Hearing Tang San's words, Ma Hongjun gave a dismissive snort.
"And who the hell are you to stick your nose in my business? Looking to get smacked?"
Tang San's face darkened. "Who's your 'old man'?"
Ma Hongjun's whisker-like hairs twitched. "Whoever butts into my business — I'm their old man."
That was it. Even with his good temper, Tang San couldn't let such an insult slide. His feet slid into Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and he lashed a kick toward the fatty's chest. The strike was perfectly measured — if the boy was an ordinary person, it would only knock him over; if he had hidden strength, Tang San could release the full force in an instant.
Sure enough, as Tang San suspected, the fatty wasn't simple. Seeing the kick, Ma Hongjun didn't retreat but stepped in, bracing both fists in front of him to block. A faint purple-red light rose from his body — a clear surge of soul power.
Tang San's foot halted midair, shifting from a kick to a downward stomp aimed at the fatty's belly. Ma Hongjun's fists dropped in an instant to smash at that incoming foot.
Thump!
Tang San withdrew, sliding back. Ma Hongjun staggered back a few steps as well. They'd actually come out even — the fatty's soul power seemed only slightly below Tang San's.
Ma Hongjun blinked. "Oh, so you're a Soul Master too. No wonder you dared meddle. Let me show you what real strength is."
He lowered his voice and shouted, "Phoenix Possession!"
The word "phoenix" made both Tang San's and Xiao Wu's eyes narrow. Among beast spirits, the phoenix was one of the most formidable — also called the Seven-Colored Bird. The Phoenix martial spirit granted its wielder not only the power of flight but devastating fire-attribute attacks, the pinnacle of offensive beast spirits.
A purple-red light burst from Ma Hongjun's body. His short hair suddenly lengthened and drew together into a mohawk ridge. Wings didn't appear, but the moment that purple-red glow surfaced, a wave of heat washed over them. Two yellow spirit rings rose from his feet. Long feathers sprouted down his thick, exposed arms, and his hands transformed into taloned claws.
One look and Xiao Wu snorted. "That's a phoenix? Looks more like a farmyard chicken to me."
With his round belly, bright purple-red arm feathers, and mohawk crest, Ma Hongjun really did look more like an overfed hen than some mythical divine bird.
It was like she'd stepped on his inverse scale. His face twisted in fury. "Who're you calling a chicken?" The first ring on his body flared, and his jaws gaped wide — spraying a thin stream of purple-red flame straight at Xiao Wu.
The heat warped the air. The flame wasn't wild, but shot in a straight, five-meter line like a burning spear.
"Careful!"
Tang San's right hand swept out, a long strand of Blue Silver Grass curling around Xiao Wu's slender waist to yank her sideways out of the flame's path.
But Ma Hongjun clearly had no intention of letting them off. The five-meter flame beam didn't vanish, swinging sideways after Xiao Wu like a burning whip.
Tang San hauled Xiao Wu back with one hand, while several vines of Blue Silver Grass shot along the ground to entangle Ma Hongjun's legs. He'd already spotted the weakness — the flames were frighteningly hot, but the range only five meters. Cut his movement, and he'd be easy to handle.
Just as Ma Hongjun moved to advance, his legs froze — the vines coiling tight, and prickling pain stabbing into his skin followed by numbness.
Startled, Ma Hongjun looked down at the creeping vines. Without hesitation, he activated his second ring.
Whoosh!
Purple flames roared from his body in a burning sphere. In an instant, they engulfed him and spread outward. Every vine touching that fire went up in smoke within seconds.
Tang San's eyes narrowed. This martial spirit was a natural counter to his — Blue Silver Grass might be resilient under his two rings, but as a plant it could only fear fire.
Now wreathed in violet flames, Ma Hongjun's aura surged. Fire danced in his eyes as he charged toward them, mouth belching gouts of flame.
"I've got this!"
Before Tang San could stop her, Xiao Wu darted forward, rabbit ears twitching over a body glowing red with fully unleashed soul power.
Tang San's fingers twitched — dark glints nestled in his palms. His Purple Demon Eye flashed, ready to strike with hidden weapons if she drew danger. This fatty's martial spirit was strong, but Tang San knew his soul power was slightly lower; he could never block Tang San's hidden weapons like Teacher Tang could.
Seeing Xiao Wu rush in, Ma Hongjun's heart leapt. Perfect. He exhaled a loop of fire, curving it into a circle to seal off her angles of approach.
Inwardly, he smirked. 'Little girl, call me a chicken? Let's see how you like this. Not too hot though — she's too pretty to burn.' The flame's heat dipped noticeably.
Xiao Wu felt it at once — he'd gone easy on her? Fine, she'd return the "favor."
Just as he thought the fire would envelope her, Xiao Wu's body curled midair, twisting in an impossible motion to slip through the tiniest gap in the flames. She straightened in a bound, already at his side.
Without giving him time to react, she flowed past to his back, planted her hands on the ground, and scissored her legs up around his neck. Her first ring flared. Waist Bow — activated.
Her whole body became a great red longbow, waist strength doubling instantly, flexibility soaring. At her current rank, the surge was 119% to her waist's power — enough torque to throw any non-strength-type opponent below rank 50.
And she did just that, snapping him up and flinging him away.
She'd noticed he'd suppressed his flames; in return, she didn't slam him into the dirt, but pitched him skyward. Still, she overestimated his aerial control — the chubby form windmilled helplessly before crashing down hard on his backside.
"Stop it — both of you!"
Cuihua, the village girl from earlier, rushed over. Ma Hongjun's flames guttered out as he staggered to his feet, dizzy.
"I'm fine," he grunted when she brushed dust from him. "Little rabbit, come again!"
Xiao Wu hopped back, flicking both feet. Two soft whoosh sounds, and her shoes went flying away — the purple flames had clung stubbornly to them, forcing her to kick them off. She now stood barefoot, her pale toes curling slightly against the ground.
"Miss Cuihua, what's going on?" Xiao Wu blinked in confusion. "Didn't this fatty just bully you? Why are you—"
Cuihua sighed. "Don't fight. Hongjun's a good person… we're just not right for each other, so I broke it off. You two can leave — I'll talk to him myself."
"Stay out of my business!" Ma Hongjun barked, shoving her aside and starting toward Xiao Wu again — though he didn't ignite his second skill, wary of hurting her.
Just then, a surprised voice called out. "Tang San? Fatty? What are you two doing?"
Both turned toward the sound — and saw Dai Mubai, hair neatly combed, walking toward them.
(End of Chapter)