Reunion with Tang San

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It wasn't until later that Hu Liena realized she had misjudged him. Ning Tian wasn't some lecherous creep, he was simply upholding his own sense of "justice." Any degenerate who dared to violate the laws and morals of the outside world would be swiftly "sent away" by him. In fact, after he'd wiped out all the degenerates that day, he didn't even say a single word to her. He just turned and left, like some brooding hero in a bad romance novel.

This only deepened Hu Liena's curiosity about the mysterious man encased in black armor.

First off, he was definitely a man. That much was obvious.

Second, based on his height, she guessed he couldn't be older than twenty. When they first arrived, he was around 1.87 or 1.88 meters tall, but now he'd shot up to a solid 1.9 meters. Clearly, he was still growing, probably still getting taller while the rest of them were stuck with their final heights. Lucky him.

This only made her more intrigued.

Before, she'd always thought her brother was the most outstanding man she'd ever met. Then, during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, Ning Tian had joined her mental list of impressive guys. As for Tang San? Well, with his less-than-stellar looks and his habit of spouting nonsense, she'd mentally crossed him off ages ago.

But now, this man before her was the third and in her eyes, the most exceptional. He was even more impressive than Ning Tian, who was hailed as the top of the younger generation in the soul master world. Younger than her, unaffected by the temptations of the female degenerates, and most importantly, he had a strong sense of "justice" that Hu Liena deeply admired. After all, if a man who could turn the Slaughter City, a place of endless bloodshed, into a peaceful haven in just two and a half years wasn't the embodiment of justice, then justice didn't exist.

A woman can fall for a man for many reasons, and Hu Liena knew she was developing feelings for this mysterious figure. Even though, apart from a brief exchange on their first day, they hadn't spoken since. 

She hadn't even seen his face. But ever since he saved her that one time, he'd lodged himself firmly in her heart. By now, his image was burned into her mind like a brand.

Hu Liena sighed inwardly. If only she knew what he looked like. Even if his face was as plain as a potato, she was sure her feelings would go beyond mere attraction and turn into something deeper. Maybe even love or whatever passed for it in a place like this.

Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed when the iron gate of the Hell Slaughter Arena creaked open. Ning Tian stepped out, and her eyes locked onto him like a homing missile. 

Only when he was about to leave the arena did she bite her lip, summon her courage, and chase after him.

…..

Meanwhile, in a dark, cavernous room within the Slaughter City, the Slaughter King lounged on his throne, adorned with blue and purple crystals. Across from him sat an old man with white hair and a frame so thin he looked like he might snap in half; Tang Hao, who had just delivered Tang San to the Slaughter City.

"Hell King, it's been decades. Long time no see," the Slaughter King said, swirling a cup of Bloody Mary like it was fine wine. Hell King was the title Tang Hao had earned during his own time in the Slaughter City.

Tang Hao wasn't one for small talk. He grabbed the other cup of Bloody Mary from the table, downed it in one go, and got straight to the point. "I just brought a disciple from the Clear Sky Sect. You can't touch him."

The Slaughter King's brow furrowed. First, the Pope of the Spirit Hall sends two disciples, one of whom, the Insect Demon had butchered half his subjects, costing him dearly. Now, a disciple from the Clear Sky Sect? But he knew better than to cross a God of Killing. His underground kingdom couldn't afford the fallout.

"Fine," he conceded, echoing the same compromise he'd made with the Spirit Hall Pope. "But if he dies in the Hell Slaughter Arena, don't come crying to me."

Tang Hao nodded, satisfied with the answer, and vanished into the shadows without another word.

…..

Back at the arena, Hu Liena had caught up to Ning Tian. "Um, can we talk?" she asked, her voice a mix of hope and nerves.

Ning Tian didn't answer. His gaze was fixed on two figures approaching from ahead. One was the woman in the black veil who had guided him and Hu Liena earlier. The other was a newcomer with a half-mask, revealing a somewhat handsome face, though his short stature somewhat ruined the effect. Ning Tian didn't need to guess who it was: Tang San.

He quickly scanned Tang San's soul power: level fifty-two, five levels below Hu Liena's. Without the Eight Spider Lances draining his life force, his cultivation talent remained intact. 

'Not bad for someone who's been grinding in life-and-death battles for two and a half years.'

Tang San's skin was paler now, too. Made sense, considering he hadn't seen sunlight in ages. Even his face had changed, which caught Ning Tian off guard. Then again, given his own transformations, he suspected the Rakshasa God's influence was at play. 'Looks like that evil thought really did a number on him,' Ning Tian mused.

As Ning Tian studied Tang San, the latter locked eyes with him and immediately felt like he'd been dunked into a pool of blood and corpses. He stumbled back, breaking out in a cold sweat. 

The woman in the black veil, fearing Ning Tian might decide to add Tang San to his kill count, hurriedly stepped in front of him. "Lord Insect Demon, this newcomer…"

In the Slaughter City, Ning Tian was fear incarnate. Even the Slaughter King's personal attendant trembled in his presence.

Ning Tian nodded, aware that Tang Hao was lurking nearby. He had no intention of starting a fight with Tang San, not yet, anyway. He strode past them toward his quarters.

Hu Liena spared Tang San a glance, finding him vaguely familiar but not enough to place him. She shrugged it off and followed Ning Tian.

Once they were gone, Tang San exhaled heavily. 'So this is what the Slaughter City's powerhouses are like?' he thought. 'That killing intent… it's on par with my father's. How many people had this guy killed? And was that Hu Liena from the Spirit Hall's golden generation? What was she doing here?'

The woman in the black veil leaned in, her voice low and urgent. "Those two are the Insect Demon and the Hell Messenger, both with ninety-nine consecutive wins. Especially the Insect Demon; don't ever cross him. Just because you're in the Slaughter City doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. If you break any of the outside world's morals or laws, you'll bring down his wrath. In this place, the Insect Demon is second only to the Slaughter King. Provoke him, and no one can save you."

Tang San swallowed hard, nodding. It seemed the Slaughter City had its own set of unspoken rules and the Insect Demon was the enforcer.

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