Chapter 12

She stood at the doorway, looking at the stunned Tang Yin. "What's wrong? Is there something strange about the way I look?"

"Not really. I was just wondering why you came. Do you need something from me?"

Bibi Dong snorted coldly. "What, can't I come see you if I don't need anything? Or have I interrupted your happy little life?" Although she had always stayed in Spirit City, Tang Xue'er had not. Every day, there were quite a few women drawn to Tang Yin by his looks and reputation. Tang Xue'er had reported every single one of them to her, and it made her extremely unhappy. Those slutty bitches dare seduce my man? They must be tired of living.

Seeing the resentful look in her eyes, Tang Yin panicked badly. For no reason at all, he felt guilty, as though he had been caught cheating in bed. He hurriedly changed the subject.

"Would you like to sit for a while and have some tea? I'll get you something to eat." Tang Yin went to the door, hung up the Closed sign, then shut the door and returned. Looking at Bibi Dong before him, Tang Yin felt strangely conflicted. Although they had already reached the stage of having a child together—what kind of strange relationship was that?—this was actually their first meeting.

"It's been a long time. No, for you, this should be our first meeting." Bibi Dong spoke first.

"Your Holiness, you..."

"Call me Dong'er." Bibi Dong interrupted him.

"Huh? Oh! All right, Dong... Dong'er." A faint blush appeared on Bibi Dong's beautiful face, though her expression held even more satisfaction. Looking at the immature young man before her, Bibi Dong felt a sense of pleasure at finally getting her revenge. Thinking of how, more than ten years ago, he had used sweet words to charm her young and naïve self senseless, even making her bear him a child, made her so angry—embarrassed—that she could barely stand it.

"Xue'er asked me to come tonight. She'll be here soon too. She wants the three of us to have a meal together as a family. Oh, and you'll be the one cooking." Bibi Dong explained why she had suddenly come.

"Okay, but there aren't any vegetables at home. I'll go buy some now." Tang Yin stood and prepared to leave.

"Wait. I'll go with you."

"Huh? You want to go too?"

"What's wrong? I can't go?" Bibi Dong directed a little pouty displeasure at Tang Yin.

"You can, but you'll need to disguise yourself before going out."

"Of course I know that. I'm not stupid." Bibi Dong shot Tang Yin an incredibly alluring eye roll, leaving him staring blankly.

"She's too beautiful." Damn it, how had he accidentally said what he was thinking out loud? But when he looked at Bibi Dong opposite him, he discovered that her entire face was flushed red.

"I know I'm beautiful without you telling me. Didn't you say we were going to buy vegetables? What are you still standing around for?" Bibi Dong put on a veil. The veil was probably a Soul Tool; once she wore it, Tang Yin could no longer make out Bibi Dong's appearance or cultivation.

Only after the two of them walked onto the street did Tang Yin realize he had been careless. Bibi Dong wore a veil, so no one recognized her, but he was a celebrity in Heaven Dou City. People stared at him everywhere he went. Tang Yin was already about 1.85 meters tall, and standing beside Bibi Dong, they looked like a perfect golden couple.

The residents of Heaven Dou City were similarly thrown into turmoil. Wasn't that the nephew of Moonlight Pavilion's master? Wasn't he supposed to be gay with His Highness the Crown Prince? Who was the beauty beside him?

Although Bibi Dong wore a veil, her tall figure and the bearing of someone long accustomed to high status still gave her a beauty unlike anyone else's. Tang Yin could only brace himself and continue shopping. After buying the ingredients, they hurried home, and he began cooking. Before long, waves of fragrance drifted from the kitchen, making Bibi Dong salivate wildly. Soon after, Xue'er arrived as well. Seeing Bibi Dong on the sofa, she threw herself into her arms. "Mom, I missed you so much!" Bibi Dong hugged her daughter back.

Tang Yin came out of the kitchen and saw the mother and daughter holding each other tightly, filling his heart with warmth.

"Dinner's ready."

The three of them took their seats one after another. Tang Xue'er, back in her original form, was bursting with energy. Her blue hair bounced with every movement, revealing her current mood.

"Dad's cooking smells so good. It looks like it'll be delicious too." She took a bite, and her eyes lit up.

Bibi Dong took a bite as well. Mm, it tasted just like it had back then.

Tang Yin was happy that they liked his cooking, occasionally serving them more food. But as they ate, Tang Xue'er began to sniffle, eventually breaking into loud sobs. She clung tightly to Tang Yin and refused to let go, saying, "Ever since I was little... Dad was never by my side. Even though Mom was there, I still wanted so badly to be with Dad too... just like today, quietly sitting together for a meal, with Dad and Mom, with our whole family together..." Later, Bibi Dong suddenly threw herself into Tang Yin's arms and buried her face in his chest. Her uncontrollable tears soaked his clothes. Only then did he realize that no matter how strong Bibi Dong was, she was still a woman. No matter how powerful Tang Xue'er was, she was still a child—his daughter.

These two women were his family. They were the people he should protect. A sense of responsibility rose within him, filling his heart. He understood why he needed to grow stronger—the most meaningful reason in the world. He was a father, a husband, and a man.

That night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The next day, he went straight to the Great Soul Arena.

"Hello, I want to enter the Life-and-Death Arena." Wearing a bone mask with a blue face and protruding fangs, Tang Yin stood before the registration counter and spoke to the receptionist inside.

"Um... did you say that wrong? You mean you want to enter the individual matches, right?" The receptionist looked at the "beautiful woman" in front of her. She seemed to be one, at least. The receptionist could not help wondering whether she had misheard or the other party had misspoken.

"No. I want to enter the Life-and-Death Arena. I didn't say it wrong, and you didn't hear it wrong." Tang Yin's firm answer left her stunned. People could die from a single mistake in the Life-and-Death Arena. It would be such a pity for someone this beautiful to die. But she was only an employee and had no right to interfere with a customer's choice.

"May I ask what your Martial Soul is, what your cultivation level is, and what your code name is?"

"My code name is Qi. My Martial Soul is the weapon-type Martial Soul: Magic Blade Thousand Blades. I'm a level 35 Soul Elder." As he spoke, he also wrote the character Qi on the counter, just in case there was another "Three-Five Combination" incident. Then he summoned Magic Blade Thousand Blades, and three Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple—rose around him. (The Soul Rings were only a disguise. In truth, like the Kabbalah Tree of Life, Magic Blade Thousand Blades' Soul Rings had no age limit. Its combat power relied entirely on proficiency.)

Before entering the arena, contestants had to sign a life-and-death waiver. The Great Soul Arena bore no responsibility for the safety of Life-and-Death Arena contestants.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Life-and-Death Arena of our Great Soul Arena! One of today's contestants is the level 39 Soul Elder Mad Saber, who has achieved nineteen consecutive victories in the Life-and-Death Arena." When this man was introduced, the spectators erupted into wild cheers. "Mad Saber! Mad Saber! Mad Saber! Mad Saber!..." Most of the people who came to watch the Life-and-Death Arena were lunatics. They loved watching others slaughter each other madly, blood spraying everywhere.

"The other is a newcomer to the Life-and-Death Arena, the level 35 Soul Elder Qi, currently with zero wins." Everyone grew even more excited. They loved watching newcomers scream in agony as they were chopped to pieces.

When the two stepped onto the stage, the burly man opposite him, carrying a massive blade and surrounded by three perfectly matched Soul Rings, licked his lips as he looked at Tang Yin. "Kid, why not just surrender? I'll try to give you a quick death." The moment he said that, Tang Yin had not even reacted yet, but the spectators were already unhappy. If Tang Yin surrendered, what would they watch?

Tang Yin did not agree. He merely silently drew Magic Blade Thousand Blades, its three Soul Rings pulsing in a steady rhythm. He released his Killing Intent without reservation. The instant that immense Killing Intent erupted, the man opposite him was terrified senseless, and even the audience fell silent. No one dared breathe loudly. Only the experienced host quickly recovered. "Soul fight—begin!"

The moment the word "begin" fell, Tang Yin stamped his foot and shot forward like an arrow. Raising Thousand Blades, he made nothing more than an ordinary horizontal slash. His opponent hurriedly raised his massive saber to block, but could Thousand Blades truly be blocked? The instant it struck the saber, Thousand Blades split apart. Mad Saber was delighted, but he never expected the separated blade fragments to merge again before both his saber and his body, flashing past in an instant. Tang Yin stood with his back to Mad Saber, sheathing his blade as he slowly took out an umbrella. Mad Saber's head then slowly fell, while blood burst forth in an instant.

"I declare the winner of this Life-and-Death Arena match to be... Qi, with one victory!" As soon as the host finished speaking, the spectators went wild. "Qi! Qi! Qi! Qi! Qi!..." Tang Yin slowly left the Great Soul Arena and came to a secluded place. At last, he could no longer hold it in. Bracing himself against a wall, he vomited repeatedly, then slowly collapsed against it. Killing someone did not feel good at all, but Tang Yin did not regret it. He knew this was the first step toward becoming strong. For himself and his family, he had to grow stronger. That night, he could not sleep...

The next day, Tang Yin went to the Great Soul Arena again. This time, he won three matches in a row. After returning, he still vomited all night and did not sleep...

And so, Tang Yin spent four years studying noble etiquette and musical theory during the day, then going to the Great Soul Arena to kill people at night.