Douluo Dalu 2: You are an Evil Soul Master, but also a good person ?

Boom!

A violent blaze surged like a tidal wave across the small stretch of land, sending countless soul beasts fleeing in terror.

"Awwooo!" A massive fox, its entire body jet-black with inky patterns swirling across its fur, howled in panic. Flames roared around it, but a faint, dark shield repelled the fire.

As the ten-thousand-year Ink Fox bolted away into the distance, a figure stood atop an ancient tree. Clad in a black robe, her imposing physique was impossible to conceal. Bored, she idly tapped her fingers together.

Lifting the hood of her cloak, Ma Xiaotao revealed a stunningly beautiful face. She peered into the distance, her gaze restless.

"So slow… He promised to let me wait for him, but how long has it been now?"

She absentmindedly placed a hand on her abdomen, rubbing it through the fabric. A faint blush of embarrassment crept onto her cheeks, quickly turning into frustration.

"That bastard! Every time he manipulates the brand in my spiritual sea, this spot starts heating up. This isn't something a— a servant should experience! Despicable! Shameless! Utterly depraved!"

"What a scoundrel! And to think I even—"

She ranted for a while before sighing in resignation.

Yelling at him was just venting. It wouldn't actually change anything. Could she curse Xu Cheng to death? No.

Shrek Academy, once an ancient tree riddled with holes, was now on the verge of collapse. Meanwhile, the Sun-Moon Empire was rising like a new star, its momentum unstoppable.

Even she had been easily abducted, forced into becoming— Xu Cheng's— no, the Sun-Moon Empire's person.

She was impulsive, quick to anger, and Xu Cheng had been right— she really might be all brawn and no brains. But ever since the tournament ended, she had changed— significantly.

Against absolute power, she was as insignificant as an ant.

When Xu Cheng summoned his mecha, displaying overwhelming force that crushed everything in its path, her once unshakable confidence as a so-called "Shrek prodigy" had been utterly shattered. Her former arrogance was completely erased— at least in his presence.

In other words, she had been thoroughly subdued.

For a girl as proud as she was, only someone like Xu Cheng— who had crushed her pride into dust— could gain her recognition, forcing her to see reason.

"Hmph!" Ma Xiaotao snorted, removing her hand from her abdomen.

For some reason, the gesture felt… weird.

Like she was—

Damn that Xu Cheng! Ugh! So infuriating!

She really wanted to get back at him somehow…

"Achoo!"

"Who's thinking about me?" Xu Cheng glanced around, frowning.

"Hmph! You're too full of yourself." Tang Ya crossed her arms and huffed.

"Come on, stop squeezing them. No matter how hard you try, they won't get any bigger." Xu Cheng glanced at Tang Ya's "runway-flat" chest.

To be fair, by strict standards, she wasn't completely flat— she could at least rank second or third among the 'letter sizes.' But compared to Ma Xiaotao just now, she was lacking.

"You!!!" Tang Ya's face flushed red. Furious, she lunged at him for a brawl.

"Hey, isn't that an old acquaintance of ours?"

Xu Cheng caught Tang Ya's hands in one swift motion, his arm locking around her neck as he pulled her into his embrace. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free. Meanwhile, he curiously observed the scene below.

"Wait, those are Shrek students?" Tang Ya calmed down, her fair face still tinged with a rosy hue from exertion. She panted lightly.

"Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao… and a Titled Douluo." Xu Cheng stroked his chin and turned to the nearby "driver," Wuya. "Stop the car, let's check it out."

Wuya, who was piloting a massive black crow in mid-air, twitched at his words.

Stop the car?

What the hell does that even mean?!

He glared at Xu Cheng, but before he could respond, the two had already vanished.

"..."

"Long time no see, Wang Dong. And… Xiao Xiao, right?"

Xu Cheng smiled at the two.

Wang Dong was an important piece on the board— especially against the so-called God-King, Tang San.

What would Wang Dong think if he learned the truth about Tang San?

In the original timeline, Tang San had fused Wang Dong's soul with the pre-prepared soul of the Auspicious Beast, transforming him into the "true" Tang Princess— Tang Wutong.

To Xu Cheng, it was clear— from the very beginning, Tang San never saw Wang Dong as his daughter. She was merely a tool to rope in a "Kaizi" (a wealthy, foolish backer). Once the plan succeeded, his real daughter would take the prize— inheriting both the memories and the love.

In other words, Wang Dong had always been nothing more than a temporary placeholder.

That was why Wang Dong could be so close to Huo Yuhao— even sharing a bed— without any problems. But the moment "Tang Wutong" appeared, Tang San immediately activated the chastity lock.

This alone proved that he never cared about Wang Dong in the first place.

So, Xu Cheng was more than happy to "help" Wang Dong see the truth.

After all, wasn't a father-daughter betrayal drama the most entertaining?

"X-Xu Cheng! You— Why are you here?!" Wang Dong's face went pale.

Xu Cheng was even more terrifying than Elder Xuan.

Not long ago, he had led the Sun-Moon team to a shocking victory, single-handedly breaking through enemy lines. His strength was unfathomable, his schemes unpredictable.

Most importantly— Wang Dong had heard from Teacher Wang Yan that Xu Cheng was the Holy Son of the Holy Spirit Cult!

Did this mean Elder Xuan had leaked their whereabouts?

"Uncle Chao, we should—" Wang Dong turned to flee, only to realize in horror that Tang Chao was standing there, frozen stiff.

Panic surged in her heart.

This wasn't the Sun-Moon Empire, where they had diplomatic protections as exchange students. This was the Great Star Dou Forest— a no-man's land where bodies vanished without a trace!

Xu Cheng could kill them without consequences.

"Relax, I won't harm you. I just restrained him so he wouldn't get in the way." Xu Cheng spread his hands casually.

Controlling a Titled Douluo required assistance from Tianmeng, but at this point, Tianmeng had already been drained by the Great Star Dou Forest overlords for tens of thousands of years. A little more wouldn't hurt.

Tianmeng (the clown): F**!*

"I heard Wang Dong has trouble using soul tools?" Xu Cheng asked with a smirk.

"Huh?! How do you know that?" Wang Dong's eyes widened in shock.

Aside from Xiao Xiao, almost no one knew about this.

After all, Shrek focused on martial souls, and not using soul tools wasn't a big deal. Even in the tournament, none of her teammates had noticed.

"Heh, I have my ways. But I wanted to ask— would you like me to examine the problem for you?"

"Since the exchange program is confirmed, you'll be coming to the Sun-Moon Empire soon. You must have some interest in soul tools, right? But if you arrive only to find that you can't use them… wouldn't that be disappointing?"

Xu Cheng chuckled.

"..."

Not far away, Tang San's eyes suddenly narrowed.

His expression darkened as he shot a furious glare at Wang Dong.

He had already placed a restrictive curse on her, yet she still longed for those wretched soul tools?!

He had carefully planned her path— she was supposed to integrate into Shrek, join the Tang Sect, learn their secret weapons, and carry on their legacy!

But now the Tang Sect was in the Sun-Moon Empire's hands, and even Wang Dong was planning to go there?!

Once he regained his power— he would make sure to thoroughly discipline this unfilial daughter!

(Chapter End.)