"Su Cheng?!"
Just as Su Cheng was about to set off again with Zhu Zhuqing, a furious shout suddenly came from not far away.
At the other end of the street, Tang San glared at them with bloodshot eyes.
Immediately, he noticed their tightly clasped hands, and his face instantly filled with incredulity.
"You, you two?!"
In his mind, Su Cheng was a mortal enemy comparable to Qian Renxue of the Spirit Hall, and Zhu Zhuqing was a former classmate he intended to develop into a potential ally. Yet, here they were, walking hand in hand with intimate gestures in the inner city of the Slaughter City.
Moreover, Tang San even saw a previously unseen look of shyness and annoyance on Zhu Zhuqing's usually cold and beautiful face. This expression had never appeared on her face even during their years at Shrek Academy.
The two of them seemed like a couple who had just had a minor quarrel.
This scene was like an illusion, causing Tang San's mind to go blank for a moment.
After a while, he turned to Zhu Zhuqing in shock, his voice trembling, "Zhuqing, you?!"
Tang San's eyes had a slight coldness to them.
He couldn't fathom the reason behind such a scene.
In his impression, these two should have no connection whatsoever.
"Why are you with him?"
Zhu Zhuqing raised an eyebrow but didn't bother to respond.
She was thinking about something else and had no time to deal with Tang San.
Seeing her indifferent attitude towards him, Tang San's heart surged with anger.
Memories of Zhu Zhuqing's behavior at the academy, which he had disliked, resurfaced.
But until he fully understood the situation between these two, he didn't want to completely sever their relationship.
Given her background and potential, Zhu Zhuqing was highly valuable, and Tang San was unwilling to give up on her easily.
However, this interruption did help him calm down slightly.
He turned his gaze back to Su Cheng.
"Su Cheng, I heard that after the Soul Master Tournament ended a year ago, you groveled and joined the Spirit Hall. What brings you to this place?"
His stiff face bore a deep mocking expression, making his otherwise ordinary appearance look even more somber.
"The Spirit Hall has always prided itself on being righteous. Yet, this city harboring countless evils and fallen people should have been destroyed long ago. But the Spirit Hall lets it be, how laughable. And you, joining the Spirit Hall, are just a petty person."
Hearing this, Su Cheng glanced at Tang San but didn't respond to him. Instead, he turned to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Zhuqing, do you think what he said makes sense? Should this place have been destroyed long ago?"
"Foolish idea."
Zhu Zhuqing frowned and replied casually, annoyed that Su Cheng had interrupted her thoughts with such a question.
And bringing such a question to her, did he think she was as foolish as Tang San?
Evil Soul Masters can never be completely eradicated.
Because some people are born as Evil Soul Masters.
This statement may seem unreasonable, but it's a harsh reality.
Just like Bibi Dong's evil second spirit, which gradually corrupts the owner's mind during growth, ordinary soul masters can hardly suppress those overwhelming evil thoughts.
Not to mention, there are countless malicious individuals, the world is not peaceful, and various desires and temptations shadow life's journey.
Without this place as a drainage outlet, providing a refuge for those insane and evil people, more effort would be needed for pursuit, and more violent individuals would flood into the civilian population.
At that time, it would only bring greater disasters.
Keeping this Slaughter City as a drainage outlet is undoubtedly more beneficial than harmful.
Moreover, as a prison, its preventive measures are absolutely adequate.
Once inside the Slaughter City, criminals are no longer allowed to leave.
And without being able to use soul skills, it is almost impossible to get past the law enforcement teams who can use soul skills.
The fact that only eight people have left through the Hell Road in a thousand years is enough to prove the reliability of this place.
This means that all the fallen people who enter here have only two choices in the Slaughter City:
One is to enter the inner city, participate in life-and-death duels with a one-in-ten chance of survival, and face constant life threats even outside the slaughter arenas;
The other is to stay in the outer city, regularly provide Bloody Marys to survive, but for them, there is no enjoyment to speak of.
However, while Zhu Zhuqing spoke carelessly, Tang San took it to heart.
Even though he treated her sincerely, this woman was completely ungrateful, hanging out with a petty person like Su Cheng. She truly deserved to die!
Su Cheng glanced at him, thought for a moment, and said nothing more.
He simply smiled and nodded at Tang San, "Heh, you're right."
He was unwilling to waste more words on Tang San.
For people with a strong sense of justice, their stance is often determined by right and wrong.
However, for those with normal thinking, even if they don't act this way, they understand the rationale behind it.
But Tang San was different. He always judged right and wrong based on his stance, firmly believing that he was on the side of justice.
The Spirit Hall, of course, had done many unjust things.
Using brute force to suppress hostile forces and various schemes to disrupt the continental situation.
As the leading power on the continent, this is inevitable. The struggle between forces has always been filled with bloodshed and conspiracy.
But the reason Tang San firmly believes that Spirit Hall is the evil side has nothing to do with these actions.
The real reason is that he is opposed to Spirit Hall, so Spirit Hall is evil and should be overthrown.
If it's personal vengeance, just say it's personal vengeance. No one is prohibited from seeking revenge.
To elevate it to the level of righteousness and to claim justice is rather laughable.
Spirit Hall massacred spirit beasts, killed the Blue Silver Emperor, killed Xiao Wu's mother, and killing Xiao Wu is extremely evil. But, pray tell, where did you, Tang San, get all your spirit rings from?
But there's no need to say all this to him.
Whoever has the stronger fist is right, and that's the simplest way to solve the problem.
After hearing Su Cheng's slightly mocking words and seeing his disdainful and scornful look, Tang San's already restless blood began to surge violently, and the blood color in his eyes grew more intense.
Under the influence of the special environment of the Slaughter City, his killing intent rapidly grew uncontrollably.
The scene of Xiao Wu's delicate body being pierced by a long sword burning with black flames kept flashing before his eyes.
He suddenly realized that this was an excellent opportunity!
"Here, soul skills cannot be used. Although that guy has those two extremely peculiar self-created soul skills, I have completely mastered the Clear Sky Sect's unrivaled Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer technique over the past year.
"In this place, with the Tang Sect's secret skills and hidden weapons at my disposal, combined with the poison of my Eight Spider Lances, I have a great chance to defeat him, even kill him!
"Although the one who deserves to die most is that Spirit Hall's Qian Renxue, Su Cheng is her accomplice. If I let him go now, he will become a major threat in the future.
"Kill Su Cheng here first, then gradually eradicate the tumor that is Spirit Hall from the Douluo Continent. This will be immensely beneficial for me, the empire, and the people of the world!"
With this thought, Tang San made up his mind and slowly walked forward, silently adjusting his state.
In the Slaughter City, killing is not limited to the Hell Slaughter Arena. Battles and killings can happen anytime, anywhere, whether on the streets, outside the arena, or even in one's dwelling.
The Slaughter City never forbids these actions.
As he walked step by step, he found that Su Cheng seemed unconcerned with his approach, showing no defensive posture, remaining calm.
He couldn't help but sneer at Su Cheng's arrogance.
When Tang San was within ten meters of them, a jade-like color appeared on his hand. Tang Sect's secret skill – Mysterious Jade Hand!
At the same time, his left foot stepped forward swiftly, moving as fast as lightning. Tang Sect's secret skill – Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!
In this place where soul skills cannot be used, his advantage as a Tang Sect disciple would be fully utilized.
Then, his body spun, his arm swung out, and his fingertips flicked.
In the next moment, countless shimmering lights shot out from Tang San's hand.
They were shining steel needles, the piercing sound filling the small space.
But that was just an appetizer.
As his body spun rapidly, nine curved blades as thin as willow leaves flew out from him.
Tang Sect's hidden weapon technique, ranked eighth – Phoenix Tail Nine Blades!
The nine blades, like nine soaring phoenixes, swayed in the air, accompanied by countless silver needles shooting toward Su Cheng and the other person.
Su Cheng didn't move.
He didn't need to.
A fierce wind howled, countless wind blades appeared in an instant, then surrounded the two of them.
"Clang—"
The sound of metal clashing echoed.
All the hidden weapons, including the silver needles and the flying knives, fell to the ground.
Obviously, compared to Zhu Zhuqing, who had been training here for a year, Tang San, who had just arrived, seemed far too inexperienced.
His timing, grasp of the situation, and combat methods were all full of flaws.
Looking at the gloomy-faced Tang San in front of him, Su Cheng chuckled, "Trying to ambush me?"
His voice carried a hint of mockery.
"Su Cheng, there's no need for such high-sounding words." Tang San felt no guilt for his actions, only regretting not achieving a single blow, "Since you came to the Slaughter City, you should know its rules, so why pretend?"
"What you said makes sense." Su Cheng nodded thoughtfully.
Then he asked, "But don't you look down on this place? Why follow its rules and ambush me outside the Hell Slaughter Arena? Where has your noble integrity gone?"
"Against someone like you, why bother with methods?" Tang San sneered.
Although he said this, his heart sank, "What, hiding behind a woman for protection?"
Then he turned to Zhu Zhuqing, his eyes filled with complex emotions of disappointment, sighing, "Zhuqing, why would you associate with someone like him? Didn't you say before that he was shameless?"
Zhu Zhuqing frowned, feeling very displeased.
Her indifferent nature meant she rarely cared about the opinions of unrelated people.
But she had an issue with Tang San's words.
His intentions were too obvious; it was just a cheap attempt at sowing discord.
Not only was it a low-level trick, but it also insulted her intelligence.
Being reticent was just a personality trait, not a sign of emotional indifference. She simply didn't like expressing her feelings.
"Shameless?" Su Cheng looked at the beauty beside him in surprise, "Is that how you described me?"
"Did I say anything wrong?" Zhu Zhuqing snorted.
---