Chapter 229: An Encounter with an Old Debt
Jing Hongchen once proudly stated, "Mingdu does not need city walls." This spoke volumes of his confidence in the city's defenses. On the Douluo Continent, where human settlements are never peaceful due to the presence of soul beasts, even ordinary ten-year soul beasts pose a threat that ordinary people without soul power cannot withstand. Typically, human cities are fortified with walls to protect against the potential threat of soul beasts. Mingdu, not requiring city walls, stands out as exceptional on the continent.
This city, utterly different in style from the rest of the Douluo Continent, could make Du Qianjue feel as if he were back on Earth, if one overlooked the somewhat abstract-looking various soul tools scattered around. "This is the most technologically advanced city among the four great empires of the Douluo Continent…" Du Qianjue mused, his gaze drifting towards the distant cityscape, tinged with a hint of melancholy.
Despite having been on the Douluo Continent for nearly eighteen years, Du Qianjue still missed his days on Earth. Even though he was exhausted from work daily, he at least had the internet and games, and looked forward to a weekly burst of excitement. Such joys were absent on the Douluo Continent. However, Du Qianjue quickly shook off this homesickness. He chuckled to himself, "Why would I think about going back to Earth to work for capitalists?"
Leading the Ontology Sect, they landed ten miles outside Mingdu and planned to walk the rest of the way. Even in a major city like those in the Douluo Continent's three nations, flying was prohibited, and they were here to compete, not cause trouble by flying over people's heads. As soon as they landed, Du Qianjue encountered an old acquaintance.
"Sect Master Nan?" Du Qianjue was surprised to see Nan Shuishui leading a group from the Earth Dragon Sect. It had been seven or eight years since their last meeting when Du Qianjue had taken the Millennium Frost Essence from the Earth Dragon Sect and hadn't seen the elegant female sect master since.
Though it had been years, Nan Shuishui hadn't aged a bit, still as charming as when Du Qianjue first met her, her presence reminiscent of a ripe, juicy peach. "Young Sect Master Du!" Nan Shuishui greeted with a smile. She had noticed them descending from the sky, landing close to the Earth Dragon Sect, and as the sect master, she had to remain vigilant. Upon recognizing it was Du Qianjue, she relaxed her guard.
While Du Qianjue hadn't interacted much with Nan Shuishui or the Earth Dragon Sect recently, that didn't mean the Ontology Sect hadn't maintained contact. Remembering the favor of the Millennium Frost Essence he received from the Earth Dragon Sect, the Ontology Sect had sold them soul tools at nearly cost price, barely covering the cost of the rare metals used in their creation.
They had even sold eight-grade fixed-installation soul cannon shells to them, with half of the payment still on credit. The Ontology Sect had essentially become a major creditor to the Earth Dragon Sect. "Ah, Sect Master Nan, you don't have to address me so formally; just use my name. It feels strange being addressed so formally by an elder," Du Qianjue said with a mix of laughter and helplessness.
"Those who achieve more are respected for their strength. Young Sect Master Du, your abilities have far surpassed mine. Maybe soon, I'll have to address you more formally," Nan Shuishui replied with a light laugh, her expression tinged with wistfulness. She remembered the first time she saw Du Qianjue; he was just a little boy, similar in age to her daughter, and not even a Soul Honor yet.
After seven or eight years, while Nan Shuishui still lingered at the level of a Soul Douluo, Du Qianjue had become unfathomably powerful. She glanced at her daughter, Nan Qiuqiu, who was gazing starry-eyed at Du Qianjue, and couldn't help feeling a bit helpless. Other people's children… Although her own daughter was also outstanding, reaching the level of a Soul King was just considered 'normal' genius, nowhere close to Du Qianjue.
"It's just a bit of talent; let's not dwell on that. Are you here for the Soul Fighting Contest as well, Sect Master Nan? How about we go together?" Du Qianjue invited with a smile. "Yes, let's go together!" Before Nan Shuishui could respond, Nan Qiuqiu had already bounced to Du Qianjue's side. "Qiuqiu!" Nan Shuishui called out helplessly, unable to really control her daughter.
Du Qianjue then took a moment to observe Nan Qiuqiu, a character who was also quite attractive in the narratives, or perhaps it was that all characters were beautified; each one was portrayed as beautiful. And indeed, Nan Qiuqiu could live up to the term 'beauty', especially being a character meant to orbit around Huo Yuhao with beauty comparable to Xiao Xiao, exuding a youthful and lively aura.
Her only flaw was… she was too rich, owning her private airport at such a young age, but other than that, she was impeccable. "Hello, Qiuqiu~" Du Qianjue greeted with a smile. "I'm not okay! You said you'd come to play with me when you visited my home, but you've never come…" Nan Qiuqiu pouted, slightly displeased.
As Du Qianjue's fame grew on the continent, Nan Qiuqiu's memories of the handsome 'brother' became even more vivid. She had wanted to visit the Ontology Sect to see Du Qianjue several times but was always stopped by Nan Shuishui. The Earth Dragon Sect had its dealings with the Ontology Sect for soul tools, usually handled by powerful members of the sect, and whenever Nan Qiuqiu inquired about Du Qianjue's whereabouts to the visiting Ontology Sect elders, the answer was always the same: "The Young Sect Master is currently not at the sect."
Nan Qiuqiu felt a profound sense of grievance! Seeing the mournful expression on Nan Qiuqiu's face almost baffled Du Qianjue; he couldn't recall when he had become so close to her. Wasn't it just one meeting? But what Du Qianjue didn't realize was that childhood impressions were often the deepest—either forgotten the next day or remembered vividly until death.
When Du Qianjue and Du Busi visited the Earth Dragon Sect, Nan Shuishui's humble and respectful demeanor, which Nan Qiuqiu had never seen before, left a deep impression on her. Wei na was speechless. Tang Ya was one thing since she was officially Du Qianjue's servant, but every time Xiao Xiao looked at Du Qianjue, the admiration in her eyes was unmistakable, and as a girl herself, Wei na saw it clearly. Jiang Yixi's glances at him were also a bit off.
Now there was Nan Qiuqiu. Recalling when Du Qianjue first enrolled at Di Ao Academy, the girls who liked him could have formed an enhanced company, a trend that only intensified after he led Di Ao Academy to victory in the Soul Fighting Contest. Even now, long after his last visit to Di Ao Academy, he was still 'immortalized' there.
This guy… Why does he have so many romantic debts? "I have to cultivate... How can I have so much time to play? You're so young; shouldn't you be focusing on your cultivation so you can enjoy your time guilt-free?" Du Qianjue stared at Nan Qiuqiu, issuing what could only be described as a mortal inquiry.
You've put me on the spot without any consideration for propriety, so don't blame me for responding in kind! Indeed, as soon as Du Qianjue finished speaking, Nan Shuishui immediately gave Nan Qiuqiu a deathly glare. Already somewhat choked by Du Qianjue's words, Nan Qiuqiu felt even more pressured under her mother's gaze, breaking out in a sweat. "Did you hear that? When someone as talented as Young Sect Master Du is so focused on cultivating, look at yourself, always chasing fun and lacking any ladylike demeanor!" Nan Shuishui chastised, gripping Nan Qiuqiu's ear sternly.
Motherly love… as overwhelming as a landslide. "Ouch... Mom! It hurts…" Nan Qiuqiu grimaced in pain, her voice tinged with grievance, "But I have been cultivating seriously, I'm already at level 56…" "I'm at level 89…" Du Qianjue added calmly, delivering a final blow. And with that, Nan Qiuqiu was metaphorically slain.
"After we return, you will focus on your cultivation! No distractions until you break through to Soul Sage!" Nan Shuishui's grip on Nan Qiuqiu's ear tightened. The child was in tears. Seeing their formidable sister being disciplined by the sect master, the young disciples of the Earth Dragon Sect covered their mouths tightly, fearing their laughter might escape. Only one or two, who had long harbored a crush on Nan Qiuqiu, were unsure whether to laugh or cry.
They finally understood why their sister had always been so distant; she had someone else in mind all along… Glancing at Du Qianjue and then at themselves, they buried their feelings deep, acknowledging they simply couldn't compete. I should be under the car, not in it... "Wait a minute!" Nan Qiuqiu, whose spirit had finally broken, suddenly snapped back to reality, ignoring the pain in her ear and looked 'innocently' at Nan Shuishui. "Mom, you've been a Soul Douluo for a long time, right? Du Qianjue's cultivation has risen from being similar to mine to near Titled Douluo. Why are you still a Soul Douluo?"
Nan Shuishui's stern face twitched slightly. The Earth Dragon Sect disciples, who had been struggling to hold back their laughter, finally lost control, their bodies shaking as they chuckled. Xiao Xiao and Wei na also couldn't help but smile, and even Long Aotian's lips twitched. This mother-daughter pair... they really knew how to stir up drama...
"What did you say?!" Nan Shuishui's voice suddenly rose by several octaves. "Ah? What did I say? I didn't say anything!" Seeing her usually stern mother turning red, Nan Qiuqiu quickly backed down, shaking her head in denial. But what's said is said, and a scene of maternal affection played out right there...
After scolding Nan Qiuqiu, Nan Shuishui, somewhat embarrassed, turned to Du Qianjue and apologized, "I'm sorry, Young Sect Master Du. It's my fault for not being strict enough with Qiuqiu, allowing her to develop such a spoiled character." "Sect Master Nan, why apologize? Qiuqiu's personality is quite good; she's very lively for a girl!" Nan Shuishui's apology made Du Qianjue laugh and wave his hand dismissively.
"Let's not dwell on this. We've arrived at Mingdu; let's enter the city."
(End of Chapter)