Following the voices, they saw a boy and a girl arguing not far away. The girl was about fourteen or fifteen, ordinary-looking but brimming with youthful vitality. The boy was a little younger and chubby. It was none other than Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun sounded a little sorrowful. "Cuihua, haven't I treated you well? Why do you want to break up with me?"
Cuihua's face flushed at once. "You have, but... but... oh, we're just not right for each other! Find someone else! Besides, I'm several years older than you. Please, don't come looking for me again."
Ma Hongjun was about to say more when someone patted him from behind. "Fatty, what are you doing?"
"Boss Dai! And Yuhao." Seeing that Dai Mubai and Ning Yuhao had arrived, Ma Hongjun could hardly say anything raunchy.
Especially since Ning Yuhao had only joined yesterday; he had to leave a good impression.
Dai Mubai looked as though he understood something. "Miss Cuihua, you can't take him either?"
Cuihua nodded shyly, then ran off as though fleeing.
Dai Mubai explained to Ning Yuhao, "Yuhao, don't take it the wrong way. This is actually because of Fatty's Martial Soul. Didn't I tell you yesterday that eating could suppress his Evil Fire? But it isn't actually very effective, so he also has to suppress his Evil Fire another way. It's just what you're thinking."
"Then that girl...?"
Dai Mubai patted his chest in assurance. "Don't worry, they really were boyfriend and girlfriend. But Fatty's needs are just too great, so hardly any girl can stand it. He's already gone through several girlfriends this past year."
Ning Yuhao nodded thoughtfully. "Are all your girlfriends around your age?"
Ma Hongjun nodded.
"Have you ever heard the saying, 'Women are like fine wine'?"
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun exchanged a glance. "We really haven't."
"The next line is, 'The older they get, the richer and mellower they become.' In your situation, I don't think girls around your age are quite suitable. I'd suggest finding someone older. As the old saying goes, at thirty they're wolves, at forty they're tigers, and at fifty they can sit on the ground and suck up the dirt." Ning Yuhao looked at Ma Hongjun teasingly. "Never mind the Evil Fire you have now-even if you had several times as much, you'd probably still be squeezed dry."
Ma Hongjun shook his head like a pellet drum. "No way! They're too old. I'd be getting the short end of the stick!"
Ning Yuhao waved a hand. "Then there's nothing to be done. You'll just have to keep changing partners. But finding a new partner can't be that easy for you either, can it?"
Ma Hongjun's looks fell short by more than a little. If he weren't a Soul Master, finding a partner would actually have been even more troublesome.
Dai Mubai pulled Ma Hongjun over as well. "Fatty, you really could consider it. Besides, you're still young. Some aunties might like exactly your type."
"Get lost! Can't you wish something good for me?" Ma Hongjun pushed at Dai Mubai. Despite what he said, he couldn't help feeling somewhat tempted. After all, if he could vent his Evil Fire steadily, his cultivation could become steadier too.
In the end, Gangzi still joined Shrek Academy. Because of Ning Yuhao, however, he did not take part in teaching. For the time being, he was only doing theoretical research and managing logistics.
Everyone's cultivation progressed at a decent pace. Xiao Wu and Tang San even formed the Three-Five Combination and went to the Soul Fighting Arena to earn Gold Soul Coins. Ning Yuhao did not go, though. For one thing, he wasn't short of money; for another, he didn't want to flaunt his Martial Soul.
A month passed quickly. Tang San, Xiao Wu, Oscar, and Zhu Zhuqing all reached level 30 and were going Soul Hunting.
Ning Rongrong had also become much more diligent, and her Soul Power Level reached 29. Ning Yuhao and Dai Mubai's cultivation had not increased, however. At their level, progress was no longer so fast.
"Today, Teacher Zhao, Xiaogang, and I will lead the group. We're going Soul Hunting in the Star Dou Great Forest." All eleven members of the party had packed their bags.
The group reached a hotel at dusk. "We'll stay here today. Get a good night's rest, and we'll set out tomorrow."
The hotel was not large, with a restaurant on the first floor and rooms on the second. Ning Yuhao and the others ordered a tableful of dishes, planning to rest after eating. After all, once they entered the Star Dou Great Forest, there was no telling when they would get another hot meal.
The atmosphere over dinner was fairly lively, with everyone chatting in twos and threes. For many of them, this would be their first time entering the Star Dou Great Forest, so naturally there was some excitement.
The restaurant was crowded, with most of the seats already occupied. Just then, another group came in from outside. At their head was a middle-aged man in a white Soul Master robe. Behind him were seven young people, six men and one woman, all dressed in the same moon-white clothing. Each had a blue-green ring emblem on the left shoulder, with two characters embroidered inside in the same color: Canghui.
"That chick's pretty good-looking, Boss Dai. Those guys are from Canghui Academy, right?" Fatty's gaze was utterly lecherous, his eyes shining as he stared at her without stopping.
Dai Mubai glanced over. "They are, but don't act like you've never seen a woman before, Fatty. Have some shame."
Dai Mubai shot Ma Hongjun a retort. He attracted women with his looks; Ma Hongjun's behavior was simply too embarrassing.
Neither Ma Hongjun nor Dai Mubai had lowered his voice. As Soul Masters, their hearing was naturally better than that of ordinary people. The middle-aged man frowned slightly, and when he saw that the table was full of children, his expression grew even uglier.
Oscar chuckled softly. "We're in for a good show."
Tang San was a little puzzled. "What good show?"
Oscar said quietly, "This is training for us too. Dean Flender said that a Soul Master who doesn't dare stir up trouble isn't a good Soul Master. As the saying goes, those who don't dare stir up trouble are mediocrities. Besides, picking on people from a Soul Master Academy is the safest. At most, it'll just be a fight."
Ning Yuhao had naturally noticed what was happening. He picked up a peanut and flicked it at Oscar's head. "Even food can't keep your mouth shut."
Oscar cried out in pain and lowered his head, clutching his forehead.
Ning Yuhao did not bother with Ma Hongjun. Dai Mubai had already told him off, so it would not have been appropriate for him to say much more.
"What the dean says isn't necessarily right. And don't link hooligan behavior with so-called courage and fearlessness." With that, Ning Yuhao paid Oscar no further attention and continued eating.
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun also lowered his head in embarrassment and shoveled down his food without another word.
The middle-aged man gave Dai Mubai and Ning Yuhao a somewhat surprised look. Without saying anything more, he found a table and sat down, though it was not far from theirs.