At the same time, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun walked out of the Rose Hotel together.
Dai Mubai strode along with his head held high, while Ma Hongjun followed beside him, slightly bent over and wearing an ingratiating smile. He looked every bit the loyal lackey.
"Boss Dai, you promised last time you'd take me out with you." Ma Hongjun looked at Dai Mubai eagerly, his eyes full of anticipation.
Dai Mubai waved a hand. "Look how desperate you are. Come on, let's go. I'm paying for everything today."
Ma Hongjun was overjoyed and was just about to shower him with enthusiastic praise.
Then he caught sight of Lin Ye and the others out of the corner of his eye, and froze.
Of course, he wasn't looking at Lin Ye, but at the three girls.
Xiao Wu's long legs stood out, and the girlish innocence on her face made Ma Hongjun, that lecherous old pervert, stare with gleaming eyes.
Then there was the Ice Empress, with her twin tails, petite figure, and provocative outfit.
Snow Empress was even more breathtaking: a peerless beauty with a graceful figure and an icy, noble air. One word described her perfectly—flawless, without a single imperfection.
"Gulp!"
Ma Hongjun practically drooled, his beady eyes roaming lasciviously over the three girls as a sleazy expression spread across his pudgy face.
He nudged Dai Mubai with his elbow. "Boss Dai, look at them! Those girls are gorgeous, especially the one in the white dress. She's exactly my type."
Dai Mubai had noticed Lin Ye and the others too, and he was just as struck by the three girls' beauty.
Unlike Ma Hongjun, however, he prided himself on being a good judge of character. That group clearly wasn't ordinary.
The woman in the white dress especially—though she wasn't deliberately showing it, she still gave off an overwhelming presence, as if she controlled everything around her and ruled the entire scene.
One glance was all it took for Dai Mubai to know she was no ordinary woman. She was someone they absolutely shouldn't provoke.
So he hurriedly warned Ma Hongjun, "Fatty, tone it down. Don't go too far."
But Ma Hongjun was already thinking with his crotch. He paid no attention to Dai Mubai's warning and kept leering at the three girls.
"Heh, what's there to be afraid of? Look at the one with the twin tails. Doesn't she dress like that to please men? She looks like a hooker. If that pretty boy can sleep with her, why can't I? Maybe I'm even better in bed than he is. Once she tries me, she won't be able to get enough!"
Hearing his filthy remarks, Dai Mubai was shocked. He hissed, "You idiot, shut up."
Lin Ye's expression turned cold. Ma Hongjun had spoken loudly enough for everyone to hear, and it seemed like he was deliberately picking a fight.
Lin Ye was about to teach the fat bastard a lesson.
But someone was faster.
The Ice Empress appeared in front of Ma Hongjun in a flash and slapped him without a word.
"Smack!"
The sharp sound rang out as Ma Hongjun was sent flying by the slap.
That wasn't the end of it. The Ice Empress flashed after him and began raining punches and kicks on him.
"Fat bastard, you've got filth spewing from your mouth. Believe me, I'll tear that foul mouth of yours apart!"
A moment ago, the Ice Empress had seemed like a sweet, delicate young woman. Now, her face was full of murderous fury.
Ma Hongjun had no chance to fight back. Half his face had gone numb from the slap, as though it no longer belonged to him.
Ma Hongjun flew into a rage. "You filthy bitch, you're asking for it! Fire Phoenix Martial Soul Avatar!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, two Yellow Soul Rings rose beneath him. Purple-red flames flared from his body, radiating intense heat.
Long feathers sprouted from his exposed, muscular arms, and his hands transformed into claws.
Looking at him, the Ice Empress sneered. "Bah! Some phoenix. You're just a fat barnyard chicken, and you really know how to flatter yourself."
Even as she mocked him, she kept attacking him with punches and kicks.
"Who are you calling a chicken?" Ma Hongjun raged as if she'd struck a nerve. His First Soul Ring suddenly lit up.
He opened his mouth and spat out a stream of purple-red fire.
To his horror, the flames had no effect at all when they landed on the Ice Empress. They couldn't even set her clothes alight.
The Ice Empress slapped him again, then followed up with punch after punch and kick after kick...
By now, Ma Hongjun finally realized he'd picked a fight with someone far beyond him—someone he couldn't afford to provoke. He hurriedly called to Dai Mubai for help.
"Boss Dai, save me..."
But seeing him getting beaten without being able to fight back, Dai Mubai didn't dare intervene. All he could do was watch his good friend get pummeled, hoping to take him away as soon as the beating was over.
And so, the scene unfolded: a petite girl had a huge fat man pinned to the ground, relentlessly beating him.
Before long, Ma Hongjun was covered in injuries.
Once he accepted the situation, Ma Hongjun began begging for mercy. "Please, Grandma, stop hitting me! It's all my fault. I shouldn't have run my mouth. Just treat me like a fart and let me go!"
But the Ice Empress wasn't about to let the fat bastard off so easily. That one insult had pushed her to the limit.
She raised her foot, aimed the heel of her shoe at Ma Hongjun's crotch, and brought it down hard.
Thud!
It sounded as if something had shattered.
"Argh!"
Ma Hongjun, who had given up resisting, suddenly opened his eyes so wide they looked ready to pop out of their sockets.
He clutched his crotch and doubled over like a cooked shrimp.
Hiss!
Dai Mubai couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath. That was brutal.
He couldn't just stand by anymore. Otherwise, what kind of friend would he be?
But he was clever enough to see that the Ice Empress was not to be trifled with, so he turned his gaze to Lin Ye.
"Brother, my friend was rude, but he didn't deserve this. Could you do me a favor and tell her to go easy on him?"
Lin Ye chuckled. "You should think about the consequences before you go looking for trouble.
"Dai Mubai? Never heard of him. Why should I care about your favor?
"Besides, she's the one beating him up. Talking to me won't help."
When the other party refused to show him any respect, Dai Mubai's expression darkened.
But even though he was angry, he truly didn't dare make a move.
After crippling Ma Hongjun, the Ice Empress finally felt the anger inside her subside.
As soon as the Ice Empress walked away, Dai Mubai hurried over to check on Ma Hongjun.
He hadn't realized how bad it was until he took a look—and then he was horrified.
Ma Hongjun's manhood had been destroyed, and the area between his legs was a bloody mess.
Lin Ye noticed the scene too.
Had the Ice Empress gone too far? Yes.
But this was a world where the strong preyed on the weak. Picking fights without the strength to back yourself up wasn't brave—it was stupid, and it came with a price.
Truthfully, Ma Hongjun should have considered himself lucky.
Lin Ye had kept the Ice Empress in check all these years. Back when she had first entered human society, someone like Ma Hongjun would have met an even more miserable end.
Meanwhile, Lin Ye and the others entered the hotel.
The scent of roses wafted toward them, carrying an air of romance that soothed the senses.
Lin Ye walked up to the front desk. "Sorry for the trouble, but could you get us four rooms?"
The clerk looked at Lin Ye, then at the three girls with their distinct styles beside him. Envy flickered in his eyes. "I'm sorry, guests, but we only have one room left."
Before you continue