I Should Be Under the Car

"Whoa! Someone actually sent Sister Xiao Wu an exclusive Red Envelope!"

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up like stars. The little flutter of unease she had felt vanished beyond the ninth heaven, and she tapped to claim it.

[Congratulations, host! You have received: 10,000 Gold Soul Coins!]

"Oh my gosh! Ten thousand Gold Soul Coins!"

Xiao Wu stared at the glittering string of zeroes on the Brick. She was so excited she nearly sprang off the bed, and her mouth was practically watering.

"How many carrots could this buy? I'm rich, I'm rich! Hehehe..."

Clutching the Brick, she rolled excitedly across the bed. Her head filled with images of carrot stew, carrot fried rice, carrot juice... every carrot dish she could imagine.

As for Tang San?

Well... he had never sent Sister Xiao Wu a Red Envelope anyway. If she had sold him out, she had sold him out.

Gold Soul Coins were simply more tempting.

Tang San: Where was your conscience? Had a rabbit eaten it?

Near noon, Li Yuan was in his dormitory consolidating his Soul Power.

The door suddenly creaked open, and a pink figure rushed in like a whirlwind.

"Xiao Yuan! Xiao Yuan!"

Li Yuan opened his eyes helplessly and looked at Xiao Wu, who had barged in without warning. "Seriously, Xiao Wu, what's wrong with you? I was cultivating. You scared me half to death."

Xiao Wu stuck out her little pink tongue and pulled a face, then bounced over to him. "Aw, sorry! I didn't mean to! I came because I've got something good for you!"

The moment Li Yuan saw her looking like a weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken, he knew she was up to something.

"Go on, what is it?"

"Hehe, this time it's different."

Xiao Wu giggled, grabbed Li Yuan's hand, and gave it a shake. "Come on! I came especially to treat you to a meal!"

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow and teased her. "Well, did the sun rise in the west today? Notting Academy's famous penny-pinching rabbit is actually willing to spend her coins on dinner for me?"

"Pah, pah, pah!"

Xiao Wu gave the back of his hand a light smack, flustered. "What kind of thing is that to say? When have I ever been stingy? Just tell me: are you coming or not?"

Li Yuan rose and stretched. "Fine, fine. Since Sister Xiao Wu is so sincere, I'll reluctantly do you the honor. So, where are we eating?"

Xiao Wu's eyes curved into crescents, and she gave him a mysterious smile. "How about Notting Restaurant?"

"Notting Restaurant?"

Li Yuan pretended he knew nothing and put on a surprised look. "Whoa, Xiao Wu. Did you strike it rich?"

"Hehe, that's a secret!"

Xiao Wu lifted her chin smugly, pressed a finger to her lips, and pulled him toward the door.

Li Yuan's lips curved. He could see what was going on as clearly as if it were reflected in a mirror.

He had not checked the group chat, but he could make a good guess.

Most likely, one of the rich women in the group had sent out Red Envelopes, and Xiao Wu had snagged one. Given how she normally pinched every coin, she would never have suggested Notting Restaurant otherwise, not even if someone beat her to death.

The two chatted and laughed as they headed for the academy gates. They had just stepped outside when hurried footsteps and a familiar voice came from behind them.

"Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu! Where are you going? Can I come too?"

It was Tang San.

At the sight of him, Xiao Wu's bright smile instantly collapsed. Her little face fell, reluctance written all over it.

But Tang San had treated them to a meal before, after all, so she could hardly chase him away outright. Instead, she asked grudgingly, "Tang San, we're going to eat. Do you... want to come?"

Anyone with eyes could see that her expression all but said, I don't want to bring you.

Tang San, however, seemed not to notice at all. His face lit up with a smile, and he nodded eagerly. "Sure. I'm hungry anyway."

Xiao Wu: "..."

Helpless, she shot Li Yuan an apologetic look.

She had promised to treat him to a meal alone, and now it had turned into an outing for three.

What rotten luck!

Li Yuan shrugged.

He did not mind. A free meal was a free meal, no matter who he ate with.

The three of them then headed to Notting Restaurant.

Along the way, Xiao Wu and Li Yuan chatted and laughed. Tang San tried several times to join their conversation, but neither of them brought him in.

Tang San felt utterly miserable.

Looking at the handsome young man and pretty girl walking ahead of him, he suddenly thought of a line: I should be under the car, not here!

At Notting Restaurant, Xiao Wu waved a hand and ordered a lavish spread of house specialties.

Braised Flaming Porcupine Trotter, Steamed Silver-Scaled Fish, Stir-fried Dragon Whisker Vegetable... dishes covered the entire table, their aromas spilling into the air.

Tang San stared wide-eyed at the beautifully presented dishes, so rich in color, fragrance, and flavor. He could not stop exclaiming, "Wow! Xiao Wu, so this is what the food at Notting Restaurant is like? It's exquisite! This... this must cost a lot, right?"

Tang San assumed Xiao Wu had ordered so many expensive dishes to thank him. He was deeply moved, and his unhappiness from the walk vanished like smoke on the wind.

In his previous life, Tang San had scraped by at the bottom of the Tang Sect, eating husks and greens. When had he ever seen a spread like this?

Now he was a country bumpkin in the city, finding everything novel and grand. Every so often, an admiring "tsk, tsk" escaped his lips.

His wide-eyed behavior drew sidelong glances from diners at the surrounding tables. Some even began whispering.

"Look at that bumpkin..."

"Right? Making such a fuss over a meal..."

"Probably some poor kid from the countryside..."

The looks from the other diners made Xiao Wu's cheeks burn. Flustered, she jabbed Tang San with her elbow and whispered, "Tang San, can you stop making such a fuss? It's embarrassing."

Only then did Tang San belatedly realize he had made a spectacle of himself. But instead of feeling ashamed, he decided the others were snobs looking down on him.

An inexplicable anger flared up inside him.

He shot to his feet and instinctively released his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. Soul Power flickered around him as he glared fiercely at the people who had been discussing him.

"What did you say?!"

Tang San had meant to use his status as a Soul Master to intimidate them into silence.

But he had forgotten that anyone who could afford to dine at the best restaurant in Notting City probably had a few Soul Masters in the family.

And his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul... in many people's eyes, it was hardly a powerful Martial Soul.

"Oh? You think being a Soul Master makes you special?"

"Exactly. With a lousy Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, who are you trying to impress?"

"If you've got a Trash Martial Soul, stop coming out and making a fool of yourself!"

Those merciless taunts struck Tang San's most sensitive point: his pride.

His face flushed crimson. His chest heaved, and he panted like an ox. Clenching his fists, he prepared to charge at them.

"Tang San!"

Li Yuan frowned and pressed a hand onto Tang San's shoulder.

A force as heavy as Mount Tai bore down on Tang San, pinning him back into his seat despite his fury.

"If you're here to eat, then eat. What does starting a fight prove?"

"If you've got the ability, use your strength and reason to win people over. Don't lash out like some street thug because you've lost your temper."

"I..."

Tang San still wanted to argue, but a tremendous force suddenly pressed him firmly back into his seat.

He shot Li Yuan a startled glance. Though his face betrayed nothing, towering waves surged through his heart. When did Li Yuan get this terrifyingly strong?

He clearly remembered sparring with Li Yuan several times before.

Li Yuan had been fairly strong then, but he had never exerted this kind of pressure, leaving Tang San utterly unable to resist!

How much time had passed since then?

How could his strength have risen so quickly?!

Hadn't his teacher said an External Beast Martial Soul did little to improve a Soul Master's own physical attributes?

Then what was going on with Li Yuan?

P.S. I've been posting three updates a day lately. In honor of all these extra chapters, please give me some monthly tickets, keep reading, and send some recommendation votes! I'm begging you on my knees!

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