Chapter 43: Encounter in Suotuo City

The next morning, after Yang Xiong set out following the sect members' directions, he had been traveling only two days when he ran into Ning Rongrong in a town.

But seeing the many big and small bags Ning Rongrong carried, it seemed she was shopping alone and had no intention of going to school at all.

Ning Rongrong, upon seeing Yang Xiong, immediately perked up: "Xiao Xiongzi, hurry and hold these things for me. Didn't you already set out and arrive at this town? How come I can't find you anywhere in the town?"

Yang Xiong, looking at the items Ning Rongrong was carrying, was speechless: "Classmate Rong Rong, don't you have a Soul Guidance Device? Why are you still holding all these things?"

Ning Rongrong wore a smug grin: "My Soul Guidance Device is already fully loaded. Isn't Suotuo City farther away? I might as well buy more stuff."

"Also, don't call me 'Classmate Rong Rong' anymore; just call me Rong Rong. It sounds nicer."

Yang Xiong, speechless again, replied: "Alright, Rong Rong, Suotuo City is several thousand kilometers from here. Do you really intend to stroll and shop all the way? Let's rent a carriage and set off quickly."

Ning Rongrong seemed casual: "Going to school is just a side thing. Since I'm finally out of the sect, free from Dad, Sword Grandfather, and Gu Yeye's supervision, I want to have a proper time out."

Yang Xiong was at a loss again, wondering how this playful Little Demon Girl Ning Rongrong managed to get to Shrek in the original story.

But seeing Ning Rongrong's demeanor, Yang Xiong didn't say more and ended up strolling with her in the streets for a while.

Nevertheless, the girl's shopping and buying ability was impressive; in just half an hour, Yang Xiong already had a lot of items in his possession.

Yet under Yang Xiong's strict insistence, the two set off by carriage the next day toward Suotuo City.

Even so, the Little Demon Girl's playful spirit couldn't be curbed; she kept playing and wandering all the way, like a naïve child, leaving Yang Xiong feeling helpless.

Play aside, the Little Demon Girl's cultivation talent is truly strong; even inside the carriage she can meditate peacefully. Reaching Level 29 shouldn't be far off, and talent‑wise she isn't far behind Tang San and Xiao Wu.

After about ten days, the two finally arrived at Suotuo City.

Suotuo City is the second largest city of the Balak Kingdom and is overall very bustling.

Unexpectedly, after wandering around, they ended up at the well‑known Rose Hotel from the original work.

But they arrived relatively early, with some time before school started, so it wasn't yet overcrowded.

When the attendant saw Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong coming to stay at the hotel, his eyes lit up.

"Attendant, two rooms, please."

The attendant looked at them, a hint of meaning flashing across his face.

"Are you both sure you need two rooms? Sorry, we only have one room left; either you both squeeze into that one."

Hearing this, the Little Demon Girl Ning Rongrong's face flushed slightly; although they'd spent most of the journey meditating, they were still much more familiar with each other than before.

Yang Xiong didn't waste words, pulling out a bag of Gold Soul Coins: "Two of the best rooms, preferably adjacent; otherwise I'll go elsewhere."

The attendant beamed: "Of course, I just checked and there are indeed two rooms left. Hope you enjoy your stay at our hotel."

Thereafter, the two stayed in the Rose Hotel, waiting calmly for school to begin.

During the day, Ning Rongrong shopped outside; at night she returned to the hotel to rest and meditate, while Yang Xiong spent all his time meditating except for meals.

Since practicing the Yin Yang Meditation Method, his cultivation speed has noticeably increased, his soul power flows more smoothly, and there seem to be no bottlenecks; he estimates he can reach Level 27 in as little as half a month.

But Ning Rongrong sneered at Yang Xiong, finding him too dull—only caring about cultivation. If it weren't for her claim that eating alone is boring and that she has to drag Yang Xiong along every day, they might not even see each other for several days.

That day, when Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong returned from a meal, they saw a fight raging in the Rose Hotel, with many tables and chairs broken.

Yang Xiong watched the two combatants, his expression turning somewhat serious.

Both fighters turned out to be Soul Grandmasters; one's martial soul was White Tiger, the other's was Blue Silver Grass, and they seemed to be having a lively duel.

Dai Mubai had golden hair and stood about 1.8 m tall, looking rather handsome, though the two girls accompanying him were a bit of an eyesore.

Tang San was around 1.7 m tall, with short black hair, dressed in blue, appearing ordinary but quite agile.

Yang Xiong seemed to recall something, looked around the scene, and indeed spotted a cute girl.

She appeared to be about 1.7 m tall as well, her whole frame unusually slender, her face pinkish and pretty with a hint of playfulness; notably, she sported two long scorpion braids that nearly reached her thighs.

The girl was Xiao Wu, a transformed Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Beast; even Yang Xiong, who's well‑versed, felt a surge of excitement—Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Ring Soul Bone is a top treasure of the Soul Master World.

But in just an instant, Yang Xiong refocused; with his current strength, the Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Ring Soul Bone is still far beyond his reach, not to mention there's also Tang Hao lurking in the shadows.

After Tang San and Dai Mubai's skirmish ended peacefully, Dai Mubai left holding the twins, while Tang San and Xiao Wu settled in as they wished.

Ning Rongrong looked at Dai Mubai with contempt, clearly despising the playboy.

Yang Xiong seemed more casual; Soul Grandmasters hold a lofty status on the Douluo Continent, so holding both sides is quite normal.

However, judging from their earlier clash, Dai Mubai favored brute force—befitting his top‑tier martial soul White Tiger—while Tang San was comparatively agile and versatile, relying more on techniques; the fight likely employed Ghost Shadow Mirage Step and Crane Control and Dragon Capture, otherwise Tang San couldn't have withstood Dai Mubai's power.

Ning Rongrong sounded a bit upset: "Xiao Xiongzi, you should have just taught that lecherous tiger a lesson; his appearance makes me unhappy."

Yang Xiong was at a loss: "He's a Soul Elder, a whole realm above me. If I try to reprimand him and end up being scolded instead, that'd be embarrassing."

Rong Rong snorted: "It's just a Soul Elder; he's far above us. Besides, even if he's a Soul Elder, you're not scared, right? Dad said your combat power is outstanding; fighting a higher‑level opponent like a Soul Elder is no problem."

"You little girl, do you even know what cross‑level combat is?"

Yang Xiong merely sighed and returned to his room; with Dai Mubai and Tang San still so inexperienced, defeating them posed no real difficulty.

(End of Chapter)