Chapter 75 – Journey to Suo Tuo City
After breakfast, Zhu Zhuqing chatted idly with Qi Tian as they digested their meal. During their talk, she learned more about where they currently were.
"You're saying Dai Mubai is in Suo Tuo City's Shrek Academy?" Zhu Zhuqing asked softly.
Qi Tian nodded.
"That's right."
Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment, her gaze distant. Then she said calmly,
"I want to go to Suo Tuo City."
"Alright," Qi Tian replied immediately.
His straightforward agreement left her a little… disappointed.
'Shouldn't you at least ask me why I want to go there?' she thought with a faint sigh.
Still, she explained,
"Didn't you tell me to break free from the shackles of fate? I want to make things clear with Dai Mubai — I'm going to end the engagement."
After a brief pause, she looked at him again.
"Would you come with me?"
Qi Tian thought it over, then nodded. Suo Tuo City was less than a thousand kilometers away—only a few days' journey at most.
"Alright, I'll go with you to Suo Tuo City," he said. "But I can't accompany you inside Shrek Academy."
Zhu Zhuqing blinked, puzzled, as if asking why.
Qi Tian continued,
"The teachers at Shrek Academy are quite strong… and some of them are rather shameless."
"I'll stay behind the scenes. If you run into danger, I can use a skill to attach to your body and teleport you out."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly, her heart warming at his careful consideration.
"Your abilities really are amazing," she murmured in admiration.
---
Two days later, the two arrived at Suo Tuo City.
Qi Tian was no stranger to this place—he had lived here for a while before, even training in the city's Great Soul Arena. Returning now felt strangely familiar.
"Should we head straight for Shrek Academy?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.
A thin veil covered her face, concealing her cold yet breathtaking beauty.
Qi Tian shook his head.
"Let's not rush. A Soul Saint is guarding the academy—it'd be too easy for them to detect us."
"We'll stay in the city for now and see what opportunities arise."
"Alright."
Following his lead, they soon found themselves near Suo Tuo City's most infamous district—the red-light district. Qi Tian decided to rent a room nearby.
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly, puzzled as to why he would choose such a place. She didn't dare question him directly but couldn't help worrying… Could it be that he wants to visit those women here?
At the Rose Hotel front desk, Qi Tian said calmly,
"Hello, I'd like to book two rooms—next to each other."
After finishing his own registration, he turned toward Zhu Zhuqing.
"You'll stay in the room beside mine. Is that alright?"
Suddenly, inspiration flashed through her mind.
"No need," she said quickly. "We're traveling together—it's safer if we share one room."
Qi Tian froze for a second, caught off guard. Zhu Zhuqing… this bold?
"Alright then," he replied after a moment. "One double room, please."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhu Zhuqing felt her body heat up, her cheeks tinged with pink. She had only wanted to keep an eye on him, but now that she thought about it, what she said sounded far too suggestive—sharing a room with a man her age, and in public no less… It was mortifying.
Once the room was booked, Qi Tian took her for a walk around the city.
"Let's go that way," he said, pointing toward the red-light district not far from the hotel.
Zhu Zhuqing's faint warmth immediately vanished. Her expression turned cold as she silently followed him. So he really is that kind of man…? she thought, feeling a pang of disappointment.
"Hey, handsome~ Come over here! Big sister's got something real nice to show you!"
A provocatively dressed woman called out to Qi Tian, her tone teasing.
But the moment she finished, a chill ran down her spine.
She turned and froze—a young woman wearing a black veil was glaring at her, eyes cold enough to freeze blood.
The faint trace of soul power radiating from the veiled girl made the courtesan tremble in terror. The pressure alone stole her breath.
A… Soul Master?!
She had no idea what she'd done wrong, only that she desperately wanted to beg for mercy.
Qi Tian, of course, sensed Zhu Zhuqing's killing intent. He quickly stepped forward and gently took her hand.
"Zhuqing, that's enough. They're just ordinary people," he said softly.
Zhu Zhuqing glared at him coldly for a few seconds before finally withdrawing her soul power pressure.
The frightened woman was just about to apologize when Qi Tian approached and handed her a gold soul coin.
"Excuse me, miss," Qi Tian asked with a faint smile, "have you seen a blond youth who often comes here?"
Qi Tian's presence carried a tranquil, natural aura—a quiet charm that soothed the woman's nerves. Her breathing steadied as she stared at the gleaming gold coin, trying to recall.
"My lord… the blond youth you're asking about… is he a Soul Master? With the surname Dai?"
Qi Tian smiled and nodded, encouraging her to continue.
The woman immediately brightened and began talking quickly, almost eagerly.
"I know who you mean! That young man's from a noble family. He comes here almost every day!"
"He's generous—very generous. Plenty of my sisters have been with him, and I even heard a few pairs of twins have spent many nights with him."
"Word is, he's already achieved a hundred-woman kill streak in our district!"
Zhu Zhuqing froze, her eyes widening slightly.
She already has a guess who they're talking about.
A blond Soul Master named Dai, and one Qi Tian seemed particularly interested in.
Dai Mubai... it has to be him.
So Qi Tian isn't here for pleasure—he's here for Dai Mubai! Realizing this, Zhu Zhuqing felt a pang of guilt.
'I misunderstood him… I was too harsh.'
But the next moment, nausea welled up in her chest.
'That man… my so-called fiancé… is this kind of person?'
A man who wallows in vice, chasing women day after day—and boasting about it?
She felt nothing but disgust and relief.
Thank goodness she decided to end that engagement.
How could someone like Dai Mubai, who was so entangled in worldly affairs, possibly win the battle for the throne?
Qi Tian nodded in thanks, slipping the gold coin into the woman's hand.
"Thank you, miss. When does he usually show up here?"
"Oh, almost every evening," she said happily. "He comes right after dinner!"
Qi Tian glanced at the dimming sky. If her words are true… Dai Mubai should be arriving any minute.
—
At that very moment, Dai Mubai was leaving the academy with Oscar and Ma Hongjun after another grueling day of training.
"Ugh, I'm exhausted! It's been over a year and a half, and I still can't get used to the dean's training methods," Dai Mubai groaned.
Seeing his two brothers slouching in fatigue, he grinned.
"Alright, I'm treating tonight. Let's head to Suo Tuo Grand Hotel and have ourselves a real feast!"
"Boss Dai, you're the best!" Oscar and Ma Hongjun cheered in unison.
They couldn't be blamed—the food at Shrek Academy was awful.
After running laps around the village for dozens of miles, all they got were two steamed buns. Even a body of steel couldn't survive on that for long.
So whenever they could, the trio slipped into the city to eat something decent. Oscar, being a Food-type Soul Master, managed fine. But Ma Hongjun—whose Evil Fire constantly tormented him—had it rough.
His soul master stipend barely covered the cost of suppressing his condition, let alone buying food.
After stuffing themselves at dinner, Dai Mubai smirked and said,
"I heard there's a new set of triplets at the old place. Let's go take a look!"
"Oscar, didn't you just break up? My treat tonight—let's go have some fun!"
Oscar's and Ma Hongjun's eyes immediately lit up.
"Boss Dai, you're the best!"
"If I'd known, I'd have shaved today!" Oscar lamented.
His beard grew ridiculously fast—skip one day, and he looked like a mountain hermit.
Laughing boisterously, the three slung their arms over each other's shoulders and headed toward the red-light district—completely unaware that two figures were quietly tailing them from the shadows.
—
End of Chapter