Xu Sanshi: "I'm a real turtle, but you're a *real* turtle"

Before long, Tang Ya brought out plate after plate of fragrant dishes.

Since they were eating out, they naturally had to order the signature dishes. And who was paying? Tang Ya, of course, fresh from swindling gold out of Tang Qi.

Seeing that all the food had arrived, Tang Qi looked up at Tang Ya, who was still standing beside the table with no intention of leaving. He raised an eyebrow. "Why are you still here?"

Tang Ya gave a soft snort, dropped into a chair, picked up her bowl and chopsticks, and started eating. The whole sequence flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water.

"Wait... who said you could..."

"The Sect Leader is hungry. What's wrong with having a little?"

Tang Ya confidently shoveled in a mouthful of rice, her cheeks bulging. "If I starve to death, you'll be the one crying! Besides, I'm quitting in a bit. Who works when they have money?"

Tang Qi shook his head while Xiao Xiao hid a giggle behind her hand. Before long, the three of them had put their clean-plate campaign into practice. Not a scrap remained on the table.

Before leaving, Tang Qi asked the kitchen to pack up a meal for Huo Yutong.

He was about to pay when Tang Ya stopped him. The girl lifted her chin, patted her shapely chest, and declared:

"I told you, it's my treat!"

With that, she turned and beamed at the manager behind the counter. "Manager, I quit. Just deduct the meal from my wages."

The manager was an elderly woman. She froze for a moment, worry rising on her face.

When Tang Ya had first come to Shrek City, she had worked here while studying. The woman knew a little about the girl's family circumstances.

"Xiaoya, you..." The elderly woman hesitated.

Tang Ya only grinned without a care and waved her hands. Then she turned and patted Tang Qi's chest twice with her slender hand.

"Don't worry, Manager. I've got a wealthy patron supporting me now. I won't go hungry again!"

Tang Qi and Xiao Xiao were both left speechless.

The manager and the other two waitresses, however, were unfazed. Clearly, they were used to Tang Ya's thunderbolt remarks.

They merely looked at the pair as though thinking, These young lovers sure know how to have fun.

The three of them left the restaurant and stood by the street.

Tang Qi turned to Tang Ya. "Are you busy later?"

Tang Ya tilted her head and thought it over seriously. "No. I was planning to go straight back to the academy."

"Good."

Tang Qi handed her the packed meal, then took out his dorm key and pressed that into her hand too. "Then sorry for the trouble, but could you take Yutong her dinner?"

Tang Ya suddenly tipped her face up, her gaze loaded with meaning. "Oh? Is our dear Sect Leader that concerned about Yutong?"

Haki Ya, you're asking for a beating!

Tang Qi glared at her, then reached over to ruffle Xiao Xiao's hair.

"Xiao Xiao, are you coming with me to the North District, or going back to the academy with Tang Ya?"

Xiao Xiao raised her little face, her big eyes sparkling. "I'm coming with you!"

"I want to come play too!" Tang Ya immediately raised her hand, like a little kitty refusing to be left behind.

"How can you still think about playing at your age?"

Tang Qi shot her a sidelong glance. "Has the Tang Sect been revived? And you're playing?"

"Didn't you just say I was your patron? Fine. As your master, I order you to return to the academy and cultivate at once!"

A blush spread across Tang Ya's pretty face. She gritted her teeth, itching to lunge forward and bite Tang Qi's raised finger.

Tang Qi: Bold of you, Haki Ya. If you dare bite my finger today, tomorrow you'll dare bite something else.

The girl stamped her feet in fury, her ponytail whipping behind her, before finally letting out an indignant huff.

Just you wait, Tang Qi! Sooner or later, this Sect Leader will turn the tables and become the master. Then I'll make you cry and call me Mommy!

After indulging in that fantasy, Tang Ya basked in the thrill inside her head. In high spirits, she picked up the packed meal and ran toward the academy with light steps.

Xiao Xiao: Could Sister Xiaoya be an M?

Shrek City's North District.

This was the largest Trade Hub in all of Shrek City. Merchants from the three great empires converged here, and bulk trades continued day and night.

The streets were packed with carts and people, bustling with life.

Tang Qi stood hand in hand with little Xiao Xiao before a sprawling storefront.

It was the Clear Sky Sect's largest holding in Shrek City.

Although Soul Masters had grown more numerous, ordinary people still made up the vast majority. The Clear Sky Sect's Soul Masters swung great hammers all day, and every one of them was skilled at making everyday iron tools, armor, and similar goods.

Hearing the clanging from deep inside the shop, Xiao Xiao swallowed unconsciously.

She blinked her watery eyes and timidly looked up. "Could I... wait outside for you?"

"Outside?"

Tang Qi frowned. "A little girl like you, standing out there alone? What if a trafficker snatches you?"

"But..."

"No buts." Tang Qi cut her off. His secret technique for dealing with little girls was to leave them hanging.

The shop's interior was several times larger than it looked from outside. Soon, a burly middle-aged woman with broad shoulders and a sturdy waist came to greet them.

"Young Master." She stopped before Tang Qi and bowed slightly.

"Aunt Xue, no need to be so formal." Tang Qi waved a hand.

Ever since the two ancestors, Niu Tian and Tai Tan, had taken charge, the Clear Sky Sect had grown somewhat fond of comfort from top to bottom. As a result, the sect that had inherited the Clear Sky Hammer, the world's foremost tool Martial Soul ten thousand years ago, now had only two Titled Douluo.

Tang Xue, standing before him, was one of them: a Rank 91 Titled Douluo.

Tang Xue was stationed in Shrek City partly to oversee the Clear Sky Sect's holdings and partly to serve as Jiang Nannan's protector.

Tang Qi turned and pinched Xiao Xiao's cheek. "I'm going inside. Stay right here and don't wander off."

"Mm!"

Xiao Xiao nodded obediently.

Boys' dormitory, Room 316.

"Bei Bei, take it from me: fragrant flowers grow everywhere beneath the heavens. Why pine for just one?"

Xu Sanshi lounged against the headboard, offering earnest advice to Bei Bei, who stood by the window, with the air of a veteran of countless romances.

After a long silence, Bei Bei sighed and turned with a frown. "What about you? Jiang Nannan told you outright she has a boyfriend, but you're still clinging to her."

"That's different!"

Xu Sanshi abruptly sat up and hurried to explain. "Nannan only said that to test whether my feelings are genuine! If I believed her, I'd be falling for it."

"How is it different?" Bei Bei asked.

Xu Sanshi was stumped.

He opened his mouth, but the sight of Bei Bei's stubborn, lovelorn face made an inexplicable anger flare inside him. "Tang Ya told you herself not to look for her anymore because she was afraid... afraid of what, again?"

"Tang Qi," Bei Bei said gloomily.

"Right! Afraid Tang Qi would misunderstand!" Xu Sanshi slapped his thigh in exasperation.

But Bei Bei, whose face had been full of bitterness, suddenly went still. It was as though lightning had struck his brain. His pupils widened sharply.

"What exactly did Xiaoya say?"

Xu Sanshi blinked, baffled. "Bei Bei, don't come looking for me anymore. I'm afraid Tang Qi will misunderstand."

"I'm afraid Tang Qi will misunderstand..."

Bei Bei repeated the words under his breath, the light in his eyes growing brighter.

"I get it!"

He shouted and, before Xu Sanshi could react, rushed out like a gust of wind.

"I'm a real turtle, but you're a real turtle," Xu Sanshi muttered with a curl of his lip.

Bei Bei charged down the stairs with only one thought in his head.

Xiaoya had told him not to look for her because she feared Tang Qi would misunderstand.

And what was Tang Qi now?

The Tang Sect Leader.

Why would she fear the Tang Sect Leader misunderstanding?

Obviously, it was because of—

The Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record!

Understanding flooded Bei Bei's mind. His breathing quickened, and his strides grew longer.

So he had misunderstood Xiaoya!

He had gotten it all wrong!

Xiaoya hadn't told him to stay away because she wanted to distance herself from him. She was protecting him.

She was afraid Tang Qi would think he coveted the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record.

The more Bei Bei thought about it, the more excited he became. His eyes even grew damp. He had to join the Tang Sect. He had to win Tang Qi's approval.

Even if he had to kneel and become an Outer Sect Disciple, he would accept it!