Soto City Conflict, the Fatty Humiliated

That muffled sound came from Tang San's palm. The foot he had just stepped forward with stopped outside the threshold, while his left hand had already been clenched inside his sleeve.

Xiao Wu immediately moved closer. "Brother, does it hurt again?"

Tang San shook his head, but his palm pushed against the cuff, making it bulge slightly.

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed. He reached out and gripped Tang San's wrist. "Don't use Soul Power."

Flender turned back as well. "Why is it happening again?"

Tang San gritted his teeth. "I didn't activate it."

Yu Xiaogang pressed his hand back into his sleeve, speaking much faster. "The poison surged through your meridians last night and stirred your second Martial Soul. For the next two days, you are not to touch your left hand, much less push yourself."

Xiao Wu immediately added, "Did you hear that?"

Before Tang San could answer, Ma Hongjun muttered from the side, "That's way too scary. It made noise just walking through a door."

Zhao Wuji glared at him. "Shut up."

Ma Hongjun shrank his neck. "I'm shutting up, I'm shutting up."

Ji Yuan hid within the hidden layer beneath the sole, dark-red tendrils pressed against Tang San's foot as he slowly swallowed back the Clear Sky Hammer essence that had just been drawn out.

He had not made a mistake.

He was merely adding another lock for Yu Xiaogang.

The more dangerous this hammer appeared, the less Tang San would dare touch it himself.

This blood bag needed to be raised properly. He could not let him recklessly open the lid.

Only after Yu Xiaogang confirmed that the heavy fluctuation had subsided did he let go. "Can you walk?"

Tang San nodded. "Yes."

Xiao Wu was still worried. "How about we don't go today?"

Tang San glanced at her. "We're already at the door."

Ma Hongjun waggled his eyebrows behind them. "Xiao Wu, don't worry. I'll cover Third Brother tonight."

Oscar laughed. "You should cover yourself first."

Ma Hongjun refused to accept that. "Little Ao, why do you keep tearing me down today?"

Oscar spread his hands. "I'm practicing my judgment for when it's time to run for our lives."

Flender's head hurt just listening to them. He waved a hand. "Enough nonsense. Move out."

The group headed toward Soto City.

Tang San walked in the middle, Xiao Wu beside him, while Zhu Zhuqing trailed half a step behind, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the soles of his shoes.

Ji Yuan did not respond to her.

This woman's instincts were troublesome, but instincts could not serve as evidence.

As long as the evidence stayed dead forever, she could only exhaust herself with suspicion.

Soto City was livelier at night than during the day. Street lamps stretched in an unbroken line, people argued and laughed outside taverns, and several Soul Masters emerged from the direction of the Great Soul Arena with injuries, the scent of blood still clinging to them.

Ji Yuan's roots spread softly beneath the sole.

A good place.

There was moving nourishment everywhere.

Flender did not lead them straight into the Soul Arena. Instead, he stopped at an intersection. "Tonight, you'll familiarize yourselves with the rules first. No taking private fights recklessly."

Ma Hongjun scratched his head. "Dean, it's not my first time here."

Flender shot him a sidelong glance. "I'm talking about you."

Ma Hongjun's face fell. "I'll really behave today."

Dai Mubai patted his shoulder. "Fatty, do you believe that yourself?"

Ma Hongjun was just about to retort when a woman in pink passed by the street corner, and his eyes followed her.

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes. "You're hopeless."

Ma Hongjun coughed. "Appreciating beautiful things is something everyone can do."

Zhu Zhuqing coldly tossed out a single word. "Disgusting."

Ma Hongjun was thick-skinned enough not to respond. Instead, he edged two steps toward the alley.

Flender was discussing Tang San's condition with Yu Xiaogang, Zhao Wuji was watching the front of the group, and Dai Mubai had been drawn to the registration board outside the Soul Arena.

Seeing no one was watching him, Ma Hongjun slipped away.

Oscar noticed him and opened his mouth to call out, then decided it was not strange for that guy to go buy something to eat. His mouth remained half-open before he finally clicked his tongue.

Ji Yuan immediately followed through the moisture spores within Ma Hongjun's body.

The alley reeked of alcohol, with broken crates piled against the walls.

Ma Hongjun chased the woman to the corner. Just as he was about to speak, the woman in pink had vanished. Instead, a tall, skinny man swayed out from the shadows.

The man had a narrow face, deep-set eyes, and a grass stem between his lips. His gaze swept over Ma Hongjun. "Little fatty, who are you following?"

Ma Hongjun froze. "What's it to you?"

The tall, skinny man smiled. "You dare stare at the girls on this street?"

Ma Hongjun's temper flared. "So what if I looked twice? Does your family own this place?"

The man spat out the grass stem. Soul Rings lit beneath his feet, and pink Soul Power rippled out around him. "More or less."

Ma Hongjun's expression changed.

Over level forty.

He turned to retreat, but the pink Soul Power had already enveloped him, a cloying, bloody-sweet smell rushing into his nose.

Ma Hongjun cursed as Evil Fire burst from his palm. "You think Fatty is afraid of you?"

The tall, skinny man raised a hand, and a pink shield descended. Ma Hongjun's stream of fire struck it and was forced back upon itself.

The man stepped forward and drove his knee into Ma Hongjun's stomach. "Little brat, your mouth is pretty tough."

Ma Hongjun bent over and retched, only for another fist to smash into his face.

"My name is Bu Le. In this area, no one dares compete with me for women."

Ma Hongjun crashed beside the wall, the corner of his mouth split open. Evil Fire was thrown into chaos by the pink Soul Power, instead burning his own chest with pain.

He gritted his teeth and tried to get up, but Bu Le stepped on his shoulder. "Still glaring at me?"

Ma Hongjun panted heavily. "If you've got guts, wait until my brothers get here."

Bu Le laughed hard enough for his shoulders to shake. "Your brothers? Call them, then. Let them come."

Ma Hongjun raised a hand to unleash fire, but Bu Le pressed down with his foot, and the pain choked off his words.

Ji Yuan watched through the spores, his roots curling lightly.

A Soul Ancestor.

Strong vitality, mixed Soul Power, a vile Martial Soul path, but his life force was substantial enough.

Perfect for testing poison.

By the time Ma Hongjun had been beaten black and blue, the group finally noticed someone was missing.

Oscar looked around twice. "Where's Fatty?"

Dai Mubai's expression darkened. "He was just here."

Xiao Wu sneered. "He probably went chasing women again."

Flender's face was dark enough to drip water. "Dai Mubai, go find him."

Tang San was already looking toward the street corner. "There's a Soul Power fluctuation over there."

Without waiting for Flender to speak, Dai Mubai shot off.

Xiao Wu grabbed Tang San and followed. "Brother, slow down!"

Yu Xiaogang had just wanted to stop him when Tang San was already moving. "Teacher, I won't use my left hand."

Ji Yuan released a little internal force, allowing Tang San to keep up.

Hurry.

Any slower, and the blood bag would be beaten to pieces.

When Dai Mubai rushed into the alley, Bu Le was kicking Ma Hongjun over, his face pressed against filthy water.

"Fatty!"

Ma Hongjun looked up. Seeing Dai Mubai, his eyes nearly reddened. "Boss Dai, get him!"

Bu Le saw several more people arrive, but instead of retreating, he licked his lips. "White Tiger Martial Soul? People from Shrek Academy?"

A White Tiger phantom rose around Dai Mubai. "You know who we are and still dared touch him?"

Bu Le retreated deeper into the alley, pink Soul Power rolling in his palm. "A bunch of kids, and you think you're worthy of challenging me?"

Tang San helped Ma Hongjun up and asked quietly, "Did he hurt any bones?"

Ma Hongjun sucked in a breath. "Nothing's broken, but he kicked me in the face."

Xiao Wu exploded the moment she heard that. "He kicked your face?"

Ma Hongjun pointed at Bu Le. "Third Brother, he even stepped on my shoulder!"

Tang San looked at Bu Le, his voice turning cold. "Sir, using Soul Ancestor cultivation to bully a Soul Elder is excessive."

Bu Le snorted. "Who told him not to control his eyes? Besides, if you want to stand up for him, come on."

Dai Mubai was about to charge, but Tang San grabbed him.

Dai Mubai frowned. "Xiao San?"

Tang San lowered his voice. "This is too close to the Soul Arena. Fighting head-on will bring trouble."

Xiao Wu understood immediately. "Then we'll change locations."

Ma Hongjun covered his face. "I want to see him kneel with my own eyes."

Tang San looked at Xiao Wu, frowning. "No."

Xiao Wu raised her chin. "What are you trying to say?"

Tang San knew she had already guessed. "He has no guard against women."

Xiao Wu smiled. "Isn't that perfect?"

Tang San's tone sharpened. "Xiao Wu."

Xiao Wu flicked her sleeve. "Relax. I'm not going to throw my life away. I'll lure him out, and you'll wait behind me."

Dai Mubai looked at Tang San. "That could work."

Tang San fell silent for a moment before finally nodding. "Just lure him. Don't fight. Retreat immediately if anything goes wrong."

Xiao Wu huffed. "Got it, Teacher Tang San."

By the time Yu Xiaogang and Flender arrived at the alley entrance, Bu Le had already retreated far away.

Flender glanced at Ma Hongjun, fury suppressed between his brows. "Embarrassing."

Ma Hongjun lowered his head. "Dean, I..."

Flender cut him off. "We'll settle this when we get back."

Tang San walked to Yu Xiaogang's side and quietly explained the plan.

Yu Xiaogang frowned deeply. "Your body cannot handle an intense fight."

Tang San said, "I'll only control the field."

Yu Xiaogang stared at him. "You are not allowed to use your second Martial Soul."

Tang San nodded. "Absolutely not."

Ji Yuan listened coldly beneath the sole.

Whether Tang San used his second Martial Soul did not matter.

Tonight's main course was not in Tang San's hands.

Xiao Wu quickly changed into a brighter-colored outer robe and deliberately strolled slowly down the street in the red-light district.

Bu Le appeared just as expected.

He rubbed his chin. The Shrek group had ruined his fun earlier, and he was already simmering with anger. Seeing Xiao Wu alone, the look in his eyes immediately changed.

"Little girl, are you lost?"

Xiao Wu took a step back, pretending to be frightened. "Don't come closer."

Bu Le's smile grew more unrestrained. "Don't be afraid. Big brother will take you somewhere nice."

In the darkness, Dai Mubai's fists cracked as he clenched them. Ma Hongjun was held back by Oscar, his face badly swollen, but his reddened eyes were fixed on Bu Le.

Tang San crouched in the shadows atop a wall, Blue Silver Grass already spreading along the base of the wall.

Ji Yuan's poison stinger also emerged from the sole and pressed into a damp crack in the mud.

Xiao Wu retreated step by step into the depths of the alley.

Bu Le followed step by step.

Xiao Wu's heel struck a broken brick. She stopped, then suddenly looked up and winked toward the darkness.

The prey had entered the cage.

Bu Le had yet to notice. Instead, he reached for her arm. "Run, then. Why aren't you running anymore?"

Above the wall, Tang San had already raised his hand.

Below the ground, Ji Yuan's first dark-red venom tendril pressed against Bu Le's shadow, the mouth of its venom sac beginning to heat up.