Although it was hard to believe, Shaohua's reason for fighting was simply to maintain an ordinary daily life.
Shangguan Li smiled. "You're still so passionate about life. Do you still want to continue observing them? I feel like there's no real need."
"Indeed, but I can never truly set my mind at ease when it comes to Wuxie."
Shangguan Li let out a helpless sigh. "Then keep monitoring them until you can feel at ease."
Although Shangguan Li understood Shaohua's psychological state, she hadn't expected Shaohua to become increasingly anxious over the past half-year while she was away.
Meanwhile, the two being observed, Tang San and Ning Rongrong, were walking happily along the path. "Third Brother, do you have time recently? Why don't we go to the City of Metal to have some fun together?"
"The City of Metal, where is that?" This was the first time Tang San had ever heard of the place, but as the name implied, mineral ores must be abundant there.
Ning Rongrong smiled as well. "This is the first time I've learned about something Third Brother didn't know. Gengxin City, the City of Metal, is a city in the Star Luo Empire with many rare ores. The gift I brought for Third Brother this time was also chosen from there."
Tang San couldn't help growing excited. "Then there must be a huge abundance of all kinds of ores there, right?"
Ning Rongrong shook her head. "I don't know; I've only seen a fraction of it. If Third Brother is interested, we can go check it out in a couple of days."
Tang San was certainly very interested. He was a blacksmith himself, and the crafting of Tang Sect Hidden Weapons also required refined ores, so he needed to secure reserves in advance.
"Then let's set off tomorrow. Rongrong, I'm so looking forward to it. But won't a trip to the Star Luo Empire mean we can't return the same day? Can your father let you leave Heaven Dou City with me?"
Although Tang San was interested in rare metal ores, he mustn't forget that if he truly lost Ning Rongrong's support, his current self would be worth nothing.
Ning Rongrong flashed a sly smile. "Don't worry, Third Brother. I'll definitely make Dad agree."
"Alright then, I'll wait for you at the gates of Heaven Dou City tomorrow morning." Though curious about how Ning Rongrong would persuade Ning Fengzhi, Tang San knew some things were better left unasked.
Ning Rongrong nodded. "But to let Dad feel at ease, Lin Ying will probably accompany me. Third Brother, will you mind?"
"Of course not. After all, it wouldn't be very reassuring for a Support System Soul Master like you to go out alone."
"I'm not going out alone. Don't I have Third Brother accompanying me? I'm not worried about my own safety at all."
"That's true. I won't let Rongrong come to any harm." Tang San said earnestly, Besides, Ning Fengzhi would never let Rongrong go out alone; he'll definitely send bodyguards.
Ning Rongrong smiled and said, "That goes without saying. But Third Brother, can you get leave from the Moonlight Pavilion for tomorrow?"
Tang San nodded. "I've almost finished all the coursework at the Moonlight Pavilion now, so Auntie has already allowed me to rest whenever I like."
"That's simply wonderful. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's date."
Unbeknownst to anyone, Tang San escorted Ning Rongrong back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and then turned away. But the direction he headed was not Heaven Dou City, but rather the Sunset Forest.
Shangguan Li asked, "Ah'Hua, in the half-year I was away, did any changes happen in the Sunset Forest?"
Shaohua shook her head. "No changes at all? The number of soul beasts hasn't increased or decreased significantly, and the aura hasn't shifted noticeably either."
"Then why did Tang San head in the direction of the Sunset Forest? Could there be some secret of Tang San's hidden inside the Sunset Forest?"
Her curiosity piqued, Shangguan Li and Shaohua followed Tang San into the Sunset Forest. Yet upon seeing the scene before her, Shangguan Li felt nothing but profound relief that she had followed him inside.
Tang San was actually slaughtering soul beasts. This was the first time Shangguan Li had ever witnessed a scene of someone butchering soul beasts, and Tang San's actions aroused the fury of both Shangguan Li and Shaohua, while the soul beasts in Shangguan Li's Sea of Consciousness were furious as well.
Shangguan Li could no longer hold back. "Tang San, what are you doing?"
Tang San had been excitedly slaughtering away when a familiar voice rang out, causing his movements to pause for a fraction of a second.
Tang San said with a trembling voice, "Big Sister Li, long time no see."
"I asked what you are doing!" Shangguan Li completely ignored Tang San's trembling tone, feeling only pure rage.
"This Man Faced Demon Spider is an evil soul beast, and I am avenging other soul beasts." Tang San's eyes darted around as he spoke, not daring to meet Shangguan Li's gaze directly.
Shangguan Li let out a cold "ha." "Do you take me for a fool? I saw it with my own eyes. I never expected you to commit such a deed; you truly disappoint me, Tang San."
"Big Sister Li, are you sticking up for the soul beasts? Soul beasts are merely cultivation resources for us humans; why are you so partial to them?" Although Shangguan Li's words were aggressive and pressing, Tang San had no intention of sitting idly by and waiting for his doom.
Shangguan Li said, "So what if they're soul beasts? So what if they're humans? We are all living creatures inhabiting the Douluo Continent, and we must treat one another with equality. It's just that the rules of the path of cultivation on the Douluo Continent dictate that the two kill each other, but we can minimize these casualties, hunting only a suitable soul beast when a soul ring is genuinely needed."
Tang San smiled, his expression filled with bitter irony. "Even though Big Sister Li says that, you are also someone who has killed soul beasts, aren't you? What right do you have to lecture me like this?"
"I admit my hands have indeed been stained with the blood of soul beasts, but I don't slaughter soul beasts the way you do, and it seems you're even absorbing the cultivation of the soul beasts."
Shangguan Li had felt that Tang San entering the Sunset Forest was an unusual matter. But hearing from Shaohua that during the past half-year, the number of soul beasts had not decreased and even the previous chilly aura had vanished, it had felt as though the Sunset Forest had returned to normal.
Yet this very abnormal transformation made Shangguan Li feel even more suspicious, and subsequently Shaohua mentioned that the anomalies in the Sunset Forest might be somewhat related to Tang San.
After seeing it with her own eyes, Shangguan Li confirmed Tang San's abnormality.
Tang San grew nervous. "Big Sister Li, what are you talking about? How could I ever do such a thing? That's the kind of thing only those utterly wicked Evil Soul Masters would do."
"You even know that's something only Evil Soul Masters would do? Then what is it you're doing right now?"
"I didn't do anything." Tang San stubbornly refused to admit it; if he ruined his image in Shangguan Li's heart, it wouldn't be worth it at all.
Yet what Tang San did not know was that in Shangguan Li's heart, he was already the scum of the earth.
"Do you take my eyes for the eyes of the blind? I only believe my own eyes. I saw you commit this act, and as a member of the Douluo Continent Soul Master World, I cannot let you off."
Though Shangguan Li spoke with righteous justification, in reality she simply wanted to beat Tang San up to vent her anger.
Before you continue