Night Lessons in Suotuo City

Suotuo City was livelier at night than it was by day.

Lights ran together along the streets, laughter rolled from the taverns, and the roar of the crowd near the Soul Fighting Arena was louder still. Soul Masters who had won money felt even the night breeze blowing their way; those who had lost cursed as they went looking for another match.

Bai Jin walked through the crowd with a group of boys and girls.

They made a strange-looking procession.

At the front was a Silver Hair young man wearing a blindfold. Behind him came the Shrek Seven Devils, followed by Luo Wenshan and two others from Spirit Hall.

Anyone who didn't know better might have thought some rich young master had brought his people to wreck the place.

Ning Rongrong watched everything along the way.

She had visited Suotuo City before, but she had never looked at it like this.

Bai Jin had not let her ride in a carriage or had anyone clear a path. He had simply made them all blend into the crowd, listen to the noise, smell the wine, and look at the greed, excitement, and exhaustion on the Soul Masters' faces.

"This is training too?" Ning Rongrong finally asked.

"Mm."

"Training for what?"

"To stop seeing the world as too clean."

For a moment, Ning Rongrong had no answer.

Xiao Wu wrinkled her nose. "The smell is so strong here."

Tang San said quietly, "I smell blood."

Bai Jin glanced at him. "You caught that?"

"Only faintly."

"Not bad."

The Soto Great Soul Arena stood just ahead.

The enormous building looked like a beast crouched in the night. People streamed through its entrance, while cheers rose in wave after wave.

Flender had not come with them.

When he heard that Bai Jin was taking the students to investigate a disappearance, he had merely told them to be careful. Then he stuffed the bill into Luo Wenshan's hands and said that since Spirit Hall was taking part in the training too, they could discuss the food expenses.

Luo Wenshan's expression had been a sight to behold.

Bai Jin had greatly enjoyed it.

Once inside the Soul Fighting Arena, the group split up.

Dai Mubai took the main Gate. Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu went to the backstage passage, while Tang San took Oscar to check near the competitors' lounge. Ning Rongrong stood with Luo Wenshan in the second-floor stands.

Bai Jin bought himself a bag of sunflower seeds.

Before leaving, Dai Mubai glanced at Bai Jin.

"What if we find someone?"

"Watch first."

"What if they attack?"

"Then fight."

"What if we can't beat them?"

"Call for help."

Dai Mubai fell silent for a moment. "You make it sound easy."

Bai Jin spat a shell into the paper bag. "Staying alive ought to be simple. Overthink it, and you're more likely to die."

Dai Mubai turned and walked away.

Tang San heard that and faltered for a step.

He had noticed that much of what Bai Jin said sounded like a joke, but on closer thought, it all seemed like hard-won experience scavenged from a heap of corpses.

What had this man been through?

Tang San did not ask.

Right now, he needed to memorize the routes backstage.

If danger came, knowing the way out would be more useful than knowing the answer.

Especially in a place with so many people, so many Gates, and such chaotic lighting, remembering how to get out mattered far more than guessing who the culprit was.

Luo Wenshan looked at Bai Jin. "Sir, aren't you investigating?"

"I am."

"You're eating sunflower seeds."

"I can investigate while eating sunflower seeds."

Luo Wenshan fell silent.

He had worked with Bai Jin before. As much as the remark made him want to punch the man, it was probably true.

Up in the second-floor stands, Ning Rongrong looked down.

On the fighting platform, an Agility Attack-type Soul Master was sent flying and lay where he landed, unable to get up for some time. Medical Soul Masters hurried onto the platform and carried him backstage.

Ning Rongrong's gaze followed the stretcher.

"That man."

Bai Jin paused mid-crack for half a beat.

"Go on."

"The second man carrying the stretcher. He walks too steadily."

Luo Wenshan looked at her, surprise flashing in his eyes.

His gaze made Ning Rongrong a little uncomfortable, but she continued. "When you carry an injured Soul Master, your shoulders should sway with the weight. His don't."

Bai Jin smiled.

"Little princess, you catch on fast."

Ning Rongrong straightened her back without thinking. Then she caught herself and glared at Bai Jin.

Bai Jin was already on his feet.

"Tell the others. Backstage."

The backstage passage was much quieter than outside.

The lights were dim and yellow, the walls damp, and the smell of blood hung heavier in the air.

Tang San arrived first.

He did not ask what had happened. He simply took a position where he could guard the entrance.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing appeared from the other side.

Zhu Zhuqing's face was colder than ever. "Residual Soul Power."

"Which way?"

She raised a hand toward the underground storeroom.

Zhu Zhuqing's judgment was rarely wrong.

She seldom spoke, but that did not mean she missed things. On the contrary, she noticed more than most: the dust rubbed off a corner, footprints hidden beneath water stains, and that thread of cold Soul Power in the air that did not belong to the Soul Fighting Arena.

To her eyes, they were like white lines left behind in the dark.

Bai Jin nodded. "Let's go."

The group had barely reached the storeroom Gate when a soft, scattered laugh came from within.

It was not loud, but it sounded like fingernails scraping bone and sent a chill through them.

Dai Mubai raised a hand to stop Ning Rongrong and Oscar.

"You two stay back."

Bai Jin glanced back at him.

"Staying back is fine. Just don't stand still."

Dai Mubai froze.

The Gate opened.

Three unconscious Soul Masters lay inside the storeroom. Crooked lines had been drawn across the floor in blood. At the center of the formation stood a middle-aged man in a medical robe, holding a Black Bone Needle.

His Martial Soul was not for healing.

It was Bloodsucking Vine.

Vines pushed up through cracks in the floor like slick snakes.

Ma Hongjun swore. "That's disgusting!"

The Evil Soul Master raised his head and swept his gaze over them, finally settling on Bai Jin.

"Spirit Hall?"

Bai Jin held up his bag of sunflower seeds.

"Just passing through."

The Evil Soul Master sneered, and the vines erupted.

Dai Mubai charged first. His White Tiger Martial Soul took hold, and he tore straight through the vines. Xiao Wu sprang from his shoulder, flipped in midair, and kicked toward the Evil Soul Master's neck.

The Evil Soul Master retreated and slashed with the bone needle.

Blood-red lines lit up.

Tang San immediately shouted, "Back!"

Blue Silver Grass spread out, wrapped around Xiao Wu's waist, and pulled her away.

The next instant, the blood-red lines burst apart. Corrosive Red Mist sprayed out and hissed where it struck the floor.

Xiao Wu's expression changed.

A moment slower, and she would have injured at least one leg.

"Good reflexes."

Bai Jin's voice came from behind them.

He had not made a move.

Tang San glanced at him and understood.

This was a lesson in real combat.

The kind of real combat that could get someone killed.

Ning Rongrong gripped the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Her voice trembled slightly, but she did not retreat.

"Seven Treasures Have Names, Second: Speed!"

Light fell over Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing vanished into the shadows.

At last, the Evil Soul Master's expression changed.

He suddenly realized these children were far from ordinary students.

Their teamwork was still rough, but every one of them was learning to read the situation.

Bai Jin stood by the Gate and said quietly, "Don't be afraid of making mistakes."

Then he added,

"Just be afraid of dying."

The moment his words fell, the glint of Zhu Zhuqing's claws flashed behind the Evil Soul Master.

Blood sprayed.

The Evil Soul Master screamed, but his body suddenly collapsed into the bloody mist. It became a crimson shadow, smashed through the storeroom's rear wall, and escaped.

At last, Bai Jin moved.

He handed the bag of sunflower seeds to Luo Wenshan.

"Hold this."

Luo Wenshan took it on instinct.

Bai Jin stepped forward.

In darkness like a rainy night, Azure Blue light kindled at his fingertips.

"After him."