Two and a half days later.
At noon, the fierce sunlight beat down on the ground, waking the sleepy world. The dew on the leaves had long since been dried by the intense sun, and the morning breeze had turned into a heavy, warm current.
In the luxury Suite No. 4 of the Tianxiang Hotel in Heaven Dou City, Fu Ye had already donned his gold-trimmed robes. He was preparing to take Zhu Zhuqing to obtain her third spirit ring—though, in truth, it was just a small excuse to ensure Tang San wouldn't get the spirit ring and bone from that specific Man-Faced Demon Spider.
Fu Ye had already used the system's inspection cards to check Zhuqing's constitution. With the help of the Top-Tier Yoga that expanded her meridians and increased her endurance, she could now safely absorb a third spirit ring from a spirit beast under 3,300 years old.
Fu Ye glanced back at the bed where Xiao Wu and the other two were still fast asleep. He felt a wave of helplessness. A Super Douluo and two Spirit Elders had actually dared to challenge his authority as a Limit Douluo... heaven knows how annoying it was when Xiao Wu led the charge with such arrogance over the past two days.
By evening, Fu Ye and Zhu Zhuqing arrived at a rest station about a hundred miles from the Star Dou Great Forest. If his guess was correct, he was about to run into the Shrek members—those who believed that "if you don't cause trouble, you're a mediocre talent."
"Brother Fu Ye, today we..." Zhu Zhuqing tugged at his sleeve, looking a bit nervous.
"Mhm, we'll rest here for the night. Tomorrow, I'll take you to hunt for your spirit ring."
Fu Ye liked this "little cat" very much. She was calm, brave, and compensated for her non-top-tier talent with several times more effort than anyone else. In the original story, she was the most hardworking of the Seven Devils.
Growl... Zhuqing's stomach let out a low rumble. She lowered her head, her cheeks flushing red in embarrassment.
"Hungry? Let's go get dinner." Fu Ye patted her head and led her to the largest restaurant in the area. The building looked weather-beaten and somewhat dilapidated, but it was crowded with Spirit Masters who were there to hunt beasts for money or rings.
The interior was simple, but the area near the windows had solid wood tables and soft chairs. Fu Ye walked up to the counter and tossed a bag of 1,000 gold spirit coins to the waiter, whose eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Waiter, bring us all your signature dishes and open two top-tier rooms for us."
The waiter smiled broadly. "Right away, guest! Please, take a seat! However..." He glanced at the packed room. "We only have one top-tier room left. All the others are booked. But don't worry, the room is very large—it can easily fit three or four people."
Fu Ye mentally praised the waiter's "situational awareness." He looked at Zhuqing. "Zhuqing, you need to absorb a ring tomorrow. You take the room to rest."
"Ah? But..." Zhuqing hesitated for two seconds. "It's okay, I can share the room with you, Brother Fu Ye. You worked hard to bring me here, and like he said, the room is big, so..."
The waiter and Fu Ye exchanged a look—a silent understanding between men.
While waiting for the food, a commotion broke out at the entrance.
"Tang San, what's wrong with your brother? He made you carry him all the way here, and now look at him..."
Fu Ye turned his head. He recognized the group immediately: Flender, Zhao Wuji, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Tang San, and... Tang Chuan?
Wait, what?
How was the "God-King's reincarnation" here? Wasn't he a medicine slave in Dugu Bo's garden? Tang Hao must have fished him out. Fu Ye scanned Tang Chuan—the poison at his brow was indeed gone.
"Sigh, Brother, maybe you should just be honest," Tang San said, his voice like a needle. "You've been gone for two and a half years and came back covered in scars. Tell Teacher Zhao and the Dean about your grievances; they will help you."
Honest? Tang Chuan thought bitterly. How can I be honest about being humiliated by those monkeys, those three perverts, and being imprisoned for two years by Dugu Bo?!
He hated it. He hated everything!