One month later, at night, inside a hotel room.
A fat middle-aged man hunched his back and respectfully said to a young man:
"Young Master Wang, I've found the person you requested."
After speaking, the middle-aged man took out a file from his storage soul tool and handed it to the youth, rubbing his hands together with an expectant look.
Wang Chen accepted the file and carefully read through it. After confirming it was indeed the person he was looking for, he stored the file away in his own storage soul tool.
Sitting in his chair, Wang Chen looked up at the fat middle-aged man and said, "Not bad, you've done very well."
With that, Wang Chen took out a blue crystal card worth fifty thousand gold soul coins from his storage soul tool and handed it to the man.
Seeing the card, greed flashed in the fat man's beady eyes. He hurriedly stretched out his hand to take it, clutching it tightly before storing it away.
Excitedly, he said, "Thank you, Young Master Wang. Such generosity! If you ever need this humble one again, just say the word, and I'll give it my all to serve you."
Wang Chen smiled, "I recognize Steward Zhang's ability very much. If I need anything again, I'll naturally come to you."
At that, Steward Zhang's face bloomed with a wide smile.
Seeing that it was already late, and with money in hand, Steward Zhang chuckled and said, "It's late, so I won't disturb Young Master Wang's rest. I'll take my leave."
With that, he exited the hotel room.
After he left, the corners of Wang Chen's mouth curled into a smile.
This Steward Zhang, in charge of intelligence within the Pingfan Alliance, was indeed greedy, but his work was efficient—far better than the others Wang Chen had previously sought out.
Though fifty thousand gold soul coins was no small sum, being able to locate Ye Guyi, that little angel, was worth every coin.
As the saying went: any problem that could be solved with money was a small problem.
From the original story, Wang Chen knew Ye Guyi had some ties with the Pingfan Alliance. So he had decided to begin his search there.
Over the past month, he had spent much time, great amounts of money, and leveraged the connections of noble circles, secretly reaching out to several managers of the Pingfan Alliance—some responsible for intelligence, others for personnel.
Heaven rewards the diligent. After a month of effort, Wang Chen had finally found Ye Guyi's whereabouts.
According to the file just delivered by Steward Zhang, Wang Chen now knew that Ye Guyi was born in Mingdu and currently lived in the southeastern district of the city. Her parents had both passed away.
But in their lifetimes, Ye Guyi's parents had maintained an excellent relationship with a high-ranking elder of the Pingfan Alliance, a Soul Saint named Zhao Yurou.
Thus, over the years, this elder had always helped Ye Guyi.
It was precisely because of this connection with the Pingfan Alliance that, in the original story, Ye Guyi later represented them in the Soul Engineer Elite Tournament.
Having found this little angel, Wang Chen happily left the hotel and made his way home.
——
Meanwhile, at Ye Guyi's home.
Ye Guyi sat on her bed, hugging a cloth doll her late parents had bought her. Her large blue eyes revealed sadness.
But soon, her eyes became firm again.
Looking at the bright moon outside the window, Ye Guyi swore in her heart:
"I, Ye Guyi, swear that in this life I shall never coexist with Evil Soul Masters! Father, Mother, may your spirits in heaven bless me."
———————————————
Time passed quickly, and the next day arrived.
Having finished cultivating, Wang Chen got up from bed. After a month of training, he was just one step away from reaching Rank 30 Soul Elder.
He estimated that within another week, he could break through.
Stretching, Wang Chen's eyes shone with thought.
He needed Ye Guyi's holy attribute to help purge the evil thoughts and curse within the Soul-Devouring Dagger.
But he and Ye Guyi had no prior connection. If he directly approached her seeking help, she would inevitably be suspicious.
We've never met—how would you know I have a holy attribute martial soul? Do you mean me harm? Or have you secretly investigated me?
At that point, Ye Guyi might not agree to help.
After some thought, Wang Chen decided to observe her for a few days first, then find the right opportunity to get acquainted.
He was confident that, with his looks, befriending a girl would be half the work for twice the result.
Once he became familiar with the little angel Ye Guyi, asking her for help would be easy.
Over the next few days of quiet observation, Wang Chen figured out Ye Guyi's daily routine.
She usually cultivated at home. Aside from occasionally going out to buy daily necessities and cultivation resources, she would visit the Pingfan Alliance's base in the afternoons to study soul tool crafting with Elder Zhao Yurou.
On this particular sunny day, Ye Guyi, as usual, left home to visit Aunt Zhao Yurou for lessons.
Ye Guyi didn't look very old, no more than fifteen at most. She wore a fitted yellow outfit, her long golden hair cascading like a waterfall, gleaming with dazzling brilliance, smooth and lustrous.
Her eyes were as clear as a lake and as bright as the blue sky, sparkling and captivating.
Her features were delicate, her face soft and gentle. Her skin was fair and tender, like fine jade, flawless, glowing faintly, smooth enough to break at a touch.
Her figure was well-proportioned, her legs long and slender. Though not yet fully matured, her body already showed graceful development.
As Ye Guyi walked happily in the sunlight—
A familiar male voice suddenly rang out by her ear:
"Yiyi, I like you! Be my girlfriend! I'll treat you well for life!"
Upon hearing the voice, Ye Guyi immediately quickened her pace, wanting to escape, fearful of being entangled by its owner.
But it was too late.
A well-dressed, delicate-looking youth of fourteen or fifteen, with several attendants in tow, approached from ahead.
The youth's eyes burned as he looked at Ye Guyi, holding a bouquet of red roses, speaking passionately:
"Yiyi, from the first moment I saw you, I was moved. Your smile is as warm as the sun, making me helplessly fall for you.
I want to watch the sunrise and sunset with you, walk through the four seasons, and give you a lifetime of care and companionship. I love you. Will you be my girlfriend and let me prove my love through action?"
Ye Guyi's delicate face stiffened, goosebumps rising all over from the cheesy confession.
Expressionless, suppressing the anger in her heart, she said coldly, "Sun Yu, you're blocking my way. Get lost!"
This youth was named Sun Yu. His father, Sun Jing, was a Count of the Sun Moon Empire, as well as a Rank Seven Soul Engineer and Soul Sage powerhouse—a figure of influence in Mingdu's southeastern district.
A year ago, Sun Yu had caught sight of Ye Guyi by chance and was struck as if by lightning, falling in love at first sight. Since then, he had relentlessly pursued her.
Confessing again and again, being rejected again and again—even after Ye Guyi had clearly told him she had no feelings for him, that she didn't like him at all—he refused to give up, clinging to her like a dogskin plaster.
Hearing Ye Guyi tell him to get lost, Sun Yu didn't care. Shamelessly grinning, he said, "Yiyi, I'll leave if you want—but take these roses first. As long as you accept them, I'll go right away."
Ye Guyi snorted coldly. She knew very well that if she accepted them, Sun Yu would only grow more brazen and cling harder.
She was extremely annoyed by Sun Yu's relentless pestering. For a whole year he had harassed her, constantly getting in the way.
And it was getting worse over time. Sometimes she even wanted to use her soul tool blade to cut him down.
As for why she didn't use the divine flame of her Angel martial soul to burn him—it was because she had to keep her Angel martial soul hidden, lest Evil Soul Masters discover it.
Ye Guyi never revealed her Angel martial soul before outsiders. She always used soul tools to fight.
Though she longed to kill Sun Yu, his father was a Soul Sage powerhouse and a Count of the Sun Moon Empire.
Not to mention herself—even Aunt Zhao Yurou had no good way of handling him. After all, they couldn't just kill Sun Yu.
As Ye Guyi was distressed and unsure how to rid herself of Sun Yu's harassment—
Wang Chen, watching secretly, understood the scene and immediately realized this was a good opportunity to meet Ye Guyi.
He knew this Sun Yu. His father Sun Jing was a supporter of Xu Tianran.
And since Wang Chen's Wang Clan supported the Second Prince Xu Tianyu, standing up now was the politically correct thing to do.
The great figures had their struggles, but for the younger generation, clashes were also inevitable.
Though it wouldn't lead to killing, mockery and duels were commonplace.
Taking everything in, Wang Chen slightly adjusted his finely embroidered gold-trimmed clothing and calmly stepped out of the shadows.
His perfectly handsome face bore a warm, spring-like smile. Casually yet precisely, he positioned himself in front of Ye Guyi.
Smiling mockingly, Wang Chen said:
"Isn't this Sun Yu? Are your eyes broken?
If your eyes work, go look in a mirror. With that ugly mug, do you think you deserve this young lady?
Hurry up and get lost. Can't you see she doesn't like you? Shameless as you are, you've completely disgraced us nobles."
Seeing someone stand up for her, Ye Guyi couldn't help but feel grateful.
But when she saw Wang Chen's side profile, she froze.
His short black hair was neat, his brows sharp like swords, his eyes dark and bright. His face flawless, his features perfectly proportioned, his nose high, his skin pale and glowing.
It was the first time she had ever seen such a handsome boy.
As she marveled at his beauty—
Sun Yu's face darkened at Wang Chen's words. And when he saw Ye Guyi staring at another man in a daze, he almost exploded with rage.
Just as he was about to lash out, he realized the boy was Wang Chen of the Wang Clan. His brows furrowed tightly.
A flash of deep wariness crossed Sun Yu's eyes as he thought, So it's that brat Wang Chen. He's better looking than me, more talented than me. Has he come to steal Ye Guyi from me?
For a moment, Sun Yu's expression grew cold.
But then he remembered: behind Wang Chen stood the Marquis Wang Clan. Their ancestor Wang Yan was a peak Contra, his understanding of soul tools not inferior to some Rank Nine Soul Engineers.
In strength and status, the Wang Clan far surpassed his father, Sun Jing.
Sun Yu immediately shrank back. If he dared to touch Wang Chen, he'd likely lose his life—and not even his father could save him.
Still, not daring to touch Wang Chen didn't mean he'd slink away.
With the princes vying for the throne, his Sun Clan supported the Crown Prince Xu Tianran, while the Wang Clan supported the Second Prince Xu Tianyu. They weren't on the same side. Neither held dominance over the other.
So while he feared Wang Chen, he wasn't afraid to speak.
Sun Yu retorted, "Wang Chen, you already have Miss Meng Hongchen. Why are you meddling here? What, you want to eat from one bowl while staring at another?
You'd better leave now. If Miss Meng Hongchen hears about this, you'll be in trouble!"
He deliberately invoked Meng Hongchen to suppress Wang Chen, and to let Ye Guyi know this handsome boy already belonged to someone, hoping to extinguish any spark in her heart.
Sun Yu was no ordinary playboy. His relentless pursuit of Ye Guyi was because without such persistence, he would have no chance at all.
Ye Guyi, hearing Sun Yu's words, snapped out of her daze and thought, So this Wang Chen already has a girlfriend.
Wang Chen, unfazed, smiled and said, "Sun Yu, this young lady and I are mere strangers. I only stepped in because I couldn't stand seeing you harass her with your background."
Turning to Ye Guyi, he asked, "Miss, do you think Sun Yu deserves you? Do you hate him?"
Playing along, Ye Guyi cast Sun Yu a disdainful glance and said with contempt, "Of course he doesn't. If not for his father being a Count, I would've already beaten him."
Sun Yu's blood pressure spiked at her words.
Coldly, Wang Chen glared at Sun Yu and his guards, saying, "If you dare harass this young lady again, I'll deal with your guards."
With that, he gestured for Ye Guyi to leave.
Ye Guyi thanked him and walked past Sun Yu into the distance.
Watching her go, Sun Yu barked at his guards, "Stop her for me!"
But the guards looked at each other—none dared move.
Furious, Sun Yu cursed, "Useless trash, the lot of you!"
Wang Chen watched Ye Guyi's departing figure and thought, *A good first impression. A few more encounters, and friendship will come naturally.
Shame Sun Yu had to mess it up—otherwise, the first impression would've been even better.*
Casting one last glance at Sun Yu, Wang Chen turned and left.