Xiao Wu: Boys and Girls Should Keep Their Distance!

Outside Suotuo City.

In a deserted grove, Lin Yuan slowly landed. A flash of blue light from the Blue Silver Emperor Leg Bone vanished along his right leg.

Zhu Zhuqing stepped out of his arms and straightened her clothes.

Lin Yuan raised his right hand as Soul Power surged. Several streaks of light flew from his Martial Soul and landed on the ground.

Guga hopped out first and rubbed his belly with his stubby hands.

"Guga's hungry."

Little Moon teleported into the nearest tree the moment she landed and gazed toward the distant city wall.

"Sugar figurines, guga."

"Let's go into the city," Lin Yuan said.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the forest floor. Flags fluttered atop the distant wall, and faint cries of vendors drifted from the city gate.

Little Moon jumped down and teleported in front of him, shaking her head proudly.

The group followed the dirt road toward the gate. An old vendor was selling sugar figurines by the roadside. Little Moon teleported over and squatted before the stall, staring at them. The vendor jumped, but when Lin Yuan handed him some copper coins, he deftly wrapped up several.

Little Moon held up a sugar figurine and licked it, then glanced at Xuanwu Guga beside her.

Xuanwu Guga held her own figurine in both hands, licking it in tiny, earnest mouthfuls.

Little Moon teleported over.

And snatched it away.

Xuanwu Guga froze for a second. She looked down at her empty hands, and her mouth puckered.

"Don't take my sugar figurine, guga..."

Her voice sounded pitiful.

Little Moon had already teleported three steps away. She waved the figurine, looking smug.

"Come get it, guga."

Xuanwu Guga chased her on her stubby legs. Little Moon teleported again. After two steps, Xuanwu Guga stopped and rubbed her face with her little hands.

Little Moon tilted her head.

Then she teleported back and tucked the figurine into Xuanwu Guga's hands.

"Just teasing, guga."

Xuanwu Guga cradled it and went back to licking it with solemn concentration.

They ate as they walked through the city gate.

Suotuo City was far larger than Nuoding City. Bluestone slabs paved the main street, with shops lining both sides: weapon shops, apothecaries, restaurants, teahouses, each sign gaudier than the last. There were more Soul Masters on the streets than in Nuoding City. Some carried greatswords taller than themselves; some led Soul Beast cubs out of pet shops; others openly displayed their Soul Rings while haggling with merchants.

Zhu Zhuqing walked beside him, her gaze sweeping over the streets.

The Rose Hotel.

The finest hotel in Suotuo City was a three-story white building with a gilded sign above its entrance. A dark red carpet covered the lobby floor, and the chandeliers gleamed.

Tang San stood at the front desk, brow slightly furrowed.

"Only one room left?"

The receptionist, a young woman in her early twenties, smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry. So many people have come to Suotuo City lately that nearly every room in the city is taken."

Tang San turned to Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu shook her head.

"We've walked a long way. We really are tired," Tang San said. "Why don't we take it? One room will do."

"No." Xiao Wu folded her arms. "Boys and girls should keep their distance."

"I can sleep on the floor. You take the bed."

"No, that won't do either." Xiao Wu turned to the receptionist. "Could we try somewhere else?"

"I've already checked the nearby hotels—" The receptionist spread her hands.

Before she could finish, laughter came from the stairs.

Loud, uninhibited laughter.

Dai Mubai came in through the door with his arms around a pair of twins. One on each side, collar hanging open and lipstick marks still on his face. The twins pressed against him, giggling nonstop.

He glanced at the front desk and spotted the key in the receptionist's hand.

"Say, isn't that room supposed to be mine?"

The receptionist paused, then nodded hastily. "Yes, yes. You're a regular, Young Master Dai. The manager always keeps that room for you—"

"Then that settles it." Dai Mubai walked up to the desk and tapped two fingers on the counter. "Give me the key."

Tang San turned around.

"Did you reserve it?"

Dai Mubai laughed. He looked Tang San up and down, his smile flippant.

"Reserve it? I'm Dai Mubai. I don't need a reservation to stay in that room."

The twins covered their mouths and laughed behind him. One deliberately rubbed against him.

The receptionist took half a step back.

The air turned taut.

The receptionist took another half step back, feeling around for something beneath the counter. The twins behind Dai Mubai stopped laughing and exchanged a glance.

Lin Yuan pushed open the hotel doors.

Zhu Zhuqing followed him inside. Several Gugas filed in after her, while Little Moon, still holding her half-eaten sugar figurine, looked around.

Xiao Wu was glaring coldly at Dai Mubai. She hated dandies who draped themselves in women.

From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the doorway.

She stopped.

She stared at the person there and rubbed her face.

Then looked again.

It was him.

"Lin Yuan!"

She sprang forward like a cannonball and threw herself onto him.

"It really is you! I knew you were all right!"

The impact drove Lin Yuan half a step back before he steadied himself.

"Long time no see."

In his arms, Xiao Wu felt her nose sting, but her smile shone bright. Both hands clutched his collar tightly, as if she feared he might vanish again.

Tang San's face twitched.

Dai Mubai turned too. First he saw a girl clinging to a stranger. Then he saw Zhu Zhuqing.

Guilt seized him at once.

Zhu Zhuqing stood beside Lin Yuan and gave Dai Mubai a flat glance, as though he were a stranger.

Dai Mubai's face flushed red.

He clenched his fists until his nails dug into his palms.

"Zhu Zhuqing!" He pointed at her, his finger trembling. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you staying in the Star Luo Empire where you belong—"

He never finished.

Lin Yuan's expression turned cold.

He was about to move, but Little Moon had already teleported over.

A silver-white blur flashed. Little Moon appeared before Dai Mubai and kicked him in the face.

"How rude, guga."

Dai Mubai flew backward and overturned a stand of potted plants in the lobby. Soil, shattered porcelain, and snapped pothos vines scattered across the floor. The twins shrieked and fled upstairs.

Dai Mubai scrambled up, shards of porcelain stuck in his back, his teeth grinding.

"You're dead!"

Martial Soul Possession. The phantom of a white tiger appeared behind him, its fur bristling. Three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—lit up, and the surge of Soul Power set the chandeliers swaying.

He was about to charge when something caught his foot. Starry Guga had somehow spread a layer of vines across the floor. Dai Mubai pitched forward and slammed his chin into the marble with a thud.

Dark Gold Guga ambled over and sent him flying with a slap.

"Too weak, guga."

Dai Mubai hit the wall and slid down. He struggled to his feet, and his third Soul Ring suddenly flared.

"White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"

His muscles swelled all over, and the white tiger phantom grew several times more solid. A wave of force knocked over a vase on the front desk, spilling water across the floor. He opened his mouth, white light gathering in his throat.

Xuanwu Guga stepped forward. A water-blue barrier rose, shielding everyone behind her.

The White Tiger Fierce Light Wave struck it. The barrier did not budge.

Dai Mubai's pupils contracted.

"How is that possible—"

Before he could finish, Guga charged in from the side. With a kick of his stubby legs, he slammed his whole body into Dai Mubai's lower back.

"Off you go, guga!"

Dai Mubai screamed as he flew out and smashed through the revolving door, sending splinters everywhere. He hit the street and rolled twice before stopping. The white tiger phantom dissolved completely, and his collar was covered in dust and wood chips.

Little Moon teleported in front of him and squatted beside his head.

"Still want to fight, guga?"

Dai Mubai struggled to his feet, blood at the corner of his mouth and his knees still shaking. He glared at Lin Yuan.

"You... just wait!"

He turned and ran.

Fast.

Pedestrians hurried out of his way. A few recognized him and murmured among themselves.