Flender rarely showed a moment of kindness and announced that everyone would get a day off.
Ma Hongjun was the first to leap up, cheering with both hands raised. He nearly lifted the cafeteria roof off.
Oscar joined in, shouting that they should go to Suotuo City for a good meal.
Ning Rongrong said nothing, but her eyes lit up too.
She had been at Shrek for nearly a month, yet she had never once gone beyond the academy gates.
Fu Wen stood nearby, his expression calm, but he was also planning to buy some medicinal herbs in the city.
The medicinal bath formula called for several new herbs the academy didn't have in stock. This was the perfect chance to buy them.
The four of them left the academy and headed toward Suotuo City.
Flender didn't go with them. As he put it, "You need to go out on your own sometimes. You can't always hide behind your old man."
Zhao Wuji was worried too and quietly followed them, but Flender stopped him.
"Let them go by themselves. They have to experience a few things."
And so, the four children swaggered into Suotuo City.
Suotuo City was bustling.
Shops lined both sides of the streets, selling everything from food and clothes to Soul Beast materials.
Ma Hongjun's eyes couldn't take it all in. He kept looking this way and that, as if he wanted to haul the entire street back to the academy.
"Oscar, those grilled meat skewers smell amazing!"
"Oscar, that sugar figurine is so pretty!"
"Oscar, that..."
"Shut up."
Oscar smacked him on the back of the head.
Your big bro Oscar's broke.
Ma Hongjun rubbed his head, aggrieved, and didn't dare shout again.
Ning Rongrong walked ahead with her hands behind her back, looking all around.
She was in high spirits, a smile never leaving her lips.
Back at the sect, whenever she went out, she was surrounded by attendants and driven in a carriage. She had never strolled through the streets so freely.
Though she had only three peers with her, this outing made her happier than any other.
Fu Wen walked at the rear, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.
He wasn't in the mood to shop. He was watching the environment.
Suotuo City might not be large, but it had all kinds of people from every walk of life.
With four children out on their own, there was no telling who might set their sights on them.
As it turned out, his concern wasn't unfounded.
"Well, well, who's this pretty little lady? So fresh and lovely."
A greasy voice came from nearby.
Ning Rongrong turned and saw three grown men standing by the roadside, smiling at her.
The leader was bald, with a scar across his face. His clothes were gaudy, and he looked like trouble at a glance.
The two behind him were a Thin Bamboo Pole and a Short Melon, a comical pair standing side by side.
Ning Rongrong frowned without replying, then turned to leave.
"Don't go, little lady."
The bald man blocked her way.
"How about having a drink with us big brothers?"
"Get lost."
Ning Rongrong spat out the words coldly.
The bald man's expression changed.
"Little girl, don't be so ungrateful. Do you know who I am? I'm the boss around here, a powerful Soul Elder. Be smart and have a drink with your big brothers. There'll be something in it for you."
Ning Rongrong didn't answer, but she looked at the bald man as if he were already dead.
Fu Wen stepped forward and stood between Ning Rongrong and the man.
He wasn't tall, but he stood before the bald man without giving an inch in presence.
"Move."
The bald man froze for a moment, then laughed.
"Little brat, you haven't even grown hair in all the right places, and you're already playing the hero?"
"This is the last time I'll say it. Move."
There wasn't a hint of emotion in Fu Wen's voice.
The bald man's smile stiffened.
For some reason, facing this six-year-old boy filled him with a trace of dread.
"Boss, quit wasting time with them. Just take her."
Thin Bamboo Pole came forward and reached for Ning Rongrong's hand.
Before he could touch her, a hand grabbed his.
Fu Wen's hand.
"Argh!!"
Thin Bamboo Pole let out a scream as Fu Wen's grip made his wrist crack.
Fu Wen's grip was so strong that Thin Bamboo Pole felt his bones were about to shatter.
"You little bastard, you're asking to die!"
The bald man flew into a rage and punched at Fu Wen.
Fu Wen slipped to the side, and the bald man's fist struck nothing but air.
He lost his balance and stumbled forward.
Oscar seized the chance, ate a Flying Sausage, unfurled his blue Light Wing, and dove from above. He kicked the bald man squarely in the back.
The bald man pitched forward and hit the dirt face-first.
"Seven Treasures Famous, First: Strength!"
Ning Rongrong's enhancement light enveloped Oscar and Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun spread his arms, and five golden Light Feathers took shape behind him.
"Phoenix Holy Light Strike!"
The five Light Feathers shot out toward Thin Bamboo Pole and Short Melon.
They tried to dodge, but Ma Hongjun's aim had improved by leaps and bounds. All five Light Feathers hit their marks.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With two screams, Thin Bamboo Pole and Short Melon were blasted through the air. They hit the ground, charred all over and unable to move.
The bald man got back to his feet, his eyes bloodshot.
"You little brats! I'll kill you all!"
His Soul Rings lit up. Two yellow and one purple ring rose from beneath his feet.
Fu Wen's pupils contracted.
A Soul Elder, with three rings.
Though they only had two rings, the gap between them was considerable.
"Spread out!"
Fu Wen shouted and charged forward.
He was fast, but the bald man was faster.
The full power of a three-ring Soul Elder burst forth, and he drove a punch at Fu Wen's chest.
Fu Wen didn't dodge. He took the punch head-on.
His body staggered back a few steps, but he managed to steady himself.
"What?"
The bald man's eyes widened.
That punch could have killed a Hundred-Year Soul Beast, yet the boy had only staggered back a few steps?
"Flow-Severing!"
Fu Wen spun and lashed out with a back kick. The tail of the Divine Crocodile Phantom swept across and struck the bald man in the waist.
The bald man felt the flow of Soul Power inside him forcibly cut off. His Soul Rings went dark, and he could no longer unleash his Soul Skills.
"Now!"
Fu Wen shouted.
Oscar dove from the sky and kicked the bald man in the face.
The bald man fell flat on his back, blood spurting from his nose.
Ma Hongjun's golden Light Feathers followed close behind, all five striking the bald man in the chest.
Explosions rang out. The bald man's clothes were blown to shreds, and his chest was scorched black.
But a Soul Elder was tough to kill. He was still alive.
"Rongrong, boost me!"
Fu Wen shouted.
"Seven Treasures Famous, First: Strength!"
Golden light enveloped Fu Wen.
Fu Wen charged up to the bald man and summoned the Divine Crocodile Phantom.
"Primordial Bite!"
The Divine Crocodile's jaws opened and clamped down hard on the bald man's neck.
Crack.
The sound of bone breaking.
The bald man's eyes bulged. His mouth hung open as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out.
His body spasmed a few times, then went completely still.
Blood gushed from the bald man's neck, staining the ground red.
Fu Wen let go, stood up, and took a step back.
He looked at the corpse on the ground, his expression calm, but an indescribable feeling welled up inside him.
It wasn't fear or disgust, but a strange calm.
Having lived two lives, he had seen death before, but this was the first time he had killed someone with his own hands.
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