After reinforcing the Profound Ice Chains on Tian Ya and E Kao, Yu Yan left Dark Snow to watch them while he and Xiao Wu set off together.
Originally Yu Yan had wanted Xiao Wu to stay and guard Tian Ya and E Kao, but she was also curious about Bu Le's Twin-Canopy Spirit. An ordinary Spirit wouldn't have interested her, yet something this absurd and unique was irresistible.
Thus the only one left to watch Tian Ya and E Kao was Spirit Cat Wu Xue, who had zero interest in the Twin-Canopy Spirit.
"Behave and keep an eye on these two; I'll bring you something tasty when I'm back."
Xiao Wu cheerfully stroked Wu Xue's head, entrusting the guard duty to her.
"Meow—"
Wu Xue gave a soft mew, padded to a chair beside Tian Ya and E Kao, curled up, and pretended to nap.
The lecher Bu Le wasn't hard to find—every night he haunted the brothels, and Suotuo City had only a handful. A quick word with any madam would do.
A casual show of strength should make those madams eager to answer Yu Yan's questions... In Zhu Zhuqing's room, strands of pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi escaped her as she swallowed the pill Yu Yan had refined; she hadn't had time to fully absorb it.
The drifting Spiritual Qi ringed her like an aura, making her seem a Spirit of the night.
With each breath the 28th-Rank barrier shattered; in the blink of an eye she rose from Rank 27 to 28.
It was the first-time bonus of such a high-grade herb, the fruit of many days' accumulation; later doses would never again be this dramatic.
Having reached Rank 28, Zhu Zhuqing exhaled, gave herself no respite, and began another round of cultivation.
Under the Star Luo Royal Family's cruel rules, the thing Zhu Zhuqing did most was Cultivate—only thus could she glimpse a chance to defy her bleak future... "Excuse me, have you seen this man?"
Inside one of Suotuo City's brothels, after displaying five spirit rings, Yu Yan showed Bu Le's portrait to the madam.
"Yes, yes, I've seen him—he's in a house just up ahead; I sent him there myself."
The madam, a mere commoner, took one look at Yu Yan's five gleaming rings and spilled everything.
Having obtained the information, Yu Yan left without troubling her.
At the doorway he felt hostile eyes on him; he turned and the hidden watchers instantly averted their gazes, afraid to keep staring.
After a quick sweep Yu Yan departed.
The one hiding didn't even dare meet his eyes—clearly just a gutter rat unworthy of concern.
"Damn you, Yu Yan—how dare you show up in Suotuo City? Just wait; I'll fetch people to finish you."
Once Yu Yan was gone, the hidden watcher stepped out—none other than the Little Fatty Ma Hongjun, whom Yu Yan had once thrashed.
Driven by hatred, Ma Hongjun abandoned his usual "venting," slipped out the back, and sprinted toward Shrek Academy outside the city; he would ask teacher Zhao Wuji for revenge.
Shrek Academy's vice dean, Zhao Wuji, a Rank-76 Spirit Saint with the Vigorous Vajra Bear Spirit, is known in the Spirit Master's world as the "Illuminated King" and far stronger than ordinary Spirit Masters.
"Yu Yan, I'll make you regret this."
Fueled by anticipation, Ma Hongjun ran even faster than usual... "Any luck? Did you find Bu Le?"
Because of her gender Xiao Wu couldn't enter the brothel, so she asked Yu Yan the moment he emerged.
"Found him—he's in the next house. The guy really gets around."
Yu Yan filled her in, unable to resist grumbling about Bu Le.
According to the original timeline, Bu Le would soon clash with Ma Hongjun over a courtesan here, beat him, then be beaten in turn by Ma Hongjun's reinforcements.
With me here, that probably won't happen.
Lost in idle thoughts, Yu Yan arrived at the brothel Bu Le was visiting and went inside to drag him out.
Learning the room from the madam, Yu Yan strode up and pounded on the door.
"Who the hell—!"
After three or four knocks a furious voice answered.
"Sir, a mohawked Little Fatty is asking for Little Hong and says you should get lost—he insists."
Imagining the scene inside, Yu Yan spun a tale to lure Bu Le out.
Inside, Bu Le, interrupted mid-tryst, cursed: "What Little Fatty? Tell him to scram!"
"He's a Spirit Grandmaster—we can't afford to offend him."
"A lousy Grandmaster? I'm a Spirit Ancestor—today I'll teach that brat what real power is."
Hearing that, Bu Le dressed in a fury, ready to teach the kid a lesson.
When the door opened and Bu Le appeared, Yu Yan grabbed him by the neck and hurled him outside.
He tossed two gold coins onto the floor as compensation, vaulted the railing, and followed.
Bu Le hit the dirt, rolled, and sprang up warily.
A short distance away he saw a girl in black-and-white, fresh as morning snow, the most beautiful he had ever laid eyes on.
He swore no one could rival her.
While Bu Le stared, Xiao Wu studied the wretch Yu Yan had flung out.
Only someone this vulgar could awaken something so vulgar.
So it was true: a Spirit shapes its master's bearing.
As Bu Le gaped, Yu Yan leapt from the brothel and slammed a flying kick into Bu Le's un-summoned back.