"We're outside," Luochen said with a flicker of excitement in his eyes—only for that spark to vanish as a sudden sharp tug pulled at his ear.
"Hmph. So you really were planning to sneak off without me?" came a chilly voice behind him.
Luochen winced and turned, already knowing who it was. A stunning girl with long golden hair stood there, her expression cold and obviously displeased. Still, the icy look only added to her beauty, making her appear even more captivating. Luochen scratched his head sheepishly.
"I was going to call you… but she said we should slip out quietly," he said, nodding toward Xue—Felicia—who quickly looked away, feigning innocence.
The golden-haired girl was Qian Renxue herself.
Back when Mo Luochen had joined Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue hadn't yet departed on her undercover mission to infiltrate the Heaven Dou Empire. Because of that, the two had the chance to meet and connect early on. Over time, due to the alchemical pills and cultivation aids Luochen provided, Spirit Hall's strength grew rapidly. Eventually, they no longer needed to risk sending Qian Renxue out on dangerous missions. The burden of carrying out the will of Spirit Hall no longer rested solely on her shoulders.
Even more than that, Mo Luochen played a crucial role in repairing the strained and painful relationship between Qian Renxue and her mother, Bibi Dong. What was once a cold wall of hostility had turned into a quiet attempt at reconciliation. The resentment was no longer as sharp—only a lingering emotional distance remained.
Her past still hurt.
Born from a hidden affair, Qian Renxue had grown up in solitude, always seeking Bibi Dong's love and approval. But that love was denied. And in her desperation to prove herself, she had accepted the dangerous mission to infiltrate Heaven Dou at a young age, believing that success would finally earn her mother's affection.
But now, thanks to Mo Luochen's intervention, the truth about her birth finally surfaced. She no longer held her mother responsible, at least not entirely. For the first time, she began to understand the pain behind Bibi Dong's bitterness. Even so, a part of her still ached—not with anger toward her mother, but sorrow caused by her father's actions, which left her the victim of emotional wounds that weren't her fault.
The confrontation that followed had been intense—a battle between emotions long buried. But in the end, they came to a mutual understanding. It wasn't a perfect reconciliation. There were no teary embraces or overflowing affection, but it was something more real: the beginning of healing.
And after that, Qian Renxue had started staying within Spirit Hall more often. Unintentionally, this led her to spend more time with Mo Luochen. Slowly but steadily, her feelings for him deepened.
And she wasn't alone in that.
Hu Liena had also grown close to Luochen. Before long, all three women—Qian Renxue, Hu Liena, and even Bibi Dong—had developed feelings for the same man. Spirit Hall's so-called three proud women, now hopelessly in love.
Ironically, in another timeline, those very emotions contributed to the collapse of Spirit Hall. But with Mo Luochen present, such a tragedy would not repeat.
Felicia hadn't liked the situation at all in the beginning. The idea of sharing him made her blood boil. But in time, her master explained the hard truths of this world: how powerful men often had multiple companions. Though reluctant, she eventually came to accept it.
But only to a point.
In her heart, she made a private deal with herself. They could have him here. But once he returned to Marvel—he was hers and hers alone. She let the others have their time, but not because she gave up. Rather, she found it amusing. Let them enjoy what they could… because in the end, he would still return to her.
"Anyway, since you're already here, let's go," Mo Luochen said with a light smile, gently taking Qian Renxue's hand.
She didn't pull away, though she narrowed her eyes slightly. And then, without warning, he leaned in and kissed her cheek.
Her face turned crimson in an instant, the unexpected gesture completely wiping away her irritation. Her cold expression melted just a little.
"Let's go," she murmured, looking aside to hide her blushing face.
With Qian Renxue now joining the group, their numbers swelled. Alongside her and Felicia, Mo Luochen was now accompanied by ten titled Douluo. Four of them were Qian Renxue's personal guards. Together with the rest, over ten Titled Douluo trailed behind discreetly, each one keeping an eye on their surroundings. Their movements were subtle, but synchronized—they had clearly made a silent pact to protect their young master and his companions without drawing attention.
"So, where exactly are we going?" Qian Renxue asked as she remained holding his arm.
Mo Luochen smiled calmly. "Soto City," he replied.
Hearing that, both Felicia and Qian Renxue visibly perked up and moved closer to him.
"Is there something interesting there?" Felicia asked curiously.
Mo Luochen chuckled. "Well… there's an academy there. Only takes kids under twelve, and they must already have Spirit Power at level twenty or above."
"That's a strict entry rule," Qian Renxue commented in surprise.
"Right?" Felicia agreed, tilting her head. "Now I'm curious too."
Luochen simply nodded. Of course, he didn't speak his true reason out loud.
He already knew what kind of place Shrek Academy was.
And more importantly, who was there.
His real target was something much more valuable: the external spirit bone belonging to Tang San.
They hired a carriage, and their journey took over a week. But eventually, they arrived at Soto City.
As they stepped out of the carriage, the group glanced around, taking in their surroundings. The city had a grounded atmosphere—nothing fancy or grand, but vibrant in its own way.
"This place… well, it's decent," Qian Renxue remarked, her golden eyes scanning the streets. It lacked the refinement and grandeur of Spirit Hall, but there was an energetic charm to it that couldn't be ignored.
Mo Luochen nodded silently. It wasn't luxurious, but it was clean and full of life—especially among the younger crowd.
"Excuse me, uncle," he called politely to a man walking by. "Can you tell us where Shrek Academy is located?"
The man paused, clearly taken aback by the strong presence of the group, but quickly composed himself and pointed down the road.
"Just go straight down that path—you'll find the main gate," he said. Then he added kindly, "But I suggest resting for today. They only accept new students starting from tomorrow."
With that, he nodded and continued on his way.
*******
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