That brat must have been hacked to death by now. The Bloodhand Mercenary Corps never leaves survivors.
Tang San kept comforting himself inwardly, but he was suspicious by nature. Without seeing Xiong Shaoqing's corpse himself, without seeing Xiao Wu throw herself into his arms in despair, he still felt as though a bone were lodged in his throat.
Carrying that irritation with him, Tang San pushed open the boys' dormitory's battered wooden door.
The moment he entered, a wave of sweat-stink and indescribable heat struck him in the face.
"Damn it, this fucking Evil Fire is flaring up again. This is killing me." The fat Ma Hongjun was pacing restlessly around the dormitory, bare-chested, the fat all over his body jiggling with every step.
Wiping his sweat, he cursed, "That damned Cuihua is useless, too. We'd only been dating a few days before she started crying that she couldn't take me anymore and insisted on breaking up."
"My Martial Soul is a mutated Evil Fire Phoenix. If I don't go into town regularly to let off steam, I really will explode and die. No, I have to find somewhere in Suotuo City to enjoy myself tonight."
Hearing the noise, Ma Hongjun turned around. His little eyes darted over Tang San before he suddenly broke into a lecherous grin.
"Heh, Third Brother, I just heard you asked Four-Eyed Cat Owl for leave to visit Suotuo City, only to get yelled at and sent packing?" Ma Hongjun sidled up and nudged Tang San with his elbow, waggling his eyebrows as he probed.
"We're all men here. Be honest. Are you like me, unable to stand this village's hardships anymore and wanting to get a taste of meat in town, to find out what it feels like?"
"Fatty's right. What's there to hide?"
On the bed by the window, Dai Mubai reeked of alcohol as he gave a dispirited sneer.
Ever since Zhu Zhuqing had publicly abandoned him, this prince of the Star Luo Empire had completely smashed his already cracked pot.
He held a cheap wine flask, his eyes filled with the emptiness that followed indulgence.
"Women are nothing but accessories to men, just clothes." Dai Mubai tipped his head back and gulped down some liquor, his lips twisting in self-mockery. "I took that woman too seriously before."
"And what did I get in return? I'm going to Suotuo City tonight, too. Those twins taste far better than suffering in this shitty village. Little San, want to sneak out together tonight? Boss Dai's treat."
Faced with his two roommates' filthy talk, Tang San's brow furrowed into deep grooves, and a flash of utter contempt passed through the depths of his eyes.
Utterly vulgar. These two are nothing but beasts ruled by their lower halves.
Tang San judged them coldly inwardly. He considered his own soul incomparably noble. How could he be lumped together with people who lingered in brothels?
Yet he brought his expression under flawless control in an instant.
Tang San stepped back half a pace and put on a startled, innocent, righteously unblemished face. His tone was solemn, even carrying a trace of offended anger:
"Mubai, Fatty, please don't make jokes like that. I, Tang San, am pure as ice and spotless as jade, devoted solely to pursuing the great path of a Soul Master. How could I possibly visit such filthy places?"
"I asked for leave simply because I wanted to watch experts fight at Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena and gain actual combat experience. As for what you're talking about, I've never even considered it, and I certainly won't sully myself with it."
He spoke with such righteousness that he resembled a white lotus rising unstained from the mud.
Rebuffed, Ma Hongjun gave an awkward smile and curled his lip. "If you don't want to go, don't go. Why act so high and mighty..."
Dai Mubai snorted as well, rolling over and ignoring him, clearly displeased with Tang San's "pure as ice and spotless as jade" manner.
Sensing the dormitory's atmosphere instantly plunge to freezing point, Tang San narrowed his keen eyes slightly and inwardly cried out in dismay.
Damn, I overdid the act just now.
If I fall out with them over this, how will I secretly sneak out of the academy under cover of their trips to let off steam?
Without them covering for me, acting alone would be too risky.
Tang San's thoughts raced, the cunning of a hypocrite on full display.
The anger on his face melted away like ice and snow, replaced by a rueful smile brimming with guilt and sincerity.
He took a step forward of his own accord, softening his voice with heartfelt earnestness. "Mubai, Fatty, you misunderstood me. How could I look down on you? We live under the same roof. That makes us brothers who face life and death together."
At the word "brothers," Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun's expressions eased somewhat, and they turned to look at him.
Tang San sighed and lowered his voice. "The only reason I was so quick to refuse was that I was thinking of your safety."
"Think about it. I only just got rebuffed by Dean Flender today. He's still angry about a new student asking for leave. Tonight's dorm checks and security will definitely be at their strictest."
He turned to Ma Hongjun. "Fatty, your Martial Soul has a flaw, and you need to let off steam to stay alive. Even if you're caught, the dean might really turn a blind eye for old times' sake."
Then his heavy gaze settled on Dai Mubai. "But you're different, Mubai. If you climb over the wall with us tonight and get caught red-handed, with Dean Flender's protective yet harsh temper..."
"Do you think you could escape a severe punishment? How could I stand by and watch my own brother walk straight into the line of fire?"
His words were watertight, considering everything from the others' perspective.
Hearing this, Dai Mubai broke into a cold sweat down his back. Though he had smashed his already cracked pot, he still felt lingering fear of Flender's methods.
"Little San's right..." Dai Mubai sat up and looked at Tang San with a complicated expression, even a trace of gratitude in his eyes. "I was thinking with my dick and didn't consider things properly. I nearly dragged everyone down with me."
"Yeah, Third Brother, sorry. I misunderstood you." Ma Hongjun scratched his head as well, grinning sheepishly.
Seeing that the timing was about right, Tang San's lips curved into a faint, gentle smile as he continued laying out his "perfect plan":
Chapter 42: The Heaven-Shaking Phantom Team
"So we need to plan carefully before going out. Let's wait a few days for this to blow over and the teachers to lower their guard, then act together."
"When the time comes, you can take care of your business, and I'll broaden my horizons at the Great Soul Arena and hone my combat skills. We'll cover for one another and do it without anyone being the wiser. That's the foolproof approach, wouldn't you say?"
"Brilliant! Third Brother really has the brains." Ma Hongjun slapped his thigh, his eyes lighting up.
Dai Mubai's anger vanished completely, too, and he patted Tang San's shoulder.
Now he understood: although Tang San had no interest in women and cared only about cultivating, he really was a loyal friend who looked out for his brothers.
It didn't matter if their views differed, as long as they could cover for one another when it counted.
The dormitory grew cheerful and harmonious again, as though their earlier friction had never existed.
While everyone joked around, Oscar, seated in the farthest corner, still had his eyes closed, Soul Power circulating steadily around him.
His ears heard nothing beyond the window; his heart was devoted solely to making Big Sausages.
Tang San returned to his bed, smiling as he watched the animated Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
Beneath that gentle, refined exterior, however, he was sneering madly inside.
Idiots. A few words were all it took to toy with you in the palm of my hand.
When the time comes in a few days, just be good and serve as bait to draw the guards away.
Tang San lay on the wooden bed, looking through the battered window frame toward Suotuo City, cold glints churning in his eyes.
Hopefully wild dogs haven't picked Xiong Shaoqing's chopped-up corpse clean yet.
Once I confirm Xiong Shaoqing's death with my own eyes, I'll go comfort that heartbroken little fool, Xiao Wu.
The next day, Xiong Shaoqing and his companions returned to Suotuo City.
After Xiao Wu's relentless coaxing and pestering, the three went straight to the Great Soul Arena's registration desk.
"A team name..." Xiao Wu bit her finger, her large eyes rolling thoughtfully. She looked at Xiong Shaoqing, cold as an iceberg beside her, then at the aloof Zhu Zhuqing, and clapped her hands with a laugh. "Big Brother's Martial Soul is the Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear."
"Little Sister Zhuqing and I specialize in speed and phantom-like movement. Why don't we call ourselves the Heaven-Shaking Phantom Team?"
The name carried both an unrivaled, domineering presence and a hint of mystery. Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly, and Xiong Shaoqing naturally had no objection.
Soon, the Three-Person Team was matched with tonight's opponents, the Gale Team, a lineup consisting entirely of three-ring Soul Elders.
The fourteenth sub-arena was packed.
The announcer read out both sides' statistics loudly, and the stands instantly erupted.
"Did I hear that right? The Heaven-Shaking Phantom Team has two stunning beauties above level thirty, and they're actually bringing along a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster who's only level twenty-one?"
"Look at that man. He has a handsome face, sure, but why's he acting like some big bad wolf with that icy look? He's clearly just a pretty boy living off women."
"Hahaha! Hiding under women's skirts in a team fight-what a disgrace to us men. Gale Team, teach that pretty boy a lesson!"
Hearing the mockery rain down from the stands, Xiao Wu stamped her feet in anger. Zhu Zhuqing's eyes instantly turned cold as well, feline claws flickering into view at her cuffs.
Xiong Shaoqing, however, stood quietly where he was, arms crossed, his face as calm as a still lake.
Beneath that cold, aloof exterior, however, his inner snark had already switched on.
Go on, mock me. Mock me all you like.
What do these ignorant country bumpkins know about living off women at the highest level?
Having two peerless, goddess-tier beauties willingly carry you-that's talent.
In a moment, I won't just live off women. I'll flip the whole table right in front of you and slap all your faces swollen.
With the strike of a gong, the Soul Fighting officially began.
The opposing Gale Team consisted of three agility-type Battle Soul Elders, all with Wind Blade Demon Wolf Martial Souls.
They paid Xiong Shaoqing no heed at all. Becoming three afterimages, they bypassed him in perfect coordination and moved in a triangular formation to surround Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing.
"Deal with these two hotties first, then take our time working over that pretty boy." The lead wolfman grinned viciously. His third Soul Ring suddenly lit up, and a skyful of azure wind blades sealed off Xiao Wu's retreat.
Although Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing possessed astonishing combat strength, their opponents were, after all, a veteran team with years of coordination.
Just as Zhu Zhuqing used Hell Stab and drove back the enemy on her left, the opposing leader feigned an opening, then suddenly sprang from her blind spot. His sharp wolf claws swept toward her back with a deadly, blood-reeking gust.
Zhu Zhuqing was airborne, her previous force spent and fresh force not yet gathered. That vicious blow was about to rip her open.
"Little Sister Zhuqing!" Tangled up by the wind blades, Xiao Wu's eyes nearly split with anguish.
At that hair's-breadth moment-
"You're courting death."
A cold, low bark, as though from the deepest reaches of hell, thundered across the noisy fighting stage.
Xiong Shaoqing, who had been standing there "living off women" all along, moved.
There was no flashy opening stance, only pure, crushing violence. The flagstone stage beneath his feet instantly cracked into powder, and he appeared behind Zhu Zhuqing as though he had teleported.
Facing wolf claws capable of tearing through metal and stone, Xiong Shaoqing neither dodged nor evaded.
His left arm shot out, catching Zhu Zhuqing's slender, supple waist. With a forceful pull, he sheltered her warm, soft, voluptuous body securely against his broad chest.
At that moment, the disguise of suppressed Soul Power around him tore apart.
Two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, surged skyward. A terrifying pressure belonging to a level twenty-three Soul Grandmaster, yet mingled with primordial dominance, swept across the arena like a volcanic eruption.
Boom!
Dark golden light blazed around Xiong Shaoqing's right fist as he smashed it straight into the level thirty-five Soul Elder's wolf claws.
With an earsplitting crack of bone, the wolfman leader let out a piercing scream. His entire right arm was blasted into a twisted wreck, his massive body like a tattered sack struck by a sledgehammer.
He tumbled through the air more than a dozen times before crashing heavily beneath the stands, losing consciousness on the spot.
The stage fell deathly silent.
Zhu Zhuqing was pressed tightly against that solid chest, her nostrils filled with the pleasant, cool scent of his body. His strong, powerful heartbeat sounded right beside her.
She raised her head and looked at the stern, sharply sculpted jawline so close to her. Not a trace of panic showed in her cool eyes; instead, wave after wave of irrepressible brilliance rose within them.
Level twenty-three... a surge in Soul Power spanning two levels, and a single punch to instantly defeat a level thirty-five Soul Elder.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu exchanged a look, each seeing deep pride in the other's eyes.
Neither felt the slightest surprise.
Because last night, they had plainly seen this sentence in the Diary: [As for that bit of Soul Power forcibly raised by my origin foundation, I'll keep it hidden for now. Trump cards should always be revealed at the most critical moment.]
Zhu Zhuqing knew very well that Xiong Shaoqing was not level twenty-one and must have concealed his strength. She simply hadn't expected him to have hidden so much.
Chapter 43: Challenging Higher Levels, Shocking the Arena
Feeling the scorching hand at her waist, her normally cool heart melted completely, like a lump of sugar dropped into warm water.
A God King in his previous life-even cultivating anew in another lifetime, how could ordinary mortals understand such boldness and foundations?
The man I, Zhu Zhuqing, chose should be this astonishingly brilliant.
[Ding! Detected that Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu witnessed the host's forceful defense of his wife. Their admiration and affection erupted like a volcano, and the host's towering image has been utterly enshrined as divine!] [The System Feedback Mechanism has erupted! Vast quantities of bond Soul Power are flooding back!] [The host's Soul Power has broken through the level twenty-four barrier!] [Current Soul Power: level twenty-four!]
Holy shit.
Before you continue