Though the night had deepened, the streets of Soto City were still bustling.
At that moment, Tang Chuan and Xiao Ruier had just finished strolling through the Night Market, snacks in hand, chatting and laughing as they strolled along the stone road toward their hotel.
However, the instant they turned a corner
A rather out-of-place figure appeared dead-center in the road ahead.
It was a woman dressed in magnificent clothes.
She wore a purple gown studded with over a hundred gems of red, blue and gold, a nine-bend violet-gold crown on her head, and held a two-meter-long scepter inlaid with countless jewels. Her skin was porcelain white, her face near-perfect.
Even Xiao Ruier couldn't help a twinge of envy the moment she saw her.
'An outfit like that… could she be…?'
Tang Chuan slowed, rooted to the spot as memories flooded back; he was just about to gauge the woman's intent when…
A blazing golden light suddenly streaked across the sky and shot downward like a meteor.
His skin looked as delicate as a baby's, his bewitching face so unusual that, were it not for the Adam's apple, no one would take him for a man.
Glancing at the two, Xiao Ruier's expression shifted. After a moment she tilted her head, puzzled and uneasy, and asked in a low voice:
Bibi Dong listened, her gaze resting on Tang Chuan and Xiao Ruier as if weighing truth from lies, then gave a slight nod.
'You are Tang San?'
Seeing this, Chrysanthemum Douluo said in a languid voice, 'Your Grace, before we came I heard Old Ghost mention that while asking around at the Soto Great Spirit Arena he did find a Blue Silver Grass Soul Master called Xiao Yan taking part in matches—Soul Power around thirtieth level. Looks like this is him.'
Xiao Ruier started slightly, but with the rapport she shared with Tang Chuan she sensed his intent at once. Her words faltered as she glanced at him and instantly understood.
'Your Grace, the Douluo Continent is vast; every wonder exists. Two people looking alike is hardly strange,' Chrysanthemum Douluo explained calmly after a pause.
Tang Chuan said nothing; he merely narrowed his eyes, the smile still on his face while Soul Power surged through his body like a raging river.
All to avoid catching Spirit Hall's attention too soon.
With a blank expression Tang Chuan drew a Soul Master's log from his spirit tool. The log was not paper or cloth but a palm-sized metal sheet.
That utterly convincing document was in fact a costly forgery he'd obtained by bribing a low-level executor of Spirit Hall.
Why had these two sought him out? He was baffled, but the situation boded nothing good.
The next second her slender fingers tapped the scepter, sending out a crisp chime laced with imperceptible pressure, as if testing Tang Chuan's reaction.
Tang Chuan, however, reacted faster than Xiao Ruier. In a flash he understood; stepping forward calmly, he bowed slightly and said in a steady voice, 'Your Excellency must be mistaken. I am Xiao Yan, not Tang San.'
At those words both Tang Chuan and Xiao Ruier froze, startled, exchanging a bewildered glance.
'Tang San? I know him—we fought him at the arena today. He's probably having dinner right now at the Soto Grand Hotel nearby.'
A golden-armored man landed steadily beside the purple-robed woman.
Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan.
Instantly Tang Chuan grasped Xiao Ruier's hand; their Soul Powers mingled and fused, a Martial Soul Fusion Skill ready to explode.
'Ruier, these two are formidable; they may strike today. If anything happens we fuse, then split and run—full speed, understood?' He sent the message through Soul Power, face unreadable.
With a light toss Bibi Dong returned the log to Tang Chuan, then said to Chrysanthemum Douluo, 'He isn't Tang San—so why does he look exactly like the Tang San in the portrait?'
She asked again:
'Have you two recently met anyone named Tang San here in Soto City?'
Pressure rolled forward, yet Tang Chuan's face stayed calm as still water.
'Xiao Yan? He's not Tang San?'
'Mm.' Xiao Ruier nodded, a flash of killing intent in her eyes.
Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes coldly. 'Prove it.'
'Then I must have been mistaken.' Bibi Dong, accepting Chrysanthemum Douluo's words, glanced at the swan badges on Tang Chuan and Xiao Ruier's chests and nodded as though finally convinced.
Just then Bibi Dong stepped forward; her scepter struck the ground with a ringing thud, echoing coldly:
Taking the cool metal sheet, Bibi Dong read the top line: Name: Xiao Yan. Sex: Male. Born Douluo Calendar Year 2631. Registered in Silvis City. Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass!
What was going on?
Tang Chuan hesitated, about to say he didn't know, but Xiao Ruier cut in:
So they weren't after him—they were after Tang San.
'Your Grace, look—the badges on their chests mark them as students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. The Tang San we want is from Shrek Academy. A simple mistake.'
She continued reading, finally realizing the blue-clad youth before her was not her target.
Those words detonated like thunder, freezing the already tense air.
Yet neither Bibi Dong nor Chrysanthemum Douluo had expected it.
'Could it be…?'
Seeing Bibi Dong silent, Chrysanthemum Douluo studied the golden-swan badges on their chests and added:
Without another word Tang Chuan flicked his wrist, sending the log sailing back to Bibi Dong.
Reading those lines, Bibi Dong felt a pang of disappointment.
'Do you know these two? Looks like they're here for you.'