It was another comfortable night.
When Lin Xian woke up naturally the next morning, his only regret was that he didn't find the little kitten in his arms.
Clearly, she had woken up long before him.
Rolling over, he propped himself up and glanced across the room. As expected, Zhu Zhuqing was already cultivating.
"Zhuqing, didn't we agree to relax a bit and enjoy life? Why are you cultivating the moment you get free time?"
Zhu Zhuqing smiled faintly.
"It'd be a waste not to. You weren't awake yet, so I might as well meditate."
"You should learn from me," Lin Xian said lazily. "Close your eyes and take another nap. That way you'll have energy all day."
"I already have enough energy," she replied calmly. "Since you're up, let's wash up and get breakfast. Aren't we heading out soon?"
Their plan was simple—spend a week at the Great Spirit Arena earning gold coins, then head to the Star Dou Great Forest for training.
At their current strength, it was hard to find evenly matched opponents. Staying in the arena wasn't the goal; real combat and experience in the outside world would be far more valuable.
Unlike last time, when they had only gone to hunt a spirit ring, this time they planned to stay in the forest for nearly two months.
Naturally, they needed to prepare thoroughly.
Their biggest issue?
Neither of them could cook.
They had tried once before in the Star Dou Forest. The result had been… catastrophic.
Everything they made was burnt beyond recognition—black, unidentifiable, and completely inedible. When they dumped it into the river, even the fish seemed disgusted.
Actually eating it?
That would've been suicidal.
Since then, they had both accepted a harsh reality—some skills just weren't meant for them.
So this time, their shopping had a clear goal.
Food.
Fortunately, Lin Xian had discovered something extremely useful: once food was stored in his card space, it turned into cards and wouldn't spoil at all.
So the two of them went from restaurant to restaurant, packing signature dishes and fruits. As long as they stocked up a little each day, living comfortably in the forest for two months wouldn't be a problem.
Soto City wasn't particularly large, but visiting so many places still took time.
Mainly because they weren't in a hurry.
They walked slowly, without using spirit power.
To Zhu Zhuqing, this kind of relaxed shopping with Lin Xian felt… unexpectedly pleasant.
"Do you think Dai Mubai will come back for revenge?" Lin Xian asked lazily, lying on the bed like a salted fish in Yuehai Cottage.
"How would I know?" Zhu Zhuqing replied. "But with his personality? He probably wouldn't dare."
Lin Xian shook his head.
"No, you're wrong. The best way to deal with fear is to eliminate it. So I'm willing to bet—within two days, maybe even tonight, he'll come looking for us again."
Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes, clearly unconvinced.
"Then how about we make a bet?"
"No."
Lin Xian immediately rolled over, staring at her.
"You sounded so confident just now. Shouldn't you trust your own judgment? Why won't you bet?"
"Don't even start," she said flatly. "We've already bet several times. You won every single time. Not once have I won."
That still annoyed her.
Back in the Star Dou Forest, Lin Xian had relied on his sharper perception to trick her repeatedly… and the "rewards" always benefited him.
She wasn't falling for that again.
Seeing her reaction, Lin Xian slumped in defeat, while Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but laugh.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up with mischief.
Fine. If you won't bet… I'll just take my reward directly.
"Mmph—"
Before she could react, he leaned in.
Her steps instinctively retreated, but she didn't push him away.
Moments like these passed quickly.
Lin Xian spent the rest of the day teasing his "little kitten," and before they knew it, night had fallen.
As the lights of Soto City flickered on, the entire city became dazzling.
The most eye-catching place, as always, was the Great Spirit Arena.
Crowds poured in.
Recently, all kinds of strange rumors had started spreading—
"The Masked Hero's Hidden Secret"
"The Spirit Elder with Three Thousand-Year Rings"
"A God Carrying Deadweight"
"A Dominant Heroine and Her Delicate Companion"
"The Man Who Hides Behind a Woman Yet Keeps Winning"
Lin Xian's face darkened instantly.
Zhu Zhuqing, however, was clearly amused.
"No, Zhuqing, listen to this nonsense!" Lin Xian complained. "What do they mean I'm hiding behind you? Didn't they see my solo matches? I crushed those guys without even using my spirit!"
"Who's spreading this? This is slander! I should sue them for damaging my reputation!"
Zhu Zhuqing patted his shoulder calmly.
"Relax. Let them talk. Tonight, just use your spirit ring and prove them wrong. There's no need to hide anymore."
Lin Xian sighed dramatically.
"It's fine. A doctor once told me my stomach is weak—I can only live off soft rice."
Zhu Zhuqing smirked.
"Then I'll take care of you."
"Really? Then come here—let's celebrate with a hug."
But she dodged effortlessly, leaving him grabbing empty air.
When they were alone, she didn't mind his antics too much.
But here, at the entrance of the Great Spirit Arena, surrounded by people…
She still cared about appearances.
And, admittedly, she was a little shy.
Lin Xian watched her retreating figure, lips twitching.
Training this little kitten… was going to take time.
Just as they stepped inside—
Three figures blocked their path.
The one in front had blond hair and mismatched pupils, a mocking smile on his face, arrogance written all over him.
The Shrek trio.
"Good dogs don't block the road," Lin Xian said casually.
Dai Mubai's expression nearly cracked, but he held himself back.
Soon enough, this brat would pay.
If he got hit by Fatty's Phoenix Fire Wire, surviving would already be lucky.
"Kid," Dai Mubai said coldly, "dare to make a bet with us?"
Lin Xian's eyes lit up instantly.
A bet?
Now that was interesting.
"Oh? And how do you want to bet?"
"A two-on-two spirit fight," Dai Mubai said. "When we get matched, we fight until one side admits defeat."
Lin Xian grinned.
"Exactly what I had in mind. So—what's the stake?"
"Ten thousand gold coins."