Li Zha looked at the three of them. Above his head, a gigantic spectral manifestation sat in midair, gazing down at Tang Wulin and his companions.
That was the source of the oppressive pressure the three of them felt.
"Wh-who is this guy?"
Cold sweat had already soaked Xie Xie's back.
Li Zha smiled and withdrew his [Lotus Body].
Xie Xie immediately felt much more at ease, and the Light and Shadow Dragon Dagger returned to his body.
"Weird. Was that an illusion?"
Xie Xie was puzzled. The pressure had vanished in a flash, leaving him unable to make sense of it.
After all,
Tang Wulin's bloodline power merely suppressed Xie Xie's Light and Shadow Dragon Dagger. Xie Xie had never even heard of a Martial Soul so powerful that its wielder could force his own Martial Soul to automatically protect him just by standing there.
His Light and Shadow Dragon Dagger, even if it wasn't truly Twin Martial Souls, absolutely qualified as a super Martial Soul.
Behind Xie Xie,
Tang Wulin and Gu Yue exchanged a glance. They, too, felt the pressure disappear.
But Gu Yue's brows drew tightly together. She knew that what had flashed past just now was definitely no illusion.
After a moment's thought, Gu Yue quickly walked up to Li Zha.
"Hello. May I ask who you two are?"
Li Zha took out his Spirit Pagoda badge and flashed a sunny smile.
"My name is Li Zha. I'm from the Spirit Pagoda, and I'm here in Eastsea City on vacation. I came to see Tang Wulin."
"Me?" Tang Wulin had followed her over by then. He asked in confusion, "Do we know each other?"
"Hehe, you don't know me, but I know you. You're the Forging Association's genius, right? I've heard my elders mention you."
"I happened to come here today, so I thought I'd get to know you."
Li Zha smiled and held out his hand.
Tang Wulin was a little dumbfounded, but Li Zha wasn't wrong about him being a forging genius. Even the Eight-Star Saint Craftsman Mu Chen had personally acknowledged him as the youngest person in history to achieve Thousand Refinement.
Tang Wulin also held out his hand, scratching his head with a bashful grin. "No, no, I'm only just getting started. Looks like you're a Blacksmith too. Let's exchange ideas and learn together sometime!"
As Tang Wulin spoke, he glanced at Gu Yue out of the corner of his eye and unconsciously puffed out his chest.
Hehe,
Having an outsider help me show off feels pretty damn good, especially in front of Gu Yue, the girl I like.
Tang Wulin's gaze swept over Li Zha and Na'er. Bro, I'll help you out when you're chasing girls someday too!
That's the principle of brothers being each other's wingmen!
Li Zha nodded.
He had to admit,
Tang Wulin's character and values were so upright that he hardly seemed like a member of the Tang family.
Na'er spoke up as well:
"Hello, everyone. My name is Na'er. Hello, big sister. You look so familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"
Na'er looked at Gu Yue, the corners of her lips lifting.
Gu Yue froze for a moment. She hadn't expected Na'er to actually dare greet her.
You're just a fucking clone!
How dare you?!
However, given the inexplicable pressure Li Zha had exuded earlier, Gu Yue didn't dare act rashly for now. At the very least, she had to figure out the situation first.
Gu Yue reached out and clasped Na'er's hand, replying with a smile:
"Really? I feel the same way! Seeing you feels so warm and familiar, like meeting family."
"Great! Let's hang out sometime."
"Mm-hmm. How about tonight? This is your first time in Eastsea City, right? I'll take you to the seaside for some sea breeze and grilled skewers."
"Really? Big Sister Gu Yue, you're so wonderful! So wonderful that I want to stay with you forever!"
"I feel the same way, little sister. Then let's never part again, all right?"
Na'er tightened her grip on Gu Yue's hand slightly, and Gu Yue responded with equal force.
Their words concealed sharp edges, and their smiles hid knives.
What the hell?
Xie Xie and Tang Wulin were dumbfounded. Gu Yue's background was mysterious, and she had never had many friends. What had gotten into her today?
Was Gu Yue really this quick to warm up to people?
Tang Wulin pondered for a moment, then took a closer look at Na'er.
Strange,
These two don't even look alike.
He didn't know why he kept feeling that their bearing was so similar.
Once the handshake was over,
Na'er looked at Gu Yue and sneered inwardly.
Old Gu Yue,
Before, I only had thirty percent of your power, so I could let you get away with calling me Na'er.
But now I have the Godhood token Senior Brother bestowed on me. You should be calling me the East Sea Dragon King!
As Na'er thought about this,
She suddenly noticed a coincidence. Wasn't this place called Eastsea City?
Across from her,
Gu Yue looked at Na'er, making her own calculations:
Has Na'er gone mad? She actually dares get right in my face?
Hmph,
Once we go to the seaside tonight, I'll absorb you, and then you'll behave!
But it's strange. What exactly was that pressure just now?
Gu Yue looked at Li Zha, inwardly wary.
Li Zha spoke with a smile:
"Since everyone wishes we'd met sooner, why choose another day when today will do? How about we get something to eat together?"
Xie Xie hesitated. "Something to eat? But we just finished dinner."
Tang Wulin rubbed his belly and smiled sheepishly. "I could still eat a little."
Gu Yue, however, nodded. "Sure!"
Xie Xie thought for a moment. "Since you all want to go, how about I take you to a place? Their tin-roasted beef is really good!"
Na'er's eyes lit up. "Tin-roasted beef? Senior Brother, is that the place you mentioned?"
Li Zha smiled and nodded.
Xie Xie was pleasantly surprised. "Damn, bro! Is this really your first time in Eastsea City? You even know about the tin-roasted beef? You're a seasoned foodie!"
Li Zha said, "I like browsing online. I saw that this place had good reviews, so I remembered it."
"Then let's go! No more standing around talking!"
Xie Xie waved them along,
Leading the four of them toward the school gates.
Xie Xie was in a good mood, especially after seeing such a gorgeous girl as Na'er.
Her looks could even edge out Gu Yue's.
He immediately declared generously:
"Li Zha, Na'er, you two are our guests. It's my treat today, so eat all you want!"
Tang Wulin smiled.
He had an enormous appetite and digested food quickly. Someone treating him to a meal naturally made him feel fantastic.
The five of them soon took a Soul Guidance Train to the snack street and entered the tin-roasted beef shop.
True to the shop's name,
Its signature dish was beef roasted inside sealed beverage cans.
Li Zha and the others arrived at just the right time. The dinner rush had ended, but the late-night barbecue crowd had yet to arrive.
Xie Xie called out generously:
"Boss, start us off with two servings of tin-roasted beef each!"
"Coming right up! Made some new friends again, have you? These faces look a little unfamiliar today."
Li Zha sat down and immediately found that remark odd.
It made sense that he and Na'er looked unfamiliar.
But Tang Wulin and Gu Yue looked unfamiliar too?
Wait,
Doesn't that mean,
This is also Gu Yue and Tang Wulin's first visit to this shop?
In that case,
Has that gangster called Guang Long not been dealt with yet?
Just as Li Zha was thinking this,
A burly bald man walked into the shop, followed by a bunch of lackeys.
"Boss! It's that time of the month. Time to pay up!"
The owner, who had been about to prepare the tin-roasted beef, immediately panicked. He hurriedly put down what he was holding and took out a cigarette, intending to light it for the bald man, only to be shoved aside by one of his underlings.
"Get lost! Who do you think you're cozying up to? Are you worthy of lighting Brother Long's cigarette?! Piss off!"
The owner hit a table after being shoved aside. Ignoring the pain, he hurriedly said, "Brother Long, haven't I already paid this month's protection money?"
The bald man picked his ear, then blew on his fingertip.
"You paid the protection money, but today we're collecting the sanitation fee. Hurry up and quit wasting my time. Once you pay, I've still got a massage waiting at the club."
The owner stammered, "Brother Long, this is just a small business. I really don't have any money. Could you give me a little more time...?"
"More time? Boys, smash it up!"
The lackeys raised their clubs and swung at the tin-roasted beef cooking over the heat.
Inside the shop,
Li Zha and his four companions heard the exchange outside the door.
Tang Wulin and Xie Xie exchanged a glance and frowned. Both immediately stood up, clenching their fists.
But a figure suddenly flashed past them. In an instant, Li Zha was already standing in front of Guang Long.
Guang Long snapped impatiently:
"Where the fuck did you come..."
Li Zha didn't waste a single word. He raised his foot and kicked Guang Long in the face.
Guang Long instantly flew backward and crashed into a garbage bin in the distance.
Before you continue