A Family of Three, Vast Sea City

An hour, or sixty minutes, passed quickly.

Bibi Dong sat on the table, her beautiful eyes like water.

"Xunji is coming."

He let out a beast-like roar, and the pressure on his shoulders seemed to ease considerably.

He looked at Bibi Dong's features,

"Dong'er, I love you. Thankfully, in this life, you are mine."

"I love you too, you saved me."

At that time, based on Bibi Dong's memories from the parallel world, she did not go astray.

"Dong'er, turn around."

Bibi Dong playfully pushed him away, saying, "You really know how to ruin the mood. And Xiao Xue is back too."

Qian Xunji understood immediately, "That night..."

"Depending on your performance, I want something spicy tonight."

"Okay, I'll go cook."

Two days later, Qian Renxue asked the academy for leave.

The reason given for the leave was "family matters." Xu Huanhuan leaned over to take a look and asked her if she had secretly gone to special training again.

Qian Renxue simply smiled and offered no further explanation.

This was her second time accompanying her parents on a hunting expedition for Soul Ring.

The last time was in the Star Dou Forest, where she filled the gaps in her second, third, and fourth Soul Ring.

The carriage drove out of Spirit City and headed southeast.

The mountain road was bumpy, Qian Renxue leaned on Bibi Dong's shoulder, sleeping and waking up repeatedly. Occasionally, she would lift the curtain to look out, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from plains to rolling hills.

Vast Sea City is a small coastal city on the very edge of the Heaven Dou Empire.

This city is far less prosperous than Heaven Dou City, and it doesn't rank highly in terms of strategic importance, but it has always held a place on the map of the Soul Master World.

Because it borders the Nine Star Sea, it is the only major port connecting the mainland to Sea God Island.

Every year, countless merchant ships set sail from here for trade. Despite the dangers, the journey continues unabated.

Over time, Vast Sea City became a gathering place for some reclusive Soul Master and maritime merchant fleets.

The carriage discreetly entered the city gate.

Finally, the carriage stopped at a street corner. Qian Xunji got out first, then reached out to help Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue down.

A sea breeze blew in my face.

That wind was unlike any other wind I had ever felt in Spirit City.

It was damp and had a strong, salty, savory flavor.

Qian Renxue looked around. There were many pedestrians on the street, including fishermen carrying fish baskets, dockworkers carrying ropes, and Soul Master wearing cloaks. Occasionally, she could see a few people dressed as Sea Soul Master hurrying by.

"Dad, should we stay here for a couple of days and prepare before heading out to sea?"

"Sure, I'll arrange the hotel, and then we'll have some seafood."

"Okay." Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong answered almost simultaneously.

The Vast Sea Hotel is located on the most bustling Seaside Street in Vast Sea City, facing the sea and backing onto the city's market area.

In the center of the hall stands a coral reef sculpture, made from natural coral salvaged from the Nine Star Sea.

This hotel is owned by the Spirit Hall and is specifically used to accommodate high-ranking officials and businessmen with whom they have cooperative relationships.

When Qian Xunji pushed open the revolving door and walked in, there were a few guests sitting scattered around the lobby having afternoon tea.

The receptionist wore a professional smile.

As she saw Qian Xunji and his family approaching, her gaze swept quickly over the three of them.

The family of three dressed modestly, even understatedly, but the inherent elegance they exuded was something that no matter what they wore, it couldn't hide.

"Hello sir and madam, do you have a reservation?"

"I haven't made a reservation, so please give me the best room."

"OK."

The receptionist flipped through the room list. "Sir, there's a suite on the third floor that's the best. It not only has a bathtub, but also a sea view."

Qian Xunji looked puzzled upon hearing this, as he knew the floor layout of the Vast Sea Hotel very well.

This hotel is owned by the Spirit Hall. It was reported to the Pope Palace when it was built, and he has seen the blueprints.

"I want the best, but this probably isn't the best, is it?"

The receptionist's smile froze.

She closed the room register, considered for a moment, and said, "Sir, it's not that I don't want to arrange a room for you, but the best rooms are not open to the public."

"Why? The Spirit Hall doesn't seem to have any rules about which rooms are off-limits to the public, does it?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in the receptionist's eyes.

The internal management regulations of the Spirit Hall are not something that ordinary guests can know.

Knowing even this, and looking at the family's attire and demeanor, a thought suddenly struck her.

"May I ask your esteemed surnames?"

My surname is Qian.

The receptionist's expression changed the moment she heard that word.

As the front-line representative of the Spirit Hall's Spirit Hall, she knew the surname of the Angel Clan better than anyone else.

"The luxury suite on the eighth floor is available."

"I'll arrange it for you right away."

Qian Xunji frowned. He had clearly asked that the hotel was "not open to the public," but the receptionist immediately changed her mind and said that check-in was possible.

This doesn't seem like following the rules; it seems more like they're afraid of something.

He glanced at Bibi Dong, Bibi Dong was also looking at him sideways. After being married for many years, a single glance was enough for them to exchange information, and she also sensed something was wrong.

"You just said the best rooms aren't open to the public."

"How come it's okay again now?"

"This..."

The receptionist was speechless, her gaze darting around, and ultimately she couldn't come up with a coherent explanation.

Qian Xunji did not continue to make things difficult for her.

There are other guests drinking tea in the lobby; this is not the place to ask questions.

"Have your manager come to my room."

After he finished speaking, without waiting for the receptionist's response, he took Qian Renxue's hand and walked towards the stairs.

"Okay... okay."

Qian Xunji took two quick steps, and then heard hurried footsteps behind her.

Several waiters jogged out of the work area on the side of the lobby, carrying luggage racks and brass keys; they were clearly urgently dispatched from the front desk to provide service.

"You don't need to come along."

The waiters all stopped in their tracks, looking at each other in bewilderment, but none dared to disobey. They all replied "Okay" and retreated back to their work area.

The corridor on the eighth floor was carpeted in deep red.

A soul-guided wall lamp hangs every few steps on the wall.

At the end of the corridor, Qian Xunji pushed open two large, dark brown solid wood doors, revealing the interior furnishings of a luxurious suite.

The living room is spacious and airy, with a full-length window facing Nine Star Sea.

Qian Renxue pushed open the French windows, and the sea breeze, carrying salty and damp moisture, rushed in.

Her gaze shifted from the sea to the outdoor swimming pool in front of the hotel.

The poolside is furnished with solid wood flooring, several rattan lounge chairs and parasols, and a water bar.

Such an open-air swimming pool is rare even on the entire continent.

"Dad, I want to swim."

Qian Xunji stood behind her, one hand in his pocket, and said, "Sure."

"You stay with Mom for now, I'll be right back while I take care of something."

"Good."

Qian Renxue ran back to the living room from the railing, grabbed Bibi Dong's hand, and headed towards the dressing room.

Bibi Dong, being pulled along, glanced back at Qian Xunji, Qian Xunji nodded at her, indicating that he would take care of things here.

After the mother and daughter went to the dressing room, the suite became quiet.

Then, Qian Xunji turned and went into the bedroom.

His gaze began at the doorway and swept over the entire area inch by inch.

Several pieces of clothing that hadn't been put away were scattered on the bed, with a men's bathrobe draped at the foot of the bed.

He opened the bedside table drawer, inside which was half a pack of tobacco and a pipe, with some ash still stuck in the pipe.

He opened the wardrobe, inside which hung several casual clothes, made of decent material.

The presence of personal belongings in every corner suggests that this wasn't a one-off stay, but rather a long-term indication that the suite was used as a private residence.