Chapter 24: The Fourth Martial Soul: Tear of the Divine Flora

Nian Yun walked forward step by step, with Zhang Ping following closely behind.

They reached a small path. Looking in the direction of Nian Yun’s gaze, they saw a middle-aged man beckoning a child to get into his carriage.

"I told you, no one is going to be willing to give us a ride."

Ignoring Zhang Ping’s warning, Nian Yun continued to stride forward.

"Little one, where are you going? Uncle will take you there."

Just as the child was beginning to waver, Nian Yun’s voice rang out from behind:

"Run away, kid. This man is looking to rob you and take your life. If you don’t satisfy his demands, you’ll be lucky to escape with your life."

Hearing this, the child looked at the bearded man’s face, seemingly making a connection, and turned to run away in terror.

"You brat, how dare you ruin my business! You must be tired of living."

As he spoke, the bearded man drew a silver blade from his right side and turned to strike.

*Thud.*

Before he could even complete his turn, a slender leg delivered a powerful kick directly into his abdomen. The man instantly lost all ability to fight back, collapsing to his knees while clutching his stomach in agony.

"Oh, Zhang Ping, stop, stop."

Zhang Ping turned to look at Nian Yun as she was called. Nian Yun trotted over with a smile on his face.

"Sorry, sorry, Uncle. Next time, make sure you know who you’re dealing with before you act. Do you remember me?"

The man endured the pain and cast a glance to the side, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

"You... you are..."

The moment he saw Nian Yun, the man forgot the pain in his abdomen and scrambled backward, rolling and crawling in fear.

"Good, you remember. We want to go to Heaven Dou City. Can you give us a lift? Two gold soul coins—are we going or not?"

Realizing the situation, the man did not hesitate, naturally accepting the two gold soul coins. After Nian Yun helped him up, he looked at Zhang Ping, and a wave of terror washed over him.

"I’m sorry about just now, Uncle."

Seeing Zhang Ping shift slightly, the man flinched repeatedly.

"Alright, alright, let’s go."

After giving Zhang Ping a wink, the three of them finally boarded the carriage.

...

At dusk, "Um, should we stop ahead and rest for the night?"

A sound came from the front. Nian Yun, who had been dozing, opened his eyes and looked out the window, but couldn't see anything unusual.

"He isn't up to anything malicious; in fact, he’s been moving quite fast. We’ve already entered the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire."

Looking at Zhang Ping’s cold, beautiful face, he added, "Relax, just think of it as a vacation."

*Ding.*

System: "Main Goddess Quest triggered: [Task: Get to know Ning Rongrong]. Reward: One level of soul power."

"Ning Rongrong?"

With that question in mind, Nian Yun jumped off the carriage and looked toward a hotel not far ahead.

"Let’s rest for the night."

*Thud.*

Zhang Ping jumped down as well, while the man led the carriage toward the stable.

*Clop, clop.*

"Three single rooms."

The receptionist took the gold soul coins from Nian Yun, handed back some silver coins and three keys, and directed them upstairs.

*Clop, clop.*

As the three of them stepped onto the stairs, a hurried sound of footsteps echoed from the second-floor landing. Suddenly, a girl with long hair, dressed in light green, rushed out. Because it was a corner, they collided head-on before they could react.

*Bang.*

Their shoulders bumped, and their eyes met.

"Sorry, sorry."

Under the gaze of the others, the girl mumbled a few shy apologies and hurried away.

System: "Host, your acting is truly clumsy."

"My apologies, guest, are you alright?"

"I’m fine, let’s go."

Zhang Ping, standing to the side, gave Nian Yun a meaningful look. The two said nothing and returned to their rooms.

By a nearby lake:

"Wow, it’s so beautiful."

Watching the moonlight spill over the mirror-like lake, the girl took off her shoes and ran toward the water.

"Mmm..."

Bathed in the moonlight, the girl’s silhouette was perfectly revealed. Just as she was playing, a heavy footstep sounded from the woods behind her.

"Little girl, this is a private lake. Outsiders are not allowed."

Hearing the shout, the girl stopped smiling and turned around to see a burly man wearing a bamboo hat.

"Oh, I’m so sorry, I’ll leave right away."

Without questioning the truth of his words, the girl just wanted to leave as quickly as possible. She put on her shoes, but before she could depart, the burly man had already appeared in front of her.

The man stroked his chin, smiling as he inspected the girl from her fair legs upward. The girl nodded gently and tried to leave, but every time she moved, the man would shift to block her path.

"Uncle, I’m really sorry. I have money, I can compensate you."

"Compensation? That doesn’t sound bad."

As he spoke, the man continued to close in on the girl, forcing her to retreat step by step.

*Splash.*

The girl had backed up to the edge of the lake, her shoes filled with water. The man kept moving closer. Just as the girl focused on what was in front of her, her heel slipped, and she fell backward involuntarily. Seeing this, the man grew unusually excited and lunged at her.

*Bang!*

Just as the girl was about to fall, a slender but strong arm appeared before her. Without hesitation, she grabbed it tightly.

On the other side, the burly man had been pushed several meters away, tripping over his own feet and falling down. Halfway to the ground, the girl managed to plant her foot and stabilize herself.

"Which brat dares to ruin my fun?"

The man rose angrily, glaring at Nian Yun, who was holding onto the girl.

"Kid, get lost!"

He swung his fist violently toward Nian Yun’s temple.

"Watch out!" the girl cried out in panic.

*Whoosh.*

Nian Yun’s lips curled upward. With a pull of his right hand, the girl was drawn completely into his embrace. He lowered his left hand and raised it slowly; stones from the ground quickly rose and attached themselves to his arm, forming a rock gauntlet.

*Bang.*

The man, unable to pull back his punch, collided with the rock. A sharp pain surged through his entire body.

"So you’re a Soul Master? That makes things easier." The man glared with fury.

"Hmm..."

As the man released his soul power, a black bear manifested behind him. To their dismay, three soul rings—white, yellow, and purple—rose from the man’s body.

"A Soul Venerable!"

Nian Yun and the girl were both shocked. Realizing how close they were, they separated, both blushing. Purple electricity flickered faintly on Nian Yun’s left hand as he looked at the girl beside him with hesitation.

System: "Host’s soul power has broken through. [Task: Defeat a Soul Venerable with the Rock Martial Soul]. Reward: Fourth Martial Soul: 'Divine Fae Tear'."

With the task issued, Nian Yun’s idea of using his dual martial souls was instantly stifled. He raised his right hand, and the 'Clockwork Rock', adorned with two yellow soul rings, slowly emerged.

"A Soul Master? Ha! Kid, you dare to play the hero without the strength to back it up? You must have never experienced the cruelty of the real world."

The girl looked at Nian Yun with concern.

"I’m actually quite impressed that you’ve managed to keep that head of yours attached for so long."

"What! You’re courting death!"

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*