"I'm fine."
At Yu Tianling's question, Zhu Zhuqing shook her head.
An apology had already been given, and it was only a trivial matter of accidentally bumping into someone and being bumped into. It should have ended there, but someone simply refused to let it go.
Just as Yu Tianling and Zhu Zhuqing were about to leave and continue back to the hotel, the burly man, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke. "Hey, you little brat. Your sister just bumped into me, and you think you can walk away like that?"
"That beast is bullying people again. This time, he's even picking on two children."
"What can anyone do? They'll just have to count themselves unlucky. That fellow is a three-ring Soul Elder, you know. Who around here could stop him?"
The nearby vendors began talking among themselves at the sight, but not a single one stood up.
"Hmm?"
Hearing the burly man suddenly stop them, Yu Tianling couldn't help frowning.
"Then what do you want?"
"Heh, what do I want?"
The burly man repeated Yu Tianling's question playfully, then fell silent.
Yu Tianling followed his gaze and discovered that he was staring fixedly at little Zhu Zhuqing, his eyes filled with lust. Rage instantly flared within him.
He had originally thought that since Zhu Zhuqing had accidentally bumped into the man, he could offer some compensation if the man wanted it. He had never imagined that this fellow would be so perverted as to harbor obscene thoughts about a little girl.
Seeing that he had been exposed, the burly man dropped the pretense and threatened him outright. "You little brat, do you know who I am? I'm a three-ring Soul Elder! Who around here would dare disrespect me? If you know what's good for you, hand your sister over, or I'll make you suffer more than you can bear."
"Oh? A three-ring Soul Elder?"
Before Yu Tianling could speak, an icy voice suddenly sounded behind the burly man.
"Who's eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall to dare stick their nose into my business?!"
The burly man quickly turned and roared, but there was no one around him.
Hearing that voice, Yu Tianling raised an eyebrow and looked around. Sure enough, ahead to his left, he spotted the Spirit Hall Golden Generation trio, along with the rarely seen Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan. A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Ghost Elder, take him aside and deal with him. Consider it ridding the people of a scourge."
Yu Tianling spoke calmly toward the space ahead.
Indeed, the one who had spoken was Ghost Douluo Gui Mei, who had entered his "invisible" state. Since his Martial Soul Evolution, his ability to turn invisible had improved greatly. Without strong spiritual power, it was difficult to detect him.
"Yes."
A voice echoed through the air. Before the burly man could react, a kick sent him flying straight into an alley beside them.
Everyone nearby looked astonished, unable to believe their eyes.
Yu Tianling did not pause at all. Taking Zhu Zhuqing's hand, he walked toward Hu Liena and the others.
"Ah!"
"No! Don't!"
At the same time, a burst of screams suddenly rang out from the alley. Soon, everything fell quiet again.
"Holy Son."
Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at Yu Tianling excitedly, so overwhelmed that he struggled to speak coherently.
The others also looked at Yu Tianling with particular gratitude. Naturally, Yu Tianling understood why. The Immortal Herbs Gui Mei had brought back must have worked very well.
Only Hu Liena cast several lingering looks at Yu Tianling's hand holding Zhu Zhuqing's. She wanted to say something, but never spoke.
Noticing the older girl's gaze, Zhu Zhuqing met Hu Liena's eyes openly. For a moment, the two were evenly matched. What it would be like once they were both older was simply unimaginable.
Of course, Yu Tianling noticed none of this.
"Elder Ju, everyone, long time no see."
Yu Tianling greeted them with a smile.
Ultimately, Zhu Zhuqing was still young, so she lost this first exchange upon meeting Hu Liena. She couldn't help tightening her grip on Yu Tianling's hand.
Seeing this nearly drove Hu Liena mad with anger. She couldn't help asking, "Junior brother, who is this little girl?"
"Ah, I forgot to introduce her. She's the fourth young miss of the Star Luo Empire's Zhu Family. Her eldest sister was hunting her down, and she encountered me in Sunset Forest. I saved her along the way, and she's stayed with me ever since. She'll be studying with us at Spirit Hall Academy in the future."
"The Star Luo Empire's Zhu Family."
At those familiar words, they all couldn't help looking at Zhu Zhuqing with a little sympathy. Hu Liena in particular lost much of the hostility in her eyes toward her.
Clearly, they all knew about that business between the Star Luo Empire's Zhu Family and the Imperial Family.
"Let's go. We can talk once we're back at the hotel."
Noticing the surrounding vendors cautiously sizing them up, Yu Tianling took Zhu Zhuqing along and led the others toward the Forest Hotel.
On the way, Hu Liena deliberately stepped forward and took Zhu Zhuqing's other hand, then gently introduced everyone to her.
"Sigh."
Behind them, Xie Yue and Yan couldn't help exchanging a glance at the sight before sighing.
They could both see now that Hu Liena had feelings for Yu Tianling, while this fourth young miss of the Zhu Family was clearly rather dependent on him. Combined with Yu Tianling's charm, it seemed there would be plenty of competition ahead.
Children on the Douluo Continent really were precocious. Even seven- or eight-year-olds already understood such things.
Walking ahead, Yu Tianling chatted with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, who had revealed himself. He learned that after taking the singular velvet sky chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum Douluo had not only increased his potential but also healed the hidden injuries within his body. He had now broken past Level 95 and become a Level 96 Super Douluo. Like Ghost Douluo, he also possessed the potential to strive for Level 99 Limit Douluo.
The remaining three had also reaped plentiful rewards.
Yan had taken the cockscomb phoenix sunflower, the very immortal-grade herb Ma Hongjun had consumed in the original story. This herb greatly nourished pure yang. After Ma Hongjun consumed it, it had not only greatly strengthened his flames and removed their impurities, but also fully evolved his Martial Soul into a phoenix. Its effects could certainly be called astonishing. After Yan consumed it, his flames successfully evolved into Ultimate Fire, their intensity stronger than before by an unknown amount, and his Soul Power successfully broke through to Level 45.
Hu Liena had taken the narcissus jade muscle bone. This herb could nourish the tendons and strengthen the bones, circulating Qi through the eight extraordinary meridians. After consuming it, Hu Liena successfully broke through to Level 40, and its medicinal effects had yet to dissipate. By a preliminary estimate, after obtaining a Soul Ring, she could break directly through to Level 46 or even Level 47.
Yet that was still not the most important part. Most importantly, Hu Liena's stats had improved, and her talent had become even better. Breaking through to Titled Douluo in the future would be no problem at all. Moreover, the charming ability of her Demon Fox Martial Soul had undergone a great change, even gaining a touch of ice-pure, jade-clear refinement. Her charm had been maxed out outright.
Xie Yue had also taken a narcissus jade muscle bone, which had grown on the same stalk as Hu Liena's. After consuming it, not only had his Soul Power broken through to Level 40, but his aptitude had also improved greatly.
With that, every member of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation had received a major upgrade, raising the curtain on the future glory of the Titled Douluo trio.