A Happy Life, Accompanying the Three Girls Shopping

As Yu Tianheng signed the contract on the underground street, Lin Chen was strolling along the busiest main street in Heaven Dou City, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.

It was the weekend, and there were no classes at the academy. Early that morning, Xiao Wu had knocked on his door and said she wanted to go shopping in the city.

Lin Chen had wanted to sleep in, but he could not resist Xiao Wu's bright, sparkling eyes, so he had no choice but to get up and wash.

By the time he had finished getting ready and walked out of the dormitory building, he found that not only Xiao Wu was waiting at the entrance, but Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan as well.

Xiao Wu stood on the left with her hands behind her back, smiling at him.

Zhu Zhuqing stood in the middle, still dressed in her black fitted outfit. She leaned quietly against a tree and gave him a slight nod when she saw him emerge.

Dugu Yan stood on the right. For once, she was not wearing her signature dark green gown, having changed into a light purple dress instead. Her long hair cascaded down her back, making her seem less cold and alluring and more softly feminine.

Lin Chen froze for a moment when he saw the lineup. "You... planned this together?"

"Of course!" Xiao Wu said matter-of-factly. "It's the weekend, so naturally we should go out and have fun together! Come on, come on! I heard a jewelry shop just opened in Heaven Dou City's East Market. They have so many pretty things!"

And so, the group of four set off in grand fashion.

As the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City's prosperity was far beyond anything Nuoding City could compare to.

The main street was packed with carriages and pedestrians. Shops lined both sides, selling everything imaginable: Soul Tools, herbs, weapons, clothing, jewelry, snacks... there was a dazzling variety of goods.

Like a little rabbit let out of its cage, Xiao Wu darted between the shops, tugging Lin Chen over to look at this one moment and dragging him to see something else the next.

Zhu Zhuqing followed beside them. Though she was not as excited as Xiao Wu, her gaze lingered over the various stalls as well, and she occasionally paused at stalls selling jewelry or clothes.

Dugu Yan walked on Lin Chen's other side. Although she did not link arms with him like Xiao Wu, she stayed close enough for Lin Chen to smell the faint herbal fragrance in her hair.

The four of them drew frequent looks from passersby as they walked together.

Although Lin Chen was only twelve, he was tall and straight-backed, with refined features. Coupled with a calmness far beyond his age, he looked two or three years older than he actually was.

The three girls beside him were each beautiful in their own way: one lively and spirited, one cool and captivating, and one aloof and noble. Walking together, they were like a moving scenic view.

"Lin Chen, Lin Chen! Look at this!" Xiao Wu pulled him over to a stall selling hair ornaments, picked up a white jade hairpin, and held it against her hair. "Does it look good?"

"It looks good," Lin Chen said with a smile.

"You didn't even look properly!" Xiao Wu pouted in dissatisfaction, but she still bought the hairpin and casually tucked it into Lin Chen's collar. "This is your reward!"

"A reward for what?"

"For coming shopping with me!" Xiao Wu declared righteously.

Lin Chen did not know whether to laugh or cry, but he still put away the hairpin and slipped it into his clothes.

Dugu Yan, who had witnessed this, unconsciously curled her lips into a slight smile.

She walked to another nearby stall, picked up a pair of silver earrings to inspect them, then set them back down.

Lin Chen noticed her movement and walked over. "Do you like those?"

"No. I was just looking," Dugu Yan said blandly, but when she put the earrings down, her gaze lingered on them for one extra second.

Lin Chen said nothing, but as they left that stall, he quietly turned back, bought the earrings, and slipped them into his pocket.

Zhu Zhuqing stopped in front of a bookstall.

She picked up an old book about the habits of soul beasts, flipped through several pages, and became absorbed by one particular page.

Lin Chen walked over and glanced at it, discovering that the page described a rare soul beast called the Nether Shadow Cat.

"Do you want that book?" Lin Chen asked.

Zhu Zhuqing closed it and shook her head. "It's too old, and it isn't cheap either."

Lin Chen looked at the price tag: eight Gold Soul Coins.

It certainly was not cheap, but it was not expensive to him either.

He directly took out his money pouch, bought the book, and placed it in Zhu Zhuqing's hands. "If you want to read it, buy it. Don't skimp over this little bit of money."

Zhu Zhuqing held the book and froze for a moment before lowering her head and softly saying, "Thank you."

Her voice was very quiet, but Lin Chen could hear the tenderness hidden beneath her calmness.

The four continued onward, with Xiao Wu leading the way in front, Lin Chen in the middle, and Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan following on either side of him.

As they walked, Xiao Wu suddenly turned around and looked at the people on both sides of Lin Chen. Then she quickly ran back and hooked herself around his left arm.

"I'm tired. Let me borrow your arm," she said as though it were perfectly natural.

Before Lin Chen could say anything, Dugu Yan on his right silently reached out and linked her arm through his.

Her movement was far gentler than Xiao Wu's, yet just as firm, carrying an air that allowed no refusal.

Lin Chen looked down at Xiao Wu on his left, then at Dugu Yan on his right, before glancing at Zhu Zhuqing walking ahead.

Zhu Zhuqing seemed to sense his gaze. Her steps paused, and she turned around.

She looked at Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan clinging to Lin Chen's arms, remained silent for a second, then quietly walked back and stopped in front of him.

She did not take his arm. Instead, she reached out and straightened the collar that Xiao Wu had tugged crooked.

Her movements were light and slow. Her fingertips brushed across his collarbone, leaving behind a faintly cool touch. Then she withdrew her hand and softly said, "Your collar was crooked."

After doing all that, she turned and continued walking ahead, her pace as composed as ever. Yet Lin Chen noticed that the tips of her ears had turned slightly red.

Lin Chen stood where he was, Xiao Wu hanging from his left arm, Dugu Yan from his right, and Zhu Zhuqing walking ahead after having just fixed his collar. For a moment, he did not know whether to laugh or cry.

He lowered his head to look at the Ice Dragon Ring on his hand, and the Fire Dragon King's consciousness immediately emerged, her voice brimming with teasing. "Well, well, little brother, you're quite lucky with women. Three pretty little girls, each more beautiful than the last, and they're all circling around you. Not bad!"

"Shut up."

"I won't! Tsk, tsk. That little rabbit on the left is obviously the clingy type. That little snake girl on the right looks cold on the surface, but she's warm inside. And that little cat girl in front doesn't say anything, but her actions are very honest. Little brother, your romantic luck is almost absurdly strong!"

"Keep babbling, and I'll soak this ring in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."

"Don't, don't, don't! I was wrong! I'll shut up!"

The Fire Dragon King's voice vanished, but Lin Chen could feel that she was still secretly laughing deep within his consciousness.

He shook his head helplessly, then stepped forward to catch up with the three girls.

Sunlight spilled across the main street, coating the entire road in a warm golden glow.

Xiao Wu skipped along in front, holding up a string of candied hawthorns she had just bought, her mouth smeared with syrup as she ate.

Zhu Zhuqing walked beside her, holding the newly purchased book in her hands, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Dugu Yan walked beside Lin Chen. Though she still showed little expression, her steps were much lighter than usual, and her gaze was no longer as icy as before.

Walking among them, Lin Chen looked at these three girls with their vastly different personalities yet equally wonderful qualities, and suddenly felt that days like this were rather nice.

He did not know that at the entrance of an alley not far away, a figure in a gray cloak was silently watching them.

The figure's gaze lingered on Lin Chen for several seconds before turning and disappearing into the shadows of the alley.

Meanwhile, deep within the underground street, inside that inconspicuous shop, the old man handed a slip of paper to a figure completely shrouded in black.

"Target: Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Lin Chen, twelve years old, male, level fifty-six Soul King. Usually accompanied by three girls, one in black, one in pink, and one in purple. Area of activity: the academy and the main street area of Heaven Dou City."

The black-clad figure accepted the note, looked it over, then crushed it in his hand. Powder drifted down through the gaps between his fingers.

"The deposit has been paid. The remainder will be settled once the job is done."

The black-clad figure nodded without speaking, then turned and vanished into the shadows.

The old man leaned back in his chair, picked up the oil lamp again, and slowly polished it as he muttered to himself, "A twelve-year-old Soul King... what a pity."