Tang Chen took the coat.
Hu Liena rose and stepped behind him to straighten his collar.
"You can't use your Ninth Soul Skill."
Tang Chen nodded.
"Only physical strength."
"And no activating Divine Slaughter's Domain."
"I know."
Hu Liena smoothed his lapels.
"If your arms start hurting, stop immediately."
"I'll be careful."
"You've said that before."
Tang Chen turned his head toward her.
"This time I'll stop."
Hu Liena looked at him.
Only after a moment did she withdraw her hands, satisfied.
"Come back for dinner tonight."
"All right."
Tang Chen and Tang Yuan left the courtyard.
Dugu Yan stood beside the Stone Table, putting away the remaining medicinal liquid.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Hu Liena.
"You've prepared dinner?"
"Yes."
"What did you make?"
Hu Liena watched the direction the two men had gone.
"His favorite roast meat."
Dugu Yan closed the jade box.
"He'd never say he likes it."
"He eats more of it than usual," Hu Liena replied.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded gently.
"That's enough."
Back Mountain.
Tang Yuan released his Golden-Clawed Bear Martial Soul.
Its black-and-gold form stood among the rocks.
The ground cracked beneath its immense weight.
Tang Chen put away the Destruction Scepter.
Black-and-white light covered his arms.
"Begin."
Tang Yuan raised a bear paw and struck head-on.
Tang Chen did not retreat.
He lowered his waist and crossed his arms.
Boom!
Their strength collided.
The rock beneath Tang Chen's feet shattered.
He slid back several steps.
Tang Yuan withdrew his paw.
"You've grown stronger."
"Not strong enough."
Tang Chen steadied himself again.
"You didn't use Soul Power?"
"Only physical strength."
"Again."
Tang Yuan raised his other paw.
Tang Chen stepped forward.
His waist and back drove the movement together.
His right arm knocked the bear paw aside, and he drove in with his left shoulder.