Reunion, the Plan Begins

In the Heaven Dou Empire, in Heaven Dou City.

A plain carriage rolled slowly down the main road, heading toward the inner city.

"Young Master, you haven't been back for years. The young mistress said she has a surprise for you this time."

Yang Fan spoke softly to Su Zhen, who was resting with his eyes closed inside the carriage. A trace of concern slipped into his voice.

"Mm. I know."

Su Zhen's calm voice came from within the carriage, as though he hadn't heard the implication in Yang Fan's words.

The carriage stopped outside the Crown Prince's Mansion. Su Zhen climbed down and slowly walked inside.

"Yang Fan, there are gifts for you and Li Hao in the carriage. You've both been stuck at level eighty-nine for quite some time, haven't you? These gifts should help you break through."

Su Zhen disappeared into the Crown Prince's Mansion, but his voice sounded in Yang Fan's mind.

"Sound Transmission! Only high-level Soul Masters can master that skill. Has Young Master already reached that level?"

While still reeling from the shock of Su Zhen's strength, Yang Fan found two herbs in the carriage. The vast Soul Power radiating from them made his whole body stir with excitement.

Holding the two herbs, Yang Fan raised Su Zhen to a lofty place in his heart—a place whose height only he knew.

Young Master, from now on, my life is yours.

Su Zhen, walking through the Crown Prince's Mansion, had no idea what Yang Fan was thinking. The herbs he'd left for the two men were merely ginseng plants from the Star Dou Forest that had just passed ten thousand years of age. Their medicinal power was only enough to help them break through, nothing compared to an Immortal Herb. He was investing in them to gain two more capable subordinates and secure a greater voice in Spirit Hall. If they refused to submit, they could still add strength to the Worship Hall.

"B-Brother Zhen!"

In one of the gardens of the Crown Prince's Mansion, a boy of about fifteen was watering flowers. The moment he caught sight of Su Zhen from the corner of his eye, he dropped the watering can and rushed over in alarm.

"Brother Zhen! You're finally back! You have no idea how much I've missed you these past six years! Waaaah!"

Oscar clung to Su Zhen and wailed as if his heart had been torn apart. The sound made Su Zhen's mouth twitch.

"All right, Little Ao. I'm back now, aren't I? I won't leave again."

"Really? Brother Zhen, you have to keep your word! I'm counting on you to look after me for the rest of my life."

Hearing that Su Zhen wouldn't leave again, Oscar's tears instantly turned to smiles. He grabbed Su Zhen's arm, his face alight with excitement.

"Brother Zhen, let me tell you, while you were gone, Teacher trained me half to death! I'm an auxiliary Soul Master—how am I supposed to take all that? If you hadn't come back, this little body of mine wouldn't have lasted much longer."

"These past few years, I've had to cultivate and help Sister Xue handle the affairs of the Heaven Dou Empire. I haven't had a moment to rest. I'm practically half the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire now."

"Brother Zhen, listen, when you see Sister Xue in a bit, make sure you're extra polite. You've been gone for so many years without coming back to see her. Sister Xue's been itching to skin you alive. You should've seen her when she got angry—absolutely terrifying."

"Brother Zhen, you..."

Oscar followed at Su Zhen's side, recounting all his misfortunes over the years. When he noticed Su Zhen had stopped, he looked puzzled and turned to follow Su Zhen's gaze.

A golden-haired man in a golden palace robe stood there, silently watching the two of them.

"Sister Xue, you're here! I was just taking Brother Zhen to find you. Brother Zhen told me he's missed you to death all these years, and he even..."

"Get lost!"

Qian Renxue's delicate face was so cold it seemed water might drip from it. She spat out a single word, cutting Oscar off.

"Right away, Sister Xue. I'll go water the flowers."

Oscar turned and hurried off, his pace growing faster and faster until he vanished from sight ten meters away.

The two stood facing each other. Seeing that something was amiss, all the maids and guards quietly left, and silence fell around them.

Qian Renxue returned to her original appearance and walked slowly toward him. She stopped about half a meter away, looking at the young man who stood a head taller than her, and spoke calmly.

"You're back."

"Mm."

Su Zhen answered calmly. The woman before him had blossomed into a graceful young lady, even more striking than she'd been six years ago.

"So you do remember how to come back? You sent only thirteen letters in six whole years. You never came back to see me or the grandfathers."

"What are you trying to do?"

As Qian Renxue spoke, her voice shifted from calm to furious. She nearly shouted the last few words. Her Blazing Angel Martial Soul possessed her, and she unleashed the full, terrifying pressure of her seventy-eighth level upon Su Zhen.

Su Zhen didn't move an inch under Qian Renxue's pressure. The hem of his robe, hanging beside his legs, fluttered backward in the wind.

When Qian Renxue saw that her pressure had no effect on Su Zhen, she simply kicked him to the ground. Of course, that was only because Su Zhen hadn't resisted in the slightest.

Qian Renxue straddled Su Zhen and pounded his chest with her pale fists.

"Do you know how heartbroken Grandpa was when you didn't come back for six years?"

"Do you know how the grandfathers in the Worship Hall stare toward the Star Dou Forest every day, longing for you?"

"Do you know how helpless Little Ao feels every time he talks about you?"

"Do you know how much I... how much I missed you?"

"Do you know?"

As Qian Renxue struck Su Zhen, she poured out all the sorrow everyone had felt over the years. Her blows grew weaker even as her voice grew louder. At last, she buried her face in his chest and began to cry silently.

Feeling the weight and warmth of her against his chest, Su Zhen's guilt grew all the more intense.

"Sister Xue, don't cry. I'm back now. I won't leave you or the grandfathers again."

Su Zhen reached out and gently patted Qian Renxue's back, comforting her in her hurt.

The whole world fell silent, leaving only Qian Renxue's wounded sobs as she lay on Su Zhen.

"Hehe, Brother Zhen and Sister Xue are together! I'm all for it!"

From behind a flower bed not far away, a furtive head popped out. Watching the scene, Oscar spoke with a cheeky grin, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

Zzt—

A tiny black bolt of electricity burst across Oscar's arm, leaving a black mark on his skin.

"Why'd Brother Zhen do that? I only peeked a little. Was it really necessary to shock me? That hurt..."

Oscar murmured miserably, then crawled away on his belly toward the flower garden where he'd been watering plants.

"Come on, let's go inside and talk. I want to see how much you've grown over the years too. Little Ao, you can come as well."

Qian Renxue got up from Su Zhen and spoke calmly, as though nothing had happened. She didn't forget to call over Oscar, who was still sprawled on the ground nearby.

"Hehe, coming, coming!"

Oscar stood up, brushed the dust from his clothes, then jogged over and pulled Su Zhen to his feet.

"Brother Zhen, didn't you bring gifts for Sister Xue and me? Hurry up and show us inside."

Oscar said as he brushed the dust off Su Zhen.

Su Zhen nodded and led Oscar and Qian Renxue into the house.

Inside, the three of them sat in chairs, facing one another.

"Sister Xue, this is Light Dragon Ganoderma, a top-grade light-attribute Immortal Herb. The medicinal power of the Dawn Flame Holy Light Lotus you absorbed before should have nearly run its course. Absorbing this Immortal Herb next will let the two herbs' powers complement each other and take your cultivation to the next level."

Su Zhen took a lead box from the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch and slid it across to Qian Renxue.

"Xiao Zhen, I'm already level seventy-eight, and my Martial Soul has evolved into the Blazing Angel. Will absorbing this Immortal Herb still help? Perhaps we should give it to Grandpa instead."

Qian Renxue stared at the lead box without reaching for it. Qian Daoliu hadn't absorbed an Immortal Herb yet, and she felt this Light Dragon Ganoderma would be perfect for him.

"Sister Xue, this is the one I gave Teacher earlier. He asked me to pass it on to you. It's a gift from both him and me. Please, take it."

Even after hearing Su Zhen say that, Qian Renxue still didn't move. She lowered her head and pondered. Only after a long while did she lift her gaze and pick up the Light Dragon Ganoderma in front of her.

"Xiao Zhen, I won't let Grandpa down."

Holding the lead box, Qian Renxue walked into the secret chamber. Before entering, she left behind a soft murmur that lingered in the room.

"Little Ao, your aura tells me you're already level fifty-four. Taking this Aromatic Silk Beauty will rapidly raise your Soul Power Level. You'll also be able to absorb the essence of the Sun and Moon as you cultivate. Combined with the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid you took before, it'll bring a qualitative improvement to your Martial Soul."

Su Zhen took out another Immortal Herb and handed it to Oscar.

"Brother Zhen, whatever you're planning, I'll always support you."

Oscar sensed the urgency about Su Zhen. He didn't waste time asking questions. Taking the Immortal Herb, he began absorbing it right there.

As he watched both of them absorb their Immortal Herbs, Su Zhen felt his own thoughts stir.

Everything's nearly ready. It's time to set the plan in motion.

A Heavenly Net unfurled, ready to envelop the entire Douluo Continent.