The Kitten in the Woodshed

A huge wave of noise erupted from below the Soul Fighting Stage.

"Silencer lost!"

"Who is this guy? He's too strong. I want him as my new boss!"

"It feels like the air has gotten fresher!"

Lord Xiao's smile instantly froze, his eyes venomously fixed on the flaming wolf in the arena.

The gazes of the teachers from Suotuo City Intermediate Soul Master Academy all converged on that Fire Wolf as well.

"Unbelievable. This kid hasn't even obtained his first soul ring yet, but he's definitely close."

"How old does he look? Six? Seven?"

"He's already strong enough to enter the preparatory class."

Among them, only one person stared at another child beneath the Soul Fighting Stage, the one carrying a giant hammer. The yellow soul ring floating above it—was that real?

"Su Yan, you won!" Tang Chi shouted excitedly. "How are you so strong?"

That last move—Tang Chi felt he couldn't have taken it head-on. If he used his soul skill to control the opponent, winning wouldn't be a problem. But to finish it so cleanly? That was far too difficult.

Su Yan crouched down and said, "Even though I haven't obtained my first soul ring, the soul power accumulated through persistent meditation training is still retained. So the only difference is the soul skill."

The little boy beside him was practically jumping for joy.

They had suffered under the Xiao siblings for far too long.

"Boss Su!" the little boy shouted, raising his hand.

The people around him joined in.

Then the entire crowd followed.

"Boss Su! Boss Su! Boss Su!"

The momentum was immense, deafening.

Lord Xiao's expression grew darker and darker, almost as if water could condense from it.

"All of you, shut up!" An Enforcer leaped onto the stage and glanced at Lord Xiao.

The latter gave a slight nod.

The Enforcer grabbed Su Yan's hands, pinned them behind his back, and announced loudly, "The result of this Soul Fight is suspicious. I have reason to suspect you have consumed prohibited substances for soul masters and are connected to the recent Strength Pill fraud case. You are now being taken to the Enforcement Hall for investigation."

Su Yan frowned slightly, his hands restrained, unable to move.

He suddenly remembered—the name Xiao Chenyu was originally the boss of Notting City Primary Soul Master Academy. Later, he was defeated by Tang San and Xiao Wu and became their lackey.

Now, Ah Yin was at the Main Martial Soul Hall, so Tang San definitely wasn't here.

As for Xiao Wu, she probably wasn't here either.

From the very beginning, everything had gone off track.

"Impossible!" Tang Chi was the first to jump out and shout.

"The Enforcer is handling official business. Brat, stay out of the way." The Enforcer directly lifted Su Yan, jumped off the Soul Fighting Stage, and started heading out.

"Tang Chi, don't worry. It's fine." Su Yan looked up, smiled, and nodded at Tang Chi, then said, "Uncle Enforcer, could you let go of my hands? I promise I won't run."

"You even dared to take banned drugs. Why should I believe you?"

"Could it be that you can't catch a kid like me who doesn't even have a single ring?" Su Yan said calmly.

The Enforcer was silent for a moment, then finally let go. "Behave yourself. Don't think about running."

Su Yan worked his arms, placed one hand on his waist, and followed the Enforcer out.

Director Su suddenly appeared, blocking their path.

The Enforcer hesitated, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

"Is Director Su also obstructing official business?" Lord Xiao said coldly.

"I wouldn't dare. It's just that this child was personally sent to the academy by Hall Master Ma Xiunuo." Director Su smiled slightly. "Surely Lord Xiao knows the Martial Soul Hall's stance on banned substances. The possibility of Su Yan taking them is almost zero."

Lord Xiao's expression stiffened, and he snorted coldly. "Naturally, the Martial Soul Hall strictly prohibits the use of banned substances. But with so many soul masters under its command, there are always a few bad apples. I'm just helping Hall Master Ma Xiunuo conduct an inspection."

The mere hall master of tiny Notting City Martial Soul Hall was beneath his notice. He turned to the Enforcer and barked, "Take him away!"

Director Su didn't stop them any further, letting Su Yan follow the Enforcer out of the academy.

The students near the Soul Fighting Stage gradually dispersed. A few of Xiao Chenyu's lackeys helped him down from the stage.

Lord Xiao cupped his hands and smiled at the people from the Intermediate Soul Master Academy. "Everyone, today my son was schemed against and embarrassed. Just let him rest a moment, and he can directly participate in the enrollment."

"No harm done. The formal enrollment hasn't started yet. Let your son rest well."

"Then let's head to the meeting room." Lord Xiao walked ahead, leading the group away.

Director Su whispered to Tang Chi, "Go back to the Martial Soul Hall and find Hall Master Ma Xiunuo."

Then she hurriedly followed after them.

The Soul Fighting Stage, bustling with noise just minutes ago, was now empty. The wind blew, stirring up a layer of dust.

Su Yan followed behind the Enforcer, walking into the City Lord's Mansion.

"Uncle Enforcer, isn't the Enforcement Hall inside Martial Soul Hall? Why are we coming to the City Lord's Mansion?"

"What's with all the questions? Shut up!"

"Fine, don't tell me then, whatever!" Su Yan curled his lip, surveying his surroundings.

Notting City wasn't large, but the City Lord's Mansion was still quite imposing.

Stone lions stood at the entrance, and inside there were flowers, birds, rockeries—everything one could want.

Su Yan followed the Enforcer, turning through seven or eight bends, until they reached a place that looked like a woodshed, with a big copper lock hanging on the door.

"Get in there. Behave, and don't think about running." The Enforcer tossed Su Yan inside and locked the door tight.

The inside was much cleaner than he'd imagined. Besides a half-room full of firewood, there were a dozen or so children lying on piles of straw.

They all looked young, their faces full of childish innocence.

When Su Yan entered, the children barely reacted, just silently huddling in the corners, trembling.

Su Yan sat down at the very edge. Next to him was a little girl in black clothes, her head buried in her knees, shaking slightly.

She didn't look like a child who could give him any information.

He lifted his gaze and swept it across every child's face. All he saw was fear and helplessness. Their clothes, however, ranged from rich to poor.

Two words flashed through Su Yan's mind—the two words he hated most in his past life: human trafficking.

As for why, he didn't know.

But this was the City Lord's Mansion. For Lord Xiao to lock up so many children deep inside his own residence, there had to be some shady business going on.

He sat back down in his original spot. The little girl beside him wore the most luxurious clothes, clearly from a wealthy family.

Su Yan tentatively called out, "Little sister."

The little girl lifted her head. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her cold, clear gaze filled with terror.

"My name is Su Yan. What's yours?"

"Zhu... Zhu Zhuqing." The little girl's voice was faint, her throat already hoarse from crying.

But the name exploded in Su Yan's mind like a bomb. He blurted out, "Zhu Zhuqing of the Star Luo Empire? How are you here?"

Originally, her first appearance should have been at Shrek Academy, but that was at least six years from now. For those six years, this little kitten should have been in the Star Luo Empire's royal capital. How could she be in Notting City, a thousand li away?

Zhu Zhuqing flinched, scooting backward, staring at Su Yan with full vigilance. "How do you know?"

"Sorry, I scared you." Su Yan softened his voice as much as he could. "I'm not a bad person. I was captured too."

"Really?" Zhu Zhuqing hugged her knees tightly, but her voice had eased a little.

"Truer than pearls." Su Yan turned his body, pulled a cup of water and a piece of sesame candy from his belt, and handed them over.

So he really had a spatial tool. Just two words: so satisfying.

Stuffed full of food, it always came in handy.

"Drink some water, have some candy." Su Yan said. "Don't worry, it's all clean."

Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a long time, staring at the clear water in the cup. In the end, her thirst won out. She took the cup and drained it in one gulp.

Then she took the sesame candy, stuffed it into her mouth, and a wave of sweetness immediately filled her entire mouth.

Su Yan opened his mouth to ask, "Do you know why we were captured and brought here?"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded.