Senior Sister, What Would You Choose? (Part 2)

"How would I choose?"

Han Ruoruo picked up a thick book and lightly smacked Ling Bai on the head with it, looking at him helplessly. "What kind of question is that? Senior Sister can't possibly be an Evil Soul Master!"

"Fine..."

Ling Bai smiled, but there was not a trace of warmth in it. He had been reading this book to see whether anyone in history had successfully purged the evil nature from an Evil Spirit.

If there were, he could try to learn from them. He could not put all his eggs in one basket. Compared to the eruption of the Death Prison Spider Emperor's Rakshasa Evil Force, Ma Xiaotao's bit of Phoenix Evil Fire was hardly worth mentioning. It would be troublesome if even Electrolux ultimately had no solution.

"Don't smile like that. You look too cold-hearted. If you want to know what I would choose, then I'll tell you."

Han Ruoruo lightly knocked Ling Bai on the head a few more times, then stared into his eyes and said firmly:

"If I awakened an Evil Spirit, it would mean fate had given me the right to choose corruption. But I would also have the right to refuse it. I would spend my entire life fighting against my Evil Spirit.

"As long as I do not betray my own soul, then even if I possess an Evil Spirit, I will forever be a clean person."

"Mm."

Ling Bai nodded slowly. He, too, was unwilling to fall into corruption. Otherwise, with the Death Prison Spider Emperor's talent to devour both blood and souls, if he had let himself kill freely, he might have already broken through Rank 70.

"Come on. Senior Sister will treat you to a meal."

Han Ruoruo stood up and put the unfinished stack of books along with Ling Bai's Chronicles of the Mainland Evil Soul Masters into her silver earring, her Storage Soul Tool. Then she strode away, leaving Ling Bai behind. Clearly, she was a little upset that he had been reading that "evil book."

"Senior Sister, let me treat you instead."

Ling Bai followed after her with a bitter smile. Since he had provoked her, he had to bear the consequences. Besides, if Han Ruoruo was willing to take him out to eat, she probably was not too angry.

The two left the library, and a cool breeze washed over them. It was refreshing rather than cold.

Under the sunlight, the vast surface of Sea God Lake sparkled like it had been draped in a veil of pale gold. The rippling water made a pleasing rhythmic sound.

Ling Bai walked beside Han Ruoruo and glanced at her. He found that her mood had improved again. The upward curve of her lips carried gentleness and warmth, as if she had already forgotten her earlier displeasure.

That was indeed the case. Han Ruoruo simply did not want Ling Bai wasting his thoughts on what he would do if he awakened an Evil Spirit. She still liked this little junior brother very much.

Today had been the happiest day she had experienced in years. Zhang Lexuan, Wu Ming, Hua Yao... all her reading companions had "abandoned her." It had been far too long since anyone had accompanied her to the library to read.

While sitting alone in the history-steeped library and savoring a book was a pleasure, Han Ruoruo preferred the feeling of companionship.

"Luochen, Luochen, open the door!"

A pleading voice suddenly came from ahead. Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo looked over to see a dark-skinned, burly man bent over and knocking on a door, carrying a pile of miscellaneous items in his hands.

"Hmm?"

Ling Bai leaned back tactically and asked Han Ruoruo, "Is that Ling Luochen's residence? That brother... isn't courting Ling Luochen, is he?"

"You guessed right. His name is Qian Fufu, the adopted son of Qian Duoduo, the vice dean of the Soul Guidance Department. He fell in love with Ling Luochen at first sight and has been pursuing her for the past two years." Han Ruoruo's expression was somewhat strange. "But the things he's holding... how should I put it? They're quite... uh..."

For a moment, Han Ruoruo could not find the right words. Ling Bai quietly supplied them for her:

"Quite imaginative."

"Yes, quite imaginative." Han Ruoruo found that perfectly fitting.

A bouquet of crimson roses paired with baby's breath, a rose-gold Soul Guidance Cannon, and a Soul Guidance Thruster in the same color...

Ling Bai was not familiar with Ling Luochen and did not know what she liked, but seriously, bro? You were giving Soul Tools to a Shrek Spirit Soul Department student? You were asking to get beaten up!

Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo walked forward openly without any attempt to hide themselves, so Qian Fufu naturally noticed them. He instantly hid the roses and Soul Tools behind his back, whistled, and looked up at the sky, putting on an utterly unconvincing act of innocence.

"Little Junior Brother, let's hurry along." Han Ruoruo laughed at Qian Fufu's antics.

"Alright."

Ling Bai was not so malicious as to deliberately watch a stranger embarrass himself, so he picked up the pace alongside Han Ruoruo.

As the two figures receded from the corner of his eye, Qian Fufu breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly resumed knocking. He pleaded pitifully, "Luochen, open the door. I specially made these Soul Tools for you!"

"Get lost!"

Ling Luochen's icy shout came from inside. At the same time, a chill seeped through the crack in the door, instantly freezing the once-delicate roses, just like Qian Fufu's heart.

He looked at the still tightly shut door, let out a long sigh, and left dejectedly.

"Senior Sister, this doesn't seem to be the way to the cafeteria."

A few minutes after passing Ling Luochen's residence, Ling Bai suddenly spoke.

He was a freshman, not directionally challenged!

They were nearly at the edge of Sea God Island already!

"Who said we were going to the cafeteria?" Han Ruoruo asked in confusion.

Ling Bai blinked. "To eat... we're not going to the cafeteria?"

"Senior Sister said she would treat you to a meal. The inner academy cafeteria is free, so how could I treat you there?" Han Ruoruo poked Ling Bai's head crooked with a finger. "Of course we're going to Shrek City!"

Ling Bai straightened his head. "Shrek City? I was in too much of a hurry when I enrolled, so I haven't gotten to experience this city that rivals an imperial capital."

"Then I'll take you around."

Han Ruoruo smiled. "Many students focus only on cultivation and never visit nearby Shrek City even until graduation. Senior Sister doesn't want you to have any regrets."

"Then I'll have to trouble Senior Sister to be my guide again."

"Mm-hm."

In terms of prosperity, Shrek City was among the very best across the entire Douluo Continent. Countless merchants had gathered in the city, selling every imaginable thing. The goods were dazzling, and the crowds surged through the streets.

"Crispy chicken wings! If they're not delicious, you don't pay!"

"Zhang Family soup dumplings! Thin wrappers, generous filling, rich broth, and amazing flavor! Come have a taste!"

"Candied hawthorns! Just one copper coin per skewer! Give them a try, students!"

The cries of vendors rose and fell without end. At street corners, all kinds of performers displayed their tricks, surrounded by crowds of adults and children.

Outside every shop, enthusiastic attendants beckoned customers inside, their flattering words flowing by the basketful.

At that moment, many Outer Academy students in various Shrek uniforms were walking through the streets. Enjoying good food after class was also a pleasure, and many of Shrek City's merchants had gathered here specifically to do business with Shrek students.

Wherever Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo passed, Shrek Outer Academy students—already extraordinary in the eyes of ordinary people—voluntarily made way for them, because the two wore the crimson uniforms of the inner academy.

In Shrek City, inner academy students stood at the very top.

Though everyone stepped aside for them, Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo were not arrogant. Whenever Outer Academy students tentatively greeted them, they would smile and nod in return. Every student who saw their smiles flushed with excitement, eagerly hoping to enter the inner academy someday.

They bought quite a few things along the way, most of them snacks. Han Ruoruo kept her word and did not let Ling Bai spend even a single copper soul coin. At first, Ling Bai wanted to return the favor, but Han Ruoruo used her Soul Power, far greater than his, to firmly pin down his hand.

After several attempts, Ling Bai decided to stop humiliating himself and peacefully live off his Senior Sister.

After wandering around Shrek City for an hour and tasting many delicious snacks, the two gradually slowed down, planning to find a proper restaurant for lunch.

Little Elephant Noodle Shop.

A small restaurant caught their attention, not because of its name, but because a table had been placed beside the noodle shop's entrance. On it sat a blue crystal sphere.

"Azure Crystal," Ling Bai said. "It comes from the Sun Moon Continent and is a type of rare metal with excellent Soul Power conductivity. Because it is too fragile compared to other metals, it is unsuitable for making offensive Soul Tools and is more often used to make Soul Power testers."

"Oh?"

Han Ruoruo walked over and noticed a line of small words printed beneath the crystal sphere.

"This crystal sphere can display your Soul Power as a number, nothing more. As human beings, we should first be kind, then honest, and only then strive to cultivate Soul Power."