Back to Heaven Dou

# Chapter 15: Return to Heavenly Dou

Dealing with the aftermath of the Black Marsh was simpler than Meow Meow had imagined.

Of course, that simplicity was built on the premise that Qian Renxue herself was ruthless enough.

When the two returned to the outskirts of the Black Marsh, the stretch of water from last night had already quieted down considerably.

That fifty-thousand-year Marshwing Blood Leech, heavily wounded, had burrowed off somewhere unknown, leaving only a lingering bloody scent on the marsh's surface.

Meow Meow stood on a dead branch, looking down at the black water beneath his feet.

"This place really isn't fit for a cat."

"The water's dirty, the mud's thick, and it's full of weird things."

Qian Renxue glanced at him.

"You weren't slow to run last night."

Meow Meow flicked his tail.

"That's called a strategic retreat."

"If I'd actually been tangled up by that thing, even a Titled Douluo would've found it troublesome."

Qian Renxue didn't argue.

A soul beast like the Marshwing Blood Leech wasn't necessarily the strongest in individual combat, but it was indeed disgusting.

Strong recovery, heavy blood poison, and a preference for hiding at the bottom of marshes.

If the two of them hadn't run fast last night, once that old thing deep in the Black Marsh had locked onto them, the consequences would have been hard to predict.

She raised her hand and sent out a stream of golden soul power.

The soul power landed on a half-collapsed stone platform ahead.

Dark red patterns quickly surfaced on the platform's surface.

These patterns didn't look like anything left behind by normal soul master cultivation; instead, they carried a cold, sinister aura.

Meow Meow knew at a glance that this wasn't anything good.

"The work of a fallen soul master?"

Qian Renxue nodded.

"Most likely."

"Someone in Heavenly Dou City is secretly collecting special soul beast blood. This place was just one of their rendezvous points."

Meow Meow narrowed his eyes.

"Heavenly Dou nobility?"

"Can't confirm yet."

Qian Renxue's voice was flat.

"But to be able to do this kind of thing both inside and outside Heavenly Dou City at the same time, the person behind it can't be of low status."

After hearing this, Meow Meow had a rough idea.

On the surface, the Douluo Continent was divided between the two great empires and Martial Soul Hall.

But if you really dug into it, Heavenly Dou was far from clean.

The nobility was rotten.

Sects were meddling.

The royal family even had an old fox like Prince Xue Xing.

Add in some shadowy soul master forces stirring the pot, and the waters ran deep.

"Before I've even entered Heavenly Dou, I can already smell the rot."

Meow Meow muttered to himself.

Qian Renxue didn't say more and directly began cleaning up the traces.

Golden soul power fell in streaks, burning all the dark red patterns on the stone platform clean.

Meow Meow didn't idle either.

He used the Calming Bell to sweep the area, suppressing all residual mental fluctuations and blood aura nearby.

Finally, he used the Pure Feather Talisman to draw out a trace of sacred aura, burning the few blood-poison-stained bone fragments in the corner to ash.

After busying themselves for over half an hour, this stronghold was finally thoroughly cleaned.

[Ding, Black Marsh stronghold cleanup complete.]

[Qian Renxue route quest progress increased.]

[Reward: Meow Wish Value ×40.]

Meow Meow glanced at the system notification, feeling pretty good.

Though the reward wasn't huge, every little bit counts.

More importantly, the real gain this time wasn't the reward—it was that the thread with Qian Renxue had been firmly connected.

"Let's go."

Qian Renxue withdrew her soul power.

"There's nothing left to see here."

Meow Meow nodded and was about to follow, but then glanced back toward the depths of Black Marsh.

There was still a faint presence there.

That old beast from last night, nearly at the hundred-thousand-year threshold.

It hadn't chased them out.

But it hadn't truly left either.

It was like it was silently watching them from the dark water.

Meow Meow stared for two breaths, then finally turned away.

"Forget it."

"This Cat has no interest in fighting something like that right now."

"If there's ever a real need, I'll come settle the score later."

Qian Renxue caught his muttered words and said calmly, "You're not afraid."

"Afraid."

Meow Meow answered quickly.

"Being afraid and not coming back to mess with it later are two different things."

Qian Renxue didn't respond for a moment.

She realized this cat sometimes talked like a coward, and sometimes like a madman.

And neither state seemed fake.

After leaving Black Marsh, the two didn't head straight for Tiandou. Instead, they first returned to the Qian Family Villa.

As soon as White Dew saw Qian Renxue back, she immediately ran over from under the porch.

A Yu was slower, with a bit of grass debris still stuck to the corner of her mouth.

Ink Shadow emerged from the shadows and quietly sat down in front of Meow Meow.

The moment Meow Meow saw A Yu's state, the corner of his eye twitched.

"Did you gnaw on the herb garden again?"

A Yu looked up at him, eyes wide.

"Mew."

That sound was full of innocence.

But Meow Meow didn't buy it at all.

He walked over and glanced at the spirit herb by the edge of the garden, missing a small piece of its leaf.

Sure enough.

"Didn't I say you can't just eat whatever you want?"

"You've only been spirit-awakened for a day, and you're already challenging This Cat's rules?"

A Yu immediately shrank its neck.

White Dew let out a soft cry beside her, as if trying to explain.

Ink Shadow honestly transmitted a thought.

[It was hungry.]

Meow Meow: "..."

Fine.

That reason was simple enough.

Qian Renxue found it somewhat amusing.

She took out a few low-grade medicinal fruits from her storage Soul Tool and placed them in front of A Yu.

"Eat these from now on."

"Don't touch anything in the herb garden."

A Yu's eyes lit up instantly, and it hurriedly lowered its head to nibble.

Meow Meow glanced at it and silently made a note in his mind.

"This kid's going to need watching from now on."

"Otherwise he'll gnaw the medicine patch bald sooner or later."

After briefly settling the three cats, Qian Renxue also began preparing to return to Heaven Dou.

She had left Heavenly Dou City several days ago.

For the identity of Xue Qinghe, this length of time was already considerable.

If she dragged it out any longer, someone at the Crown Prince's Mansion would inevitably grow suspicious.

Especially Emperor Xue Ye and Prince Xue Xing.

The former was the emperor.

The latter, whether he had much official business or not, was a sharp hand at keeping tabs on people.

Meow Meow watched as Qian Renxue changed back into Xue Qinghe's attire and gradually suppressed her aura back into that gentle demeanor, sighing inwardly.

"This acting, she's really honed it."

"Just moments ago, she was the young master of the Qian family, and in a blink, she's the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou."

"If this cat ever goes to Heavenly Dou City, I'll probably have to be careful too."

After tidying up, Qian Renxue looked at Meow Meow.

"If you change your mind now, it's not too late."

Meow Meow looked up.

"Change my mind about what?"

"Returning to Martial Soul City."

Qian Renxue's tone was calm.

"If you're worried about the Pope's Hall, I can send you back first."

"Afterward, if there's a need, we can find a way to contact each other."

Meow Meow listened, his tail pausing for a moment.

To say he wasn't at all worried about the East Courtyard would be a lie.

He'd been out for some days now.

Little Flame, Snowball, Charcoal, Orange, Swirl, Blue Tail, and those little ones in the warm nest—he didn't know how they were doing.

But Bibi Dong was there.

Nothing major could happen in the East Courtyard.

Besides, he could sense Bibi Dong's state through the Bell-Linked Seeker.

The Pope's condition was stable for now.

No dangerous fluctuations.

No abnormal emotional outbursts.

"Not going back yet."

Meow Meow shook his head.

"The East Courtyard has Little Flame and the others; I don't need to watch over everything myself."

"As for you, heading back to Heavenly Dou City and having to bear the Crown Prince's identity—until the Black Marsh matter is thoroughly investigated, it's safer if I follow."

Qian Renxue looked at him, silent for a moment.

"Are you sure?"

"Sure."

Meow Meow added another line after saying that.

"Besides, I want to see what Heavenly Dou City is like too."

"I've seen Martial Soul City, but not Heaven Dou yet."

This was the truth.

In the original Douluo Dalu story, many major events in the early and middle stages revolved around Heavenly Dou City.

Shrek would go there.

Tang San would go there.

Yu Xiaogang would go there too.

Blue Tyrant Academy, Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—all those places were there.

If he stayed in Martial Soul Hall the whole time, many things could only be dealt with after the results came out.

But once he was actually in Heaven Dou, it would be different.

"Tang San probably hasn't reached Heaven Dou yet."

"And that Shrek bunch hasn't arrived either."

"Checking out the terrain early wouldn't hurt."

Meow Meow thought this to himself, but his face gave nothing away.

Qian Renxue had no idea he was mulling over these things; she just nodded lightly.

"Then come with me."

"But once you enter Heaven Dou, you can't casually reveal your beast aura."

"The Crown Prince's Mansion has too many eyes and ears—Royal Worship, Noble Spies, Martial Soul Hall Agents—all of them might be watching."

Meow Meow was taken aback.

"Martial Soul Hall Agents are watching you too?"

Qian Renxue shot him a glance.

"Not everyone inside Martial Soul Hall knows my true identity."

At those words, Meow Meow understood.

Qian Renxue's infiltration of Heaven Dou was a top-secret matter known only to a very few in the Worship Hall and the upper echelons of Martial Soul Hall.

Ordinary Martial Soul Hall agents likely only knew that the Heaven Dou Crown Prince was a target worth approaching, with no idea that the prince himself was the young master of Martial Soul Hall.

"So complicated."

Meow Meow sighed.

"No wonder you're so exhausted."

Hearing this, Qian Renxue's expression paused briefly.

She didn't respond.

Meow Meow didn't press further either.

Some things were best left at a hint; saying more would only make things awkward.

Before leaving, Meow Meow went to check on Ink Shadow and A Yu one last time.

Ink Shadow would stay behind at the villa.

A Yu was in charge of watching the herb garden.

White Dew, meanwhile, would follow Qian Renxue back to Heaven Dou.

Seeing Meow Meow about to leave, A Yu was clearly reluctant, circling him twice.

Meow Meow raised a paw and patted her head.

"Don't eat anything you shouldn't."

"And don't bully Ink Shadow."

A Yu: "Mew."

Ink Shadow shot her a silent look from the side.

That expression said it all.

It's a miracle she doesn't bully me.

Meow Meow couldn't help but chuckle.

Qian Renxue caught the scene too, her gaze softening for a moment.

Once everything was arranged, Qian Renxue raised a hand to activate the villa's formation.

The mist parted.

The mountain path reappeared.

Meow Meow stayed by her side, while White Dew was held in Qian Renxue's arms, perfectly well-behaved.

Just before stepping out of the villa, Meow Meow suddenly turned back for a look.

Ink Shadow stood under the eaves.

A Yu crouched by the herb garden.

Both little cats were watching them.

This Qian Family Villa, from today onward, was no longer just Qian Renxue's secret hideaway.

It had cats now.

And a bit of life to it.

"Let's go."

Qian Renxue said softly.

Meow Meow nodded.

The two left the side courtyard and headed toward Heavenly Dou.

The journey wasn't particularly slow.

Qian Renxue couldn't use the overly conspicuous power of her Seraphim for long periods, so most of the time she simply traveled using soul power.

Meow Meow followed alongside, occasionally using Moon Shadow Dash to make up some speed.

White Dew, meanwhile, stayed quietly curled up in Qian Renxue's arms.

Sometimes, when Meow Meow saw how comfortable she was, he couldn't help feeling a bit unbalanced inside.

"This Meow carried someone on his back all night last night."

"And today White Dew gets to enjoy herself."

"Both of us are cats, so why is the treatment so different?"

White Dew seemed to sense his gaze, lifting her head to let out a soft meow.

Meow Meow: "..."

Forget it.

She's still young.

He wouldn't argue with her.

Along the way, Qian Renxue uncharacteristically took the initiative to tell him a few things about Heavenly Dou City.

For instance, Emperor Xue Ye's health had been declining lately.

Or that Prince Xue Xing appeared idle on the surface but was actually extremely sensitive to every ripple within the imperial family.

And that the major powers in Heavenly Dou City were deeply intertwined—people from Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan could often be seen there.

Meow Meow listened carefully.

These were all things from the original story.

But hearing them from Qian Renxue's mouth, the details were clearly richer.

"So, the biggest headache in the Crown Prince's Mansion right now isn't the Emperor, but Prince Xue Xing?"

Qian Renxue thought for a moment.

"He's not the most dangerous, but he's very troublesome."

"He's a suspicious man, and he likes to focus on details others overlook."

"After you enter the Crown Prince's Mansion, it's best if he never sees you."

Meow Meow nodded.

"Got it."

"Keep out of sight of the old fox."

Qian Renxue glanced at him.

"Prince Xue Xing is indeed not young, but the way you put it..."

"Very accurate."

Meow Meow said seriously.

Qian Renxue didn't argue.

She probably thought it was accurate too.

After several days of travel, Heavenly Dou City finally appeared in the distance.

It was different from Martial Soul City.

Martial Soul City looked more solemn, more like a holy land for soul masters.

Heavenly Dou City was larger and livelier.

Outside the city, carriages and horses flowed endlessly—merchant caravans, noble carriages, mercenaries, common folk, all kinds of people coming and going.

Meow Meow stood on a distant hillside and watched for a while, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"So this is Heavenly Dou City."

"It really is more bustling than I imagined."

Qian Renxue had already resumed the bearing of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

She tucked White Dew inside her outer robe to conceal her, then looked at Meow Meow.

"After we enter the city, stay by my side."

"Don't run off."

Meow Meow nodded.

"Don't worry."

"This Meow is very steady."

The moment he finished speaking, the aroma of roasted meat drifted over from the city gate.

His tail twitched uncontrollably.

Qian Renxue watched him.

Meow Meow immediately composed himself.

"Just surveying the environment."

"Not thinking about eating."

Qian Renxue: "..."

She suddenly began to wonder—whether bringing this cat to Heavenly Dou had gained her an extra helper or an extra headache.

But he was already here.

Too late for regrets now.

Before the gates of Heavenly Dou City, the guards, upon seeing the crown prince's token, immediately bowed and let them pass.

Meow Meow suppressed his soul beast aura, pretending to be an ordinary white cat, and followed Xue Qinghe into the city.

And the moment he stepped through the city gates, the system prompt chimed in his mind.

[Ding, Qian Renxue route phase mission complete.]

[Host has successfully assisted Qian Renxue in safely returning to Heavenly Dou City.]

[Rewards being calculated...]

Meow Meow's eyes lit up.

"Finally paid out."

"This trip to Heavenly Dou is off to a decent start."