In the Heaven Dou Empire, Nuoding City could only be considered a third-rate city. Cities of that rank had no Great Soul Arena. Whether a city had a Great Soul Arena was also an important measure of whether it qualified as a first-rate city.
Had Nuoding City possessed a Great Soul Arena, Su Chen would have chosen it as the closer place to hone himself. Suotuo City was the nearest city that met his requirements.
Suotuo City was clearly much, much larger than Nuoding City. Heads bobbed along the streets, and bustling crowds flowed through them without end. Even after walking for a full two hours, Su Chen still had not reached the edge of the city.
Although Suotuo City belonged to the Balak Kingdom, the kingdom was a vassal state of the Heaven Dou Empire, so the city still fell within the empire.
"This is the place!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo stopped before a three-story building. It was not large, but its exterior decorations were brilliantly colored, and the entire building resembled an enormous rose. Even in the city center, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, it had a sizable plaza.
"The Rose Hotel?" Slightly taken aback, Su Chen looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo beside him. "Seriously, Elder Ju? We're staying at this hotel?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?" Chrysanthemum Douluo asked with a smile.
"This is the Rose Hotel. Not only is the decor elegant, but the food and service are first-rate as well. In Suotuo City, only certain nobles can afford to stay here," Chrysanthemum Douluo replied with a smile. Walking ahead, he completely missed the strange expression on Su Chen's face.
The Rose Hotel was a lovers' hotel. Most people who stayed here came for that. Yet he had to stay here with Chrysanthemum Douluo, an effeminate man!
Having spent three whole years frequenting Spirit Hall's pleasure quarters, Su Chen could not deny that the service and food in such places were enough to make his mouth water just thinking about them.
As they entered the Rose Hotel, the fragrance of roses greeted them. A nine-tiered chandelier hung from the lobby ceiling. Shaped like an inverted tower, it cast a suggestive pink glow.
The hotel's decor was predominantly rose-colored, accented with gold, romantic without sacrificing elegance.
In front of the counter stood two men dressed in brocade, each with an arm around a provocatively dressed woman, talking to the receptionist behind it.
Besides being a place for men and women to meet, this was also somewhere upper-class nobles could indulge in illicit affairs. Almost every city had a place like this. Once those nobles had eaten and drunk their fill, they naturally wanted to do something else meaningful. Otherwise, they would hardly be doing their status justice.
"Are you sure you want two rooms?" the receptionist asked again.
This was not the first time she had encountered two men checking into the Rose Hotel. With Chrysanthemum Douluo's alluring eyes, red lips, white teeth, and carefully maintained, silky-smooth skin, it was difficult not to let her imagination wander.
Su Chen, meanwhile, was only eleven or twelve, but he had already reached a height of 1.7 meters. Unless he volunteered his age, who would know he was still a minor?
Although Su Chen wore a mask, that was understandable too. Everyone who stayed at their hotel held an esteemed position. Concealing their identities to avoid unnecessary trouble was perfectly understandable.
"Enough chatter. I told you to book two rooms, so book two rooms," Chrysanthemum Douluo said sharply but quietly, his tone commanding even without anger.
"All right. You're very lucky. You've secured our hotel's last two rooms." That was what the receptionist said aloud, but inwardly she wondered, Was I overthinking it?
"Wait! Could you leave one room for me?"
Just as the receptionist was about to check Su Chen and Chrysanthemum Douluo in, a youthful voice sounded behind Su Chen.
Su Chen froze, suddenly recalling something. Surely it couldn't be such a coincidence? he thought in astonishment.
Su Chen and Chrysanthemum Douluo slowly turned around. A young man about 1.7 meters tall, with black hair and black eyes, was walking toward the counter. He wore a neat, pale-blue fitted outfit. Most eye-catching of all was the belt around his waist. Set with a full twenty-four pieces of jade, it lent him an air of nobility.
"Tang San?" Su Chen exclaimed.
"You are...?" Tang San stopped and looked Su Chen up and down. After six years apart, he did not recognize him immediately, especially with that mask on.
"Su Chen!" Su Chen replied.
"You're Su Chen?" Tang San stared at him in surprise.
"Yes." Su Chen nodded.
"Su Chen, I never thought I'd run into you here. Have you been doing well at Spirit Hall Academy all these years?" Tang San asked, a flicker of envy passing through his eyes.
"Not bad. What about you? Why didn't you enter Spirit Hall's Soul Master Academy with me? Where have you been studying all these years?" Su Chen asked curiously.
During that incident six years ago, Su Chen had exposed Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer martial soul. Now Xiao Wu was nowhere to be seen beside him. Had Tang San's fate changed as a result?
"I've been doing quite well too. I've been studying at the Junior Soul Master Academy in Nuoding City all this time. I took a teacher there as my master!" Tang San replied.
Tang San did not mention why he had not entered Spirit Hall's Soul Master Academy. When he spoke of taking a teacher as his master, a trace of pride even appeared in his eyes. Su Chen knew that teacher was Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang.
Perhaps Yu Xiaogang's vast knowledge had won over Tang San, who was still a complete novice when it came to this world. To Tang San, becoming such a man's disciple was an honor.
Su Chen, however, did not envy Tang San in the slightest. The research manuscripts on martial souls and soul beasts that his teacher, Bibi Dong, had given him contained knowledge every bit as extensive as Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's. The only thing about Yu Xiaogang worthy of discussion was his so-called Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls theory.
Moreover, Yu Xiaogang was cowardly by nature. When it came to love in particular, he shrank back, afraid of this and that. He and Liu Erlong clearly loved each other, yet his fear of society's prejudices had left her suffering from longing. As a man, he lacked the responsibility he ought to have shouldered. As far as Su Chen was concerned, Yu Xiaogang deserved to remain a lonely bachelor!
"Su Chen, I need a room. Could you let me have one?" Tang San asked somewhat bashfully.
"I'm afraid not. There are two of us, and we need two rooms. If you don't mind, though, I could share with you. I'll pay for it!" Su Chen offered generously.
"That won't work. I have someone else with me!" Tang San explained.
"One more person won't matter. I hear the beds here are huge. All three of us could fit!" Su Chen said with a smile.
"That still won't work. She's a girl!" Tang San said, his face reddening slightly.
Huh? Xiao Wu?
Su Chen's heart tightened. Could Tang San have met Xiao Wu after all?
"Stop arguing. That room belongs to me!"
Just as Su Chen was puzzling over this, another voice rang out from the center of the lobby.
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