Ling Luochen: What Did You Call Me!? Xuanzi's Number One Hater

Meanwhile, Ling Jingfeng had clearly noticed the issue with seniority as well.

He had originally intended for Ling Luochen and the Qiangu siblings to interact as peers, but his tongue had slipped and the words were already out.

A flicker of surprise flashed through Ling Luochen's eyes at Ling Jingfeng's words.

Her surprise came from Ling Jingfeng's introduction of Qiangu Qing. Anyone close in age to her grandfather and called his close friend had to be one of the foremost powerhouses in the Soul Master world. Thus, she quickly put away her usual cold pride and adopted a respectful expression.

"Luochen greets Grandpa Qiangu and the two seniors."

She had noticed her grandfather's embarrassment and regret, so she used the highly versatile form of address, "senior," for Qiangu Liting and Yang Shu. It showed her respect while leaving some room for flexibility.

As for peers like the Qiangu siblings, she merely gave them a slight nod in greeting.

Ling Jingfeng let out a breath of relief before saying,

"Luochen, sit down. Your Grandpa Qiangu and I still have some matters to discuss."

Only after Ling Luochen took her seat did Ling Jingfeng speak again.

"Since you've put it that way, Old Qiangu, we'll catch those beasts off guard tonight. Let them know that rats should rot and stink in the sewers for their entire lives, instead of crawling out to pollute the air."

Qiangu Qing nodded, but in the next instant, a clear voice suddenly rang through the hall.

"Great-Grandfather, Yun Mei and I want to join tonight's operation to eliminate the Evil Soul Masters."

The one who spoke was Qiangu Yunche.

Upon hearing the words "eliminate the Evil Soul Masters," Ling Luochen, who had been looking downward, suddenly raised her head. A hint of astonishment flashed through her eyes.

As for Qiangu Yunche's request, Qiangu Qing merely considered it briefly before nodding directly.

"Very well. Evil Soul Masters are exceedingly dangerous, but they are also the best opponents for honing practical combat skills and gaining experience. You two may come along tonight."

At that, Ling Jingfeng frowned and warned,

"Old Qiangu, I told you already. There may very well be a Title Douluo among those Evil Soul Masters. Yunche and Yun Mei are still children. Are you really at ease letting them join such a dangerous battle?"

Qiangu Qing merely smiled. "Old man, it isn't that I'm at ease. It's that I have absolute confidence in Yunche and Yun Mei's strength. I can tell you this: even Shrek Academy's Shrek Seven Devils would be completely outclassed before those two."

"Forget it. No matter how much I say now, you won't understand. You'll find out tonight..."

Darkness swallowed everything. The night was like spilled ink, with no stars or moon visible in the sky.

After eating and drinking their fill, the group made their preparations. However, the originally planned six-person lineup had gained one extra member at the last minute.

Seeing Ling Luochen beside him in a fitted blue combat outfit that accentuated her increasingly tall and curvaceous figure, Qiangu Yunche was somewhat surprised. He had not expected her to come along as well.

However, Ling Luochen in this world was indeed somewhat different from her counterpart in the original timeline.

The most obvious difference was the time at which she had broken through to become a Soul King.

Sensing Qiangu Yunche's gaze, Ling Luochen turned her head. There was little expression on her cool, beautiful face, yet Qiangu Yunche still caught a trace of scrutiny and fighting spirit in her subtle expression.

The scrutiny was understandable, but why did Ling Luochen feel fighting spirit toward him?

Qiangu Yunche thought for a moment before suddenly recalling something his great-grandfather had said earlier that day.

If his guess was correct, Qiangu Qing's statement that the Shrek Seven Devils were completely outclassed by the Qiangu siblings had provoked Ling Luochen. Her nature was cold and proud, so although she had not made it clear at the time, she had already formed the intention of defeating the two of them through tonight's battle to prove herself.

However, Ling Luochen had truly blamed Qiangu Qing unfairly on this matter.

Qiangu Qing genuinely did not know that Ling Luochen was one of the current Shrek Seven Devils. Had he known, he certainly would not have said that.

After thinking it over, Qiangu Yunche still spoke before they set off.

"Um... Aunt Ling, my great-grandfather didn't know you were one of the Shrek Seven Devils, so please don't take his words to heart."

Yet after Qiangu Yunche said this, Ling Luochen's expression did not improve. Instead, it grew even uglier.

She stared coldly at Qiangu Yunche, who was a full head taller than her, and said,

"What did you call me?"

Girls' thinking was always surprisingly consistent. No matter their age, they liked being addressed in ways that made them seem younger.

This was the first time Ling Luochen had heard someone call her "Aunt," and she had to admit that the title made her feel absurdly annoyed for no apparent reason.

She was in the most youthful and radiant years of her life. How did she look like an aunt!?

This was outright slander!

Qiangu Yunche belatedly realized that his tongue had slipped as well. He smiled awkwardly and changed his form of address.

"Sister Luochen."

Hearing Qiangu Yunche switch to a title she found reasonably acceptable, Ling Luochen's expression finally improved somewhat. However, after looking him up and down, she could not help asking in surprise,

"I'm almost nineteen this year. Are you younger than me?"

No matter how she looked at it, Ling Luochen felt that Qiangu Yunche ought to be around her age.

"I'm twelve this year," Qiangu Yunche replied with a smile.

"Twelve?" Ling Luochen's eyes widened, and her voice rose sharply, her tone filled with disbelief.

At twelve, one would only be a first-year student in Shrek Academy's Outer Court. To enter the Inner Court like her, one had to be at least sixteen.

For instance, she had only entered the Inner Court after passing the Outer Court graduation assessment and the Inner Court entrance assessment when she was nearly eighteen.

Yet her grandfather had told her earlier that Qiangu Yunche's cultivation was at least that of a Soul Ancestor, perhaps even not far from her own.

A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor or Soul King—what kind of monster was that?

Even Senior Sister and that red bald chicken she had always disliked did not possess such terrifying cultivation at his age, did they?

Ling Luochen was somewhat stunned, but before she could react, Qiangu Yun Mei, who had been watching the show from the side, suddenly asked,

"You're one of the Shrek Seven Devils. Do you know someone named Zhang Lexuan?"

Ling Luochen suddenly came back to her senses. She gave Qiangu Yunche a deep look before answering her question.

"Of course I know her. When I first entered the Inner Court, Senior Sister helped me greatly. She is also my idol."

Zhang Lexuan possessed unparalleled prestige in the Inner Court. Even someone as cold and proud as Ling Luochen could not help being won over by her personal charisma.

Having received her answer, Qiangu Yun Mei gave an "Oh" and said nothing more.

Instead, Ling Luochen's curiosity was aroused. After hesitating for a moment, she still asked,

"You... know Senior Sister?"

"Know her? Last time, she and eleven Inner Court students of yours were nearly killed by your academy's Taotie Douluo. In the end, it was Yunche, my father, and me who saved them. Otherwise, your Inner Court would have been preparing their memorial service."

"Here's some advice: whenever the Taotie Douluo leads an operation in the future, you'd better stay on high alert. Who knows, one day he might mistake you for an Evil Soul Master and deal with you..."

Qiangu Yun Mei spoke at a rapid pace, not forgetting to complain about Taotie Douluo Xuanzi on Zhang Lexuan and the others' behalf.

After the previous absurd incident, Qiangu Yun Mei had truly become Xuanzi's number one hater outside Shrek Academy.

Ling Luochen opened her mouth, her heart now completely filled with shock.

After that, she fell silent, as though pondering something. A long while later, she raised her head and said earnestly,

"No matter what, thank you for the advice. I'll be careful."

At that moment, everyone else had finally arrived as well.

After confirming that everyone was present, they all flew into the air together, leaving Ling Luochen standing there alone, frozen in bewilderment.

I can't fly yet!

Ling Luochen silently let out a sorrowful protest against everyone in her heart...