Dai Mubai Learns a Lesson

Suotuo City's night market was even livelier than Heaven Dou City's.

Lanterns hung all along both sides of the bluestone-paved street. Vendors selling roast meat, candied hawthorn skewers, and Soul Beast trinkets called out one after another. Tang Yin was sandwiched between Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, one on either side. He held a candied hawthorn skewer in one hand, while Ye Lingling held his other hand.

"This way, this way." Dugu Yan walked ahead to clear a path, a roast meat skewer between her teeth. "I heard the roast meat here is the best in Suotuo City."

"Slow down," Ye Lingling teased, holding Tang Yin's hand. "It's not like anyone's going to snatch it from you."

Led by his two older sisters, Tang Yin ate as they walked. He was short enough that his eyes were level with their waists, so all he saw along the way were people's legs and drifting aromas. When they passed a mask stall, he paused, and Ye Lingling stopped immediately. "Which one do you want?"

Tang Yin pointed to a silver half-mask.

Ye Lingling bought it for him. He put it on, leaving only his eyes and part of his chin visible, like an exquisite little porcelain doll.

Just then, someone came barging in from the side.

"Well, well-"

A youth in a white suit, with a languid look in his eyes, stood in front of the three of them. He was tall and blond, with two strange markings in his eyes, and he smelled of alcohol. His gaze swept from Dugu Yan's face to Ye Lingling's, and he whistled.

"You two girls are real beauties." He belched and reached for Ye Lingling's shoulder. "How about a drink with your big brother?"

Dugu Yan's face darkened at once.

"Take your hand away."

"Oh, a fiery one." The youth laughed. "I like it."

He was Dai Mubai, the captain of Shrek Academy. He had just won a team Soul Fighting match that night and come out for a few drinks. When he saw two breathtakingly beautiful girls at the night market, lust rose in him, and he couldn't help himself.

Ye Lingling instinctively took a step back, retreating behind Tang Yin.

Only then did Dai Mubai notice the masked little fellow standing between the two girls. He looked down at Tang Yin and scoffed. "Where did this little brat come from? Get out of the way. The adults are talking."

Tang Yin stepped out from behind Ye Lingling.

He only came up to Dai Mubai's chest. He tilted his head back and looked at Dai Mubai for two seconds, then, as naturally as could be, handed the half-eaten candied hawthorn skewer to Ye Lingling beside him.

"Sister Lingling, hold this for me."

Ye Lingling froze for a moment, then took the skewer.

Tang Yin took a step forward and looked up at Dai Mubai. His voice was quiet, but perfectly clear. "Who were you trying to touch just now?"

The little brat's tone amused Dai Mubai. "Little fellow, you-"

He never finished.

Countless strands of Blue Silver Grass suddenly shot out from the cracks between the bluestone slabs beneath Tang Yin's feet. They were no ordinary Blue Silver Grass: their entire lengths shimmered with a faint emerald sheen. Like vines come to life, they wound around Dai Mubai's ankles, wrists, and waist in an instant. Dai Mubai felt his whole body tighten. The force was more than any little brat should have possessed, pinning him firmly in place.

"You-" Dai Mubai's expression changed. His Evil Eye White Tiger Soul Rings were just about to appear when the Blue Silver Grass wound up his arm and reached his throat.

It wasn't tight, but it rested against his throat.

Like a snake, telling him: I can strangle you to death whenever I want.

Tang Yin looked up at him, his eyes beneath the mask as cold as ice.

"First," he said evenly, "my sister doesn't want to drink with you."

"Second," the Blue Silver Grass tightened by an inch, and Dai Mubai grunted, "watch where you put your hand. Will you cut it off yourself, or shall I help you?"

The people around them at the night market had long since retreated in a frightened circle. Dugu Yan stood to the side with her arms folded, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly-she had wanted to beat up this lecher for a while now. Ye Lingling stood behind them, a little nervous, but she didn't stop him.

Sweat beaded at Dai Mubai's temples. He could feel the Soul Power of the little brat before him-it was immeasurably deep, and he couldn't sense exactly how much Soul Power he had. His control over the Blue Silver Grass was terrifyingly precise; Dai Mubai couldn't even use a single Soul Skill.

"...I was wrong." Dai Mubai clenched his teeth and squeezed out the words.

Tang Yin looked at him for two seconds, then waved a hand, and the Blue Silver Grass swished back.

Dai Mubai staggered back two steps, drained of strength. Clutching his wrist, he glared at the little brat who was two heads shorter than him. He wanted to lash out, but he knew perfectly well-if the boy had really meant to kill him just now, his arm would already be gone.

"Remember how that felt." Tang Yin took the candied hawthorn skewer back from Ye Lingling, bit into it, and spoke indistinctly. "Keep your eyes open next time."

He turned, took Dugu Yan's hand in one of his and Ye Lingling's in the other, and continued deeper into the night market as though nothing had happened.

They had walked more than ten paces before Dugu Yan burst out laughing. "Little fellow, you scared me to death just now."

"I didn't expect you to be so fierce either," Ye Lingling said softly, the tips of her ears still a little red. The little fellow had stood up for her just now.

Tang Yin bit into his candied hawthorn and mumbled, "Of all the people he could have touched, he had to touch my sister."

He didn't look back.

At the other end of the night market, Dai Mubai stood where he was, rubbing the red marks the Blue Silver Grass had left on his wrist. Watching the three of them walk away, he swore, "Damn it... where did that little monster come from?"

He remembered the little fellow in the silver mask.

He didn't know that tomorrow, in the Great Soul Arena, that little fellow would stand opposite him as a starter for the Imperial Fighting Team.