LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 11: Chapter 11
Chapter 11: When Did He Become So Brave?
Two days later, Zhao Ling and Ah Yin finally arrived in Soto City.
With Ah Yin's current strength—47th-level soul power at the age of 16—it was impossible for her to match Zhao Ling's speed. To make the journey faster, Zhao Ling hired a carriage with silver soul coins and traveled through the night.
Upon arriving, Ah Yin stepped off the carriage and looked around with wide eyes, marveling at the bustling streets and endless streams of people.
Although she had lived among humans for years, most of her time had been spent in the small village and a nearby junior soul master academy. She had never experienced a city as lively and grand as Soto City. Her gaze sparkled as she took in the busy markets and magnificent buildings.
Zhao Ling, however, was preoccupied. He couldn't stop worrying about whether Bibi Dong had already encountered Yu Xiaogang. If the two had met, his arrival might be too late to change anything.
As Ah Yin admired the cityscape, Zhao Ling's gaze softened. Gently, he reached out and placed a hand on her head.
In an instant, Ah Yin's soul power felt constrained, as though it had been sealed away. Even the aura that marked her as a soul beast vanished completely.
Ah Yin's bright eyes narrowed slightly as she looked up at Zhao Ling. A flicker of doubt crossed her face. She couldn't help but wonder if he was finally revealing his true colors.
'He wrote in his diary that he had no interest in my soul rings or bones—was that a lie?'
Noticing her confusion, Zhao Ling smiled kindly and explained, his tone soft and reassuring.
"Ah Yin, I recognized your soul-beast identity the first time I saw you. Don't worry, I've only temporarily sealed your soul power and your beast aura.
Even though I can protect you, we're in Soto City now. It's better to be cautious. If a Titled Douluo happened to sense your presence, it could expose your identity and lead to unforeseen dangers."
Ah Yin gazed into his eyes, reading the sincerity in his expression. From his diary entries to their time together, Zhao Ling had consistently shown that he meant her no harm. After a moment of silence, she nodded, her lips curving into a soft smile.
"Well, I don't fully understand it, but I trust you. I believe you won't hurt me."
Her unwavering tone caught Zhao Ling off guard, but it also pleased him immensely. He smiled brightly and nodded in return.
"Thank you, Ah Yin. Your trust means a lot to me. Let's go—I'll take you to a place you'll enjoy."
With that, he led her toward Soto City's grandest landmark—the Great Fighting Soul Arena.
What Zhao Ling didn't notice was the sly smirk tugging at the corners of Ah Yin's lips. She had deliberately chosen her words to test him.
By saying, "I trust you won't hurt me," she knew it would strike a chord with Zhao Ling. A man interested in her—especially one like Zhao Ling—would be overjoyed by such unreserved trust from someone he admired.
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Inside the Great Fighting Soul Arena, the lively atmosphere was electric. The grand hall was packed with spectators, their cheers and shouts echoing in every direction.
Ah Yin's eyes sparkled with excitement as she took in the crowds and the distant arenas where fierce battles were underway.
"Wow, it's so lively here…" she murmured, her tone filled with wonder.
Zhao Ling chuckled at her reaction. "This is where soul masters fight, and it's also a place for non-soul masters to watch battles. Most ordinary people never get the chance to witness soul masters in action, so arenas like this give them a glimpse of our world. That's why places like this are so popular."
As they wandered through the corridors, Zhao Ling glanced around, his eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of Bibi Dong. His distracted behavior didn't go unnoticed.
Ah Yin pouted, clearly displeased. 'Here I am, walking right beside him, and he can't stop looking for someone else? How rude.'
If it weren't for the risk of revealing her knowledge of his diary, she would've tied him up and given him a piece of her mind.
Over the past two days, Ah Yin had been tempted to ask Zhao Ling about herself, Tang Hao, or even her future child. But each time she tried, the words seemed to disappear from her lips, as though some mysterious force was preventing her from broaching the subject.
It frustrated her immensely. Zhao Ling clearly knew about her future, but she was powerless to make him share that knowledge.
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As the two strolled past various arenas, Zhao Ling's attention was caught by a fight in the seventh arena. His gaze landed on one of the contestants, whose martial soul looked strikingly familiar.
It was a short, stubby creature with thick legs and a pronounced bulge on its head.
'Luo Sanpao?' Zhao Ling thought, stunned.
His eyes shifted to the martial soul's owner: a boy of 15 or 16, with neatly parted black hair and an ordinary, slightly refined appearance.
Recognition dawned on Zhao Ling. 'Is this… Yu Xiaogang as a teenager?'
Zhao Ling's astonishment grew as he realized the situation. Yu Xiaogang's soul power was barely at level 20, and he didn't even have a second soul ring. Yet, here he was, standing in an arena, facing an opponent who was at least a level 31 soul master.
"What is he thinking?" Zhao Ling muttered to himself. "He's completely outmatched. When did he get so brave?"
Ah Yin, noticing Zhao Ling's sudden distraction, leaned closer to see what had caught his attention. Her brows furrowed slightly as she followed his gaze to the young boy in the arena.
'Who is he?' she wondered.
In the arena, the match began, and the audience erupted into cheers. But Zhao Ling's focus remained on one question: 'What on earth could have driven Yu Xiaogang to take such a reckless risk?'
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(End of Chapter)