What's This Restaurant's Name?

"Couldn't you knock a little more gently?"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please calm down, honored guest. It's just part of my job."

"What job? I think you did it on purpose!"

The restaurant downstairs wasn't far from the guest rooms, and the commotion carried clearly to Xia Ran and Zhu Zhuqing.

Xia Ran gave Zhu Zhuqing a look. She understood and got up to head upstairs.

Before long, Zhu Zhuqing returned to the table with a blushing Xiao Wu.

As soon as Xiao Wu sat down, she seemed like a different person. She didn't say a word, keeping her head down and focusing on her food.

Xia Ran and Zhu Zhuqing were both a little surprised. Xiao Wu had been so furious first thing in the morning, so why had she suddenly gone quiet?

Only now did Xiao Wu understand why Zhu Zhuqing hadn't wanted to bring her along yesterday.

It was just too embarrassing...

She'd listened to them all night, and the next morning they'd acted as if nothing had happened. How could they do that?

After the meal, Xia Ran told the two girls where they were headed and that he planned to hunt for a Soul Ring.

When they learned they would soon be facing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the two girls couldn't help feeling nervous and uneasy.

They hadn't expected Xia Ran to have grown so strong—Level 50 at just twelve years old!

And he was going to hunt a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast on his own. No one would ever associate those things with the same person.

Xiao Wu was secretly glad she'd decided to follow Xia Ran. He was so strong at such a young age. If she could learn from him, then she might have a chance to avenge her mother!

After living among humans for so long, she had learned just how much influence Spirit Hall wielded across the continent. Trying to avenge her mother against Bibi Dong by herself was pure fantasy.

At first, she'd placed her hopes in Tang San, but he had changed completely.

Fortunately, Xia Ran had appeared. This time, she had to seize her chance, even if she had to pay a price...

Several days later, in Heaven Dou City.

The group walked along the bustling streets, with vendors' cries ringing out from both sides.

Sunset Forest lay east of Heaven Dou City. Their route from Shrek Academy would take them right through the city, so Xia Ran decided to rest there for a night, get into shape, and stock up on food.

After these past few days, Xiao Wu had grown much closer to the two of them. Most of the time, Xia Ran walked ahead while Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu followed behind.

At last, Xiao Wu couldn't hold back any longer and brought up what had happened that night. Zhu Zhuqing's delicate face turned so red it looked as though it might drip blood.

Xiao Wu was the lively sort. Once she got started, she kept asking Zhu Zhuqing how it had felt...

"Xia Ran, why don't we spend a few more days in Heaven Dou City? It's so lively here!"

Walking behind him hand in hand with Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu looked this way and that, full of energy.

Hearing her suggestion, Xia Ran looked at Zhu Zhuqing.

"Ask your big sister Zhuqing! It's up to her!"

Xiao Wu pouted and rolled her eyes.

"Oh, ask your big sister Zhuqing~ It's up to her~"

"..."

"You've been getting cheekier lately..."

Xia Ran was at a loss. He didn't know what was going on with the two girls, but they seemed to be getting closer and closer. Xiao Wu's affection for him had even climbed to 10%.

Most importantly, Zhu Zhuqing had slept in Xiao Wu's room several times!

All he could say was that women were impossible to understand...

Chapter 50: What's This Restaurant's Name?

(An extra illustration of Zhu Zhuqing in a backless outfit)

As for Xiao Wu, Xia Ran didn't want to invest too much emotion or effort in her just yet.

For one thing, he and Zhu Zhuqing had only just started seeing each other. Even if she had accepted Xiao Wu's presence, she still needed time to adjust.

For another, Xiao Wu's identity was rather unusual. Until she fully trusted him, it was better not to spook her.

The group chatted as they made their way to a restaurant.

After several days on the road, they'd either eaten dried rations or had simple meals at inns.

Now that they'd finally reached Heaven Dou City, they had to treat themselves to a feast!

As they entered the dining hall, a server hurried over to welcome them. To keep the two girls' looks from drawing attention, Xia Ran immediately chose a private room.

Xiao Wu ordered a whole tableful of delicacies from the menu. Before the server left, she even asked for two carrots to whet her appetite!

"Zhuqing! You two can enjoy yourselves in Heaven Dou City for a few days. I'll go Soul Hunting by myself."

Thinking of Xiao Wu's suggestion from earlier, Xia Ran took the opportunity to bring up his plan.

Xiao Wu was Level 32. Zhu Zhuqing had reached Level 40 after absorbing the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, but her Soul Power Level had risen too quickly, so Xia Ran didn't recommend that she absorb a Soul Ring right away.

That meant the two girls were still too weak to face a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

Sunset Forest was full of danger. Xia Ran had ways to protect himself, and Zhu Zhuqing had two Soul Bones, but Xiao Wu was just an ordinary Soul Elder with no way to protect herself.

Besides, they might run into Dugu Bo on this trip, which would only make things more troublesome. It would be better to have the two of them wait in the city!

"Are you sure you can handle it? Why not hire a Soul Hunting team?"

Zhu Zhuqing's brows drew together, her voice full of concern.

She had no confidence at all against a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Maybe the best way to help was simply to avoid getting in his way.

Xiao Wu hesitated too. It took her a long while to squeeze out a suggestion.

"Does it have to be Sunset Forest? What if we went to Star Dou Forest instead?"

Xia Ran blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

"What? Do you know someone in Star Dou Forest?"

At that, Xiao Wu visibly panicked and hurriedly looked away.

"No... No, I was just asking!"

She really had been thinking that Da Ming and Er Ming were in Star Dou Forest, and if anything especially dangerous happened, she could ask them for help.

Xiao Wu had to have grown quite fond of Xia Ran by now to be thinking of asking Da Ming and Er Ming to help him.

Seeing her guilty expression, Xia Ran laughed and stopped teasing her.

But her suggestion had reminded him of something. Perhaps Da Ming and Er Ming could help him after all.

By now, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm should have reached Star Dou Forest. If Xia Ran could use that connection to wait near Lake of Life for a while, he might actually run into Sky Dream after it escaped.

Xia Ran remembered Sky Dream saying that, back when Xiong Jun had first caught it, it had sometimes managed to escape.

His Second Martial Soul still had no Soul Rings. He could persuade Sky Dream to sacrifice itself to him, then head to the Far North to find Ice Empress and the others...

At the thought, a smile crept across Xia Ran's face.

"What are you grinning about?"

Just as he was imagining how things might go for him in the future, Zhu Zhuqing abruptly interrupted him.

"Huh? Nothing!"

"Don't worry! You know how strong I am. Even if I fail, I won't be in any danger!"

The two girls felt a little better after hearing that.

They had a rough idea of Xia Ran's strength. He was nothing like an ordinary person. They still remembered how Flender had unleashed the pressure of a Soul Saint, and it hadn't made Xia Ran budge in the slightest.

Before long, the table was filled with food.

The feast diverted their attention, and the mood lightened again. Xiao Wu immediately started wolfing down food around the table.

They were happily eating when a commotion sounded faintly outside the door.

Xia Ran had a bad feeling, as if something awful was about to happen.

Sure enough, the noise grew louder. He could tell that a woman was arguing with the server, and her voice seemed familiar to them.

"You useless fools! Have you forgotten who owns this restaurant?"

"I'd like to see which idiot dared to steal this young lady's private room!"

Xiao Wu, who was stuffing food into her mouth, frowned slightly. She hadn't expected someone to show up and cause trouble at a time like this. What awful timing.

She'd barely had a few bites of all this delicious food. What if they started fighting and flipped the table?

Zhu Zhuqing's brows furrowed. On the way here, plenty of people had caused trouble because of her and Xiao Wu. It didn't matter how low-profile they kept themselves; trouble was unavoidable.

That was just how the Douluo Continent worked. Some people always used their strength or connections to bully others. If you weren't strong enough yourself, trouble could find you even when you were hiding at home.

Xia Ran was even more exasperated. He hated pointless fights the most.

With people like this, killing them seemed too brutal, but beating them up still felt unsatisfying. Worst of all, it would end up wasting his time.

Still, as the only man among the three of them, he put down his chopsticks and stood, intending to see what was going on outside.

He had only just reached the door.

The next second, someone kicked the wooden door open from the outside!

The force nearly knocked Xia Ran over, but he reacted quickly and braced himself against the doorframe.

"Tch. What a pain!"

Xia Ran frowned, narrowing his eyes with an utterly impatient look.

She was the most brazen person he'd encountered lately. She'd gone straight to kicking in the door!

He silently made up his mind: if he didn't make her pay, he'd stop calling himself Xia!

Holding the doorframe, he pushed the door fully open. Everyone's gaze fell on—

A woman in a green dress stood in the doorway, radiating fury. The pink hair atop her head was impeccably groomed, and an elegant hair ornament was pinned into it.