"Since he's in there, take me inside. What are you standing around for? I don't know which room he's in."
Luo Chen was about ready to kick the guy in the backside. Was he expecting him to go in and knock on every door?
The guard froze at his words, then hurriedly bowed and apologized. In the end, he still led Luo Chen upstairs.
But as the two of them climbed the stairs, they crossed paths with a middle-aged man dressed like a beggar, whose whole body reeked so badly it made people's stomachs turn.
"Who was that?"
Luo Chen looked at the guard and asked quietly.
But the guard only shook his head blankly.
"I don't know, sir. Usually only the academy's senior staff are allowed in here, but I've never seen that strange man before."
Luo Chen said no more and simply nodded.
He knew who that man had been.
Soon, Luo Chen was brought to the door of Yu Xiaogang's office. The guard, having kept his promise, was sent back.
Looking at the white door in front of him, Luo Chen raised his hand and knocked.
"Come in."
At the sound of Yu Xiaogang's voice, Luo Chen pushed open the door and entered.
Yu Xiaogang had been lounging lazily, but the moment he saw Luo Chen, he slapped the desk and sprang to his feet.
"You! What are you doing here?"
Yu Xiaogang could barely hide his fury. He still remembered the humiliation Luo Chen had dealt him that day.
Now he had a powerful backer...
While Yu Xiaogang was fantasizing, Luo Chen had already walked up to him and lightly tapped the desk with a fingertip.
"Where are my Gold Soul Coins? I'm not interested in you, old man."
"I'm here to take back what belongs to me."
Luo Chen spoke with a smile.
But Yu Xiaogang still wore that same expression. He had just started to take out the token he'd received moments ago when Luo Chen abruptly pinned his hand down.
"You..."
Yu Xiaogang stared at Luo Chen in disbelief. His anger had vanished, replaced by shock and fear.
Luo Chen merely shook his head slightly and put a finger to his lips.
"I know what you're about to take out, but I can guarantee you'll be dead before you can call for help. Give me what I'm owed, or... the choice is yours, Master."
Luo Chen's voice was soft, but to Yu Xiaogang, it sounded like a devil's whisper.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Luo Chen. He'd actually been threatened!
But when he thought of Luo Chen's words and his Martial Soul, he finally backed down.
He set down the token, and Luo Chen released his hand.
A few minutes later, Luo Chen left Notting Academy in high spirits, carrying the 50 Gold Soul Coins he was owed, plus another 50 as compensation for his mental distress.
From what he'd just seen and heard, as well as Yu Xiaogang's attitude, he could more or less tell that Yu Xiaogang had already taken Little Scumbag as a disciple.
He was curious about the reason, but he doubted either of those two would tell him, and the others probably wouldn't know either. So he couldn't be bothered to ask around.
He still had over a hundred Gold Soul Coins on him, enough to live it up for a long time.
After leaving Notting Academy, Luo Chen first went to the Little Soul Arena in Nuoding City to register his identity.
Although this was only a small branch, where the matches were all minor affairs, the identity he registered would still be valid everywhere.
That meant once he had registered as a Soul Fighting participant here, he wouldn't need to go through all those tedious procedures again if he wanted to earn money the same way somewhere else.
Now, Luo Chen could finally relax for real.
All that remained was to cultivate hard, then eat, drink, and have fun.
But just as Luo Chen was imagining his wonderful life and getting ready to leave the Soul Fighting Arena, he ran straight into someone.
"??!!"
Looking at the black-robed figure standing before him, who looked exactly like the one at the inn, Luo Chen's mouth fell open into an O.
Qian Renxue! How had she followed him all the way to Nuoding City?
What Luo Chen didn't know was that after obtaining her Soul Ring, Qian Renxue hadn't returned to the imperial palace at all. She'd come straight to Nuoding City to wait for him.
As if she'd anticipated Luo Chen's reaction, Qian Renxue smiled slightly, took off her hood, and revealed golden hair and violet eyes just like Luo Chen's.
The striking pair, one tall and one small, immediately drew the attention of many people nearby.
Even Luo Chen was stunned. It suddenly dawned on him why he'd run into Qian Renxue here.
He'd overlooked a lot of things because of his Martial Soul, including his own appearance.
Now that he took a closer look, he couldn't believe anyone would say they weren't siblings.
"Do you still remember me? We met outside the Star Dou Great Forest."
It seemed Qian Renxue had gotten the reaction she wanted from Luo Chen. She smiled and prompted him to remember.
Luo Chen couldn't hide his awkwardness, but he still nodded with a smile.
"Miss... Sister, long time no see. I didn't know you were from Nuoding City too, haha."
Luo Chen laughed awkwardly, trying to bluff his way through.
He was really starting to wonder if he was related to the Qian Family after all!
How could they look so alike?!
He'd already guessed what Qian Renxue was thinking, and now he thought so too.
But just as Luo Chen was wondering how to get away, Qian Renxue showed no intention of letting him go.
"Little brother, why did you come to the Soul Fighting Arena alone? Where's your family?"
Luo Chen: "..."
"I'm an orphan."
For a moment, Luo Chen felt Qian Renxue's eyes grow even brighter.
It was the light of truth, as if she felt she was getting closer to the answer.
Luo Chen felt utterly miserable. He suddenly thought he shouldn't have come back at all. He could've returned to collect from Yu Xiaogang another time and even charged more interest.
Now, it was practically impossible to run.
"What's your name, little brother... Just call me Sister Xue'er."
As she chatted with Luo Chen, Qian Renxue put on a very simple alias.
"My name is Luo Chen, Sister Xue'er..."
Luo Chen felt awkward. Sure, he was only six years old now, just a little kid, but his soul wasn't...
Qian Renxue looked about fifteen or sixteen, so being asked to call her sister really didn't come naturally to him.
But there was nothing he could do. Under someone else's roof, he had to bow his head.
Luo Chen could only grit his teeth and go along with Qian Renxue.
Meanwhile, Qian Renxue kept looking at Luo Chen with a bright smile.
Then, right in front of everyone, she took Luo Chen's hand.
Luo Chen was completely dumbfounded. Since things had come to this, all he could do was clasp Qian Renxue's hand in return and follow her as she turned and led him inside the Soul Fighting Arena.
"I'll take you to watch a Soul Fighting match. It just so happens that I want to ask you a few things."
Qian Renxue's attitude was firm, and Luo Chen had no choice but to nod.
He thought of a lyric from his previous life.
I want to smile, but can't; I want to cry, but no tears come...
Before you continue