While Ye Guchen was training in the Star Dou Great Forest on the Dou II timeline, Ye Guchen on the Dou I timeline had also come face-to-face with Dai Mubai, one of the main characters.
In the stands of the Soto Great Soul Arena, Dai Mubai's hands were wandering over the upper thighs of a pair of twin sisters, drawing a series of coquettish protests from them.
"You're so annoying!"
"Haha, you can't take even this? Just wait until tonight—you two will be in for a rough time."
As he spoke, he leaned toward the twins and brazenly tried to kiss them.
"Stop it!"
Though the sisters protested, their bodies told a different story. They cupped Dai Mubai's face and kissed him.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Guchen had seen the entire scene from the VIP room.
"Shameless!"
A wave of grievance washed over Zhu Zhuqing. He had run away, leaving her alone. She had thought he would learn from his shame and strive harder, that after arriving in the Heaven Dou Empire he would work with all his might. She hadn't expected him to indulge himself to this extent!
Thinking of all the storms she had faced alone in Star Luo, and how she had finally escaped only to seek him out first, she couldn't help feeling she had been a fool.
Zhu Zhuyun had already told her what a wretched state Dai Mubai was in, but hearing about it was nothing compared to seeing it with her own eyes. It was utterly revolting.
Noticing Zhu Zhuqing's low spirits, Ye Guchen didn't offer empty comfort. Instead, he slowly moved closer and put an arm around her shoulders.
"It's all right. I'm here."
Zhu Zhuqing leaned into Ye Guchen without thinking. An unprecedented sense of safety enveloped her.
But when she looked down at Dai Mubai, she couldn't help remembering that they were still engaged. They had hardly met, but the engagement bound them together like a shackle. It was a royal engagement, and daring to break it meant facing the imperial family's wrath!
Perhaps that was why, in the original story, Zhu Zhuqing hadn't left when she first arrived in Suotuo City, even though she had already lost all hope in Dai Mubai.
She slowly lifted her head and saw only calm confidence on Ye Guchen's face.
Should I really accept his protection without a care, even if it means dragging him into the royal family's feud?
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing was torn apart inside. One path led to certain death; the other offered her peace, but might drag her benefactor into a mire.
She gritted her teeth and decided to follow her heart. Slowly, she raised her head, her gaze firm and resolute.
"Ye Guchen, I don't think I need your protection anymore."
She paused.
"These past few days... thank you."
She had thought she could say all that with enough strength, but now, tears still spilled from her eyes against her will.
Ye Guchen glanced down at Dai Mubai, then turned his gaze to Zhu Zhuqing, who was still sobbing.
How could he not understand? This silly girl was plainly afraid of bringing trouble down on him.
He tightened his arm around her.
"Are you afraid of getting me involved?"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't answer. She only nodded.
Ye Guchen reached out and flicked her on the nose.
"Strength is the most convincing language. The sword decides the boundary between life and death. If they dare come, I won't mind letting Shark Tooth drink its fill of blood!"
As he spoke, a piercing aura of killing intent burst from within him, chilling the air around them.
Hearing his words soothed Zhu Zhuqing's grievance and resentment. She looked up and met Ye Guchen's determined gaze, feeling as if she were already wrapped in something called safety. But did she really deserve it?
She couldn't help questioning herself, and her head lowered unconsciously.
"I'm still engaged to him. I don't want to deceive you!"
Those words seemed to drain all her strength.
People on the Douluo Continent valued their reputations deeply, and she was engaged to someone!
With her head bowed, she seemed to be waiting for Ye Guchen's judgment. But what he said next might as well have given her a new life.
"Ha. An engagement?"
"Only the strong have the right to speak of promises. For the weak, an engagement can be nothing more than a repudiation!"
Hope briefly flared within her, but Ye Guchen might have been exceptionally gifted, yet right now he was only a lowly Soul King. Compared with the Star Luo Imperial Family, he was nothing more than a slightly larger ant!
"But..."
Before she could finish, Ye Guchen pressed a finger to her lips.
"You don't need to burden yourself. In a few years, I'll personally take you to storm that imperial city. Before the Star Luo Emperor, I'll let you repudiate Dai Mubai yourself!"
There was no exaggeration in Ye Guchen's words. A few years would be enough for him to grow into a Soul Douluo or even a Titled Douluo—or perhaps he would already have become a god by then.
Zhu Zhuqing stopped refusing and instead embraced Ye Guchen, burying her face against his chest.
Ye Guchen felt warmth spread across his chest, as if her tears had fallen there. He placed a hand on her back and gently patted it.
After all, this woman who could stand on her own in the world of Douluo was, in his previous life, no more than a middle schooler.
Hand in hand, the two left the VIP room of the Soto Great Soul Arena. By sheer coincidence, they passed right by Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai stopped without thinking.
"I can feel my Martial Soul stirring. It's as if I've found my other half!"
His gaze settled on the back of the person stirring his Martial Soul, and his eyes grew ever more feverish.
"What a figure!"
"If I could have her, not only would it improve my strength, I'd also get myself a pretty little plaything!"
Then he shoved the twins beside him away.
"I've got something to do today. I'll find you two another time."
He tossed the sisters a bag of Gold Soul Coins and hurried after Ye Guchen and Zhu Zhuqing.
"Hey, pretty girl. This young master's taken a liking to you. How about going out with me?"
Dai Mubai leaned against the wall with one hand, his other hand on his hip, blocking Ye Guchen and Zhu Zhuqing.
Dai Mubai's eyes shifted. The person in front of him seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn't remember why.
Looking at the greasy Dai Mubai, Ye Guchen's mouth twitched. "Where did he learn that?"
But there was no time to worry about that now. Ye Guchen stepped forward and shielded Zhu Zhuqing behind him.
"Get out of the way!"
Dai Mubai remained arrogant, looking down his nose at him.
"Sorry, I'm talking to this beautiful lady. I didn't see some stray dog standing there!"
As he spoke, three Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—appeared beneath his feet.
"If you don't want to die, move aside! This beauty's out of your league."
The man before him might have been a little more handsome, but Dai Mubai believed he was second to none among his peers.
Ye Guchen's temper flared at the sight. He had no desire to trade insults.
Shark Tooth appeared silently in his hand. He raised it and severed the hand Dai Mubai had braced against the wall. The strike was so swift that Dai Mubai couldn't react before his hand hit the ground.
The sudden loss of balance sent his wound scraping against the wall, and an agonizing pain instantly tore through him.
"You! How dare you!"
"That's punishment for what you just said."
But Dai Mubai was proud too. He forced himself to endure the pain and used his Soul Power to stop the bleeding.
"White Tiger Intense Light Wave!"
He opened his mouth, and a milky-white ball of light gathered within. Just as he was about to spit it out, Ye Guchen darted forward and drove his foot straight into Dai Mubai's chin.
The blow sent Dai Mubai flying. The back of his head slammed hard into the opposite wall with a dull thud.
"Cough—"
He slumped to the ground, blood trickling from his mouth. The half-formed White Tiger Intense Light Wave exploded inside it, leaving his lips a bloody mess.
After failing twice in a row, he finally saw the truth.
Dai Mubai struggled to his feet—and saw an image that would stay with him for the rest of his life.
Beneath Ye Guchen's feet revolved five Soul Rings: yellow, purple, purple, black, and black.
"S-Soul King! How is that possible? It must be an illusion!"
"How could someone this young be a Soul King? And those Soul Rings—they're obviously fake!"
But the oppressive aura kept making his nerves twitch, telling him that it was all real!
As Ye Guchen slowly approached, Dai Mubai knew he had picked a fight with someone he shouldn't have.
"N-No... you can't kill me! I'm the third prince of Star Luo!"
Ye Guchen ignored him.
Only when a foul smell reached his nostrils did he stop, cover his nose, and step back.
"Did you wet yourself?"
Zhu Zhuqing had watched the whole thing coldly. She couldn't believe that the dignified prince of Star Luo would do something so despicable!
But killing him would surely bring endless trouble.
Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward and tugged at Ye Guchen's sleeve. "Forget it. Killing him wouldn't be a problem, but the Star Luo Imperial Family's revenge would bring us trouble."
Ye Guchen looked back at Zhu Zhuqing. She was still young, after all, and it would be better not to expose her to the bloody sight of a killing just yet. He put his Martial Soul away.
"You're lucky. If there's a next time, I'll make a girl out of you!"
Dai Mubai turned to Zhu Zhuqing and repeatedly cupped his hands in gratitude.
"Thank you..."
In just those few minutes, all the strength had been forcibly drained from Dai Mubai. He slumped on the ground, dazed.
Ye Guchen couldn't be bothered with him. He was nothing but a clown.
Ye Guchen took Zhu Zhuqing's hand and led her around Dai Mubai.
There was still nearly a month until Shrek Academy opened. Waiting around in Suotuo City for a month just to meet Tang San, the protagonist, wasn't worth it. After Dai Mubai's interruption, Ye Guchen had no desire to stay any longer. He decided they would rest for the night and leave for Heaven Dou City in the morning.
After Ye Guchen and Zhu Zhuqing left, Dai Mubai finally picked up his severed hand and glared bitterly in the direction they had gone.
"Just you wait!"
Then he staggered off toward Shrek Academy.
Before you continue