Chapter 5
Sensing the vaguely hostile tone coming from behind them…
Fan Chen and Xiao Bai both shivered at the same time.
Before either could react, a large hand grabbed the boy and the beast together, lifting them cleanly off the ground.
"Dad, don't! They're my friends!"
Qian Renxue panicked when she saw this and hurried to explain.
"Friends? Since when did you make friends? Why don't I know about them?"
Qian Xunji brought Fan Chen and Xiao Bai up to eye level, glaring at them with clear hostility.
"Brat, who are you? How did you find this place?"
A terrifying pressure erupted from Qian Xunji's body, crashing down onto Fan Chen and Xiao Bai.
It was like an iron cage slamming shut around them, locking them completely in place.
So this is Qian Renxue's father… the infamous Secret Chamber Douluo?
It was Fan Chen's first time seeing Qian Xunji, but from Qian Renxue's way of addressing him and the faint resemblance to Qian Daoliu, he immediately confirmed the man's identity.
But wasn't this way too aggressive?
A mighty Titled Douluo going after a random child so harshly?
The pressure on him grew heavier and heavier—Fan Chen could barely breathe.
"Not talking, huh? Then don't blame me when I—"
"Stop!"
Just as Qian Xunji was about to make a move, Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice boomed from afar.
The instant his voice reached them, the crushing pressure around Fan Chen and Xiao Bai disappeared, and both of them slipped out of Qian Xunji's grasp.
"You brat, why are you running around? Do you know how dangerous this place is?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo scooped up Fan Chen and Xiao Bai into his arms, his face full of helpless frustration.
He'd only been gone for a short while—
And these two little troublemakers already snuck out again.
"Golden Crocodile Douluo, what's going on?"
Qian Xunji withdrew his aura and looked at the Golden Crocodile Douluo, waiting for an explanation.
"This is the disciple I just took in. I originally planned to bring him to meet everyone tomorrow. Who knew that the moment I stepped away, this rascal snuck out…"
Golden Crocodile Douluo then narrated Fan Chen's situation.
Upon hearing it, Qian Xunji finally understood.
"So that's how it is. But how did he get here in the first place?"
Qian Xunji raised a new question. After all, this place—his daughter's residence—was guarded by numerous powerful experts.
How did a little kid without even a soul ring slip past all of them?
"That's something you'll have to ask him. I don't know how he managed it."
Golden Crocodile Douluo threw the problem straight to Fan Chen. He wasn't following the kid around—there was no way he'd know how Fan Chen snuck in.
"I don't know either! Xiao Bai led the way—you should ask him."
Fan Chen reacted quickly, immediately tossing the question to Xiao Bai.
He'd simply followed the beast. How would he possibly know?
Qian Xunji's mouth twitched at the corners, a vein bulging near his temple.
He suddenly felt like he'd been played with.
"You little brat, answer honestly. Tell me what happened, or else—"
"I saw there was no one over there, so I brought Big Brother with me."
The moment Xiao Bai opened his mouth, Qian Xunji's anger instantly evaporated.
He stared at the creature in disbelief.
"This thing can talk? Isn't it supposed to be a martial soul?"
A martial soul capable of speaking human language— wasn't that basically the same as seeing a ghost in broad daylight!?
"Calm down. It's a special characteristic of his martial soul. Your father already examined it—there's no problem."
Golden Crocodile Douluo invoked Qian Daoliu's authority and patiently explained.
"So there's such a thing… Twin Martial Souls and that wom—"
Halfway through the sentence, Qian Xunji abruptly stopped, as if he had touched on a taboo topic.
Fan Chen naturally understood why.
Wasn't it just because Bibi Dong also had twin martial souls?
Why act so mysterious about it?
"So the identity is clear now. But what exactly did you come here to find Xue'er for?"
Fan Chen's behavior was far too suspicious—his aim was clear and direct, heading straight for Qian Xunji's daughter.
It was impossible for Qian Xunji not to question his intentions.
"I was looking for her to play. Can't I?"
'Come on, big bro… I'm just a harmless six-year-old kid. What do you think I'm capable of doing to your daughter? Inherit your mantle or something?'
If he could, Fan Chen really wanted to roll his eyes at Qian Xunji.
This guy was way too sensitive.
"…"
Qian Xunji fell silent at that answer.
"It's late. What are you still playing for? Get back and sleep."
Golden Crocodile Douluo grabbed Fan Chen and Xiao Bai, one in each hand like two chicks.
"Big Sister, I'll definitely come find you again! Make sure you have something tasty ready for me!"
As Xiao Bai was carried off, it shouted back at Qian Renxue, successfully making her laugh.
But Qian Xunji, standing next to his daughter, was covered in black lines.
Why did he suddenly feel like someone had just broken into his home—right in front of him— and even had the nerve to taunt him? The worst part was… he felt like he couldn't do anything about it.
…
After being brought back to the original room, Golden Crocodile Douluo set the two troublemakers down and rubbed his temples.
"All right, start explaining what really happened. And don't tell me you just went to find Xue'er to play. Do I look that easy to fool?"
Just going to "play"—yet they managed to stir up such a huge scene. Golden Crocodile Douluo wouldn't believe that even if he were beaten to death.
"Master, you have to believe me! I really did just go to find her. Xiao Bai said he knew the way, and since you were taking me out tomorrow anyway to get familiar with the place, I thought… well…"
After Fan Chen finished explaining, Golden Crocodile Douluo's head throbbed even harder.
He'd taken care of children before, but he'd never seen a kid as good at causing trouble as Fan Chen.
If you said he did it on purpose—he didn't.
If you said he didn't do it on purpose—
He somehow managed to stir up something new every single time.
He hit the girl's grandfather during the day.
At night, he went to provoke her father.
Was he planning on messing with their whole family? Was his next target the girl's mother?
"I'm warning you—starting now, you two are to stay in this room, honestly and obediently. Without my permission, you're not allowed to take even one step out that door. Is that clear?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo used a stern tone to reprimand the two.
Especially Xiao Bai. Golden Crocodile Douluo could tell—every time Fan Chen caused trouble, this little creature was right there assisting.
If it weren't for the fact that it was a martial soul, he would've given it a good beating already.
"Understood."
"Understood."
Human and beast both lowered their heads, answering in unison.
Golden Crocodile Douluo had already scolded them, and even he felt too embarrassed to keep going.
"Sleep. Wake up early tomorrow."
Leaving those words behind, he walked out, shaking his head helplessly.
After the warning, both Fan Chen and Xiao Bai seemed to have learned their lesson.
They didn't cause trouble again. The two lay obediently on the bed and drifted into dreamland.
…
However, once the two of them fell asleep…
A strange glow began to flicker on the soul imprint on Fan Chen's hand.
At the same time, Xiao Bai's body also began to shine.
A faint white radiance enveloped his entire form, making him look almost sacred.
As the glow wrapped around him completely, a white sphere of light formed between the two horns on Xiao Bai's head.
The light sphere grew— from the size of a grain of rice, to a bird's egg, then to a chicken egg.
It continued expanding until it reached the size of an apple, then finally stopped.
Tick Tock——
A crisp, clear dripping sound echoed.
The light sphere instantly shattered.
A gentle white brilliance swept out in all directions, spreading rapidly— and in an instant, it enveloped the entirety of Spirit City.
Yet despite this miraculous phenomenon…
Not a single person in the entire Spirit City noticed.
—
End of Chapter