Chapter 296: Meeting Zhang Lexuan Again
While the Ontology Sect was caught up in celebration, Du Qianjue and Du Busi had already returned to the familiar small courtyard.
Xiao Xiao and Tang Ya had prepared tea in advance. After taking a sip, Du Qianjue praised, "Xiao Xiao, your tea-making skills are getting better and better. I haven't had your tea in a long time."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao pouted, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Idiot brother, that tea was brewed by Sister Tang Ya. The one I made is over with Grandpa!"
Tang Ya smiled softly, glancing at Xiao Xiao with a playful expression.
Du Qianjue: ...
Feeling a bit awkward, Du Qianjue quickly changed the subject, "By the way, Uncle, there's something else. Xue'er and I have made an agreement. Once I broke through to become a Title Douluo, I would go to the Extreme North to propose to her."
"In other words, I'm preparing to marry Xue'er, and I'll need the sect's help with this."
"Really?!"
"Huh?"
"This..."
Du Busi's eyes lit up. Xiao Xiao's eyes widened in disbelief, her face full of disappointment, while Tang Ya looked confused, giving Du Qianjue a complicated glance.
"This brat is finally getting married? Hahaha! Don't worry, I'll make sure everything goes smoothly!" Du Busi was visibly excited, thinking that the Du family would finally have an heir!
He had no interest in relationships himself—despite being over 200 years old and having broken through to the Extreme Douluo level, he had never found a partner.
His brother Du Bisi's line now only had Du Qianjue, the last descendant.
Du Busi was genuinely worried that Du Qianjue might end up like him, staying single for life!
"Double happiness! Haha, I no longer have to worry about the Du family's legacy. This calls for a grand celebration!" Du Busi was so delighted that even his tea seemed to have the grandeur of fine liquor.
Du Qianjue rubbed his chin thoughtfully, a sly smile on his face. "Uncle, if I remember correctly, there's still Senior Wang Xian'er in Xingluo City, waiting for you..."
Pffft—
The tea Du Busi had just sipped sprayed out of his mouth. If Du Qianjue hadn't dodged quickly, it would have hit him square in the face.
Xiao Xiao wasn't so lucky.
Already feeling heartbroken from hearing that Du Qianjue was getting married, the poor girl ended up drenched in tea, her face turning red as tears mixed with tea dripped down her cheeks.
"Waah!" The little girl burst into tears.
Her crying flustered Du Busi, who hurriedly used his soul power to dry her clothes and apologized profusely.
Seeing Xiao Xiao's pitiful expression, Du Qianjue felt a bit guilty. He wasn't oblivious—he knew how Xiao Xiao felt about him.
But what could he do?
He didn't have that kind of affection for her. Initially, he had only brought her from Shrek Academy to the Ontology Sect because he disliked how Shrek had used her and because he had some fondness for her.
He had never said anything to lead her on.
Du Qianjue could only sigh to himself. Perhaps he was just too exceptional for his own good.
"Uncle, you comfort Xiao Xiao for now. I'll head to Xingluo City to bring back Senior Wang Xian'er for you!" With that, Du Qianjue made a hasty escape, tearing open space to leave.
Du Busi didn't even have time to react before Du Qianjue disappeared without a trace.
"That brat! How dare he mess with me!" Du Busi was furious, his face flushed with anger.
However, when he saw Xiao Xiao's tearful face, he couldn't stay mad and instead focused on comforting her. Tang Ya also came over, gently holding Xiao Xiao and patting her on the back.
For some reason, though, Du Busi found himself feeling a bit... expectant about Du Qianjue's departure?
Realizing his own thoughts, Du Busi blushed slightly, quickly shaking off the idea.
After leaving, Du Qianjue glanced back at the gates of the Ontology Sect, sighing softly before leisurely flying toward Xingluo City.
"Why should I be the only one responsible for continuing the Du family line? Uncle, you're still spry—why not give it a go yourself!" Thinking this, Du Qianjue couldn't help but laugh mischievously.
He could already picture Du Busi with an annoyed look, being scolded by Wang Xian'er. The thought amused him greatly.
Of course, he knew such a scenario was unlikely. Du Busi was fierce and unruly, while Wang Xian'er had a gentle and kind personality, similar to Liya. She wasn't the type to turn into a controlling wife.
So that amusing scene would probably remain just a fantasy.
In truth, Du Qianjue didn't have many friends in the Douluo Continent. The Ontology Sect didn't have a great reputation either, often seen as a sect that acted without restraint, standing in a gray area between good and evil. As a result, they didn't have many allies.
In his plans, Du Qianjue thought of inviting Di Tian and the others from Star Dou Forest, although he wasn't sure how Bi Ji would react.
He also needed to invite Wang Xian'er—perhaps she and Du Busi would finally hit it off.
He'd also invite his former teammates from the previous Spirit Battle Tournament.
As for the royal families of the three empires... they could receive a wedding invitation, but Du Qianjue had no need to deliver them personally. In fact, given his current power and status, those emperors weren't even worth his time.
As Du Qianjue flew leisurely through the sky, thinking about the guest list for his wedding, his spiritual sense suddenly picked up a familiar, despondent figure.
"Is that... Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan?" Du Qianjue instinctively stopped, looking down at a rugged mountain path below.
Yes, it was Zhang Lexuan.
But she no longer had the cold, noble aura of the "Moon Goddess" she once exuded. Her eyes were dull as she wandered aimlessly through the wilderness. Her once-elegant white gown was torn in many places, covered in dirt and grime.
Without hesitation, Du Qianjue appeared in front of her.
When Zhang Lexuan saw Du Qianjue, a flicker of life returned to her lifeless eyes. She stared blankly at him.
"Du... Qianjue?" Her voice, once soft and pleasant, was now hoarse and broken.
"It's me," Du Qianjue nodded, frowning in confusion. "Senior Sister, what happened to you? Why are you in such a sorry state?"
As Du Qianjue extended his spiritual power to examine her, he found that while Zhang Lexuan's body wasn't injured, her soul power had long since stopped circulating—something she had done voluntarily.
Without the automatic circulation of her soul power, and without having reached Title Douluo to form a soul core, the stagnation of energy had caused her meridians to become blocked.
Was this really the same Zhang Lexuan who once held authority in Shrek Academy, commanding both fear and respect?
Du Qianjue couldn't believe it.
Even the fall of Shrek shouldn't have hit her this hard. After all, she had stayed at the academy mostly out of loyalty to Mu En. Could the academy's destruction really have affected her this deeply?
He extended a hand, channeling his spiritual energy to help unblock her soul power.
Zhang Lexuan seemed to crumble, collapsing as though all her strength had left her.
(End of the chapter)