Teasing Ah Yin

Star Luo Empire, Fallen Blossom Gorge.

Tang Hao and Tang Xiao stood with Clear Sky Hammers in hand, staring grimly at the man across from them.

Though he wore a mask, they could tell he was the man who had been chasing them for no apparent reason for the past month. He had merely changed masks.

"Eighth-Life Asura, we brothers have no old grudge or recent quarrel with you. Why won't you leave us alone? Every time we fight, you run the moment you're about to lose," Tang Xiao demanded, his voice thick with anger and frustration.

Behind the white Bleeding Ghost Mask, Huang Tieyi spoke in a hoarse voice with a soft, almost feminine edge. "No reason. I just don't like the sight of you two strutting around with your Clear Sky Hammers. Now everyone on the Douluo Continent is calling you the Clear Sky Sect's two strongest young heroes, saying you outshine every other young talent on the continent."

"If you're the strongest of the young generation, where does that leave me? As long as you're alive, I'll never be at ease!" Huang Tieyi swung his great hammer and lunged at Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, bringing it down hard.

Tang Hao and Tang Xiao had clashed with Huang Tieyi many times. They knew he was a monster of strength. Facing this domineering blow, both brothers used strength-enhancing Soul Skills, intending to meet his hammer head-on.

Boom! Their Clear Sky Hammers collided with Huang Tieyi's great hammer. A huge shock wave burst out, shattering the trees around them.

The great hammer in Huang Tieyi's hands was no Martial Soul, just a weapon. But it had been forged from special metal, and its weight and quality were both first-rate.

The full-force collision of three hammers sent a shock through all three men. Their Soul Power recoiled, and each spat blood.

"Eighth-Life Asura, you took our combined full-strength blow and only spat a mouthful of blood. You've proved you're stronger than either of us. Can you let us go now?" Tang Xiao leaned on his Clear Sky Hammer and demanded an answer, a hint of madness in his eyes.

"Of course. Swear that you won't lose your virginity or marry until you become Titled Douluo, and I'll let you go." Huang Tieyi's low, hoarse voice rang with excitement behind the mask.

Tang Hao and Tang Xiao could only think that this "Eighth-Life Asura" had something seriously wrong with him. What a twisted whim. Hadn't he just said he wanted to prove he was the strongest of their generation? Why was he demanding an oath now?

But Tang Hao and Tang Xiao had reached Soul King at twenty-three. Confident they could become Titled Douluo while still in their prime, they swore without hesitation: "I, Tang Xiao (Tang Hao), swear to the heavens that until I reach Titled Douluo, I will not approach a woman or lose my virginity. If I break this oath, may lightning strike me dead."

"Since you've sworn, goodbye!" Huang Tieyi planted his feet on the hammerhead, rose into the air, and vanished.

======

Huang Tieyi leaned against a tree, leisurely eating a peach as he waited for Ah Yin to emerge from the Star Dou Great Forest.

Ah Yin herself had told him roughly when and where she had left the Star Dou Great Forest during his fourth life, when they had been together. He had already forced Tang Hao and Tang Xiao to swear their oaths. To be safe, he thought he should make Ah Yin swear a similar oath—or frighten her into staying in the forest.

Huang Tieyi waited in the tree all night. At dawn, Ah Yin came out in a long, pale-blue dress, stepping so lightly she looked like a thief sneaking off to steal something.

As Ah Yin passed beneath a tree, she distinctly heard snoring. Curious, she searched until she found Huang Tieyi asleep in its crown, still wearing his mask.

Feeling mischievous, Ah Yin bound Huang Tieyi with Blue Silver Grass, then kicked him out of the tree.

Huang Tieyi hit the ground hard. With a slight exertion, he broke free of the Blue Silver Grass and shouted angrily, "Who was that? What rotten bastard dared kick me out of a tree?"

Ah Yin jumped down from the crown. She covered her mouth as she watched him fume, but could not hold back her laughter. "You're hilarious! Sleeping in a tree and snoring so loudly you woke up all the birds around you..."

"What's it to you where I sleep?" Huang Tieyi rolled his eyes at Ah Yin, then spoke in a leering tone. "Who are you? Which family's young lady snuck out? It's dangerous to be alone. Want me to protect you...?"

"Protect me? You look like a big villain who wants to hurt me!" Ah Yin raised her right hand, and a stalk of Blue Silver Grass appeared in it. "Blue Silver Entanglement..."

Blue Silver Grass sprang from the ground and bound Huang Tieyi in an instant. More followed, winding around him layer after layer until he was wrapped up like a rice dumpling.

Ah Yin watched Huang Tieyi struggle helplessly, her face smug. With one hand on her hip, she pointed at him and declared, "Big villain! You dared show disrespect to the great Miss Blue Silver. This time tomorrow will be the anniversary of your death..."

Faced with Ah Yin's arrogant declaration, Huang Tieyi seriously wondered whether a donkey had kicked him in the head during his fourth life. How had he fallen for her?

Huang Tieyi unleashed his Martial Soul, Golden Body, then his first Soul Skill, Super Saiyan. His muscles swelled, the black hair atop his head turned gold in an instant, and his strength surged severalfold. He shattered the Blue Silver Grass wrapped around him, a thin line of blood running from the corner of his mouth.

Without pausing, Huang Tieyi activated his second Soul Skill, Lingbo Micro-Step. His feet seemed to ride the wind, then glide over ice. With movement impossible to predict, he appeared before Ah Yin in an instant and threw a punch without the slightest mercy.

Ah Yin could not track his movement at all. By the time she reacted, Huang Tieyi's heavy fist was already before her face.

Knowing she could not dodge, Ah Yin calmly closed her eyes and accepted the blow.

The wind from Huang Tieyi's fist blew her hair back, but his fist stopped before her face. He extended a finger and flicked her forehead hard. "Woman, I have things to do. I'll let you off today."

Ah Yin opened her eyes and clutched her forehead with both hands. She watched Huang Tieyi's retreating back through tear-filled eyes. When she saw him put a hand over his heart, she hurried after him. "Hey, my name is Ah Yin. Are you going into the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for a Soul Ring? I'm already a Soul Saint, but you seem stronger than me. Are you a Soul Douluo...?"

"Shut up. You're deafening." Huang Tieyi looked at Ah Yin in exasperation. "Are you a Soul Beast myna bird in human form? You just won't stop talking. You're so noisy I want to poison you mute..."