A Childhood Betrothal (Please Bookmark)

Grrr...

Nan Liujing ravenously devoured the thick porridge made from Hundred-Year Snow Jade Shrimp and Spirit Rice.

The springy shrimp meat was incomparably fresh and sweet, while the Spirit Rice was fragrant. The moment they entered his stomach together, they transformed into a trickling stream of life energy that flowed into every limb and bone, making his entire body burn with warmth and vitality.

This sheer, unrestrained pleasure of enjoying food was something he had never dared hope for during the years of constant unconsciousness.

"Eat slowly. There's more if it's not enough." As Sun Kong watched the boy wolf down his food, even his stern voice softened.

Nan Liujing indeed slowed down. After chewing and swallowing another mouthful of shrimp, he asked quietly, "What should I call you?"

From the time he was born until today, several years had likely passed. Yet because of his intermittent comas and fragmented memories, let alone the man before him, he could only vaguely recall the outlines of even his own parents' faces.

"Your father acknowledged me as his elder brother. You can call me Uncle," Sun Kong said softly.

"Uncle." Nan Liujing nodded in understanding.

Sun Kong nodded. "Your parents went out recently on some business. For the time being..."

"They're already gone, aren't they?" Nan Liujing interrupted him.

Sun Kong froze and stared directly at the boy on the bed.

Their eyes met.

There was little expression on Nan Liujing's face. After their brief exchange of gazes, he looked away, swallowed the last piece of shrimp he had deliberately left in the bowl, and said in a low voice, "Please take me to pay my respects to them."

Sun Kong was silent for several seconds before answering.

"Alright."

On the quiet highway, a Soul Guidance Vehicle cruised along at an unhurried pace. Unlike ordinary Soul Guidance Vehicles, however, it was actually floating through the air, a full thirty centimeters above the ground.

Nearly transparent levitation wings were mounted on both sides of the vehicle, blue vortex-like energy flowing slowly within them to keep it aloft. A faint, gentle glow also swept over the roof, where the Soul Guidance Array core continuously absorbed solar energy, ensuring that under normal operation, the Soul Guidance Vehicle required almost no manual infusion of Soul Power.

In the passenger seat, Nan Liujing looked sideways at the ever-changing scenery beyond the window, his mind filled with thoughts.

In the era he had arrived in, Tang San had already become a legend of Douluo Continent, while the Spirit Pagoda established by Huo Yuhao had spread across all three continents. Its hidden overall strength had already surpassed Shrek Academy.

If he had not searched an encyclopedia on the computer and confirmed that there was not a single record of Tang Wulin yet, he would have begun to doubt his life.

Compared with Dou One and Dou Two, there were truly few opportunities to be found in the timeline of Dou Three. Moreover, the various factions were constantly taking turns stepping onto the stage.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had been completely monopolized by the Tang Sect. Even if you knew it was in Sunset Forest, you would not dare act recklessly.

Tang Hao and Ah Yin were lying low in secret. One was about to become the Lord of the Plane, while the other would become the Plane Core. They were waiting for the Abyssal Sage King to descend and complete the so-called Ten Thousand Year Plan.

Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect had joined forces to secretly contend with the Federation. The Spirit Pagoda was secretly cooperating with the Holy Spirit Cult, until that explosion finally brought everything to a temporary halt.

To the west of the continent, the abyss, firmly held back by the Blood God Legion, greedily sought to extend its claws toward this rich land. There was even a Demon Plane, rarely mentioned in the original timeline, secretly watching from the shadows.

It was too chaotic.

And that was not even the most important part. In this era, no matter how extraordinarily gifted one was, it was nearly impossible to become a true god.

In terms of talent, could he possibly surpass Yun Ming?

"We're here."

"Take the flowers."

The floating Soul Guidance Vehicle slowly came to a stop, and Nan Liujing emerged from his thoughts.

Since he was here, he would make the best of it.

Nan Liujing concealed his thoughts and followed Sun Kong out of the vehicle.

Ahead of them stood a cemetery of considerable size. Above its tightly shut metal gates hung four words: Spirit Pagoda Public Cemetery.

Sun Kong led Nan Liujing forward. After presenting identification, the two were allowed inside by the guards stationed there.

The tranquil hillside was surrounded by lush green pines and cypresses. Under the gentle breeze, branches and leaves swayed as though the departed could not wait to tell the visitors stories of the past.

The cemetery was exceptionally neat, with winding stone paths leading in different directions.

Nan Liujing swept his gaze over the tombstones they passed and found that nearly all those buried here had made outstanding contributions to the Spirit Pagoda.

After winding through the cemetery, the two arrived before a tombstone in a particularly secluded and peaceful area.

Sun Kong stepped half a pace aside, allowing Nan Liujing to see the two embedded photographs on the tombstone.

His heart jolted violently as memories surged into him like a tide.

The photograph on the left depicted a young man who appeared to be only around thirty. His features were refined, a cultured smile rested on his lips, and his eyes were gentle and profound.

The photograph on the right showed a breathtakingly beautiful woman who looked barely over twenty. The corners of her brows tilted slightly upward, lending her a playful liveliness. Her eyes were large, their pupils a deep dark blue.

Nan Tian. Xia Yuexin.

"These are your parents." Sun Kong looked at the tombstone and said gravely, "They were the finest parents I have ever seen."

Nan Liujing said nothing. He solemnly placed down the flowers he had brought, then, under Sun Kong's startled gaze, dropped directly to his knees and kowtowed nine times in succession.

After that mysterious voice had awakened him and repaired his fragmented memories, he recalled his father speaking with someone in this life. From those scattered words, he had learned that his parents had died for him.

Such grace was as weighty as heaven and earth.

Sun Kong did not say a single word throughout. In his eyes, Nan Liujing was far more mature than he had imagined, much like his father had been when he was young.

Maturity was a good thing. His will would be stronger than that of countless others, and the setbacks on the road to growth would not easily crush him.

Bzzzt—

A faint vibration sounded. Sun Kong lowered his head to look at his pocket. Without disturbing Nan Liujing, who remained kneeling after finishing his kowtows, he moved elsewhere and answered the call.

"Hello, hello, hello." A deep male voice sounded from the other end.

"Get to the point." Sun Kong showed no courtesy toward an old friend he had known for decades.

"Godfather." Suddenly, the deep male voice on the other end changed into one that was crisp and pleasant.

Sun Kong's expression instantly softened. "Sido, Godfather's here."

"Godfather, I'm about to awaken my Martial Soul. Can you come to my Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony?" The girl's sweet voice rang out again.

"Of course." Sun Kong smiled faintly. "Be good, Sido. Give the phone to your father. Godfather has something to discuss with him."

"Mm-hmm." The girl answered with a smile in her voice.

"Old Sun." The caller was quickly replaced.

Sun Kong said gravely, "Who did you invite to Sido's Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony?"

"Other than the Wu Family, just us old brothers," the deep voice replied.

Sun Kong said in a low voice, "I won't hide it from you. The Federation has issued me a new appointment. Before long, I'll be leaving Star Luo City."

Inside the lavishly decorated living room of a villa, Wu Jingru narrowed his eyes. "Where to?"

"Mingdu," Sun Kong said bluntly. "Before I leave, I want to use Sido's Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony as an excuse to arrange a banquet. I'll invite the head of the Star Luo City Spirit Pagoda and the newly appointed Chief Administrator of Star Luo City to meet you."

"The waters of Star Luo City run deep. Once I'm transferred away, you'll be under a lot of pressure."

Wu Jingru paused, then sighed. "It seems my choice back then to give up attending Shrek Academy and join the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was indeed the right one."

"Bullshit. You call that giving up? You were clearly eliminated because you failed your final exams. Besides, I'm doing this for Sido, not for you." Sun Kong spoke with disdain.

Pfft.

In the villa living room, Wu Jingru awkwardly glanced at his snickering daughter and wife.

Sun Kong said, "Oh, right. My nephew is also about to awaken his Martial Soul. We might as well arrange for him to do it together with Sido."

"Your nephew?" Wu Jingru asked suspiciously. "Are you sure you only want to arrange for them to awaken their Martial Souls together? You don't have something else in mind?"

...Sun Kong was speechless. "If you're willing, I wouldn't mind arranging a childhood betrothal for these two children. Then the two of us would become family as well."

"The Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony is at noon the day after tomorrow. Make sure you're there." Wu Jingru hurriedly changed the subject, then immediately hung up.

"One day, you'll cry when you marry off your daughter."

Sun Kong glanced at the disconnected call and snorted. Then he silently returned to Nan Liujing's side.