Calling Him Third Brother Over and Over
Central Main Soul Arena.
With a loud "pa!", the dazzling spotlight suddenly lit up at the center of the Soul Fighting Platform. Immediately, a golden pillar about two meters in diameter slowly rose from the ground. Atop the pillar stood a young lady in a flowing white dress, looking to be around eighteen or nineteen. She had long wavy brown hair, held a cone-shaped amplifying soul guide, and wore a professional smile on her delicate face. Most striking of all, her chest was full and eye-catching.
That irresistible cleavage drew countless gazes, and many male spectators in the audience were instantly entranced.
"Hello everyone, I'm Doudou. It's an honor to meet all our esteemed guests." The young lady in white spun gracefully in place, waving to the crowd around her. After a brief pause, she continued, "It is my honor once again to host today's team soul battle for all of you."
"Now, let me introduce the competitors for today's match."
"First, we have the rising stars of Soto's Great Soul Arena, the Shrek Team! With 27 consecutive victories, they have advanced to the Silver Soul Badge rank. Their captain, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, Martial Soul: White Tiger, with two yellow and one purple soul rings. Their vice-captain, the Thousand-Hand Shura, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass."
As Doudou's voice echoed across the arena, the stands erupted in thunderous cheers.
"Next, we have the visiting Emperor Team. Their captain, Yu Tianheng, Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, with two yellow and one purple soul rings. Their vice-captain, the Blue Silver Controller, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, with two yellow and one purple soul rings, holder of the Purple Gold Soul Badge of the Great Soul Arena, achieved with a perfect record and the creator of a new record. What kind of performance will these two teams bring us today? Let's wait and see!"
"Now, let us welcome the two teams onto the stage!"
As she spoke, a pair of pristine white wings spread out behind her. With a gentle flap, she lifted gracefully into the air, her slender figure accentuated by the motion. Her ample curves rippled with the movement, drawing countless eyes upward. The arena erupted with louder cheers and sharp whistles.
At the same time, the gates of the passageways on both sides of the Soul Arena slowly opened.
The spotlights shifted quickly, splitting to illuminate the open areas before the gates.
Moments later, the crisp sound of synchronized footsteps echoed as both teams marched out of the passages.
Under the lights, Shrek's members appeared in matching black combat outfits with green masks, while the Emperor Team's attire was more casual and varied, with no masks at all.
"Damn, stunning!" Ma Hongjun's eyes swept instinctively across the opponents, quickly locking onto Zhu Zhuqing. His eyes lit up.
Unfortunately, she was already taken. As an experienced flirt, he could tell immediately. But that didn't stop his gaze from lingering, scanning her curves.
His eyes then shifted toward Dugu Yan and Ye Leng Leng, comparing them inwardly. "Hmm, this one next to that pretty boy is even better. What a figure… playing with her would definitely be fun. For example, heh heh…"
Just the thought made his neck flush red.
Oscar, standing in the back row, also lit up at the sight. But when he caught Ning Rongrong in the corner of his vision, he quickly pulled his gaze back, straightening his posture like a proper gentleman.
Could that be the owner of the Nether Cat Martial Soul? At the very front stood a cold yet strikingly beautiful girl with twin braids tied like cat ears, a fiery figure but a frosty expression. Dai Mubai's eyes widened briefly in admiration before his brows furrowed.
As another seasoned flirt, he could also tell what was going on.
"Hmm?" Yang Yunhai's eyes swept over the group and soon landed on Ma Hongjun, his brows knitting together. Even with his mask covering half his face, Ma Hongjun's bulky figure stood out, impossible to ignore. His drooping chin, tilted head, and flushed neck all betrayed exactly where his attention lay.
The other members of the Emperor Team noticed too, their expressions turning unpleasant, especially Dugu Yan, whose eyes grew icy cold.
Zhu Zhuqing, the target of his gaze, also wore a frosty expression.
Just as Xiaohai had described before: utterly disgraceful, she thought inwardly.
Oscar also sensed the awkwardness. Following Ma Hongjun's line of sight, he quickly jabbed him in the side with his elbow. "Ahem."
Ma Hongjun snapped back to his senses, lowering his head and muttering to Oscar, "It's just looking. It's not like it costs me anything."
"Fatty, you'd better rein it in. That team isn't weak. If you get targeted later, you'll be beaten for sure," Oscar said helplessly. It was one thing to ogle civilian women on the streets, but to do it here in the Soul Arena,Oscar could hardly believe it.
Tang San shook his head with a wry smile, while Xiao Wu turned and glared at Ma Hongjun, though neither said anything further.
Seeing Ma Hongjun stop staring, Yang Yunhai also corrected his gaze, glancing sideways at Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong.
According to the original story, if Xiao Wu were ever injured, Tang San would certainly fly into a rage and act irrationally. Xiao Wu, Tang San, Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng, Yu Xiaogang, and Ning Rongrong,all of them played major roles in shaping Tang San's early development. Yang Yunhai fell into thought.
Why did Ning Rongrong, after joining Shrek Academy in the original story, gradually become that so-called obedient girl, constantly calling Tang San "Third Brother"?
Besides the deliberate guidance of Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and others during training and teaching, there was something far more fundamental.
In his view, the foundation of it all was that nearly every student in Shrek had greater innate talent than Ning Rongrong.
In particular, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Oscar, who all possessed innate full soul power, directly shattered the pride Ning Rongrong had always held.
Moreover, as a support-type soul master with no combat power of her own, Ning Rongrong had to rely on stronger teammates to even be useful.
Thus, in their interactions, as the weaker member, she naturally developed an unconscious sense of admiration for the strong and a tendency to conform. Such psychology makes one instinctively overlook the flaws of others and gradually fall into the mindset of: "You're so strong, so whatever you do must be right."
As a result, she slowly lost the ability to think and judge independently around them.
There was also another factor: Shrek's streak of victories in the Soul Arena, especially Tang San's outstanding performance. Victories cover up many shortcomings. Immersed in joy, people instinctively ignore faults and grow ever closer to the teammates who bring them glory.
Being blinded by victory is no mere saying.
But failure,failure would be the best warning, Yang Yunhai thought silently.
If he had the chance, he wouldn't mind laying down a hidden move.
As these thoughts passed through his mind, the distance between the two teams closed under the thunderous cheers of the crowd.