Heartbreak

Several figures stood on either side of the inn lobby's front desk.

On the right, a broad-shouldered blond youth had an arm around each of two women, watching the young man and woman opposite him with an amused look.

The blond youth was dressed lavishly, and the two beauties at his side were equally graceful and alluring. His hands rested around their waists, and they looked exceptionally intimate together.

On the other side, a slender, pretty, adorable girl wearing rabbit-ear accessories glared angrily at the three of them. She looked ready to make a move, but the black-haired youth beside her held her back.

"Really..."

Zhu Zhuqing stood in the corridor nearby. Though she could only see his back, she dared to say with certainty that the blond youth embracing two women had to be Dai Mubai.

She had recalled that silhouette in her mind far too many times.

"Heh! Is this the explanation you wanted, Zhu Zhuqing?" Zhu Zhuqing sneered at herself.

Watching the scene before her, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly could not remember why she had come to the Balak Kingdom.

Why had she come looking for this remote little village?

Why had she risked being hunted down to escape from the Zhu family?

Now, Zhu Zhuqing only felt that she was utterly ridiculous, like some clown.

He had clearly already abandoned her, yet she had still come running after him, even nearly dying along the way.

But what about him?

Not only was he surrounded by beautiful women now, but he also seemed to be living quite happily.

She... had ultimately been nothing more than unnecessary.

"Are you all right?"

Beside her, Gu Yi asked Zhu Zhuqing softly.

He knew that Zhu Zhuqing had to be feeling terrible right now.

A girl who had rushed here for love, only to witness this scene—she had to be heartbroken.

"I'm fine. Let's go back," Zhu Zhuqing said, feigning indifference.

She no longer wanted to see 'that person.'

"Mm. You go back first. I may have something to take care of," Gu Yi replied.

As he spoke, Gu Yi walked past Zhu Zhuqing and headed toward the front desk.

"What are you going to do?" Zhu Zhuqing froze for a moment before asking.

"From the looks of things, they'll probably start fighting soon. I can't just stand by and watch a Soul Elder bully two Soul Grandmasters," Gu Yi said with a smile, pausing in his steps.

In truth, Gu Yi had lied. He was not some bored busybody who enjoyed meddling in other people's affairs.

What he really wanted was simply to beat up Dai Mubai and vent some of Zhu Zhuqing's anger for her.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the front desk had already become tense. After Dai Mubai's repeated provocations, Tang San had also prepared himself for battle.

But just as Dai Mubai attacked Tang San, Gu Yi suddenly appeared between them and grabbed Dai Mubai's incoming fist.

"Mm!"

Gu Yi's sudden appearance startled everyone present.

"Who are you?" Dai Mubai asked with a frown as he looked at Gu Yi.

"What's the point of a Soul Elder bullying two Soul Grandmasters?"

"If you want to fight, I'll fight you!"

Gu Yi did not answer. He simply spoke on his own, then flung Dai Mubai's fist aside.

"Hmph! So you like meddling in other people's business? Then let's see what you're made of!" Dai Mubai snorted coldly, his voice full of disdain.

As soon as he finished speaking, a phantom of a white tiger appeared behind Dai Mubai. His optimal soul ring configuration—yellow, yellow, purple—was revealed without reservation.

"Dai Mubai, martial soul: Evil Eye White Tiger. Level thirty-seven battle Soul Elder. Please advise!"

Dai Mubai did not attack immediately. He merely assumed a fighting stance and waited for Gu Yi.

The next moment, he saw the phantom of a dragon-shaped skeleton appear behind Gu Yi, while the soul rings beneath his feet were likewise yellow, yellow, purple.

"Gu Yi, martial soul: Bone Dragon. Level thirty-five battle Soul Elder. Please advise!"

After responding, Gu Yi remained standing where he was, seeming to have no intention of making the first move.

"Good! Then be careful!"

"White Tiger Light Wave!"

Dai Mubai shouted angrily, and a snow-white beam of energy shot from his mouth, hurtling straight toward Gu Yi.

The energy beam was incredibly fast, about to strike Gu Yi in the blink of an eye.

Yet Gu Yi still stood there without moving at all, as though he had nothing to fear.

"Space Transfer."

Just as the beam was about to hit Gu Yi, he used his Third Soul Skill.

The energy beam was immediately swallowed by a black hole that suddenly appeared in front of Gu Yi.

Then, in the very next second, Dai Mubai's entire body was sent flying backward, slamming into a stone pillar nearby.

"Good! Nicely done!"

Seeing Dai Mubai get knocked away, Xiao Wu immediately cheered from the side.

Serves him right for being so arrogant! Now he knew how formidable they were, didn't he?

Tang San, standing nearby, frowned. His Purple Demon Eyes had clearly caught what had just happened.

The instant the White Tiger Light Wave was swallowed by the black hole, an identical black hole had silently appeared over Dai Mubai's abdomen. In other words, the one who had sent Dai Mubai flying was himself!

Wasn't this soul skill a little too overbearing?

But the battle was far from over. Dai Mubai quickly rose to his feet after crashing into the stone pillar and unleashed his Third Soul Skill—White Tiger Vajra Transformation!

Since his First Soul Skill was useless, he would settle this with close combat!

"Again!" Dai Mubai roared, leaping fiercely back in front of Gu Yi.

Cold light flashed from the tiger claws in his hands as he struck straight at Gu Yi's face. Dai Mubai had put all his strength into this attack!

Yet Gu Yi still did not move. He merely stood where he was, calmly watching him.

"Space Transfer."

Bang!

Another dull impact rang out. Dai Mubai staggered back several steps in disbelief, clutching his aching right cheek with his left hand, his mind blank for a moment.

"It transferred again? This soul skill... is practically impossible to counter!"

Tang San exclaimed from the side.

At least for now, he could not think of any way to break this soul skill.

"I don't believe it! How can you be this freakish?!" Dai Mubai roared.

His fists shot out repeatedly, each punch coming from a different angle, each one thrown with full force.

But it was useless. Every punch he launched landed on his own body instead.

Before long, Gu Yi had not moved from his spot at all, while Dai Mubai was already covered in bruises and swelling. He forced himself to remain standing, gasping for breath.

"I'm done! I'm done! Your soul skill is utterly shameless!" Dai Mubai waved his hand and said angrily.

He had thought only ranged soul skills could be transferred by this ability. He had never expected that even his own fists could be transferred.

Hitting Gu Yi meant hitting himself. How was he supposed to fight that?

"You win. We'll give this room to them. Let's go."

As he spoke, Dai Mubai recalled his martial soul, waved to the two beauties beside him, and prepared to leave.

But the moment he turned around, he froze. His eyes went blank as he stared toward the stairway nearby, panic filling his heart as disbelief rose within him.

"Zhuqing?" Dai Mubai called out tentatively.

Just then, the two beauties from before moved over and surrounded him, habitually linking their arms with his.

"Zhuqing? Young Master Dai, who are you calling?"

"Yeah, did you remember wrong? Neither of us is called Zhuqing."

The two teased Dai Mubai in soft, coquettish voices.

Seeing this, the coldness on Zhu Zhuqing's face deepened. She strode quickly toward Dai Mubai.

Startled and guilty, Dai Mubai hurriedly pushed the two women away, standing there at a loss.

But Zhu Zhuqing walked straight past him and stopped before Gu Yi, speaking softly.

"I think I'm a little hungry. Shall we go have breakfast together?"

"Alright."