Among the profiles, Oscar seemed the most normal. As a Food-type Soul Master with a Sausage Martial Soul, he had dated a few girlfriends, but his reputation was still decent.
"What do you think?" Li Xun propped his chin on his hand, tilting his head to look at Zhu Zhuqing.
The two had been together for over three years, and Li Xun had grown accustomed to Zhu Zhuqing's presence. Though she didn't speak much, she was meticulous, warm-hearted beneath her cool exterior, and diligent both in cultivation and daily life.
Aunt Xue didn't visit the academy often, so most of the daily chores for Li Xun and Ning Rongrong were handled by Zhu Zhuqing. While some of this was out of gratitude, over time, these tasks had simply become a habit.
The reason this profile was here was twofold: first, to serve as an excuse for their next move, and second, to resolve Zhu Zhuqing's engagement. Freeing her completely would allow her to let go of her burdens.
However, the journey to the Star Luo Empire was long, and Li Xun's current strength wasn't enough to pressure the Star Luo royal family. So, he decided to start by dealing with Dai Mubai.
"Brother Li Xun, my mother taught me from a young age not to care about a man's flirtations, as long as he wasn't vulgar or indulgent to the point of losing his ambition," Zhu Zhuqing said, smoothing her hair and looking at Li Xun with soft eyes. "As long as he can shield me from the storm when it matters and stand tall like a true man, that's enough."
"Huh?"
"What do you mean?" Li Xun was a bit confused, his mind half-startled and half-bewildered.
Seeing his puzzled expression, Zhu Zhuqing smiled and waved the profile in her hand. "Ever since you explained the deeper meaning behind Eldest Sister's pursuit of me, I've had no ties to him."
"My discomfort only comes from the fact that I'm still bound by an engagement to such a person," Zhu Zhuqing said, putting down the profile with a warm smile. "Brother Li Xun, if you hadn't saved me back then, I'd likely still be caught up in the royal family's struggles."
"Perhaps I would have compromised with such an indulgent man just to survive," Zhu Zhuqing thought with relief. Thankfully, she had met Li Xun and followed him to the Heavenly Dou Empire.
When she first saw the profile, she was shocked.
Thirty-seven levels of Soul Power at fifteen? Dating three girlfriends in a day? Extravagant spending? Surrounded by beautiful women? What else could such a man be but indulgent and aimless?
Did he think that since he couldn't win, he might as well enjoy life while he could? And it seemed Dai Mubai had never even considered her fate in Star Luo.
Zhu Zhuqing crumpled the profile into a ball and tossed it into the trash bin at her feet, then turned to Li Xun with a bright smile. "Brother, I threw it away. You won't blame me, will you?"
She and Dai Mubai had once been bound by fate, but once that bond was broken, there was no connection between them.
Her mother had once taught her that if she couldn't marry a real man, it was better to remain unmarried for life.
Zhu Zhuqing had once deeply believed this.
But after three years of life-and-death struggles in Star Luo and three years of peace in Heavenly Dou, she now had a different perspective on her mother's words.
Why remain unmarried for life? Why not just marry a good man? Why should she suffer for the sake of a worthless, indulgent fool?
"A piece of paper thrown away is just that, but I didn't quite understand what you meant. Could you clarify a bit more?" Li Xun leaned forward with a smile, addressing Zhu Zhuqing.
"The food in the cafeteria isn't good. I'm going to buy some ingredients to cook," Zhu Zhuqing abruptly stood up, quickly turning to leave, though the tips of her ears peeking out from her hair were slightly flushed.
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing flee in such a manner, Li Xun grinned, leaning back and stretching lazily. Having gotten the answer he wanted, he felt a surge of energy.
"Brother, I didn't quite understand either."
Ning Rongrong looked at Li Xun with confusion: "Is Zhu Zhuqing still troubled by the engagement? Didn't you say it would be fine once that Dai Mubai is dead?"
When Zhu Zhuqing first arrived in Heavenly Dou, Li Xun had explained this matter to her. Over time, she had almost forgotten about it.
"That was before," Li Xun replied with a smile. "Now, whether Dai Mubai lives or dies doesn't matter much. It's more about the choices he makes."
"If he chooses wrong, I'll be unhappy, and he'll die. If he chooses right... well, it depends on my mood." Li Xun paused slightly at this point.
"Brother, what choice is he supposed to make?" Ning Rongrong tugged at her hair in frustration. "Can't you just speak plainly?"
Li Xun stood up and patted Ning Rongrong's head, giving her a once-over. "You're still young and have room to grow. You'll understand when you're older."
"..."
"Brother, we're all twelve years old. How am I still young? Explain it clearly!" Ning Rongrong stood up abruptly, shouting as Li Xun opened the door to leave.
"Zhu Zhuqing hasn't returned from buying groceries yet. I'm going to pick her up. Do you want me to bring you some milk and papaya?"
"...Get lost!"
Looking at the closed door, Ning Rongrong glanced down at herself. "Am I really that small?"
Suotuo City was located in the heart of the Limba Plains of the Balak Kingdom, a place of exceptional geographical advantage.
To the north, the official road led directly to Heavenly Dou City, while to the southeast, beyond the border, lay the Star Dou Forest. Shrek Academy was situated to the southwest of Suotuo City.
Li Xun walked slowly alone through the streets of Suotuo City.
Considering that he would need to head to Holy Soul Village immediately after Tang San appeared, he had agreed on a time with Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, letting them return to their sect to call for help while he went ahead.
The reason for this arrangement was that Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong had been subtly questioning him about his purpose in going to Shrek Academy. Under pressure, he had no choice but to lie, saying he was there to handle some business and incidentally obtain a Spirit Ring.
He couldn't very well tell them he was out to pick up a 100,000-year Soul Bone, could he?
As a result, Ning Rongrong looked skeptical and insisted on watching Li Xun obtain his fourth Spirit Ring.
Even Zhu Zhuqing was full of doubt.
Li Xun's current level was 38. Considering the amplification of Soul Power from the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, his level would undoubtedly reach 40 after absorption.
Therefore, he wasn't worried and agreed.
After all, he had no choice. The three of them had been together for years, and there was little about Li Xun that Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong didn't know.
Li Xun also wanted to take this opportunity to sort out the matters concerning Zhu Zhuqing.
Suotuo City was a trade hub, its streets lined with a variety of shops. Li Xun occasionally glanced at the surrounding stores as he walked.
Before long, a particular shop caught his eye.
The shop's facade wasn't large, but its sign was strikingly noticeable to any Soul Master.
If it were an ordinary person, they certainly wouldn't recognize the meaning behind the symbols on the signboard: a sword, a hammer, and a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon combined together.
But anyone who had been a Soul Master would know that these symbols were identical to those engraved on the Spirit Hall's special tokens.
Li Xun slowly pushed open the shop door.
Compared to the bright street outside, the interior of the shop appeared somewhat dim. A robust man in his fifties was lying on a chair with his eyes closed.
The shop had three walls, which looked old and, from Li Xun's perspective, seemed to be filled with nothing but junk.
"This must be Flender," Li Xun thought to himself.
Without disturbing the shrewd merchant, Li Xun scanned the room, his gaze finally settling on a spot closest to the door.
There lay a crystal about the size of a human head. The crystal itself was transparent, with some yellowish impurities inside.
"Boss, how much for this crystal?"
"Not expensive, just a hundred Gold Soul Coins," Flender said lazily, barely opening his eyes.
After speaking, he closed his eyes again and rocked the reclining chair, which creaked as it moved.
"Boss, can we negotiate the price?"
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