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"Hmph! When your academy's War God Douluo ambushed my Sun Moon Royal Battle Team on their return, you have the audacity to come and ask about his disappearance?"
"It wasn't an ambush; she was merely…"
"Merely what? Monitoring us as we returned?"
Qian Duoduo was momentarily speechless.
He restrained his temper, avoiding a confrontation with Jing Hongchen.
His primary purpose for this visit was to promote academic exchange. Asking about that previous battle's details was merely a personal matter.
Moving past that subject, Qian Duoduo expressed his desire for an academic exchange with Sun-Moon Hall.
Su Yu was puzzled. Did Qian Duoduo come all the way here just for this?
Now he understood—it was a personal agenda.
The main purpose of the visit was the exchange program, but Qian Duoduo had slipped in his own inquiry, hoping to investigate his wife's disappearance.
However, this suited him just fine.
It would be better than letting him forget altogether.
"Oh? An academic exchange?"
Jing Hongchen was quite interested in Shrek Academy's proposal.
To be honest, he had previously considered sending Su Yu to study Shrek's methods of extreme spirit training, while Shrek students could come to learn soul devices.
But with Su Yu's progress, he had already abandoned that plan.
Now, this Shrek representative, Qian Duoduo, was proposing an academic exchange?
He found the whole situation amusing.
In just one month, everything had shifted so drastically.
At the same time, a sense of urgency gripped him.
It was clear that Shrek Academy was trying to keep pace with Sun-Moon Hall's advancements in soul devices.
"I'm sorry, but Sun-Moon Hall has no need for Shrek's secret techniques."
Despite Qian Duoduo's lengthy proposal, Jing Hongchen ultimately rejected the exchange program outright.
Qian Duoduo's round face flushed with anger. Glaring at Jing Hongchen, he gritted his teeth and asked, "Are you certain you want to reject it so directly?"
Seeing Jing Hongchen's indifference, he turned to leave, suppressing his anger.
"Hmph, Fan Yu, we're going."
"Oh, and Vice Dean Qian—no, I should say Dean Qian—I must remind you, don't bother trying to contact that 'Qian Buduo.'"
Jing Hongchen lounged back, sipping his tea as he mocked.
A chill ran through Qian Duoduo's heart.
So, they had discovered Qian Buduo as well?
He hadn't received any word from Qian Buduo in months, and his heart had already begun to suspect the worst.
This visit wasn't just to sneak in a question about Xin Lin'er's battle details; he also hoped to confirm Qian Buduo's status.
Although he had feared this, hearing it directly from Jing Hongchen at a moment when he was already simmering with rage was deeply unsettling.
He couldn't act rashly.
This was Sun-Moon Hall's headquarters.
Countless soul devices were likely trained on him, and even as a Rank-94 Titled Douluo, he couldn't guarantee he'd withstand them all.
He wasn't even sure he could take down Su Yu before being killed himself.
Su Yu: ???
Facing away from Jing Hongchen, Qian Duoduo took several deep breaths, his voice low as he asked, "How is Buduo…is he doing well?"
"That chubby kid? He's all right, for now. If you want to see him, that can be arranged."
Jing Hongchen rubbed his thumb against his index and middle fingers.
A meeting was possible.
For a price.
Qian Duoduo's expression darkened.
Getting this audience with Jing Hongchen had already cost him a fortune.
He had to offer up rare metals and other valuables, and now this greedy old fox was hinting he wanted more?
No wonder he'd been so quick to reveal Qian Buduo's whereabouts.
A brief meeting wouldn't hurt, but he'd be able to squeeze out something valuable. Why wouldn't he?
Would Qian Duoduo pay to meet him?
He would.
After all, Qian Buduo was his nephew.
Sending the thirteen-year-old alone as a spy to an enemy country had already weighed on him with guilt.
Now, with a chance to see him, if he were to walk away, he'd never forgive himself.
Especially now, having lost his wife, he couldn't miss what might be his last opportunity to see his nephew.
"Buduo is only thirteen. If I wanted to bring him back, what conditions would there be?"
Jing Hongchen shook his head and said nothing.
Naturally, taking him back was out of the question.
A Spy in Enemy Territory—expecting to leave the prison alive?
Qian Duoduo sighed, feeling a pang of guilt. Inwardly, he thought, "Buduo, Uncle can only try to make your life here a little more comfortable."
From his storage soul device, he pulled out a branch about two meters long and as thick as an arm.
The branch emitted a faint golden glow.
"A branch of the Golden Ancient Tree?" Jing Hongchen asked, sounding uncertain.
The Golden Ancient Tree in Shrek Academy's inner court was said to be the core of the entire Douluo Continent, possessing various mystical properties.
Though these rumors hadn't been confirmed, there was likely some truth to them.
If such legends existed, the Golden Ancient Tree was bound to be extraordinary.
One of its confirmed abilities was well known: gathering the world's elemental energy.
In Shrek's inner court, the concentration of elemental energy was more than five times that of the outside world.
The training grounds reserved for students had an even higher concentration.
And as for the Sea God Pavilion, it was beyond comparison.
Shrek's success in nurturing countless powerful soul masters was largely due to the Golden Ancient Tree.
Now, as Qian Duoduo presented a branch glowing with golden light, exuding a strong life force and naturally attracting elemental energy, Jing Hongchen realized his guess was correct.
Qian Duoduo nodded.
"Yes, this branch was taken directly from the trunk of the Golden Ancient Tree."
"I want to see Buduo, and after I leave, Sun-Moon Hall must not mistreat him."
"He's just a child, knows very little, and hasn't been here long. He hasn't stolen any of your secrets, so this condition shouldn't be too much to ask, right?"
"Agreed," Jing Hongchen replied with a wide smile, extending his mental power to retrieve the branch and pocket it.
Obtaining a branch of the Golden Ancient Tree in exchange for a simple meeting—he considered it well worth it.
As for Qian Duoduo's request to improve Buduo's treatment, Jing Hongchen believed the boy was already treated reasonably well.
While he wasn't being spoiled, he was at least in good health—evidence enough that Buduo's situation wasn't terrible.
"Xiao Yu, take Dean Qian to see his nephew."
Qian Duoduo followed Su Yu to the depths of Sun-Moon Hall, where the spies were kept in the prison cells.
Sizing up Su Yu, Qian Duoduo spoke.
"So, you're Su Yu?"
Qian Duoduo had heard Su Yu's name more than once.
After all, a year ago, Buduo's reports had included details about Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy's most promising genius, Su Yu, who had broken the record for a Level Two Soul Engineer.
And this year, Su Yu single-handedly ended Shrek Academy's streak in the finals' individual elimination round of the Soul Master Tournament.
Not to mention, Xin Lin'er's misfortune was indirectly tied to Su Yu as well.
Fate had indeed connected Qian Duoduo and Su Yu in many ways.
*Note:* Keep in mind that Xin Lin'er is held within Sun-Moon Hall, but very few are aware of this; only trusted insiders know, and Shrek's people have no idea at all.
(End of Chapter)