remembered something, and his chilled heart rapidly warmed again.

Muzhe actually went and touched another girl's head. And that girl named Da Wu clearly looked unwilling—so why did she not resist?

Xiang Muzhe was secretly annoyed, but she did not dare do anything to Muzhe. She only dared act coquettishly now, not throw a tantrum.

Immediately afterward, the killing intent in Tang Hao's gaze toward Zhang Xipiao grew even stronger. He would not spare anyone who wanted to harm Da Wu.

At this moment, Ding Cheng was completely drunk, slumped on the sofa. He had not used Soul Power to dispel his drunkenness and kept pouring wine into his mouth from time to time.

Da Wu's lively eyes lit up when she spotted something interesting, and she cried out excitedly.

That's right. It should be said that Muzhe is truly impressive!

Xiang Muzhe still wore a gentle smile, though his face betrayed a trace of irritability. He spoke to Tang Hao, then turned to look at Da Wu.

Xiang Muzhe had already written Da Wu down in his little notebook, and there was a faint hostility in his gaze as he looked at her.

Unfortunately, although the three of them were all dressed lavishly, her clothes were clearly made of inferior fabric compared to those two.

But when she thought of how Muzhe had already left, Da Wu's mood brightened again.

Xiang Muzhe smiled faintly, ignoring Tang Hao's murderous glare. He stepped forward, reached out to gently pat Da Wu's head, and even shot Zhang Xipiao a provocative look.

After Tang Hao finished speaking, Muzhe still did not stop. He even gave him another provocative glance.

Once she tore away all pretenses, she, Muzhe, and the three from Ding City would turn against one another. Muzhe possessed a strange ability to escape, and she did not know whether Ding City could kill him, but she would most likely die on the spot.

"Brother Muzhe, why are you... being so handsy? You're making me panic to death."

It had been a long time since he had drunk such intoxicating wine. Nuoding Academy's liquor simply could not compare to that of Suotuo City.

Da Wu truly wanted to strangle her past self. Why had she thought of Muzhe for no reason? And she had only been thinking about Muzhe's money—who would have thought that this demon would really return after following her thoughts?

Zhang Xipiao cried out in shock. In an instant, a chilling blood-red hue stained his purple eyes.

Beside Zhang Xipiao, a trace of clarity flashed through Muzhe's eyes. In the blink of an eye, his main body replaced the clone, while the clone was withdrawn back into his body.

Then he closed his eyes again. When he opened them once more, he still wore that same face.

Drawn by Soul Power, it finally spiraled into Muzhe's hand.

Although Da Wu had pushed him away just now and spoken words of compromise, her expression still faintly showed her reluctance.

Da Wu was equally startled. Feeling countless hidden weapons aimed at her and Muzhe from behind, her delicate body immediately trembled.

There was bound to be a battle now, but Zhang Xipiao, you fucking better not accidentally hurt me!

Yet how could a great clan possibly let Da Wu go? They still sent people after her, and they had even dispatched Muzhe to Nuoding Academy years ago to keep watch over her.

Moreover, she knew just how much Tang Hao cared about her. The way Tang Hao looked at her in ordinary times vaguely concealed a desire. She was like a treasure in Tang Hao's hand, and he would not allow anyone to lay a finger on her.

Tang San! You vixen!

"Student Tang Hao, Da Wu and I are old acquaintances. Without even figuring out what happened, you are asking me to apologize. Isn't that a little inappropriate? Don't you think so, Da Wu?"

Ever since he met Muzhe, he had vaguely sensed that Muzhe's Soul Power was not weak. However, Muzhe did not look much older than him, so Tang Hao had only assumed that Muzhe was a few levels above him.

Muzhe wore a playful smile as he beckoned to Da Wu.

"What are you doing?! Let go of me with your filthy hands!"

Only then did Tang Hao think of it. Da Wu's identity was mysterious; she was very likely a princess from a great clan. Since she came from such a clan, she naturally could not control her own fate, so she had fled to Nuoding Academy and met him there.

The moment Da Wu clearly saw Muzhe's face, she went from calm to utterly thunderstruck. Her delicate body could not help trembling, her long slender legs pressed together tighter, and her hands reached behind her to cover her perky buttocks.

In short, this Da Wu was the third party who had inserted herself between them.

In any case, he would naturally sober up tomorrow. Then he could follow Tang Hao to that Shrek Academy or whatever it was, casually catch some unlucky fellow... kill the chicken to warn the monkeys, and ensure Tang Hao could rest easy at the academy.

Da Wu, actually, I'm quite tough too. Why must you wrong yourself to protect me? No matter how difficult the road ahead is, I will protect you.

Based on her understanding of that bastard Muzhe, he might very well use her as a shield.

"Who are you?"