Suotuo Conflict, the Fatty Humiliated

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

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

Tang San shook his head, but his sleeve bulged slightly as his palm pressed against it.

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 allowed to touch your left hand, much less push yourself."

Xiao Wu immediately chimed in. "Did you hear that?"

Before Tang San could answer, Ma Hongjun muttered beside them, "That's terrifying. It makes noises just walking through a door."

Zhao Wuji glared at him. "Shut up."

Ma Hongjun shrank back. "I'm shutting up, I'm shutting up."

Ji Yuan hid within the layered sole of the shoe, his dark red filaments pressed against Tang San's foot as they slowly swallowed back the Clear Sky Hammer's origin essence that had just been drawn out.

He had not slipped up.

He was merely adding another lock for Yu Xiaogang.

The more dangerous this hammer appeared, the less Tang San would dare touch it of his own accord.

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

Only after Yu Xiaogang confirmed that the heavy fluctuation had subsided did he release Tang San's hand. "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. Tonight, Third Brother's under my protection."

Oscar laughed. "Protect 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 running away in advance."

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

The group headed toward Suotuo City.

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

Ji Yuan did not respond to her.

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

As long as the evidence stayed dead, all she could do was tire herself out with suspicion.

Suotuo City was livelier at night than during the day. Streetlights stretched into glowing rows, people argued and laughed outside the 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 gently spread beneath the shoe sole.

A fine place.

There was nourishment flowing everywhere.

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

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'm honestly going to behave today."

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

Ma Hongjun was about to retort when a woman in pink passed around the street corner. His eyes followed her.

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

Ma Hongjun coughed. "Appreciation. Everyone can appreciate beautiful things."

Zhu Zhuqing coldly tossed out one sentence. "Disgusting."

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

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

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

Oscar noticed, opened his mouth to call out, then figured it was not unusual for that guy to leave to buy something to eat. His mouth hung open halfway before he merely clicked his tongue.

Through the water-vapor spores inside Ma Hongjun's body, Ji Yuan immediately followed him.

The alley reeked of liquor, with broken crates piled beside the walls.

Ma Hongjun chased him to a corner. Just as he was about to speak, the woman in pink had vanished. Instead, a lanky man emerged from the shadows.

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

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

The lanky man smiled. "You dare stare at the girls on this street?"

Ma Hongjun's temper flared. "So what if I took a couple of looks? Does your family own the place?"

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

Ma Hongjun's expression changed.

Above level forty.

He turned to retreat, but the pink Soul Power had already enveloped him. A cloying, fishy-sweet stench rushed into his nose.

Ma Hongjun cursed, evil fire bursting from his palm. "You think this fat lord is afraid of you?"

The lanky man raised a hand, and a pink barrier descended. Ma Hongjun's stream of fire struck it and was forced to curl back.

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

Ma Hongjun doubled 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 against the wall, his lip split. His evil fire was thrown into chaos by the pink Soul Power, making his own chest burn with pain.

He gritted his teeth and tried to rise, but Bu Le planted a foot on his shoulder. "Still glaring?"

Ma Hongjun panted heavily. "Got the guts to wait for my brothers."

Bu Le laughed so hard his shoulders shook. "Your brothers? Call them, then. Let them come."

Ma Hongjun raised his hand to unleash fire, but Bu Le pressed down with his foot. The pain caught his words in his throat.

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

A Soul Ancestor.

His blood and vitality were abundant, his Soul Power impure, and his martial soul methods despicable, but his life force was thick enough.

Perfect for testing poison.

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

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

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

Xiao Wu sneered. "He probably ran off chasing women again."

Flender's face was black 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 charged off.

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

Yu Xiaogang had just started to stop him when Tang San had already broken into a run. "Teacher, I won't use my left hand."

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

Hurry.

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

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

"Fatty!"

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

Seeing several more people arrive, Bu Le not only failed to retreat but licked his lips. "White Tiger martial soul? People from Shrek Academy?"

The White Tiger phantom rose around Dai Mubai. "You knew that and still dared touch him?"

Bu Le retreated deeper into the alley, pink Soul Power rolling in his palm. "A few children think they'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."

The moment Xiao Wu heard that, she exploded. "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. "For someone with the cultivation of a Soul Ancestor to bully a Soul Elder is excessive."

Bu Le sneered. "Who told him not to keep his eyes in check? 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. "Little San?"

Tang San lowered his voice. "The Soul Arena is too close. A direct fight will bring trouble."

Xiao Wu immediately understood. "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 lifted her chin. "What are you trying to say?"

Tang San knew she had already guessed. "He has no guard up 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 wait behind me."

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

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

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

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

Flender swept his eyes over Ma Hongjun, fury pressed between his brows. "Disgraceful."

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

Flender cut him off. "We'll settle this later."

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

Yu Xiaogang's brows drew tightly together. "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. "I absolutely won't."

Ji Yuan listened coldly from beneath the shoe sole.

Whether he 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 outer robe and deliberately strolled slowly down the street in the red-light district.

Bu Le appeared just as expected.

The interference from Shrek Academy's group had ruined his fun, and he was still seething. The moment he saw Xiao Wu alone, his gaze 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 wanton. "Don't be scared. Big brother will take you somewhere nice."

In the shadows, Dai Mubai's clenched fist cracked. Oscar held Ma Hongjun back. His face was badly swollen, but his eyes were red with rage.

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

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

Xiao Wu backed deeper into the alley step by step.

Bu Le followed her step by step.

Xiao Wu's heel bumped against 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 out to grab her arm. "Run, then. Why aren't you running anymore?"

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

Underground, Ji Yuan's first dark red venom tendril clung to Bu Le's shadow, its venom sac opening as it began to heat.