Clean Killing

A figure clad in a black cloak launched from the stage, bolting straight for the theater exit.

Dark red soul power transformed into threads of blades, shredding everything that stood in his way.

Pursuing him relentlessly was an old man in guard attire, a long spear thrusting directly toward the fugitive's heart.

The attack arrived before the defense could react; the black-cloaked figure had nowhere to hide, and seven soul rings suddenly flared to life on his body as he prepared for a desperate final stand!

Yet, the old man's spear pierced his heart in an instant.

After the kill, the old man appeared to stroll away leisurely, though his movements were lightning-fast as he retrieved the corpse.

In the blink of an eye, he vanished, as if he were a shadow puppet in a real-life performance.

The crowd inside the theater went from initial panic to exchanging bewildered glances, and finally, to absolute silence.

Long after the old man had departed, the audience finally snapped out of their stupor, and the venue erupted into a cacophony of discussion.

[Holy crap! That was a real murder!]

[This Douluo World is way too dangerous; they just kill whenever they feel like it. If it's too much, streamer, find a way to come back. Relatively speaking, Blue Planet is safer.]

[The one killed was a seven-ring Soul Saint, and the old man who killed him didn't even reveal his soul rings. Absolutely terrifying~]

[The angel on stage was just about to slay demons, and the curtain got shredded. How ironic, hahaha!]

All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Wu's eyes were wide enough to pop out, her small fists clenched tightly, her face filled with a sense of satisfaction:

"Hypocritical angel, 'conquering demons'... you deserve to be torn to shreds!"

Seeing that everything had returned to calm, Chu Men finally withdrew his right hand, which he had already tucked into his robe, and smiled:

"This play was truly interesting today; someone even put on a free bonus performance."

[The streamer is way too calm, isn't he? Someone just died!]

[I bet a pack of spicy strips that the streamer was already ready to run for it just now!]

[Prize quiz: Who was the old man who did the killing?]

Chu Men took a sip of tea from the table, looking as steady as Mount Tai, and calmly steered the conversation back.

"So, I'm supposed to thank you, is that it?"

"Obviously!"

Dugu Yan glanced at the torn curtain on the stage, unconcerned and not taking it to heart.

She shifted closer to Chu Men and said:

"Lingling admires you so much; she's been talking about you all afternoon. You wouldn't be so dense as to turn away such a pretty little fan, would you?"

"You're getting more ridiculous by the minute. I have classes every morning and work every afternoon. Just today, I took on quite a few orders and have been busy all day."

At this point, Chu Men changed the subject, "Of course, if you want to work for free, I wouldn't mind!"

"Teacher Chu, do you have the heart to make two pretty girls do such manual labor?" Dugu Yan said coquettishly.

Chu Men chuckled inwardly!

Forget about you two, see Xiao Wu over there?

A proper little girl, and didn't she spend half the day helping me polish my battle armor?

This is called the unity of knowledge and action!

"As the saying goes: practice yields true knowledge!"

Xiao Wu immediately nodded in agreement, hugging Chu Men's arm and shaking it:

"That's right, that's right! The weird uncle is very busy and doesn't have time to teach you!"

Dugu Yan glanced at Xiao Wu, her thoughts shifting slightly as a hint of provocation curled the corner of her lips:

"Then it's settled. I'm a Great Soul Master, after all; I can at least be of some help."

Chu Men: "..."

Is the management at Heaven Dou Royal Academy really this lax?

Doesn't that old man Dugu Bo keep an eye on her?

[The streamer is getting more and more 'criminal'; not only is he hiring child labor, but he's about to hire two more!]

[You can't apply our values to the Douluo World, and besides, the streamer doesn't seem to be paying them, right?]

[If Sister Yan could come to our factory, I'd be happy to tighten screws while she sits in the office!]

Ye Lingling finally found an opening and asked Chu Men shyly:

"Teacher Chu, I heard your martial soul is a pen, is that true?"

Chu Men was a bit surprised, but he nodded nonetheless:

"It does suit my profession as a teacher. It's mainly used to assist in crafting Soul-Guided Devices, and it doesn't have much combat power."

"That's not true at all!"

Xiao Wu immediately retorted, "The weird uncle's pen is amazing! Last time, even Sister Erlong almost couldn't beat him!"

Chu Men felt a twinge in his teeth: Good grief, you little brat, that's a bit of an exaggerated boast!

You were there at the time; didn't you see me getting beaten into that pathetic state?

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up. "Oh? Teacher Chu has actually crossed hands with Dean Liu?"

Seeing that Ye Lingling had also cast a look of extreme curiosity his way, Chu Men gave a dry cough.

"A spar! It was just a spar. Our Dean is a Soul Saint, and I'm just a lowly Soul Ancestor; we were just exchanging soul skills."

The play downstairs was "forced" to an end, and the audience members stood up one after another to leave.

Some audience members were still complaining, "What a pity, there was supposed to be a scene of an angel sealing a demon later on; now we won't get to see it."

Xiao Wu pulled on Chu Men's hand and suggested impatiently:

"Weird uncle, this play wasn't good at all. Let's go outside and wander around some more."

"Alright."

Chu Men pinched the tip of Xiao Wu's nose and was just about to stand up when Dugu Yan also rose to her feet.

She smiled and said, "We don't have anything to do either, let's all wander around together."

Chu Men looked at her expectant gaze, then at the dissatisfied-looking Xiao Wu beside him, and finally at Ye Lingling, who was as quiet as a painting.

For a moment, he couldn't find a reason to refuse.

"Fine, then let's all go together."

[Hahaha, the streamer still couldn't escape!]

[A party of four? I've already pulled up a small stool, waiting to see the streamer's moves.]

[Don't be a coward, streamer, just go for it! Charge!]

Chu Men held Xiao Wu's hand and walked in front, with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling following behind.

Dugu Yan would occasionally lean forward to chat with Chu Men about Soul-Guided Devices, while Xiao Wu would immediately cut in, pulling the attention elsewhere.

Under the night sky, the lights from the Soul-Guided Devices stretched the shadows of the four people out long, yet they appeared strangely harmonious.

The Light and Shadow Theater closed its doors, not causing the slightest ripple in the night market.

Chu Men and the others discovered that the night market was even livelier than before.

The evening breeze blew, carrying the rich aroma of food.

The streets were somewhat crowded, and many stall owners were shouting energetically to take advantage of the growing flow of customers.

Xiao Wu skipped along in front, her large eyes scanning the stalls on both sides like searchlights.

Before long, Xiao Wu came back, tugged on Chu Men's arm, and pointed at a certain stall, shouting, "Weird uncle, look at that!"

Caught between Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan, Chu Men felt a mix of amusement and frustration as he quickened his pace.

Sure enough, he smelled a rich fragrance at the corner; it was a sugar painting stall.

The rack was filled with finished sugar paintings, all of them famous Martial Soul designs, just like the old man's flour figurines from before.

Although the technique was slightly rough, they were crystal clear and had a unique charm.

"I want that rabbit... no! I want that little snake!"

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she immediately changed her mind, pointing excitedly at the sugar painting of a green snake coiled into a ball with its tongue flicking out.

Dugu Yan didn't stand on ceremony either, casually taking out a Silver Soul Coin:

"Boss, I want a little rabbit, the cutest one you have!"

The two women's gazes met in mid-air, sparks flying as if they were about to ignite the air!

The items displayed on the stall were only samples; the real sugar paintings had to be made on the spot by the stall owner.

The owner picked up a spoon, scooped up a ladle of syrup, and flicked his wrist, the syrup landing on the stone slab in front of him like a golden thread.

In the blink of an eye, a lifelike coiled snake took shape.