ALL NOVEL Chapter 156: Chapter 156
**Chapter 156: Return to Sunset Forest**
Zhao Ling sighed, feeling the burden of his passive skill, Female Killer Level 1.
On one hand, it made him a favorite among women; on the other, it attracted the unwanted attention of people he'd rather avoid.
"Why couldn't it filter by attractiveness?" he thought. "Pretty women? Sure, let them like me. But ugly ones? Spare me!"
Of course, reality wasn't so accommodating. The skill worked indiscriminately, much to his frustration.
After stepping outside the boutique, Zhao Ling found himself feeling bored.
"I wish I had a Blue Star phone right now. Playing games or watching videos would be the perfect way to kill time."
Inside the store, Sister Xuan, now fully awake thanks to Zhao Ling's mental nudge, felt mortified.
"How embarrassing! I couldn't stop staring at the man Erlong brought with her. If she got upset, she might have beaten me to a pulp."
With an awkward smile, she turned to Liu Erlong.
"Erlong, who was that man? You two seem... close."
Liu Erlong smiled sweetly, her voice carrying a hint of pride.
"He's my husband. Handsome, isn't he?"
"What? Your husband?" Sister Xuan was momentarily shocked but quickly regained her composure.
Marriages at fourteen or fifteen weren't uncommon on the Douluo Continent. Some girls even married younger, so it wasn't too surprising.
After regaining her composure, Sister Xuan said, "You're here to buy underwear, right? Come over, I'll measure you."
About half an hour later, Liu Erlong emerged from the store, her confidence restored. She called out softly to Zhao Ling, who was still waiting outside.
"Hubby, I've got everything we need. Shall we hire a carriage and head to the Sunset Forest now?"
Zhao Ling turned to her and felt a rush of admiration. Her newfound confidence only enhanced her already captivating presence. He stepped forward, intending to carry the bag of clothes for her.
But Liu Erlong quickly stashed the bag into her storage soul guide, leaving Zhao Ling stunned.
"Does she not trust me at all?" he thought, frustrated.
He pouted, sulking as he walked ahead on his own.
Noticing his mood, Liu Erlong hurried after him. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed his cheek and apologized.
"I'm sorry, husband. Long'er just doesn't want you to develop... strange hobbies. Back when I was in school, I saw male classmates steal girls' clothes for weird reasons. I'd hate for you to pick up habits like that."
Zhao Ling blinked, his mind filled with question marks.
"Strange hobbies? What strange hobbies?"
Suddenly understanding, he turned to Liu Erlong, his voice full of concern.
"Long'er, no one's ever stolen your clothes and done anything weird, have they?"
Liu Erlong clenched her fists and smiled confidently.
"Do you think they'd dare? Once, a senior stole a classmate's clothes and did something disgusting. When I heard about it, I tracked him down and beat him so badly his parents couldn't recognize him. Since then, the boys at school kept their distance from me. Isn't that awesome?"
"Uh..." Zhao Ling's mouth twitched. He had no reason to doubt her story.
With her fiery temper, it was almost certain she'd retaliate against any such offense. And with her dragon-type martial spirit, few could match her strength unless they were significantly more powerful.
"What happened to that unlucky senior?" Zhao Ling asked curiously.
Liu Erlong smirked, her phoenix eyes glinting slyly.
"After what he did, did you think he could graduate? Of course not. He was expelled after I dealt with him. I heard his parents moved him to Tianshui City to enroll in another academy."
"Tianshui City?" Zhao Ling raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't Tianshui Academy the most famous school there? I thought they only accepted female students. How did they let a guy like that in?"
Liu Erlong poked his forehead playfully.
"Do you think Tianshui City only has one academy? What would the male spirit masters nearby do if Tianshui Academy was their only option? Travel thousands of miles for education? Think, husband."
Zhao Ling scratched his head, realizing she had a point.
As they chatted, they arrived at a breakfast stand. They ordered some buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk for a simple meal.
Afterward, they headed to the post station and rented a carriage to take them to the Sunset Forest.
Two hours later, the carriage stopped at the forest's outskirts. Zhao Ling instructed the driver to wait, then lifted Liu Erlong in his arms and carried her toward the forest's depths.
Oddly, many low-level soul beasts fled as soon as they sensed Zhao Ling's presence, likely remembering his earlier rampage. Wherever he walked, the area within five to six hundred meters became eerily silent.
It wasn't until they reached the territory of ten-thousand-year soul beasts that the tension eased.
Zhao Ling reflected on their goal. Liu Erlong was hunting for her fourth soul ring. According to Yu Xiaogang's knowledge from the original story, the maximum lifespan for a fourth soul ring was 5,000 years.
However, with Liu Erlong's martial soul having transformed into the Immortal Dragon Phoenix thanks to the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, her tolerance should far exceed that limit.
"But how much more can she handle?" he wondered.
Zhao Ling planned to aim for a ten-thousand-year soul ring. If Liu Erlong couldn't absorb it, he would step in to assist her.
"With my help, it shouldn't be too difficult for her to succeed," Zhao Ling thought confidently.
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(End of Chapter)