What's Up with Your Fiancée?

Ye Lin had just returned to his dorm, shut the door, and sat cross-legged to cultivate when someone knocked.

He went over and opened the door. For a moment, he froze.

"You're still awake, right?"

Zhu Zhuqing stood outside. She had changed into clean, close-fitting leather clothes, her black hair loose over her shoulders and a thin belt around her waist.

Her expression was as cool as ever, but something in her eyes had changed since the day.

"Zhu Zhuqing? What brings you here?"

She stood on the threshold and briefly lowered her gaze.

"After fighting you on the Soul Arena Platform today and hearing what you said, there are some things I want to ask. Could I... come in?"

Ye Lin stepped aside. "Come in."

Zhu Zhuqing entered, her eyes sweeping the room out of habit.

She had heard that boys' dorm rooms were usually filthy: clothes piled everywhere, beds unmade,

and a certain unpleasant, vaguely indecent smell hanging in the air.

But the room was nothing like she had expected. The bed was neatly made, the pillow and blanket folded with crisp edges. Only an oil lamp and an open booklet sat on the desk, and the floor had been swept clean.

A faint, fresh scent of soap lingered in the air.

Her opinion of Ye Lin immediately rose another notch.

"Have a seat."

Ye Lin pointed to the bed and sat down first.

She sat beside him, naturally bringing her knees together and resting her hands on her legs.

The black leather hugged her firm curves and ran down her long legs, its contours picked out by the lamplight.

Ye Lin's gaze involuntarily followed the outline for a moment.

"Sorry. You really do have a great figure."

"I'm a normal guy. It's hard not to look at all."

Zhu Zhuqing paused, then the corner of her mouth twitched.

She did not get angry or shy away. Instead, she shifted slightly into a more relaxed position.

"Normal guy" reminded her of someone else.

Someone who claimed to be pure and upright while his mind was full of "bondage," "how it feels," and "shared sense of touch."

By comparison, Ye Lin's blunt honesty felt far more comfortable.

"Today you said we were headed in different directions, not that there was a gap between us."

"I thought about it for a long time after I got back, but I still don't quite understand."

"Could you explain what you meant by different directions?"

Ye Lin thought for a moment.

"Every Soul Master has a primary and secondary attribute. Mine are strength and defense. My fighting style is to meet opponents head-on."

"You're different. Your primary attribute is attack, and your secondary one is speed."

"You're an assassin, not a warrior." Ye Lin looked at her, his tone serious.

"The pinnacle of an assassin's craft isn't trading blows with an opponent. It's holding back until you can strike to kill."

"You aren't meant to stand in the sunlight. You hide in the shadows and wait for your opponent to leave an opening. When you find it, land a single, certain blow. Then leave at once. Don't look back or linger. That's your path."

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment, then said softly,

"...That sounds like a sneak attack. It doesn't seem very honorable."

Ye Lin shook his head. "Methods aren't honorable or dishonorable. Intentions are."

"As long as you stay true to yourself, you can hide in the deepest shadows and still have a clean conscience."

"If you use your skills to protect the people you should protect, there's nothing dishonorable about it."

Zhu Zhuqing looked up, her eyes suddenly bright.

After a long while, she gave a soft hum. "Thank you."

She rose and paused at the door.

"Can I come to you for advice again?"

Ye Lin nodded. "Of course."

Tang San was returning from the toilet and was about to open his door when he stopped short.

In the moonlight, someone emerged from Ye Lin's dorm room.

Zhu Zhuqing.

At the doorway, she glanced back and gave a slight nod, as if saying goodbye to someone inside. Then she headed toward her own dorm.

Tang San's pupils contracted. He stood rooted to the spot.

What the hell?

He blinked twice to make sure he had seen correctly.

It was Zhu Zhuqing.

She had come out of Ye Lin's room late at night, after spending time alone with him.

The hour, the setting, the people involved... Interesting!

If she'd come out of Dai Mubai's room, that would make sense. They're engaged, after all. Whatever they did would be normal.

But coming out of Ye Lin's room? That's another story.

How long was Zhu Zhuqing in there? What did they do?

A man and a woman alone together at this hour—who'd believe nothing happened?

Dai Mubai, Dai Mubai, what a fine fiancé you are.

Never thought this would happen to you, did you, Dai Mubai?

Just now you were acting like you weren't that kind of man, putting on the airs of a perfect gentleman. And tonight your fiancée went off to another man's dorm.

Here come the horns!

Shouldn't something be growing on the Evil-Eyed White Tiger's head by now?

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. He unconsciously took a few steps forward, wanting to make sure that really was Ye Lin's room and he had not mistaken it.

Dai Mubai, Dai Mubai...

Just imagining that scene gets my blood pumping!

Zhu Zhuqing's leather clothes peeled away bit by bit,

then she lies on the bed and spreads her legs,

and finally, the sounds begin.

Dai Mubai was lying in bed, thinking about his future with Zhu Zhuqing,

when Tang San's inner voice suddenly reached him.

What did I just hear?

His expression changed instantly. He stood and yanked open the door.

Tang San stood half a step outside it, crouched as if about to keep moving forward.

One dorm farther along was Zhu Zhuqing's.

Dai Mubai stared at him darkly.

"What are you doing here?"

The door opening so suddenly startled Tang San. He had not quite wiped the gloating look from his face.

He hurriedly forced a smile, his voice a little dry.

"Nothing. I was bored, so I came out for some cool air. Nice moon tonight, huh?"

He looked up at the sky.

Uh...

There's no moon...

Dai Mubai watched him, the corners of his mouth slowly lifting.

"Nothing, huh?" He rolled his shoulders.

"Well, if you've got time to spare, I could use some exercise too."

"Come on. Let's spar a little. Work off our dinner."

The smile on Tang San's face finally cracked.

He backed up half a step. "Boss Dai, it's the middle of the night..."

"That's fine."

Dai Mubai stepped out and pulled his dorm door shut behind him.

"You ran so much today, you should already be warmed up."

With that, Dai Mubai grabbed the back of Tang San's collar and dragged him toward the courtyard.

Tang San's feet scraped two shallow lines across the ground.