After returning to the Rose Hotel, Lu Qian felt he could finally get some proper rest. After all, he had fought someone in earnest today, and his opponent had been a Soul Master of Dai Mubai's caliber.
Coupled with the preparations he had made regarding Zhu Zhuqing over the past few days, Lu Qian was indeed feeling rather tired.
After washing up, Lu Qian lay on the bed and suddenly remembered that he had yet to sign in today.
"Sign in."
[Congratulations on signing in successfully. Random reward: Sign-In Coins ×50. Current accumulated Sign-In Coins: 320.]
"Sigh, so few."
Lying on the bed, Lu Qian looked at his Sign-In Coin balance with some resignation.
If he had not awakened his Sky-Covering Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul back then, he would never have ended up in such a miserable state.
A year ago, awakening his Sky-Covering Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul had cost Lu Qian the vast majority of the Sign-In Coins he had accumulated over the preceding five years-a full eighty-eight thousand!
But Lu Qian had also personally experienced the terror of the awakened Sky-Covering Blue Silver Emperor, because that single occasion alone had nearly cost him his life.
By Lu Qian's own estimate, he would have to reach at least the Soul Saint level before he might barely be able to control his Sky-Covering Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul.
That was assuming Lu Qian had obtained all the Soul Bones for his body. Fortunately, he already had four Soul Bones, so there was no rush to obtain the remaining ones.
After all, Lu Qian was still too young, and his strength had yet to develop. As long as he did not court death, none of the opponents he encountered would be a match for him.
Perhaps he had been too tired these past few days, for Lu Qian soon fell asleep. When he woke again, it was already noon the following day.
"It's so late."
Feeling rather helpless, Lu Qian rushed to the back entrance of Zhu Zhuqing's hotel without even eating.
Fortunately, the attendant said that Zhu Zhuqing had only ordered lunch before shutting herself in her room. Presumably, she would not be leaving Suotuo City for the time being.
After confirming Zhu Zhuqing's situation, Lu Qian went straight to the brothel street to find Ma Hongjun.
Unexpectedly, Ma Hongjun was waiting for Lu Qian at the entrance to the street.
"Why haven't you gone in?"
Lu Qian asked, somewhat puzzled.
Ma Hongjun, however, declared with righteous conviction:
"What kind of person do you take me for? A stud? I only come here occasionally to compensate for the flaw in my Martial Soul!"
"Uh, just came out?"
Lu Qian thought it over and came up with a possibility that could explain why Ma Hongjun was currently as saintly as a Buddha.
"Bullshit! I never went in!"
"Oh! So you didn't get it in! No wonder, no wonder. The girls kicked you out, did they?"
Lu Qian waggled his eyebrows at Ma Hongjun with ill intent.
"Lu Qian! Damn you! I'll fight you!"
When it came to his dignity as a man, Ma Hongjun dared not be the slightest bit lax.
"Hahahaha!"
In truth, Lu Qian had already figured that Ma Hongjun had overexerted himself the night before last and was now recovering, temporarily abstaining!
"Lu Qian! You're still laughing!"
If not for the fact that Lu Qian was rich and rich, Ma Hongjun would definitely have beaten him up!
"Lu Qian?"
Just as the two were joking around, Lu Qian actually heard Ning Rongrong's voice.
He looked back, and sure enough, it was Ning Rongrong!
But why would Ning Rongrong be here?
"Why are you here?"
"Why are you here?"
Lu Qian and Ning Rongrong asked each other.
"None of your business!"
"None of your business!"
Once again, they spoke in unison.
Standing beside them, Ma Hongjun immediately noticed something was off. The relationship between these two seemed rather unusual, too.
Then he looked at Ning Rongrong's figure and that pretty little face. Another beauty in the making!
Ma Hongjun could not help wondering just what magic Lu Qian possessed to attract girls of such high quality!
"Oh, a new girl, Lu Qian? Care to introduce us?"
At last, it was Ma Hongjun's turn to mess with Lu Qian!
"Don't talk nonsense. I just met her on the road and saved her in passing."
"Oh, a hero rescuing a beauty?"
Ma Hongjun looked from one to the other, but neither of their expressions seemed to fit a hero rescuing a beauty. They looked more like enemies.
"A hero? Hmph, I paid a price!"
Whenever Ning Rongrong thought of this, she remembered the two pieces of jewelry Lu Qian had extorted from her!
"A price? Lu Qian! You beast!"
Ma Hongjun's mind instantly went down the wrong path.
Yet, unexpectedly, Lu Qian and Ning Rongrong, who had been glaring at each other with hostility, once again roared in unison:
"Get lost!"
"You two! Hmph, fine, I'm leaving."
Ma Hongjun felt there had to be something going on between Lu Qian and Ning Rongrong, so he simply left rather than get in their way.
Watching Ma Hongjun leave, Lu Qian frowned and said to Ning Rongrong:
"Why do you keep following me?"
"Hey! Could you get your facts straight? I was just wandering around the city. Who knew I'd be unlucky enough to run into you again?"
"Just wandering around? This is a brothel district, you know. Are you sure?"
Lu Qian merely wanted to confirm whether Ning Rongrong was deliberately following him.
"A brothel district? Oh, no wonder. Hmph! You men are all no good!"
Judging by Ning Rongrong's expression and reaction, she really did not seem to have been deliberately following him.
That put Lu Qian at ease. Thinking about it, that made sense; Ning Rongrong should not have been in the mood to follow him.
"Yes, yes, yes! Men are all no good. I'm going in. Bye!"
With that, Lu Qian turned to go inside.
Unexpectedly, Ning Rongrong called him back.
"Wait!"
"What else do you want?"
"Take me inside for a look?"
"In here?"
Lu Qian was rather surprised.
"I'm curious."
"No way!"
"Ten Gold Soul Coins!"
"What kind of person do you take me for?"
"A hundred!"
"You've got a good eye for people!"
Lu Qian held out his hand with an ingratiating smile.
"Hmph, let's go."
Ning Rongrong casually tossed Lu Qian a small money pouch and was about to go inside with a thoroughly haughty expression.
Lu Qian, however, stopped her.
"Hey! Don't push it!"
Ning Rongrong glared furiously at Lu Qian, thinking he was about to go back on his word.
"What are you thinking? How can you go in looking like that? You need a disguise."
"A disguise?"
"Dress as a man. Come on, I'll take you."
Lu Qian led Ning Rongrong straight to a nearby clothing shop. After picking out a reasonably suitable outfit, he took her into the brothel street.
Having never seen a brothel district before, Ning Rongrong instantly turned into a bundle of curiosity, tugging at Lu Qian and asking about this and that until he was nearly annoyed to death.
Fortunately, by drawing on certain experiences from his previous life, Lu Qian could more or less handle her questions. The result was that Ning Rongrong eventually looked at him with considerable displeasure and said:
"Do you come here often?"
Naturally, Lu Qian flatly denied it!
"How could I? I learned all this from that sleazy fatty just now. He comes here all the time."
"Hmph! As if I'd believe you."
Although Ning Rongrong said that, her expression softened considerably.
Before you continue