First Date, the Pink-Haired Girl's Predicament, You Really Are Hungry!

The hotel was still the same hotel.

The room was still the same room.

The light gradually shifted from the brightness of afternoon to the dusky yellow of evening, then from yellow twilight to the dimness of nightfall.

Outside the window, lights had just begun to glow, and Heaven Dou City's nightlife was slowly unfolding.

"Creak!"

The door finally opened.

When Ye Qing and Dugu Yan emerged from the room,

Dugu Yan had her arm linked through Ye Qing's, and there was a subtle awkwardness in the way she walked.

A flush still lingered on her cheeks.

Her eyes carried a touch of reproach, along with the hazy aftermath that had yet to fade.

"How are you any different from an animal?"

Dugu Yan complained in a low voice, secretly pinching Ye Qing's arm.

"Doing that in broad daylight. Aren't you ashamed?"

A punchable grin hung on Ye Qing's lips. His expression was so irritating it made people want to punch him.

"How can you blame me?"

"Yanzi, you're just too delicious. I couldn't stop."

"Say, Yanzi, did you really not put on any aphrodisiac?"

"You always smell so nice. It works better than an aphrodisiac."

"You—!"

The blush on Dugu Yan's face deepened.

She turned her head away, refusing to look at him, yet her grip on his arm tightened.

This guy really has no shame. He really is an animal!

Even someone as open-minded as her could not withstand this bastard's shamelessness.

She muttered softly, "Animal or not, I chose him myself."

"Hm? What did you say, Yanzi?"

"I didn't say anything! Let's go!"

As they walked, Ye Qing looked around at Heaven Dou City's streets as the lights came on.

His tone regained some seriousness. "Old man... ahem, when is our grandpa coming to see us?"

Dugu Yan thought for a moment and shook her head. "I'm not sure either."

"Grandpa has some ties with Prince Xue Xing. He's done quite a few things for Prince Xue Xing before."

"Grandpa has been away from Heaven Dou for several months this time. They'll definitely have a lot to discuss when they meet again."

"Perfect."

Ye Qing's eyes lit up, anticipation gleaming in his dark pupils.

"???"

Dugu Yan hurriedly took a step back, eyeing him suspiciously. "You're not thinking of doing it again, are you?"

She was genuinely frightened.

This guy had already been incredibly strong to begin with.

Now, with immortal herbs and Soul Rings, he was even more absurdly powerful.

If they did it again, she had no doubt that her field would be plowed to ruin by this animal bull.

Seeing Dugu Yan's wary expression, Ye Qing's face darkened.

"Yanzi, what are you thinking?"

"I care about you so much. How could I bear to wear you out like that?"

Dugu Yan gave him a seductive eye roll.

You couldn't bear it?

You bastard had practically been standing up and pedaling!

Seeing that she still did not believe him, Ye Qing felt a little guilty and hurriedly explained, "I meant we can use this time to properly explore Heaven Dou City together."

"Come to think of it, we've known each other for so long, but we've never gone on a proper date."

"A date?"

A flash of delight passed through Dugu Yan's emerald eyes.

Yet she still refused to give in verbally. "Who wants to go on a date with you?"

"Of course, my wife Yanzi."

"Why are you so shameless?"

"Could I have won you over if I cared about my pride?"

Dugu Yan pursed her lips, but she could not hide the curve of her smile.

She tightened her hold on Ye Qing's arm and gently rested her head against his shoulder. "Then... I'll go sightseeing with you once."

"Alright!"

As the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City showed no sign of quietness even after night fell.

Lanterns hung along both sides of the wide main street, their warm yellow glow illuminating the entire road as brightly as day.

The streets were packed with people.

Students in Heaven Dou Royal Academy uniforms walked in groups of two or three.

Soul Masters with Martial Souls hurried past.

Ordinary citizens also brought their families out to browse the night market.

The air was filled with the scorched sweetness of roasted chestnuts, the rich scent of grilled meat, and the fresh sweetness of some unknown flower.

Ye Qing and Dugu Yan strolled through the crowd side by side.

When they passed a candied hawthorn stall, Ye Qing casually bought her a skewer.

Dugu Yan said, "Only children eat these."

Yet she snatched it up quickly and ate more happily than anyone.

Ye Qing watched her cheeks puff up and tried so hard not to laugh that his shoulders trembled.

Then she shot him a glare.

The two wandered at a leisurely pace, lingering for quite some time before a stall selling small accessories.

Ye Qing picked up a ring set with a green gemstone.

He took Dugu Yan's hand and, without giving her any chance to object, slipped it onto her ring finger.

"Make do with this for now. I'll get you a better one later."

Dugu Yan lowered her head to look at the ring on her hand.

The emerald gem gleamed softly beneath the lights, exactly the same color as her eyes.

She hid her ringed hand in her sleeve. The smile at the corners of her mouth could not be suppressed, but she still stubbornly said, "Let's go. There's still so much ahead that we haven't seen."

Ye Qing followed with a smile.

The two continued onward.

As they passed a tavern,

A burst of noisy shouting came from inside. It sounded like someone was drinking and playing a finger-guessing game.

Ye Qing had wanted to go in and take a look, but Dugu Yan pulled him into a side alley.

"That way leads to a side street in the snack district. It's more interesting than the main road."

Dugu Yan spoke with a hint of smugness in her voice. "Lingling and I used to come here often."

"There's an old grilled fish shop that's especially delicious. I'll take you to try it later."

"Lingling?"

She must have meant Ye Lingling, the owner of the Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul.

"Ye Lingling, my best friend. I'll introduce you to her later."

When Dugu Yan spoke of her best friend, her eyes curved with delight. They were clearly extremely close.

Ye Qing was about to respond when his steps suddenly paused.

He sharply caught a burst of disorderly footsteps coming from the mouth of the alley ahead.

Those footsteps had deliberately been softened, but they could not conceal their unnatural sneakiness.

Instinctively, he pulled Dugu Yan slightly behind him.

At the corner of the alley entrance,

Three men were hunched over and peeking around, watching another alley.

The leader was a burly man with a scar on his face, broad and heavily built, his face covered in flesh.

Behind him stood a tall, skinny man and a short, stocky man.

The three stared into the depths of the alley with lecherous eyes, whispering among themselves.

From time to time, they let out low, obscene chuckles.

"Going into such a dark alley alone so late at night? Isn't she serving herself up to us?"

"She's dressed pretty nicely. She should be some young miss, though she looks a little young."

"Hehe, boss likes them young."

"Boss, this little girl is really pretty! Those legs, that waist... tsk, tsk, tsk. Her chest is a little small, though."

"Shut up."

Scarface barked, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes.

"Follow her. We'll make our move somewhere deserted."

Dugu Yan followed Ye Qing's gaze, and her brows immediately furrowed.

She knew this side alley of the snack district well.

Farther in lay an abandoned warehouse district.

Hardly anyone passed through there even during the day, much less at night.

"Ye Qing, it looks like a pink-haired girl went into that alley."

Dugu Yan suddenly grabbed Ye Qing's arm, a cold gleam flashing in her emerald eyes.

"Those three thugs are following her. They're probably planning to attack her."

Ye Qing narrowed his eyes and looked deeper into the alley.

Sure enough.

A petite figure was walking ahead at an unhurried pace.

Her long pink hair stood out especially clearly in the night.

But what made Ye Qing's heart stir was that her steps were far too composed for someone walking through a dark alley at night. She seemed more like she was strolling through her own courtyard.

She did not hesitate or look around.

He felt that this girl was not simple.

"Yanzi, wait—"

He had wanted to hold her back and observe for a while before acting.

But Dugu Yan had already shaken off his hand and rushed out.

She had always despised scum who bullied women.

Especially when three street punks were following a lone young girl. She was definitely going to interfere!

"This girl..."

Ye Qing sighed helplessly and followed after her.

Deep in the alley.

The narrow passage between the abandoned warehouses was dark and cramped.

The walls on both sides were covered in withered vines.

Moldy wooden crates and rusted iron barrels were piled in the corners.

The air was thick with dust and decay.

The pink-haired girl finally stopped.

The three men could no longer be bothered to hide,

And directly leaped out from the shadows, surrounding her in a triangular formation.

Scarface grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"Little girl, why aren't you home this late? Did you get lost?"

His gaze roamed wantonly over the girl's slender, youthful figure, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

The undisguised lustfulness was sickening to behold.

"Come on, uncle will take you home."

The tall, skinny man and the short, stocky man blocked the paths on either side.

The three clearly had experience. Their positions worked together flawlessly, cutting off every possible route of escape.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?!"

Dugu Yan's voice exploded through the alley.

She strode in from the alley entrance, her emerald hair billowing in the night wind.

A chilling killing intent made all three thugs shudder at once.

Ye Qing followed behind her at an unhurried pace.

He appeared to be standing casually, but his eyes rapidly swept between the three thugs and the pink-haired girl.

The pink-haired girl was surrounded by three burly men, yet there was not a trace of panic on her face.

She was unnaturally calm.

Those bright, crystalline eyes instead turned curious gazes toward Ye Qing and Dugu Yan.

As if she were sizing up the two unexpected variables who had suddenly entered the scene.

After Scarface got a clear look at Dugu Yan, the fear in his eyes was instantly replaced by lewdness.

He burst into a crude laugh. "Yo, another one!"

"And a top-notch green-haired beauty at that!"

"Fucking lucky tonight. I've never played with anyone this pretty before!"

"Big Bro, what about that black-haired kid?" the short, stocky man asked, pointing at Ye Qing.

Scarface waved a hand impatiently.

"What kind of trouble can some pretty boy cause?"

"Cripple him first. Don't kill him—make sure he stays awake and watches from the side while us brothers properly entertain these two little sisters."

The skinny man said, "Ahem, Boss, can I have that pretty boy?"

The fat man cackled. "Damn, you really are starving!"

"These damned beasts!"

Dugu Yan's face turned icy as frost, her killing intent almost tangible.

The Jade Phosphorus Flood Dragon Martial Soul emerged behind her, its dark green, gold-edged scales glinting with a chilling light beneath the moon.

But Ye Qing grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind him.

"Let me handle this."

"But—"

"Your poison spreading through the city wouldn't be good."

"And besides."

Ye Qing turned back and smiled at her, the smile warm and harmless.

Yet deep within those black eyes that were usually so cheerful, Dugu Yan saw a chill she had never seen before.

"Trash like this isn't worth you lifting a hand."

"Your man has some strength too, you know. These three pieces of trash aren't even enough for a warm-up."

Scarface was so enraged by Ye Qing's words that he laughed instead.

"Strength? A pretty boy like you?"

"I'd like to see how you plan to play hero!"

"Awooo!"

He suddenly let out a furious roar as his Martial Soul Possession activated.

A pair of gray-black wolf claws sprang from the backs of his hands, their sharp tips gleaming with a foul light.

Four Soul Rings—white, yellow, yellow, and purple—rose beneath his feet, casting an unsettling glow through the dim alley.

The two accomplices behind him revealed their Martial Souls at the same time.

The tall, skinny man's hands turned into two bone scythes as three Soul Rings—white, yellow, and yellow—spun around him.

The short, stocky man gave a low growl, hunching over as his canine teeth protruded. It was Wild Dog Martial Soul Possession.

He had the same white, yellow, yellow configuration.

Three soul masters.

One Soul Ancestor and two Soul Elders.

Against ordinary people, that truly was enough strength to swagger through the streets.

No wonder they were so arrogant.