Shen An was stunned. Xue Qinghe has disappeared.
"Disappeared without a reason? Does no one know anything?" Shen An asked again.
Ye Lingling shook her head. "I also only heard from Committee Member Meng. The imperial family has locked down the information very tightly. After all, Xue Qinghe is the Crown Prince, the foundation of the nation. Xue Beng is a waste and cannot stabilize the hearts of the people."
Shen An's eyes moved slightly. This Ye Lingling was very unusual. She had just said that the Heaven Dou imperial family had sealed this matter, yet Meng Shenji had informed her.
"You know quite a lot."
A corner of the mouth under Ye Lingling's veil hooked up. She never thought she would be able to see Shen An slightly stunned.
Ye Lingling hadn't had much contact with Shen An. All along, the Shen An she had seen had a calm and indifferent appearance.
The style he had displayed in the Soul Master Tournament had made countless young people admire him. He was already publicly acknowledged as an insurmountable mountain of the younger generation.
To be praised by such a person, she felt a small sense of accomplishment in her heart.
"Of course. Our Nine Heart Begonia has been managed generation after generation until now. We are on good terms with many factions on the continent. This is the reputation accumulated over generations."
"If not for our clan only passing down to one person per generation, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might not be irreplaceable."
Shen An couldn't help but laugh. The little girl's ambition was quite big.
However, he didn't answer but continued to think about the matter of Xue Qinghe.
This was one of his few friends, ambitious and strategic, yet treated him with extreme sincerity.
'Brother Xue, oh Brother Xue, you must not have anything happen to you,' Shen An said to himself in his heart.
"Shen An, so, you must not underestimate the human connections of a Nine Heart Begonia soul master," Ye Lingling, seeing Shen An was absent-minded, stretched out five fingers and waved them in front of him.
Song Ming and Ji Qing were at the very back, supporting the not-yet-recovered Zhao Zhong. At this time, they were looking at the two conversing in front with envy.
Ye Lingling had never been so close to the two of them. For more than half a year, although they had traveled together, it was only a nodding acquaintance.
They were in the prime of their youth. To say they had no thoughts about Ye Lingling was impossible.
What's more, Ye Lingling was the owner of the Nine Heart Begonia martial soul. Who knows how many experts on the continent had received her kindness? This was an immeasurable invisible wealth.
It was no exaggeration to say that marrying Ye Lingling was equivalent to marrying an entire sect.
If not for their families having old ties with Zhao Zhong, there was no way they could have fought for this opportunity to travel together.
But now, they were watching with their own eyes Ye Lingling being so close to another man, and her attitude towards that man was excellent. This was undoubtedly very heart-wrenching.
Shen An suddenly reacted. Ye Lingling was still talking to him. This little girl was quite serious, always mentioning favors.
But favors were really useless to him. Not to mention that he had never been injured in a fight, even if he was injured, he still had Doctor Cat God Tom by his side.
"You seem to care quite a bit about this favor," Shen An said with a smile.
Ye Lingling blinked her extremely beautiful large eyes. Her gaze was clear to the bottom yet extremely serious:
"It has always been others who owe our Nine Heart Begonia soul masters a favor. There has never been a time when we owed others a favor. Uncle Zhao saved me, and you saved Uncle Zhao. This favor is something I must repay."
"On the Douluo Continent, the network I can mobilize, even a Titled Douluo would be moved by it. Is there anything you want to do?"
Shen An pondered for a moment and then said, "Coincidentally, I really do have one thing for you to help with."
"Mmm-hmm, you say it," a look of joy was revealed in Ye Lingling's eyes. I can repay the favor so quickly. That's great.
"Find Xue Qinghe?"
Ye Lingling's face stiffened. If she could find him, she would have found him long ago. Isn't it that he can't be found? That Xue Qinghe was like he had evaporated from the human world.
"Can't do it. Change it to another one," Ye Lingling's voice was a little sullen.
"Then make Bibi Dong stop being hostile to me and completely let go of her killing intent towards me."
'That f*cker is the Pontiff.' Ye Lingling, who had always been well-mannered, couldn't help but curse in her heart.
She quietly clenched her small fists. Thinking about Shen An's combat power, she quietly loosened them again. Can't fight him at all.
"Can't do it. Do you have anything else? Say something I can do. Otherwise, I'll just owe you for now," Ye Lingling, under the black veil, said sullenly again.
"Haha, there really is another one. And it's not difficult for you."
"Let's hear it."
"You wear a veil all day. Why don't you take off the veil? Let me see your true face," Shen An said with a smile.
Hearing this, Ye Lingling glared at Shen An but did not answer. She turned her head back to Zhao Zhong's side, her blue hair flying up in the dark night like a stream of light.
"I will repay this favor to you in the future."
Zhao Zhong looked at the returned Ye Lingling and said strangely, "Why did you stop chatting with your old friend?"
"We've only met a few times. He can't be considered a friend. But he's a pretty good person. I will remember this favor," Ye Lingling said lightly.
"Haha, just chat a little more and you will be. I think this person's future is surely limitless. And that cat is a very good complement to the Nine Heart Begonia's defect of not being able to detoxify."
Zhao Zhong very much hoped that Ye Lingling would make more friends with these powerful and extremely potential people. If she could find another powerful soul master who was wholeheartedly devoted to Ye Lingling, that would be even better.
Ye Lingling's voice suddenly became a little low. "He wanted to take off my veil just now. Mother said before that all those who want to take off my veil are people with ill intentions. Besides my future husband, no one can."
Song Ming and Ji Qing had embarrassed looks on their faces. They had always wanted to witness the beauty's true face and win her over to strengthen their own families.
Zhao Zhong was silent for a moment. Although these words were biased, they were after all spoken by the woman who had saved his life and whom he had never forgotten. It was ultimately for the child's good.
The Nine Heart Begonia was hailed as the continent's number one healing martial soul. Although it bestowed grace upon the continent, there were still countless people who wanted to possess it for themselves.
Back when Ye Lingling was still young, Zhao Zhong clearly remembered that Ye Lingling's mother had once said to him:
"The factions on the continent coveting the Nine Heart Begonia are countless. I cannot let Lingling be exposed to the outside world, unless I have enough ability to protect her."
That was a mother's love for her child, unwilling to let her be harmed.
The Nine Heart Begonia was ultimately not like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile, which could establish an auxiliary-type sect with complete sect rules to protect its disciples.
A Nine Heart Begonia soul master, of which only two could exist in the world at the same time, was too weak and alone.
'We have grown up and have enough ability to protect Lingling, but you are no longer here.'
His thoughts drifted far away. A look of nostalgia and sadness appeared on Zhao Zhong's pale, weak face.
Shen An didn't mind Ye Lingling's action just now. His heart was still concerned about Xue Qinghe, constantly thinking about why she had suddenly disappeared.
Spirit Hall? The Star Luo Empire?
Neither is very likely.
Not to mention the three Soul Douluo from Meng Shenji's group, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin were also still there that day. How could they have sat by and let Xue Qinghe be abducted?
Thinking it over, the only explanation could be that Xue Qinghe had disappeared on his own initiative.
A golden light inexplicably flashed in Shen An's mind.
'Right, the golden light!'
That golden light carrying a sacred meaning, he had only seen it on two people.
One was that supreme expert from Spirit Hall. The other was the person who was attacked by a Spirit Hall Soul Sage expert back then, a woman who had appeared like a heavenly god.
'I hope it's not what I think. It shouldn't be, right?' Shen An murmured in his heart.
'It seems it's time to return to Heaven Dou. If there is a chance, I'll find a way to enter Spirit City again.'
Creak.
The sound of a door opening was heard. Shen An, who had been walking in a daze, had unknowingly returned to the hotel room under the guidance of his guide cat, Tom.
As for Ye Lingling and the others, they were no longer children. Shen An couldn't possibly interfere with something like them getting their own room.
The moment Tom returned, he saw Jerry lying on the bed, sleeping soundly. A look of malice immediately appeared in his cat eyes.
I'm out here practicing medicine, accumulating virtue and doing good deeds, and you're at home sleeping soundly. How can I tolerate this?
Tom, who couldn't stand to see his mouse doing well, walked to the bedside with a menacing air, grabbed the blanket covering Jerry, and pulled it hard!
I'll teach you to sleep!
Then, the originally neatly woven blanket was instantly restored into countless threads of wool, which directly entangled Tom's entire body, leaving only two cat eyes exposed outside, looking just like a mummy.
Shen An directly held his stomach and laughed loudly. This cat could always create a show no matter where it was.
Shen An's finger swiped lightly, and sword qi overflowed. The woolen threads wrapped around Tom's body all fell off.
"Alright, Tom, stop messing around. Let's wash up and rest. After a week, we'll go back to Heaven Dou, and on the way, we'll go to Suotuo City to see Ye Zi."
Tom hurriedly and happily nodded. Although he hadn't suffered much while being outside with Shen An, and on the contrary had lived and eaten well...
As a house cat, what he missed the most was their first home on the Douluo Continent.
"Meow~"
———
The next day, Shen An continued to take Tom out to set up a stall and practice medicine. Doctor Cat God had also put on his white lab coat in advance.
Coincidentally, the early-rising Ye Lingling was at the hotel's front desk asking them to send up some breakfast and happened to see this scene.
Shen An nodded lightly, which could be considered a greeting to her.
"Are you preparing to go practice medicine?" Ye Lingling asked. Her voice was very beautiful, but it was extremely hollow, giving people a very unreal feeling.
Tom's eyes closed as he proudly nodded his cat head, his whiskers twitching slightly, as if to say, I'm amazing, right? Hurry up and praise me.
"I'll go with you. I want to see."
For this kind of thing that the other party had proactively mentioned, Shen An would definitely not say no.
On the familiar street, people had been lining up here early in an orderly manner. There were commoners and also soul masters.
Ye Lingling said with some disbelief, "Those soul masters are actually willing to line up and not snatch the commoners' spots."
Shen An smiled brightly. In the past, there had been powerful soul masters who had relied on their strength to ignore the commoners.
But without exception, after being pressed to the ground by Shen An with a single finger, the personal quality of the soul masters had been greatly improved.
With the addition of Ye Lingling, the effect of their medical practice was who knows how much higher.
This place was considered a city relatively close to the Star Dou Great Forest. Therefore, many soul masters would choose to come here to recuperate after being injured while hunting.
The name of Doctor Cat God Tom was also extremely famous. Basically zero negative reviews. After all, besides catching Jerry, this cat was good at everything.
The white, petal-shaped light shone who knows how many times, draining Ye Lingling's soul power completely.
Tom was also a whole cat shocked, looking at Ye Lingling with admiration. Whether it was broken bones or exposed wounds, they could all quickly heal under Ye Lingling's soul skill.
If the Nine Heart Begonia had any other flaw, it would be that it could not restore soul power and detoxify.
Facing Doctor Cat God's gaze, Ye Lingling was slightly shy. She was just relying on her martial soul. It was Tom's miraculous medical skills that had really opened her eyes.
So many people came and went, yet there was no one whose pulse Tom couldn't take and cure.
This busyness lasted from morning to night. This was also Ye Lingling's most tiring day. She had never used her soul skill so frequently before.
"Why are you doing this?" Ye Lingling asked Shen An softly.
She didn't quite understand why someone as talented as Shen An would help these ordinary soul masters and commoners.
The Nine Heart Begonia was also famous on the continent for its good name of being happy to save people, but that was aimed at talented soul masters to form good relationships with them.
Shen An pouted. "Don't be so utilitarian. There's no purpose. Sometimes, helping others can still make one feel happy."
Shen An was really not being insincere with these words. He just treated it as a convenient training experience. As for the extra increase in fame value, that was purely an accident.
Tom at the side also nodded his cat head. It was a kind little kitty. But it would be even better if the people it saved could give it a little more money.
Ye Lingling's beautiful eyes suddenly moved. What a kind soul master.
Looking at Shen An's handsome face, she was suddenly in a daze again.
Although she hadn't gotten to know him deeply, Shen An was handsome, strong, highly talented, and upright. It was hard for people not to love him.
Unfortunately, he's not a good match. A bit of a scumbag.
Having once been on the same Heaven Dou First Team, Ye Lingling knew very well that both Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong had feelings for Shen An. And this guy was always hiding. If this wasn't being a scumbag, what was? Being a universal lover?
She, Ye Lingling, could not do something like stealing a lover.
It was the prime of their youth. Whether it was a young boy or a young girl, it was inevitable that their inner dramas would be a bit rich.
Shen An at the side naturally didn't know the delicate and hundred-turns thoughts of the girl beside him, but instead said to the long queue before him:
"Ahem, everyone, we will be leaving Nan'ning City in six days. At that time, we will no longer be practicing medicine here. I hope you will inform the people around you to avoid a wasted trip in the future."
Someone in the vicinity's face suddenly changed, and they hurriedly left.
"Huh, are you going back to Heaven Dou then?" Ye Lingling asked as if unintentionally.
"Yes."
"Do you want to go together? We can look out for each other," the lips under Ye Lingling's veil pursed lightly. For some reason, her heart was slightly expectant yet also a little afraid of being rejected.
"Of course, we can," Shen An was completely unconcerned. It was just traveling together.
The long dragon in front gradually shortened. Shen An also let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that today they could finish work early and go back to rest.
Thump thump thump thump.
A neat sound came. Looking up, they were soldiers in standard armor. A person in a brocade robe with a wealthy figure came before Shen An.
"Aiya, I heard that Doctor Cat God is leaving. This one is really reluctant. Why don't you just stay in Nan'ning City?"
"Oh oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am the City Lord of Nan'ning City."
"The countless injured commoners and soul masters in this city cannot live without Doctor Cat God," the City Lord of Nan'ning said, looking at Shen An with a radiant smile, his eyes full of greed.
As the City Lord, his information was naturally very well-informed.
The medical skills displayed by Tom were too miraculous. And he had heard that a soul master with the Nine Heart Begonia was treating people together with him.
If he could control these two people, that would be a money tree for a lifetime.
The moment the Nan'ning City Lord's words fell, the soldiers all slammed the weapons in their hands towards the ground neatly, making a deafening sound.
Moral blackmail and threats?
The pretty face under Ye Lingling's veil was extremely ugly.