An Encounter with the Hongchen Family

The BMW traveled slowly along the road.

This honeymoon trip can be said to be one of the few times that Zhou Huan and Zhang Lexuan traveled together. When they crossed the Dou Ling Empire before, Ma Xiaotao was there as a third wheel. Later, whether it was to go to Mingdu to participate in the Soul Master Competition or to go out to sea, they always traveled as a group.

Speaking of a journey with only two people, it was probably many years ago when we went to the Arctic Land during a break from the Outer Court to obtain Soul Ring.

Therefore, for this honeymoon trip, Zhou Huan did not go directly from Shrek to Qiankun Love-Seeking Valley, but planned to detour through most of the Heavenly Soul Region, and finally pass through Mingdu to reach the Sun Moon Mountain Range.

They ate and drank their way through the journey, enjoying the scenery, while their luxury car moved extremely slowly.

Five days later, Zhou Huan and Zhang Lexuan arrived at Heaven Dou City, the former capital of the Heavenly Soul Empire, an ancient city with a history of ten thousand years.

Under the rule of the Sun Moon Empire, Heaven Dou City has not changed much. Apart from the fact that the Soul Tool Technology in the city has improved by more than one level, everything else remains the same.

Heaven Dou City remains a bustling and prosperous place.

It's just that things have changed somewhat.

Standing in front of the grand restaurant called "Welcome Guest Restaurant," Zhou Huan sighed with deep emotion, "It was here that I encountered Long Aotian and Vina for the third time. The Rare Soul Beast that unlocked the second level of the Floating Pagoda was obtained from Vina. But now, Brother Long is no longer here. I never imagined that our parting in Mingdu would be our last."

Zhang Lexuan gently squeezed Zhou Huan's hand and comforted him, "When the Sun Moon Empire conquered Heaven Dou City, you were still in the Abyss Plane. Even if you knew that Long Aotian would die in the original timeline, you wouldn't have had a chance to save him. So, don't feel guilty."

Zhou Huan shook her head slightly. "It's not that I feel guilty, it's just that coming here again brings back some emotions."

He was telling the truth; he wasn't feeling guilty.

Having transmigrated to the Douluo Continent, Zhou Huan learned too much about the fates of people who were originally on the same path.

However, because of his butterfly effect, many things have changed. As for whether Long Aotian will die like in the original story, Zhou Huan couldn't be sure before, not to mention that he wasn't even in the Douluo Continent when Long Aotian died.

Just as Zhou Huan and Zhang Lexuan were exchanging a few words, the young waitress who Welcome Guest Restaurant came out with a smile and said, "Please come in, sirs. Your carriages will be parked there by our staff."

Zhou Huan smiled and said, "I didn't expect you guys to have such a forward-thinking service mindset."

The young waitress maintained her professional smile, "Of course, Welcome Guest Restaurant is one of the top restaurants in Heaven Dou City."

"Lead the way, let's get a private room."

"Yes, sir, madam, please follow me."

Immediately afterwards, led by a young waitress, Zhou Huan took Zhang Lexuan's hand and led her to the outside of the Heaven No. 3 Private Room.

Just as Zhou Huan was about to enter the private room, he saw four figures emerge from around the corner a few meters away. He recognized three of them— Jing Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen —as well as a girl who looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old.

At this moment, Jing Hongchen looked like an ordinary, kind old man, completely lacking the high-class demeanor he once had as the head of the Mingde Hall. In fact, Zhou Huan even saw him laughing happily just a second ago.

Compared to Jing Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen has changed the most. At this moment, he doesn't look like a man in his thirties at all, but more like a forty-year-old uncle.

Although he didn't appear dejected or defeated, he was no longer the spirited young man he once was, and didn't even resemble a young adult.

Meng Hongchen, on the other hand, hasn't changed much. She looks to be only about twenty-three or twenty-four years old. She has matured quite a bit, but if you were to say that she and Xiao Hongchen are siblings of similar age, absolutely no one would believe it.

At the same time that Zhou Huan saw Xiao Hongchen and his companions, they naturally also saw Zhou Huan.

Jing Hongchen's smiling face froze instantly.

Xiao Hongchen stared wide-eyed at Zhou Huan, his lips slightly parted, but he was speechless.

As for Meng Hongchen, she covered her mouth with both hands to stop herself from shouting out loud.

The girl who was with them looked at Xiao Hongchen and his two companions with a puzzled expression, and then at the young couple who were right in front of them but whom they did not recognize.

She couldn't understand how anyone in the entire Heaven Dou City could elicit such complex and varied expressions from her husband, father-in-law, and sister-in-law.

Could the other party be a distinguished person from Mingdu?

Zhou Huan had no idea what the four people in front of him were thinking, but he sensed the awkward silence in the room, so he spoke first, "Brother Hongchen, Hall Master Hongchen, and Poison... cough cough, Miss Meng, it's been a long time."

Jing Hongchen, after all, was a former Mingde Hall who had seen many storms. After a brief moment of shock and disbelief, he immediately replied respectfully, "Greetings, Your Excellency."

Several years ago, he learned from the intelligence of the Sun Moon Empire that Zhou Huan had become a god and was the strongest being on the Douluo Continent.

Even though he was younger than his own grandchildren, Jing Hongchen dared not show the slightest disrespect to a Deity on earth.

Seeing his grandfather's reaction, Xiao Hongchen's face twitched, and he forced a reply, "Long time no see."

To be honest, Xiao Hongchen's feelings were incredibly complicated at this moment. The person he once wanted to defeat was now someone he couldn't even look up to; the difference in their levels was too great.

Deity should be legendary beings, but his former adversary has become such a being.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't heartbroken.

Because it's so hopeless.

When Meng Hongchen heard Zhou Huan mention the word "poison," her face immediately darkened, and the shock she had felt upon encountering Deity vanished instantly.

She remembered—it was this person who spread rumors everywhere, saying she was poisonous, even during the Mingdu Soul Master Competition with hundreds of thousands of spectators, making it impossible for her to find a boyfriend.

You deserve to die, Zhou Huan!

But when Meng Hongchen thought of Zhou Huan's current Deity status, she could only pout in frustration and remain silent.

Zhou Huan: "..." Uh, why does this seem even more awkward? He was just saying hello, he didn't mean to say the wrong thing.

At this moment, Zhang Lexuan spoke up, "Hall Master Hongchen, are you here for dinner too?"

Jing Hongchen immediately replied, "Yes. I didn't expect you and Dean Zhang to come to Heaven Dou City today. I'm so sorry for not welcoming you sooner."

Zhang Lexuan shook her head slightly. "It's alright, we're just passing through. This Heaven Dou City looks... quite nice, I hope it continues to prosper."

Upon hearing this, Jing Hongchen felt a great sense of relief.

Through Ju Zi Empress Dowager, Jing Hongchen learned that Zhou Huan didn't care who ruled Douluo Continent, but he did care how well the ruler governed it.

Ju Zi Dowager Ju Empress Dowager handed over Heaven Dou City to the Hongchen Family, and today, receiving Zhang Lexuan's affirmation has clearly made Jing Hongchen much more relaxed.

But at that moment, Zhou Huan's words made Jing Hongchen's old heart tremble. "It's better to meet by chance than to invite someone. Since we've run into each other, let's have a meal together."