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Tang San paused slightly when he heard Xiao Wu's words. He looked up at the vibrant night market in the distance, but his mind was still on their main goal. "Xiao Wu, we came out for a reason tonight," he said softly. "When we have some free time, I promise I'll come back here and play with you."
Xiao Wu's face instantly fell into a pout. She frowned and complained, "Ever since we came to Shrek Academy, all we've done is study and train or participate in soul duels. We haven't had any fun at all.
" She then looked back at him, her eyes bright with a new idea. "Besides, Third Brother, maybe that golden-haired woman is in the night market. We've been looking for a long time, so maybe she just came out to go shopping. We're all girls, and who doesn't love to go out and play?"
Tang San was taken aback. He looked down at Xiao Wu's lively, stubborn eyes and considered her point. She was right. If the golden-haired girl who had injured their friend, Ma Hongjun, was around Xiao Wu's age, a bustling place like this was exactly where she might be. A lively night market was hard for any young person to resist.
With a gentle smile, Tang San reached out and playfully scratched Xiao Wu's nose. "You make a good point," he said, nodding. "Alright, let's go take a look."
"Yay!" Xiao Wu cheered. She immediately became full of energy, her feet light as she skipped toward the night market. Tang San followed close behind, and soon, they both entered the lively crowd.
The night market was a feast for the senses, with bright lights and a constant stream of people flowing in every direction. However, as they moved deeper into the crowd, Tang San's brow furrowed. The noise was overwhelming, and with so many people, it was difficult to see anything clearly.
"Why are there so many people?" he muttered.
Tang San narrowed his eyes, and with a thought, he activated his Purple Demon Eye. A faint purple glow flashed in his pupils, and suddenly, the chaos around him became a clear, detailed picture. Within seconds, his gaze fell on two figures not far away. He saw a golden-haired girl moving gracefully through the crowd, her posture cold and proud. Beside her was a young man in blue, his face hidden by a bamboo hat.
"Xiao Wu, I found them," Tang San said, his voice low and urgent.
"What?!" Xiao Wu had been distracted, standing in front of a stall and trying to decide whether to buy a string of candied hawthorn. She immediately put her hands on her hips, her voice full of indignation. "Where?"
"Over there," Tang San said, his eyes still fixed on the two figures. "Come on, hurry! Let's go see what they're up to."
He took Xiao Wu's hand and pulled her along, quickly making their way toward the eastern side of the night market.
A few moments later, on the other side of the night market, the crowd continued to flow under the glow of countless lanterns.
In front of a small stall, a girl named Xiao Ruier was choosing a crystal-clear sachet. She smiled and held it out to the young man beside her, Tang Chuan. "How about I get this for you?" she asked.
Suddenly, her movements froze. Her expression shifted as she slowly looked up, her eyes scanning the crowd. Not far away, on the other side of the bustling street, she saw two young people staring at them. It was Tang San and Xiao Wu, their eyes calm but sharp, fixed directly on her and Tang Chuan.
"I didn't expect them to find us so quickly," Xiao Ruier said, a faint, cold smile playing on her lips. She turned to Tang Chuan and spoke in a low voice.
"Hmm, they're quite fast," Tang Chuan replied. His gaze had also darkened as he looked at the pair. A flash of thought appeared in his eyes before he gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod.
From her spot in the crowd, Xiao Wu finally spotted the golden-haired girl. But the moment she did, her face changed completely.
"This... how is this possible?" she stammered.
The angry, arrogant expression she had a moment ago was gone, replaced by pure terror. Her face went pale, and she immediately shrank back, hiding behind Tang San. Her hands clutched the fabric of his clothes so tightly that her knuckles turned white, and her body began to tremble.
Tang San noticed her unusual behavior and frowned. He turned to face her. "Xiao Wu, what's wrong with you?" he asked.
"N-nothing," Xiao Wu replied, trying to compose herself, but her voice still trembled. Her actions told a different story.
Doubt flashed in Tang San's eyes, but before he could press her for more answers, Xiao Wu tightened her grip on his sleeve, desperately trying to hide from the two people across the street.
At the same time, on the other side, Xiao Ruier's faint smile didn't change as her gaze swept over Tang San. But when her eyes landed on Xiao Wu, they immediately narrowed.
"Huh?" she said.
Her eyes sharpened, and she leaned forward slightly, a hint of surprise in them. The next second, a ripple of excitement stirred within her.
A hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit, she thought, looking at Xiao Wu. Heh, you're really daring, sneaking into the human world alone without even knowing how to hide your aura. Maybe one day you'll become the spirit ring and spirit bone of the person next to you.
Her eyes suddenly grew colder, and her gaze toward Xiao Wu became like a hunter staring at its prey, filled with undisguised disdain and mockery.
Seeing Xiao Wu's frightened and retreating posture, Tang San mistakenly assumed she was just scared of the two of them. His eyes darkened slightly, and he reached into his sleeve, pulling out a flare.
"Xiao Wu, go release the flare," he said, handing it to her. "I'll hold them off. As soon as Mu Bai, Zhu Qing, and Teacher Zhao get here, they won't stand a chance against us. Don't be afraid."
Xiao Wu bit her lip, her eyes flickering back and forth. Finally, she nodded silently, her fingers still trembling as she took the flare.
Tang San took a deep breath, and without any hesitation, he stomped on the ground. He moved like the famous Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei, his body a blur as he shot into the crowd.
In a flash, he was standing directly in front of the golden-haired girl and the young man in blue. It was only then that he could see their faces clearly. The girl's golden hair was dazzling, glowing like amber under the bright lights. The young man beside her stood with a steady and reserved posture, his aura hidden. His eyes were completely obscured by the bamboo hat, but Tang San could feel a sharp, undeniable edge radiating from him.
That's strange, Tang San thought. Why does this person feel so familiar to me? He quickly shook the thought away, then raised a hand and pointed at the two of them. "Was it you who injured someone from my Shrek Academy?" he asked slowly.
Xiao Ruier looked at Tang San, a playful glint in her eye. Her lips curved into a lazy smile. "I'm the one who hit him. So what?" she replied. "But you should first ask if those two from your academy were the ones who attacked first. They looked like they needed a lesson. I was just helping them out."
As soon as she finished speaking, a golden light flashed in her eyes. She was about to take a step forward, but a fair hand suddenly appeared, stopping her firmly.
"Leave this to me," Tang Chuan said, stepping in front of her. His voice was calm and indifferent.
Xiao Ruier raised an eyebrow, seemingly wanting to protest, but in the end, she simply snorted and retreated. She crossed her arms and stood to the side, her eyes still filled with a look of intense battle intent as she watched Tang San.
Suddenly, a loud boom echoed through the night sky. High above, a brilliant green firework exploded, forming the unique monster totem of Shrek Academy.
Xiao Wu has already released the flare. All I have to do is hold them off, Tang San thought, his expression shifting slightly as he glanced back.
At the same time, several streets away, a tall figure stood on a dark, dilapidated rooftop. His build was incredibly muscular, his shoulders as broad as a tiger's, and his thick beard trembled slightly in the night wind. He had a pair of large, bronze-colored eyes.
"Oh? Has that woman been found?" Zhao Wuji asked, his lips curling into a cold, battle-hungry smile as he looked at the firework in the sky. "How powerful can a four-ring Spirit Ancestor be, anyway? Heh! Today, I can once again learn how to hit people without using a spirit from that person. How satisfying!"
With that, he leaped from the rooftop and quickly made his way toward the signal.