After hearing that something had happened at the Xiao Residence, City Lord Xiao rushed back immediately. Upon learning the details, he expressed his gratitude to Zhou Qing and the others.
However, when he learned that Su Yuntao wanted to see Sisi, his eyelids twitched. Knowing that Su Yuntao was an honest man, he had never imagined that Sisi actually came from the same village as him.
"Master Su Yuntao, I really didn't expect things to take such a turn. You, me... this whole situation..."
If this matter were to spread, it wouldn't look good for anyone.
For a moment, City Lord Xiao was at a loss for words. But as for giving up Sisi—
He was somewhat reluctant.
Her name, Sisi, truly reflected her silky charm—one he greatly enjoyed.
As the City Lord, he didn't mind sharing his women with others—perhaps as a way to relieve the stress of his duties, or perhaps because he was secretly a twisted man who found such things exciting.
But giving Sisi back to Su Yuntao...
In his impression, Su Yuntao was a traditional, upright, and utterly dull man—not someone who could ever be like-minded with him.
Still, considering that Su Yuntao might eventually become the head of the Notting City Wuhun Branch, it wasn't wise to sour their relationship.
"City Lord, I'm not here to demand anything," Su Yuntao sighed, his tone suddenly deep and unfathomable. "I just want to see Sisi one last time… to reminisce about the youth I've lost."
City Lord Xiao: "…"
In the end, Su Yuntao still met with Sisi.
As for the awkwardness between them—
Tang San and Xiao Wu didn't see it. Zhou Qing had already pulled them away from the Xiao Residence.
"Xiao Wu, you've been quiet this whole time. What's wrong?" Tang San noticed her low mood and asked gently.
"Huh? Oh, nothing… I just feel like I've become the weakest one among us," Xiao Wu replied.
In truth, she had been frightened by the decisiveness of Zhou Qing and Tang San. But admitting that would make her seem too fragile.
Even as a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast who had seen her share of killing, what Zhou Qing and Tang San did—acting with such cold determination without doing it for food—was a first.
"Is this what humans are truly like?"
"Alright, this reinforces my guess that you're a noble's daughter," Zhou Qing said. "Maybe you've just been sheltered too well. This world is cruel."
"Are all people that bad?" Xiao Wu asked, confused.
"Everyone has a dark side," Zhou Qing answered. "But at least…" He didn't finish his sentence.
At that moment, his eyes grew distant.
He wasn't some transmigrator who instantly dominated everything upon arrival. Though his current strength was notable—especially among soul masters in terms of attack—he couldn't change everything.
What was happening between Su Yuntao, Sisi, and City Lord Xiao was a personal matter…
The chaos stirred by soul bones had already made soul masters restless…
Now, there were even soul masters bold enough to risk their bodies in elaborate traps—just for a single soul bone.
These were the problems of this era.
And he—
"Do I really have the power to change this world?"
"Before I myself am changed by this world's rules?"
When he had decisively used the Xiao Residence's authority to eradicate the Spirit Fox, Zhou Qing had already realized he was slowly beginning to favor people over principles.
Influence was always mutual.
If he someday became a Title Douluo or even a peerless Douluo near Level 100 would he, as one of the greatest beneficiaries of this world's rules, still have the courage to change the system?
He wasn't a saint.
Zhou Qing felt lost.
Tang San noticed the change in Zhou Qing's eyes and felt the need to act...
Xiao Wu, though typically carefree, also sensed Zhou Qing's mood. She suggested, "We've finished the mission, right? Let's go to the Notting Guild to collect our reward. Big sis Xiao Wu will treat you to some fruit wine! Then we can go watch a performance at the central opera house in Notting City—time to relax!"
"Alright," Zhou Qing agreed.
He realized he needed to calm down, or maybe just unwind a bit and ask himself—
What kind of life do I want to live in this world?
He admitted he was selfish, but he also wanted to do something for the common people—after all, he came from among them.
But!
Even revolutionary changes in soul tool technology didn't seem to change the core of the social order. Once the ruling class saw the power of soul tools, they would only seek to replicate and exploit it...
In the end, the rulers would still be nobles!
Even if the Spirit Hall unified the continent, it would only replace the nobles with soul masters as the new aristocracy...
At the Notting Guild—
After collecting their mission reward, Zhou Qing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu saw Su Yuntao arrive as well. He asked Miss Alice for a large mug of strong liquor, looking heartbroken.
"Tao-ge, are you okay?" Zhou Qing asked with concern.
"I'm fine."
After downing the drink in one go, Su Yuntao looked far more at ease. Laughing heartily, he said, "What could be wrong? Turns out, everything really was just one-sided. Sisi only ever saw me as a good big brother…"
Zhou Qing: "…"
If this were a romance novel, this plot could be stretched into a million words.
But fortunately—
Su Yuntao did manage to let go… somewhat.
"Here," Miss Alice brought over a glass of fruit wine.
"I asked for something strong," Su Yuntao said, confused.
"Strong liquor's bad for your health. I think it's better if you drink something sweet right now," Alice smiled and placed the glass down before walking off to greet other guests.
"This woman never gives me the drink I actually want," Su Yuntao muttered, picking up the fruit wine and taking a sip. "Still… I do like sweet things."
After Su Yuntao paid and left, Xiao Wu ordered three more glasses of fruit wine. Zhou Qing took the chance to ask, "Miss Alice, don't tell me you like Tao-ge?"
"Don't say that!" Alice tensed up, glanced at the other adventurers to make sure they weren't listening, and let out a quiet sigh. "Let's just say I was worried about him. Strong liquor's bad for the stomach—fruit wine soothes the spleen."
"On me. Don't spread it around."
"How do you know Tao-ge?" Tang San asked curiously.
"You kids are too nosy," Alice huffed, her chest lightly trembling. Then she relented and shared the story.
It was a cliché tale of a hero saving a damsel—
Alice and Su Yuntao were actually the same age. They had attended Notting Academy together as classmates and fellow working students. Su Yuntao had always looked out for Alice and the other work-studies, protecting them from bullying by the noble students.
"Then you should confess to Tao-ge," Zhou Qing teased.
"Since when do girls confess to boys?"
Alice blushed slightly and gave another reason: "Remember what I said about the Adventurer's Guild receptionists? We're supposed to remain neutral. Even if the Notting Guild was funded by Spirit Hall, the staff—especially people like me—aren't official members of Spirit Hall. We just work here...
Basically, we're not supposed to show favoritism to anyone. That's what the 'public' in 'public guild' really means.
If I got together with Su Yuntao, he'd either have to leave Spirit Hall, or I'd have to give up this job.
I don't want to ruin his future, and I'd never ask him to quit Spirit Hall.
And if I quit this job... Well, he already seems to like someone else. I can't be a Battle Soul Master, and I'm not suited for life in a Soul Hunting Party. I need this stable, respectable job to support my parents…"