Taught a Lesson by Yu Tianlin on the Street

When they returned to the hotel, it was still early. Everyone gathered in Yu Tianlin's room.

"Once the ban on third soul skills is lifted, I'm afraid no Copper Soul team will be a match for us."

Lei Dong leaned against the window frame, a lingering smirk on his lips.

Yu Tianxin sat on the edge of the bed, the web between his right thumb and forefinger still somewhat red.

Yu Tianlin stood by the window. Only after everyone's discussion gradually quieted did he turn around. He removed the Withered Wood Mask and set it at the corner of the table, its wooden grain giving off a dim sheen in the candlelight.

"Everyone performed very well in today's team battle. When Yu Xiaolou guarded the back line, the enemy's agility-attack Soul Masters tried to circle around twice, and you stopped them both times. Lei Li's timing on advancing the shield wall was more decisive than before. You pressed forward at the start and completely blocked the Ice Python's route of advance. Lei Jiu's buffs had no gaps from beginning to end. Lei Dong's third soul skill disabled the opposing control-type Soul Master the first time it saw actual combat. Qing Luo's vines flanked around to the rear line at the perfect time and angle."

His gaze finally fell on Yu Tianxin.

"Tianxin's Thunder Fury is very powerful, but it consumes too much. You need to strengthen your Soul Power reserves going forward and allocate every bit of Soul Power more precisely. Save it whenever you can."

Yu Tianxin nodded with a serious expression. He showed no displeasure at being singled out for criticism.

"All right, go back and rest. There's another match tomorrow, so get yourselves into proper condition." Yu Tianlin waved his hand.

Everyone dispersed. When Lei Jiu left, he was still arguing with Lei Dong over whose coordination in two-person soul battles was better. Lei Li was the last to leave, gently closing the door behind him.

Only Yu Tianlin and Qing Luo remained in the room. Qing Luo stood beside the table, holding the Withered Wood Mask and gently wiping the dust from it with a soft cloth.

"Qing Luo, stop wiping it. Come take a walk with me."

Qing Luo looked up, put down the cloth and mask, and did not ask where they were going. She simply walked to the clothes rack, took down Yu Tianlin's coat, and handed it to him.

Suotuo City's night market was livelier than it was during the day. Lamps along both sides of the street lit the stone-paved road brightly. Restaurants and teahouses were still open, while food stalls lined the roadside. The aroma of grilled meat mingled with the sweetness of roasted chestnuts, filling the entire street.

The two slowly walked along the main road. Qing Luo followed half a step behind Yu Tianlin's side, her gaze occasionally drawn to the strange little trinkets at the roadside stalls, but she never stopped walking.

When they reached a street corner, a burst of noisy laughter came from ahead. Two young men were walking out of a building hung with red lanterns, and the gilded sign reading "Red Romance" above the entrance was particularly eye-catching.

The young man in front had striking blond hair under the lights. He was tall and broad, his steps carrying a hint of laziness. Beside him was a chubby red-haired youth, several patches of fading flush still lingering on his face as he enthusiastically talked about something.

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.

The four of them met head-on at the street corner. At first, both sides merely glanced at each other, and neither intended to stop. Yu Tianlin recognized Dai Mubai, the leader of the Shrek Seven Devils, a prince of the Star Luo Empire with the White Tiger martial soul. He also recognized Ma Hongjun, whose martial soul was the Evil Phoenix. When he had first awakened it, a mutation had left him afflicted by burning evil fire, sending him frequently to brothels.

Unfortunately, as they passed each other, Ma Hongjun's gaze swept over Qing Luo. His steps paused, and he muttered something to Dai Mubai in a voice he thought no one could hear.

"Boss Dai, look at that chick. Isn't she from the Ji Ni Tai Mei Team? She's got a great figure. Shame she's with some pretty boy. Look at those skinny arms and legs—he probably isn't that strong."

Dai Mubai did not respond. He merely frowned and reached out, intending to pull Ma Hongjun away.

Yu Tianlin stopped walking.

Qing Luo's face looked especially cold beneath the streetlights. She stepped forward, only to be stopped by Yu Tianlin raising a hand.

Yu Tianlin turned around and walked toward Ma Hongjun.

"Fat bastard, say that again if you dare."

Ma Hongjun had a fiery temper as well. Being called "fatty" to his face, his drunkenness and evil fire surged up together. He shook off Dai Mubai's hand, stepped forward, and tilted his chin as he sized up Yu Tianlin. "I'll say it, so what? You think I'm afraid of you? I said you, pretty boy, don't deserve that chick. What about it? Looking at you, you probably haven't even reached Soul Elder yet, have you? Want me to show you what real strength looks like?"

Qing Luo's vines had already poked out from her sleeves, but a glance from Yu Tianlin forced them back.

"Grass chicken."

Ma Hongjun's expression froze for a moment. "What did you say?"

"Grass chicken. Your Evil Phoenix looks like a plucked-out grass chicken. Other people may not know where your phoenix came from, but don't you know perfectly well? You run to Red Romance every day because you can't suppress that evil fire."

Ma Hongjun's face instantly turned liver-red.

The Evil Phoenix was the subject Ma Hongjun hated most, and going to brothels was something he least wanted others to mention. Yu Tianlin had exposed both matters together in the street. Alcohol and rage rushed to his head at once, and the fat youth's reason snapped completely. Phoenix flames burst from his fist as he punched at Yu Tianlin's face.

Yu Tianlin raised his left hand and firmly caught his fist. Phoenix flames burned in Yu Tianlin's palm, red tongues of fire licking at his skin, but that hand did not move in the slightest.

The flames did not even burn through a layer of skin. A body strengthened by the Azure Dragon martial soul, coupled with the cleansing of immortal herbs, made flames like these no more threatening to him than candles.

The moment Dai Mubai saw the Phoenix flames caught barehanded, his pupils sharply contracted. Almost instinctively, he released the White Tiger martial soul. Two yellow and one purple soul rings lit up, and a phantom White Tiger appeared behind him as his aura instantly surged to its peak.

Using the White Tiger martial soul's explosive power, he charged toward Yu Tianlin, attempting to pull them apart.

Yu Tianlin gathered Soul Power in his right hand and struck Dai Mubai's chest with a palm.

Dai Mubai flew backward, his back slamming into a pillar outside Red Romance with a muffled thud. He slid down to sit on the ground, his chest heaving violently as he failed to stand back up for a moment.

At the same time, Yu Tianlin's left hand began to tighten. Ma Hongjun's fist let out a teeth-grating crack in his palm as finger joints were dislocated one by one. The fat youth's face went from flushed red to deathly pale. Beads of sweat poured down from his forehead, but he gritted his teeth and refused to cry out.

Yu Tianlin suddenly twisted his left hand. With a crisp crack, the wrist bone between Ma Hongjun's palm and arm snapped. This time, the fat youth finally could not hold back. He let out a heart-wrenching scream and collapsed to his knees on the stone road, his right arm hanging at an unnatural angle by his side as the Phoenix flames instantly went out.

Yu Tianlin released him and looked down at Ma Hongjun, who was kneeling on the ground and trembling all over. His tone was as calm as if he had merely crushed a walnut.

"Before you run your mouth next time, think about whether your bones are hard enough. Evil Phoenix? You're not even as good as a grass chicken. If I hear you say even half a filthy word to one of my people again, it won't just be your hand that gets broken."

Qing Luo walked behind Yu Tianlin, her Dragon Scale Tulip Vine already fully withdrawn into her body. She lowered her head to glance at Ma Hongjun, who was kneeling on the ground, then softly said, "Young master, let's go back."

Dai Mubai clutched his chest and stood up, positioning himself in front of Ma Hongjun. He said nothing, but his eyes were no longer as composed as before. That palm strike had made one thing clear to him: this person was far stronger than he was.

He had not even released his martial soul or displayed his soul rings. Relying on physical strength alone, he had caught Ma Hongjun's Phoenix flames and then sent Dai Mubai flying with a single palm.

More importantly, he had never fought in the arena. Dai Mubai recognized him now—the captain of the Ji Ni Tai Mei Team, the one who had never released his martial soul.

The gathering crowd grew larger and larger. Some people whispered among themselves, while others pointed and gestured. A servant from Red Romance poked his head out for a look, then quickly withdrew again.

Yu Tianlin did not look at Dai Mubai again. He turned and walked with Qing Luo toward the hotel. Their figures quickly disappeared into the lights and crowds of the night market.

Ma Hongjun knelt on the ground, clutching his broken wrist. Tears and sweat mixed on his face and dripped from his chin into the cracks between the stone slabs. Dai Mubai pulled him up from the ground and supported him by one arm as they headed toward the hotel.

"Boss Dai... who exactly is that guy?" Ma Hongjun's voice carried a sobbing tone, his lips trembling from the pain.

"I don't know."

Dai Mubai remained silent for a long while before speaking, his voice very low. "But he didn't even use his martial soul for that palm strike."

Ma Hongjun's crying paused for a moment, then became even louder.