A Walk by the Sea, Cards on the Table

"Brother Jianshu..."

Just as he was gazing at the sunset in a daze, a timid voice reached him. He looked over and saw a silver-haired figure.

Long silver hair fell over her shoulders, and complicated emotions filled her beautiful, jewel-like purple eyes. She was an exquisitely pretty girl.

Na'er, dressed in a pink-and-white gown, came slowly toward him, dragging her feet. It seemed as though every step took great determination.

"Na'er, why were you in such a hurry to get me out here? Did something happen?"

Chen Jianshu asked why she had called him out. She fell silent for a moment, then pressed her lips together and spoke.

"Brother Jianshu, could you take a walk with me on the beach?"

"Sure."

She had suddenly asked him to take a walk, and he agreed. The two then strolled along the beach hand in hand.

Neither spoke along the way. Both had complicated feelings in their hearts. Feeling the little hand holding his, Chen Jianshu pondered.

I didn't expect Legend of the Dragon King in this spacetime to have turned out like this. Is the plot still going? Is it because the Silver Dragon King still wants to destroy humanity?

Come to think of it... I don't have the Golden Dragon King Bloodline. The Silver Dragon King's divine personality shouldn't come looking for him, right? After all, there's no reason. He's just an ordinary genius; it shouldn't come to that...

A thousand thoughts ran through his mind. He was mainly afraid that the Silver Dragon King would really come looking for him. Back when he had gone to encounter Na'er, he had only wanted to use the Color Projector to copy her Character Card and Noble Phantasm.

He had no other intentions whatsoever. He had planned to leave as soon as he finished copying them, mainly because he was afraid of attracting the attention of Tang Divine King's side and the Soul Beasts' side. The karma involved was too great for him to bear.

Di Tian of the Soul Beasts' side, however, didn't seem particularly hostile. At most, after he took Na'er by the hand to stroll around Food Street, he would get whipped a few times when he returned for his swordsmanship lesson.

It hurt for a few days at most. This left him quite surprised. He hadn't expected the Ferocious Beasts' side to be so easy to get along with. He had thought they would kill him.

While his thoughts were running wild, Na'er suddenly stopped. He immediately came back to his senses and saw her looking at him with her limpid eyes, hesitation, conflicted feelings, and a trace of fear in them.

That fear didn't seem to come from him; its source was someone else. Noticing something was wrong, he immediately asked:

"What is it, Na'er? If you're having any trouble, you can tell me, as long as I can help you."

He reached out and stroked her fluffy head. It felt so nice that he couldn't bear to stop. As for helping her, Old Di had already given him so many resources for his cultivation that lending a little insignificant help was nothing.

"Na'er isn't having any trouble. I was just wondering... can humans and Soul Beasts really stay together forever?"

Na'er turned her gaze toward the sunset, then voiced her thoughts. Chen Jianshu considered for a moment before answering:

"The interests of the two races are deeply intertwined now. If their interests don't clash, it isn't impossible for them to stay together forever."

"But as time passes, the various families will inevitably develop other ideas. The powerful Ferocious Beast seniors may stay true to their original intentions, but after generations of changes among the other human leaders, that's far less certain."

That was how the world worked. Every generation thought differently. The First Generation Spirit Transmission Douluo had established ideological education courses to teach people his ideals, maintaining a harmonious golden age for ten thousand years.

It had to be said that the First Generation Spirit Transmission Douluo was indeed a great man. He had vigorously promoted harmony between the races and issued an ironclad order. Instilling those ideals in everyone from childhood had indeed made a great difference.

But no wall in the world was airtight. Youthful spirit and one's original intentions were things that, once lost, could never be renewed.

Those in high positions might appear unrivaled in the limelight, but who knew how often their hands were tied? People changed.

Once a forest grew large enough, it would have every kind of bird. When a family grew large, a few scoundrels would naturally appear. That was perfectly normal.

Listening to him, Na'er stared blankly into space. Clearly, she hadn't expected that to be what he thought.

"Brother Jianshu, do you also think the two races can't stay together forever?"

Na'er's heart clenched. She looked at him somewhat nervously as she pressed the question. He shook his head and said:

"I don't know either. But if those at the very top always remain true to their original intentions, perhaps they can suppress the others whose hearts have changed."

"But all of that's too far removed from us. Your brother here is just a Soul Grandmaster. Thinking about it so much is rather like worrying that the sky might fall."

He suddenly changed his tune. Such major affairs of the world weren't for a little Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster like him to worry about. He then smiled, stroked Na'er's cheek, and said:

"Ordinary people at the bottom like us should just live our own lives well. What do the schemes and power struggles of those at the top have to do with us? Right?"

Na'er was startled when he suddenly pinched her cheek. A faint blush rose to her face, and she smiled and nodded.

That was true. What could they change now anyway? They would take it one step at a time. The two sat on a large rock and leaned against each other as they watched the sunset.

The sunset illuminated the horizon, forming a vista of fiery clouds overhead. It was beautiful. The two watched quietly until the sun gradually sank.

The sky was steeped in ink, with a few scattered stars adorning it. The moon rose, and night fell.

"Na'er, it's getting late. Let me take you home."

Chen Jianshu stood up, indicating that it was late and time to go home. Hearing him, she stood as well, then took a few steps closer and hugged him.

"What's wrong?"

Confused by the sudden hug, he instinctively placed one hand on her back and stroked her head with the other, as though, ah—

He were comforting a little sister who had been wronged. Na'er buried her head in his chest and spoke in a muffled voice:

"Brother Jianshu... will you dislike me because of who I am?"

"...Who you are? Dislike you?"

He froze at the question, a question mark appearing over his head. What would I dislike about you? I can't even kneel and lick your boots fast enough right now. Na'er smells so nice, I'd even be willing to lick your feet.

"Mm... someone said that because of who I am, you'd do something to harm me... but I don't believe you're that kind of person, Brother."

Na'er nodded slightly and looked up into his eyes, wanting to see the thoughts deep in his heart.

"Na'er, that person must be jealous of your status. Do you know how prestigious you are? You're picked up and driven around in luxury cars, you live in the best manor in East Sea, you eat top-grade farm-raised Soul Beast meat, and you drink spiritual spring water from heaven and earth."

"Don't let that fellow who's jealous of you fool you. He must be jealous of your background, so he came to sow discord between us."

Chen Jianshu frowned deeply and gave her this earnest warning, while inwardly railing: How dare they! Someone actually dares to stop me from licking Na'er's feet! They have already found the path to death!

Na'er was a little stunned by his words, then found them rather funny. He had actually accused the main body of being jealous of her.

But it was just as well that he had misunderstood. She didn't need to let him know too much. If he knew too much, she didn't know whether that divine main body would harm Brother.

"No, Brother Jianshu, that's not what I mean..."

She hurriedly corrected him, and only then did Chen Jianshu stop. After gathering herself for a moment, Na'er spoke.

"Brother Jianshu... actually... there's something I've been hiding from you..."

She pulled out of his arms, her little hands clutching her pink-and-white dress tightly. She looked very nervous. Chen Jianshu nodded slightly and said:

"What is it? Of course, if you don't want to tell me, you don't have to force yourself. Everyone has their own secrets."

Seeing Na'er going round and round the subject, he knew she was probably about to say something important.

By rights, wasn't Na'er supposed to be coming to say goodbye to him at this point? Just how badly had the plot fallen apart?

While he was distracted, Na'er finally began to sound him out in accordance with the bet.

"Actually... Na'er is a transformed Soul Beast..."

"Mm... huh?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Na'er looked up to observe Chen Jianshu's reaction. Once he came back to his senses, a question mark appeared over his head.

"And?"

Although he didn't know why she had suddenly come clean, he no longer found it strange. After all, a Ferocious Beast had become the master of the Spirit Pagoda. What was so strange about meeting a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast now?

"And? Brother Jianshu, don't you have any... other thoughts?"

Seeing that his expression hadn't changed, Na'er had a question mark appear over her head too. By rights, if her identity had been exposed ten thousand years ago, a whole crowd would definitely have hunted her down.

Instead, all he said was, "And?" That left her at a loss. Faced with Na'er's confusion, Chen Jianshu folded his arms and asked calmly, not understanding:

"What thoughts?"

Seeing that he had no reaction at all, Na'er quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Then Gu Yue switched accounts. Her formerly bright eyes turned deep and bewitching as she pressed him.

"Soul Rings and Soul Bones and things like that. Don't you desire them?"

Chen Jianshu keenly noticed the change in the tone of the person before him. Meeting her hostile gaze, he suddenly seemed to understand something. He promptly pulled out a copy of the Soul Beast Protection Law with a backhand motion, then put on his glasses, leafed through it, and said:

"According to article one of the Soul Beast Transformation Protection Law, after transforming into humans, Soul Beasts enjoy Federation citizenship, their identities are kept confidential, and they possess the rights of the people."

"Article two: every Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast has the right to choose for itself whether to transform. A Ferocious Beast Elder of the Spirit Pagoda will guard them during the transformation, and they will receive protection afterward."

"The Spirit Pagoda has protection policies and facilities specifically for transformed Soul Beasts."

"Article three: if someone covets Soul Rings and thereby threatens the life of a transformed Soul Beast, the Soul Beast side has the right to kill or apprehend the party coveting the Soul Rings and Soul Bones."

Chen Jianshu recited the many provisions of the Soul Beast Transformation Protection Law. This left Gu Yue at a loss, and her formerly overbearing bearing faltered at once.

Clap!

"So transformed Soul Beasts are people too. They are also members of the Douluo Federation and living beings of the Douluo Continent, and they enjoy the same equal rights as humans."

Chen Jianshu shut the protection law with a clap and spoke in a ringing, forceful voice. Seeing his resolute expression, with not the slightest trace of desire for Soul Rings or Soul Bones, Gu Yue faltered.

Was there really someone who didn't covet Soul Rings and Soul Bones? Just as she was wondering, she saw him place both hands on her shoulders, immediately making her feel displeased.

"Na'er, this is a society governed by law now. You'd have been in danger like this ten thousand years ago, but fortunately, you're living in this age of peace between humans and beasts."

"This is the best of times. Soul Beasts enjoy the rights of citizens and are protected by the protection law. I imagine the purple-haired senior who often appears by your side must be the Spirit Pagoda elder protecting you, right?"

"So, Na'er, you don't need to worry about your safety. The age of the Soul Ring cultivation system has long passed. Now is the golden age in which Soul Spirits flourish, so naturally there's no need to worry about that."

He patted her shoulders to reassure her. Society today was a little like Douluo IV: the Spirit Pagoda alone dominated the entire Federation, and there was also the Soul Beast Protection Law, under which Soul Beasts were protected.

Moreover, absorbing a Soul Ring would only grant one Soul Skill. Absorbing a Soul Spirit was different; it could grant several.

Not only that, but after someone absorbed a Soul Ring, the Soul Beast's resentment within it would affect their absorption of Soul Spirits, making it much more difficult to absorb Soul Spirits afterward.

If someone already had a Soul Spirit and still hunted Soul Beasts to absorb their Soul Rings, the Soul Spirit would reject them too. It could be said that absorbing Soul Rings and Soul Bones from Soul Beasts that bore resentment was a case of the loss outweighing the gain.

Thus, almost no one hunted Soul Beasts, except Evil Soul Masters.

His words left her speechless. For a moment, she had no idea what to say, and could only log off. Na'er returned to the account.

Seeing that Chen Jianshu had really passed this test, she finally broke into a delighted smile. That's wonderful! I can stay with Brother!

"Got it, Brother. Na'er will be careful."

Na'er was in a very good mood now. After all, having won the bet, she could be free. Just as she was rejoicing, Chen Jianshu suddenly changed tack and said:

"By the way, Na'er, forgive me for asking, but what kind of Soul Beast are you?"

Although he had known long ago, he still had to pretend to ask. The sudden change caught her off guard. Gu Yue came online again, seemingly having spotted an opportunity.

This human is asking what kind of Soul Beast she is, so he must be coveting her Soul Rings. Innately evil human! Watch as this king tears off your hypocritical mask!

Confidence that everything was under her control flashed in Gu Yue's eyes. She then proudly revealed her true form.

"A silver dragon."

"A dragon? Dragons are great. Dragons are absolutely wonderful! Na'er, there's something your brother wants to ask of you."

He wasn't surprised. He rubbed his hands together; there was indeed something he had really wanted to do. Seeing this, Gu Yue had already gathered her divine power. If this human dared make a suspicious move, she would suppress him immediately.

"What is it?"

She was very confident in her own strength. No matter what enemy she encountered, she could suppress them with a turn of her hand, so she asked without the slightest fear.

And as everyone knew, females who had transformed from Soul Beasts were always a little different from ordinary humans.

For example, the Dark Night Cat King retained cat ears after transforming, while the Silver Moon Wolf King retained wolf ears and a wolf tail. Transformed rabbits retained rabbit ears; Xiao Wu was one example. The Light White Tiger, meanwhile, retained a white tiger after transforming.

Of course, some Soul Masters with Martial Soul Mutations also displayed Soul Beast characteristics. This was quite common. Now, Chen Jianshu looked at Na'er with some anticipation and pleaded:

"Na'er, can you let your brother touch your Dragon Horns and Dragon Tail? I've never touched them before."

P.S.: The fifth and sixth updates for July 15, a two-in-one chapter, twelve thousand characters.