Leaving Without a Goodbye; Suotuo Great Soul Arena (Thanks to "Two-Character ID Dragon King" for the monthly ticket!)

For the next stretch of time, Xu Peinian's days became much more leisurely.

Ever since returning from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Xu Peinian's mind had cleared up as well.

The scent he had caught when Hu Liena pinned him down until he could barely breathe was exactly the same as the familiar milky fragrance he smelled every morning upon waking.

Under his harsh interrogation, Hu Liena finally admitted to her monstrous crime.

Combined with the threats from the two offerings before, Hu Liena restrained herself considerably in public. She no longer dared to openly tease Xu Peinian, only using every trick she had in private to beg her A-Nian for forgiveness.

Zhu Zhuqing had also been acting strangely lately. She no longer wanted his guidance, and Xu Peinian could even sense that she was avoiding him.

Still, that left him with much more free time than before.

He had once wished upon stars and moons for a little leisure, but now that he was truly free, why did his heart feel a little empty instead?

Only seven days later, Xu Peinian received word that Zhu Zhuqing had left without saying goodbye.

"Go. Follow her, but do not reveal yourself unless she is in danger."

"Yes, Young Master."

A black-clad bishop with the strength of a Soul Sage accepted the order and withdrew.

That girl really never lets anyone rest easy... Xu Peinian pressed his fingertips against his brow and sighed inwardly.

But he had no intention of having Zhu Zhuqing brought back directly. Given her stubborn nature, even if she were brought back, she would probably run away again after some time.

He could only first see what she wanted to do, then prescribe the right remedy.

"A-Nian, what are you doing?"

A familiar soft, seductive voice drifted over, making Xu Peinian's ears itch.

"What are you here for?"

Xu Peinian did not answer Hu Liena's question. Instead, he frowned and asked one of his own.

Wasn't she supposed to keep her distance from him in public? Why had she come looking for him again?

"When are you coming back to the dorm today?"

"I'm not."

"How hateful~" Hu Liena rolled her eyes at him, then took out a skimpy outfit from her Soul Tool. "Then it looks like I can only wear it for myself to see."

Hm?

Xu Peinian's pupils widened slightly. He raised his left fist to his lips and said:

"Ahem, well... I just remembered that the dorm sheets haven't been changed in a long time. I need to go back tonight and change them."

A triumphant smile appeared on Hu Liena's face, making her look even more alluring.

"Let's go back now. Otherwise, it'll be dark before we finish washing them."

There was a trace of urgency in Xu Peinian's voice.

"Didn't you say you weren't going back~"

A soul-stealing, bewitching smile hung on Hu Liena's pretty face. The lower house had nearly succeeded in wresting power from the upper house.

Just you wait!

Xu Peinian grabbed Hu Liena's little hand and headed for the dormitory area, drawing a brief cry of surprise from the fox beauty.

In Hu Liena's bedroom in the dormitory area.

"Do I look good, A-Nian?"

Hu Liena had changed into a suspender maid outfit, and she had even summoned her martial soul.

With a pair of fox ears and a fluffy tail, Hu Liena bent forward and thrust out her hips. Her full red lips bit down on her jade-white index finger, while her seductive fox eyes occasionally sent flirtatious glances Xu Peinian's way.

She had even used a charm soul skill!

Good, good, good. Does she really think I'm some saint? Looks like I'll have to teach this naughty fox a harsh lesson today... Xu Peinian locked the door, a teasing smile curling his lips before he pressed closer.

"Ah, A-Nian, why are you getting handsy!"

A sharp, brief cry rang out from inside the room.

"Heh, little Nana, didn't you bring this upon yourself?"

"D-Don't call me little Nana. You... you have to call me Sister."

Hu Liena's breathing became slightly hurried as her entire body went limp in Xu Peinian's embrace, as if he had caught hold of some weakness of hers.

She really was a weak little fox who loved to play.

Xu Peinian leaned close to her ear and breathed out a stream of hot air.

"Will you still dare to tease me like this in the future? Hm? Speak~"

"N-No, I won't."

As they spoke, Xu Peinian seized upon two key points and continuously refined their essence.

"Ying, ying~ Please spare Sister, all right?"

Xu Peinian said nothing and simply kept his head lowered.

"A-Nian, I like you so much."

"Ah! Don't... don't stick your tongue in!"

Late at night.

A delicate warbler sang sweetly, and spring filled the garden.

Meanwhile,

Suotuo City, Suotuo Great Soul Arena.

Before the grand building, a masked young girl clad in leather approached at an unhurried pace, stepping like a cat.

Her originally tall and curvaceous figure appeared petite beneath the nearly one-hundred-and-twenty-meter-tall structure.

At the reception desk in the main hall.

Zhu Zhuqing filled out her basic information on the registration form. After paying the ten-gold-coin registration fee, she stepped aside for a Soul Power test.

Once she passed everything smoothly, she took the Iron Soul Battle Badge she had received and entered the combat zone of the Great Soul Arena.

At the Great Soul Arena, only those with Soul Battle Badges of a sufficiently high rank, or Soul Masters of an exceptionally high level, could compete in the main Soul Battle Arena.

Therefore, newcomers like Zhu Zhuqing, who had just registered, could only compete in one of the twenty-four subsidiary Soul Battle Arenas.

Winning one match with an Iron Soul Battle Badge earned ten gold coins, while losing brought no prize money.

Of course, Zhu Zhuqing had not come here to make money, but to improve her actual combat ability.

Ever since Hu Liena successfully plucked the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Zhu Zhuqing had felt stifled inside, with no desire to remain at Spirit Hall Academy any longer.

She was afraid of seeing Xu Peinian and Hu Liena together. Clearly, she and he were only friends, so she should not have cared about such things...

In the end, Zhu Zhuqing decided to leave quietly without disturbing them. When she had the chance in the future, she would repay Xu Peinian for saving her life and showing her the way.

"Next, we will have the first one-on-one Soul Battle of Soul Battle Arena Eighteen! The two contestants are both Soul Elders! On one side, the Battle Soul Elder Zhu Zhuqing, who possesses the beast martial soul Hell Spirit Cat! On the other, the Battle Soul Elder Niu Lai, who has already won one match and possesses the beast martial soul Black-Horned Bull!"

"Will Soul Elder Niu Lai continue his brilliant run and claim a second consecutive victory, or will the newcomer Soul Elder Zhu Zhuqing make her mark? Let us wait and see! Now, please welcome both contestants to the stage!"

On the Soul Battle platform, a middle-aged host in a tailcoat stood at the center of the stage with a microphone raised in his hand, his voice impassioned and resounding.

The passionate opening speech pulled Zhu Zhuqing back from her thoughts.

She adjusted her state, took a deep breath, and then walked down the passage toward the Soul Battle platform.

Even though it was only a subsidiary Soul Battle Arena, it was still quite spacious. The Soul Battle platform alone had a diameter of twenty meters.

Unfortunately, only a sparse number of spectators occupied the stands, with roughly one-sixth of the seats filled.

The cheers from the audience were not very loud either. A few people occasionally shouted, "Niu Lai! Niu Lai!" while the rest appeared uninterested.

A tall, burly figure soon leaped onto the Soul Battle platform.

The man had broad shoulders and a thick back, stood over an astonishing two meters tall, and was covered in knotted muscles. His large eyes were wide as bronze bells, gleaming with a ferocious light.