Rose Hotel

Su Ge's agreement left Tang San momentarily stunned. He seemed not to have expected him to agree so easily, but surprise quickly gave way to delight.

"If Su Ge's going, then I'm going too!"

When Xiao Wu heard his decision, she raised a hand high beside him, her eyes sparkling.

Su Ge only smiled, a few traces of anticipation rising in his heart as well. He had no idea how strong he was now.

So finding someone to test his skills on was naturally the best thing to do.

But before leaving Nuoding Academy, Su Ge released a carrier pigeon. He watched it fly off into the distance, then left the place he had called home for six years.

Five years had changed many things. Su Ge had changed, too.

Time flowed like a river. He had gone from the boy in Small Stone Village to Nuoding City, where he had established himself.

When he graduated, it also meant it was time for him to travel far away.

Over the past six years, City Lord Xiao had taken good care of him. He figured the man would soon be promoted and sent elsewhere to serve as a city lord.

After taking care of everything, he officially set off on his journey.

The Balak Kingdom lay south of the Heaven Dou Empire, bordering Fasinuo Province.

On the main road to Suotuo City, two young men and a young woman walked along at an unhurried pace.

The most eye-catching of them was the man at the front. Tall and straight, with handsome features and long golden hair that fell past his shoulders, he wore tailored clothes that made him impossible to look away from.

His golden eyes seemed to hold a kind of magic, making people unable to resist taking a second glance.

Over six feet tall, he stood quite a bit taller than the other young man. This was Su Ge, five years later.

The two beside him were Tang San and Xiao Wu.

Tang San still had that approachable air about him, while Xiao Wu had blossomed into an even more beautiful young woman.

What made her even more striking than her appearance in the original story was the outfit Su Ge had commissioned for her.

It wasn't luxurious, but it made her look even more captivating.

"Su Ge, it's so hot. Do we really have to walk?"

Xiao Wu was holding a carrot, her voice carrying a hint of complaint.

"Weren't you the one who said you hadn't seen the scenery elsewhere in all these years, and that's why you chose to walk?"

"What, can't keep going already?"

"How was I supposed to know it was this far?"

Xiao Wu pouted, then turned to look at Tang San.

"Tang San, your teacher kept recommending that Su Ge come to Shrek Academy in Suotuo City. Do you know what good food there is around here?"

Tang San, who had been studying the map, scratched his head awkwardly when he heard her.

"I don't know that much about the place, either. But judging by how prosperous Suotuo City is, there should be plenty of good food."

Seeing Xiao Wu like this, Su Ge simply smiled and ruffled her hair. She immediately fell silent.

"All right. We'll rest in Suotuo City for a few days and look around."

"I'll cover the expenses, too, so you don't need to worry about money."

As he spoke, he glanced at Tang San and slung an arm around his shoulders. "And you, Xiao San. Don't feel awkward about spending my money. Go buy yourself a few nice sets of clothes, all right?"

Tang San had grown used to Su Ge's casual gestures. Just as he was about to shake his head and refuse—

"Big Brother Su, I..."

"I'm a few months older than you. From now on, call me Su Ge, just like Xiao Wu does."

"But if you don't agree, I'll turn around and leave as soon as we get into the city. Believe me?"

Su Ge pointed toward Suotuo City in the distance, his tone firm and leaving no room for argument.

"All right, then. Thanks, Su Ge."

Only when Tang San finally agreed did Su Ge nod in satisfaction.

Over the past few years, he had been gradually working on Tang San's outlook. Tang San was much more normal now than he had been before.

"Su Ge, hurry, hurry! I'm exhausted. I want to eat something good!"

As soon as the two finished talking, Xiao Wu grabbed Su Ge's hand and dragged him toward Suotuo City.

"Slow down. You're running so fast—how can you possibly look tired?"

"..."

Watching the two of them run farther and farther ahead, Tang San hurried after them. The three of them arrived in Suotuo City just like that.

The moment they entered Suotuo City, they could immediately tell how different it was from Nuoding City.

The streets teemed with people, and patrol soldiers could be seen everywhere.

As they made their way farther in, the three of them bought snacks along the way, looking for a place to stay.

At last, with Xiao Wu leading the way, Su Ge and the others came to a hotel with a rather distinctive design.

Looking at its suggestive architecture and the name above the entrance, he couldn't help feeling a little helpless.

Wasn't this the Rose Hotel from the original story?

Seeing Xiao Wu standing beside him, looking as if she wanted to say something but couldn't, Su Ge raised a hand to stop her. "Let's get one thing straight. If we stay here, we need three rooms. Otherwise, we're going somewhere else."

"Fine, fine. You're paying, so you're the boss."

Xiao Wu pouted, then went in first.

Su Ge followed, with Tang San behind him. Once they entered the lobby, Tang San found an empty seat and sat down. Everyone coming and going was paired off, so he could guess what sort of place this was.

That alone showed that Su Ge's guidance over the years had made a difference.

"Su Ge, hurry over. Weren't you going to pay?"

As soon as Su Ge stepped inside, he heard Xiao Wu calling him. Ignoring the astonished looks from the people around him, he walked straight to the front desk.

"Three rooms. Just tell me if you have them. Don't give me any runaround. If you have reservations, cancel them if you can. I'll cover the compensation."

Su Ge was brief, and the air of authority he exuded immediately made the receptionist abandon the prepared sales pitch.

"We do, sir, we do. Once we cancel the reservations, we'll have exactly three rooms left."

The receptionist nodded hurriedly. She immediately realized that Su Ge was no ordinary person, so she quickly checked the records and gave him a definite answer.

"Good. Let's get them."

Only then did Su Ge nod in satisfaction and pay the full amount.

"May I ask if anyone bothered to get my permission before giving my room to someone else?"

At the sudden voice, Su Ge and Xiao Wu turned around in unison. Tang San, seated in the lobby, looked over as well.

Three people were approaching: one man and two women.

The two girls were dressed to the nines. Their similar features made it obvious at a glance that they were twins. They both looked quite young, around seventeen or eighteen.

The man standing between them, his arms around both women, was about six feet tall and seemed young as well. He was sizing up Su Ge and Xiao Wu.