"You're going to Soto City? Father, that's perfect timing."
Hope flashed in Tang San's eyes. At this moment, he realized his father was far from ordinary, and the flame of revenge that had dimmed now reignited.
"No!"
Tang Hao shook his head firmly, a flicker of fear passing through his eyes.
"We will never go to Soto City again—not for the rest of our lives!"
Tang San: "What? Why, Father?!"
He stared at Tang Hao in disbelief, completely unable to understand his father's sudden rejection.
If I don't go to Soto City, how can I get revenge?
How can I rescue Xiao Wu?
"No reason. Just forget about that girl—and don't even think about revenge."
Tang Hao sighed and shook his head. His red-rimmed eyes turned toward his son, filled with complicated emotions.
To be honest... isn't all of this your fault?
If you hadn't gone after that red-haired boy back then, you wouldn't have hurt that girl. You wouldn't have tried to kill another. You wouldn't have been expelled from the academy—and I wouldn't have gotten involved.
Wait… is this broken body of mine your fault?
Tang Hao's eyes suddenly turned unfriendly.
"No! I have to go to Soto City. I can't give up on Xiao!"
Smack!
A sharp slap landed on his cheek, making Tang San stagger. Dizzy, he touched his burning face and looked up at his father in shock.
"Father?!"
"You want to go back to Soto City to die? Do you even know who's there?"
Tang Hao pointed directly at Tang San's nose, shouting.
"I'm a Titled Douluo—and even I wouldn't survive there. What do you think you can do?"
He's lost it.
Father's completely lost his mind.
Tang San held his cheek, eyes wide with disbelief.
No wonder he's been acting so strangely. His brain must've been fried by fake wine.
What's in Soto City that I don't know about? The strongest person at Shrek Academy is just a Soul Saint.
And he claims he's a Titled Douluo?
Tang San almost laughed aloud.
A Titled Douluo who drinks porridge all day and asks his son to cook for him?
Hiding out in a tiny village like some coward?
He must be delusional.
Tang San glanced at his father, a trace of pity flashing in his eyes.
Don't worry, Father. Once I fully absorb Brother Tianmeng's power, I'll heal your broken mind.
"What's with that look in your eyes?"
Tang Hao narrowed his gaze, sensing something off.
"Nothing."
Tang San shook his head.
"Then let's go to Heaven Dou Imperial City. It's far from Soto City. I'll find you a good school where you can keep studying."
Seeing that his son seemed to relent, Tang Hao reached out and ruffled his hair, relieved.
"Don't worry. You'll meet plenty of girls there. As for that boy—when you become a Titled Douluo yourself, he won't be worth a thing."
"Okay, Dad. No problem, Dad."
Tang San nodded obediently.
Since Father is already like this, why not play along for now?
"Then let's get going?"
Tang Hao still felt something strange about his son's behavior but couldn't quite place it.
"Let's go."
Tang San nodded.
He turned and gave Soto City one last look, eyes burning with hatred.
Xiao Wu... Ma Hongjun... Shrek... I will return one day.
And when I do, I'll reclaim everything I've lost.
The next morning, Shrek Academy's training grounds were bustling with activity.
When Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing saw Ma Hongjun, they rushed over with concern, bombarding him with worried questions.
The red-haired boy even felt Xiao Wu's small hand surreptitiously touching him.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Ma Hongjun shot a quick glare at the mischievous little rabbit. After some comforting, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing finally calmed down.
Oscar and Dai Mubai watched bitterly from the side.
Last night, they had interrogated Ma Hongjun for hours, trying to get him to spill the identity of the mysterious female boss. They got nothing. Now, seeing this warm scene in the morning only made it worse.
Gu Yuena still stood alone, but this time, her eyes lingered more often on the red-haired boy.
"Oh right—there's something I forgot to take out."
As if suddenly remembering, Ma Hongjun smacked his forehead. Under the group's curious gaze, he pulled out a radiant, glowing crystal.
It was shaped like a human torso, with spider-leg-like extensions on either side, pulsing with powerful soul energy.
"That's..."
Everyone froze for a moment. Then Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong cried out in unison:
"An external soul bone!"
That's right—what Ma Hongjun held was the external soul bone of the Man-Faced Demon Spider, the same one Tang San had originally obtained in canon.
Finding it had been a lucky surprise, and Ma Hongjun accepted it without hesitation.
Originally, he'd planned to absorb it himself, but Gu Yuena had advised against it. She believed that for someone like the Phoenix God, using a low-grade soul bone would only bring his level down.
More importantly, his elemental nature didn't match.
His Phoenix True Fire, with its dominant and blazing masculine energy, was the natural enemy of all poisonous insects and creatures.
So, he decided to give the soul bone to someone else.
"Fatty, what are you going to do with that?"
Dai Mubai and Oscar gulped audibly. Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong's eyes glimmered with anticipation.
Soul bones—especially external ones—were treasures no soul master could resist.
"My powers don't match this soul bone. But in the hands of the right person, it could shine."
He looked around the group, thinking for a moment before his eyes settled on the icy, curvy girl.
"Zhuqing. You should absorb this soul bone."
"Huh?"
Everyone turned to look at her. Zhu Zhuqing blinked, completely stunned.
"Brother Hongjun, I... I..."
"Boss Dai and I have similar attributes. Oscar is a food-type soul master—not compatible with poison. Gu Yuena doesn't need it. Xiao Wu can barely use an external soul bone like this. Rongrong's soul bones should focus on defense. So..."
He smiled.
"Your strength-type traits match best with this Man-Faced Demon Spider soul bone. Who knows? Maybe it'll give you new moves—like venomous claws."
That made sense.
Everyone nodded in realization.
Given the explanation, Zhu Zhuqing really was the best fit.
"But... I..."
Zhu Zhuqing fumbled, unsure what to say. But Ma Hongjun gently grabbed her hand and placed the soul bone in it.
"Don't be polite. We're partners. You won't treat me unfairly in the future, will you?"
He smiled brightly, wrapping her cold, soft fingers around the glowing soul bone.