Standing on a hillside, Ying Chengfeng and Qian Renxue gazed toward Spirit Hall in the distance.
The sun was warm, and a gentle breeze stirred the little cloaks they wore.
"Let's go. We'll come back in a few years."
Ying Chengfeng reached up and pulled his hood over his head, then took Qian Renxue's hand.
The two small figures turned their backs on the rising sun and headed west.
Two days later.
At Suotuo City's east gate, a boy led a horse into the city.
A girl sat on the horse.
They both looked to be around six or seven years old, and neither carried much luggage.
The boy's face was covered below the nose, so only the area from his nose to his neck could be seen.
His lower lip was thin, and his lips were pressed together, giving him a reserved look.
The girl also showed only half her face. Her fair complexion was like white jade.
She had a small mouth and a pert nose.
She was surely a beauty.
The two of them were Ying Chengfeng and Qian Renxue.
At their flying speed, they could have reached the city in a day.
But Ying Chengfeng always remembered that when traveling, it was best to keep a low profile.
The two headed south through Suotuo City.
A relatively backward village came into view.
Compared to the bustle of Suotuo City, the village seemed rather out of place.
It belonged in a town, not a big city like Suotuo City.
"Shrek Academy?" Qian Renxue said, looking at the wooden sign hanging at the village entrance from atop the horse.
Just then, a white-haired old man came out of the village.
He looked at Ying Chengfeng and Qian Renxue, the two children.
"Whose kids are you? This isn't the place for you."
The old man spoke with an air of arrogance.
"Do you know where you are? This is Shrek Academy, which only accepts monsters."
The old man pointed at the sign hanging at the village entrance and impatiently waved them away.
He looked ready to chase them off.
Ying Chengfeng merely gave him a cool glance.
"Is Tang San here?"
He wasn't quite sure about the timeline.
Nor could he determine it based on Qian Renxue's age.
In the original story, Qian Renxue's age was a major plot hole.
The old man's expression grew even more impatient.
"The person you're looking for isn't here. Hurry up and leave."
Ying Chengfeng looked at him and said calmly, "I'll come back."
With that, he led the horse away.
On horseback, Qian Renxue asked curiously, "Why are you looking for this Tang San?"
"Is Tang San the person we're looking for?"
Ying Chengfeng shook his head. "I just asked while we were passing by. The person we're looking for is Yu Xiaogang."
"Is this Yu Xiaogang really powerful?" Qian Renxue grew even more curious.
Ying Chengfeng didn't answer her question.
Instead, he suddenly asked, "What do you think a pig... an underdeveloped pig could do?"
"A pig?" Qian Renxue paused, wearing a thoughtful expression.
After thinking briefly, she said, "Besides eating, what else could it do?"
"A pig can indeed only eat. When it grows up..."
"When it grows up, you slaughter it and eat the meat," Qian Renxue answered quickly.
"Mm..." Ying Chengfeng smiled. "All right, you're right."
Then he continued, "But someone wants an underdeveloped pig to command the power of thunder."
"Haha, are you teasing me?" Qian Renxue giggled. "What kind of fool would do that?"
"Let's go beat that fool up right now," Ying Chengfeng said.
The two resumed their journey west.
Qian Renxue couldn't help asking, "So Yu Xiaogang is actually a pig?"
"He has a pig Martial Soul," Ying Chengfeng replied.
This time, Qian Renxue understood.
"So Yu Xiaogang wants to force his Martial Soul to gain Soul Skills, without first improving its quality?"
Ying Chengfeng smiled. "Exactly. It's like asking a three-year-old child to lift a thousand-jin warhammer. Do you think he could manage it?"
"Maybe he could lift it when he grows up," Qian Renxue replied.
"People can grow up, but a Martial Soul's growth depends on Soul Rings," Ying Chengfeng said.
"The Soul Rings that should've been used to help that pig grow were instead used to obtain Soul Skills."
"That pig can hardly grow anymore."
Qian Renxue nodded pensively, then asked, "So what kind of Soul Rings should be used to raise the pig?"
"Any Soul Ring that's attribute-free, compatible, and high in energy will do," Ying Chengfeng said.
"To gain his family's approval, Yu Xiaogang forced himself to obtain lightning abilities."
"But did he really think a pig was the same as a dragon?"
By the end, Ying Chengfeng's voice had turned angry.
Qian Renxue could clearly hear it too. "So you hate idiots and want to beat him up?"
"Mm. He's level 29." Ying Chengfeng calmed himself down.
Qian Renxue said, "Then I'll help you beat him up!"
"Good." Ying Chengfeng smiled faintly.
It wasn't that he couldn't beat Yu Xiaogang.
He could beat a hundred Yu Xiaogangs.
That useless Luo Sanpao couldn't even hit anyone. After three blasts, it was done for.
That was the inevitable result of forcing a three-year-old child to wield a thousand-jin warhammer.
Ying Chengfeng wanted Qian Renxue to help him purely so she could take part.
He wanted her to beat up this good-for-nothing, the good-for-nothing her mother had fallen in love with!
That was also why Ying Chengfeng was so angry.
He was so furious that he was willing to travel a thousand li just to find Yu Xiaogang and beat him up.
He wanted even more to kill Yu Xiaogang.
But he couldn't.
If Yu Xiaogang died, the departed white moonlight would become a knot in Bibi Dong's heart that she could never undo.
He would crush Yu Xiaogang's Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul underfoot.
He would make Bibi Dong see Yu Xiaogang's useless nature clearly.
He would make Bibi Dong give some of her love for Yu Xiaogang to Qian Renxue—even just a little.
Just then, Qian Renxue suddenly thought of something and asked,
"So Yu Xiaogang is the key to making Mom like me?"
She couldn't figure it out, no matter how hard she tried.
Ying Chengfeng didn't explain it outright.
He didn't want Qian Renxue to learn about all this too soon.
Her mother loving a man other than her father was too heavy a burden for a child.
Ying Chengfeng would rather let Qian Renxue enjoy her real childhood, carefree and happy.
Three days later, Ying Chengfeng and Qian Renxue arrived in a small city.
Nuoding City.
It was a small city that wasn't particularly prosperous, but was quite wealthy.
Of course, by "wealthy," he only meant that the common people lived better lives.
The area produced plenty of fruits and vegetables, allowing even ordinary folk to live in peace and contentment.
It was also a good place for useless Soul Masters to retire.
For example: the useless Yu Xiaogang.
At this time, Yu Xiaogang was definitely living out his retirement here.
He was freeloading at Nuoding City's Junior Soul Master Academy, relying on that silver tongue of his.
It was only because there weren't many powerful or knowledgeable Soul Masters around Nuoding City.
Otherwise, who could Yu Xiaogang fool with that silver tongue of his?
Hadn't he ever bothered asking around to see who on the continent accepted his lousy Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul?
Actually, Bibi Dong had been fooled by Yu Xiaogang's silver tongue.
Stupid woman!
Thinking of this made Ying Chengfeng furious!
He casually asked someone for directions, then headed straight for Nuoding City's Junior Soul Master Academy.
He couldn't wait another moment. He was going to slap Yu Xiaogang's lousy mouth to pieces right now!
Before you continue