Sharing a Room at the Inn, Meeting Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing at the Great Soul Arena

A few days later, the three arrived in Suotuo City.

The moment they entered, Xiao Wu's head swiveled from side to side. She wanted to look at everything.

Lin Xuan thought about it. By the usual rules for transmigrators, he ought to stop by the Rose Hotel.

But he didn't. There was little point, and whether he would even run into Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai was another matter.

Besides, even if he did, there would only be one room. How were they supposed to share it?

Tang San looked at a sign by the intersection.

"Let's find somewhere to stay first."

Tang San led the way along the main street and through two alleys until they found a reasonably clean-looking inn.

A wooden sign by the door read "Peaceful Inn." The prices were posted beside it: eighty Copper Soul Coins a night for a single room.

Lin Xuan went in and spoke to the innkeeper, then turned to Tang San and Xiao Wu. "Three rooms."

Xiao Wu objected at once. "Two will do."

"Three."

"Two."

Xiao Wu tugged at his sleeve, utterly confident she was right.

"Didn't we always sleep in the same room back in Nuoding? What's wrong with saving some money?"

Behind the counter, the innkeeper leaned forward over a bowl of noodles to watch.

Lin Xuan tried to pull his sleeve free.

"That was because the dormitory left us no choice. Now that we're staying at an inn, we should have separate rooms."

"So what if I'm a girl? I've shared a bed with you since we were six!"

At that, several guests eating in the lobby turned their heads in unison.

Lin Xuan pressed a hand to his forehead. "Could you watch how you phrase things?"

Xiao Wu looked unconcerned. "I'm just telling the truth."

Tang San had already wandered off, pretending to read a notice on the wall while secretly laughing.

He had noticed that Lin Xuan could never hold out against Xiao Wu. Lin Xuan might not seem particularly nice to her, but Tang San knew he was always giving way to her.

Sure enough, after arguing for a while, Lin Xuan gave in.

Two rooms.

One for Tang San, and one for him and Xiao Wu.

The innkeeper took the money and handed over two copper keys, wearing a rather peculiar expression.

Who would have thought this young man was so lucky with girls at his age?

How enviable.

Lin Xuan and the others went upstairs.

The room was small, with a wooden bed, a low table, and one chair. Its window faced the alley.

It was hardly better than the Work-Study Student Dormitory at Notting Academy.

Xiao Wu flopped onto the bed and rolled over. "Ah! A bed at last! Sleeping outdoors these past few days has made my back ache."

Lin Xuan set his bundle on the table. "Get some sleep. I'll go fetch a pot of hot water."

"Mm." Xiao Wu pulled the quilt around herself and closed her eyes.

After days on the road, all three were exhausted.

Lin Xuan went downstairs for a pot of hot water. By the time he returned, Xiao Wu was asleep, her braid spread across the pillow and her breathing even.

He sat down, took a drink of water, then leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes for a while.

The three woke one after another as darkness fell.

They ate dinner in the inn's dining room: three bowls of noodles and two plates of braised meat.

Xiao Wu polished off one and a half plates by herself.

Tang San set down his chopsticks and brought up an idea. "Lin Xuan, Xiao Wu, Suotuo City has a Great Soul Arena. A lot of Soul Masters compete there. Why don't we go take a look?"

Xiao Wu chewed twice and swallowed. Suddenly full of energy, she lunged over and grabbed Lin Xuan's arm.

"Lin Xuan! Let's go!"

"Stop pulling me. I haven't finished eating!"

"I'll finish it for you!"

Lin Xuan shielded his bowl. "All right, let's go. It'll be good experience. We'll have to take part in soul fights eventually."

The three left the inn and followed the main street toward the city center.

The farther they went, the thicker the crowds grew, with more and more Soul Masters among them.

Some wore Soul Fighting Badges at their waists. They walked in small groups, loudly debating which matches would be worth watching tonight.

The Suotuo Great Soul Arena was visible from far away.

The vast oval building stood over a hundred meters tall. Luminous gems studded its domed roof, casting a faint glow in the dusk.

From outside, the whole structure looked like a small city within the city. People crowded around its entrance, buying tickets and lining up, all pressed together.

The three bought the cheapest spectator tickets at ten Copper Soul Coins each and entered the Main Soul Arena.

The arena was bigger than Lin Xuan had imagined.

Tier upon tier of circular stands was packed with spectators. Shouts, cheers, and curses mingled together.

The fighting platform stood in the center, its floor etched with a Defensive Array and flooded with light.

The three found seats near the front. Xiao Wu squeezed between Lin Xuan and Tang San and craned her neck toward the platform.

A match was underway.

A young man stood on the left side of the platform. He was tall, and his short golden hair stood out under the lights.

Martial Soul Possession had already transformed his arms, covering them in white tiger stripes. Claws extended from his fingertips, and an old scar marked the skin above his right eyebrow.

Two yellow Soul Rings and one purple one hovered beneath him.

The White Tiger Martial Soul.

Lin Xuan's expression did not change, but he recognized the young man.

At that age, it had to be Dai Mubai.

Across from him stood a man in his forties, holding a long-handled battle-ax formed from his tool Martial Soul. He, too, had two yellow Soul Rings and one purple one.

The man was powerfully built, and the ax blade gleamed coldly. He looked like a fighter who relied on strength.

Dai Mubai moved first. White Tiger Possession gave him explosive power, and he charged straight in, slashing across with claws wreathed in Soul Power.

The middle-aged man sidestepped and swung his ax back toward Dai Mubai's ribs.

Dai Mubai rolled aside, but stumbled when he landed.

Lin Xuan caught that detail.

Dai Mubai was moving more slowly than Lin Xuan remembered.

It wasn't a matter of skill. Something was wrong with his physical condition.

They exchanged another dozen or so blows.

Dai Mubai pressed the attack several times without gaining an advantage. Instead, the other man's ax forced him back two steps.

Things improved a little after Dai Mubai activated his third soul skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, but the middle-aged man was clearly experienced. He blocked its fierce assault with his ax and dragged the fight out.

After they remained deadlocked for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Dai Mubai's attacks grew weaker and weaker.

At last, the middle-aged man caught an opening and swept his ax across. The flat of it slammed into Dai Mubai's waist.

Dai Mubai went flying sideways, rolled twice near the edge of the platform, and finally stopped.

"The winner: Tie Niu!" the referee announced, raising a hand.

Boos and cheers rose together from the stands. Some spectators cursed Dai Mubai for being weak; others called for another match.

Xiao Wu tilted her head. "That blond guy's pretty handsome. Shame he doesn't seem much of a fighter."

Tang San said nothing. He just watched Dai Mubai get to his feet below.

Dai Mubai rose slowly. His waist had clearly taken a hard hit.

Lin Xuan paid little attention to the result. Someone else had caught his eye.

Near a corner of the main spectator stand, a young woman in a fitted black outfit rose from her seat.

And she had a striking figure.

Very striking.

Her black outfit drew in at the waist and fitted closely at the sleeves, accentuating every curve. She wasn't especially tall, but her proportions were exceptional.

Her hair reached her shoulders, and her features were clean-cut.

Most important was her age.

She looked like a grown woman of seventeen or eighteen. But by Douluo Continent's standard of adulthood at twelve, and judging from what he knew of the original story, she was Zhu Zhuqing.