On the bustling streets of Tiandou City…
"Good morning, Uncle Alse!"
"Good morning, Paimon!"
"Good morning, Miss Lina!"
"Good morning, Paimon!"
Anyone Paimon had met even once, she could call out their name with perfect accuracy.
With this skill, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her the ultimate guide.
As for Paimon, this talking, unidentified flying creature, people had grown accustomed to her presence.
At first, they were merely curious.
After all, this was the Douluo Continent!
A martial soul being an unidentified flying object wasn't entirely impossible!
If it couldn't be explained, just call it a mutated martial soul, and everything would make sense.
After learning this world was the Douluo Continent, Zhongli's gaze shifted to Paimon, who was still bewildered beside him.
Through a mix of coaxing and… well, persuasion…
After consulting Paimon, the two "people" signed a contract. Paimon would exist in this world as Zhongli's martial soul.
Of course, this was just a ruse for outsiders—there was no way Paimon was actually turned into a martial soul.
"It's hard to say whether Zhongli's luck is good or bad."
"Awakening a peculiar creature like Paimon, with only a quarter of a wild boar's combat strength."
"Calling it a martial soul? It's more like raising a daughter early."
Upon learning of Zhongli's situation, people couldn't help but sigh.
Paimon, this adorable little creature, was quite likable. Everyone adored the little one, even though she had no real strength.
A soul master's power lies almost entirely in their martial soul. In Zhongli's case, he was essentially crippled.
But unlike others without soul power, Zhongli's "martial soul" could keep him company, talk with him, and stay by his side…
Watching Paimon greet everyone she met, Zhongli's usually calm heart stirred faintly.
Calling him a street loafer, a useless freeloader…
Yet for others, it was "uncle," "auntie," "miss," "sister," or "brother"…
"Phew…"
Letting out a slow breath, Zhongli turned his head, no longer looking at the "Mouth of God."
Now, he finally understood the joy of the "blonde auntie."
With Paimon as his mouthpiece, he barely needed to speak himself.
"Good morning, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Good morning…"
"???"
"Xue Qinghe" instinctively returned the greeting, only realizing after that Zhongli and Paimon had already walked dozens of meters away.
Wait, these two!
His fist clenched, his temper flaring!
Meeting the crown prince, and they just tossed out a casual greeting, as if encountering a random commoner—completely indifferent.
Normally, shouldn't they exchange a few pleasantries?
"Xue Qinghe" was still hung up on last night's dream.
This visit was to meet Zhongli and Paimon again.
To probe whether they were connected to the Rock King Emperor!
Glancing at Zhongli's leisurely pace, like that of an eighty-year-old man, Qian Renxue shook her head, muttering to herself:
What's wrong with me?
This street loafer, the Rock King Emperor? Impossible!
His martial soul is just a strange flying creature with no combat ability whatsoever.
"Xue Qinghe" had met Paimon before; otherwise, Paimon wouldn't have called out her "occupation" so confidently.
This story began when Zhongli and Paimon first arrived in Tiandou City.
Such a peculiar "martial soul" naturally caught "Xue Qinghe's" attention. That very day, she orchestrated a "chance encounter" to meet the man and his flying companion.
After a moment's thought, "Xue Qinghe" quickened her pace, catching up to Zhongli and Paimon.
"Huh? Does Your Highness have some business with us?"
Paimon asked curiously. They were on their way to eat tofu pudding—no time to waste!
Zhongli remained silent, as if mute, watching Paimon and "Xue Qinghe."
"Little Paimon, where are you two headed?"
"Xue Qinghe" smiled warmly, speaking as if she were a close friend of Zhongli and Paimon.
Her approach was so natural it didn't raise any suspicion.
"Zhongli and I are going to eat tofu pudding. Want to join us, Your Highness?"
"Sure, I haven't had breakfast yet!"
"???"
Paimon's tiny head was filled with giant question marks. The crown prince actually agreed?
She had only asked out of politeness!
"Uh, well…"
Paimon looked embarrassed. Their money… might not be enough!
She shot Zhongli a resentful glance.
Morax without Mora—even after crossing worlds, he still planned to freeload!
His knowledge? No one in this world would pay for it!
Unbeknownst to Paimon, Zhongli knew this world's secrets—perhaps even more than its people, or even its gods!
He was a transmigrator, after all!
"Xue Qinghe's" eye twitched, but she quickly regained her composure.
As expected—no money, huh?
What a waste of that handsome face…
"Little Paimon, meeting is fate. This meal's on me!"
"Xue Qinghe's" generous demeanor left Paimon stunned.
Was there really such a sucker in this world?
That old man named Dugu Bo was one, and now this so-called crown prince was another.
"Thank you, Your Highness, hehe!"
Paimon giggled sheepishly. Back when she was with the Traveler, they only lacked Mora in the early days.
Through their efforts, they never went short of money after reaching Liyue.
Well, fine, it was all the Traveler's earnings, but without her, the best guide, cheering them on, could the Traveler have made so much?
"Zhongli, step up! Earn some money, and we'll treat the crown prince to a big meal next time!"
Zhongli: "…"
"Xue Qinghe": "…"
Such a bizarre "martial soul"—she had never even heard of anything like it, let alone seen it!
Treat Qian Renxue to a big meal?
If they were serious, Zhongli would probably have to cook it himself.
On the Douluo Continent, Qian Renxue had tasted every kind of lavish meal.
Even without her identity as the crown prince of Tiandou, she was still the Saintess of the Wuhun Hall!
No meal bought with gold soul coins could pique her interest.
"Sorry, Your Highness, Zhongli isn't much of a talker!"
"Come on, let's go eat tofu pudding. Paimon loves sweet tofu pudding!"
"Unlike a certain useless freeloader who thinks salty tofu pudding is better!"
At that, Paimon shot Zhongli a "vicious" glare, leaving no doubt who she meant.
Hearing this, "Xue Qinghe" was dumbfounded.
A martial soul that calls its master a useless freeloader—probably the only one in the world!
Terrifying!
Speaking of which, Paimon was Zhongli's martial soul. Because of Paimon, Zhongli couldn't grow stronger. And because of Zhongli, Paimon couldn't absorb soul rings to become stronger either.
Their situation was… rather peculiar!
Wait, Zhongli actually thinks salty tofu pudding is better?
Heretic!