New Family Member

The next morning, Xiao Hongchen arrived at the dining room for breakfast while yawning. Recently, he had been meditating for several hours every night, leaving him with very little time for sleep.

Fortunately, the breakfast was quite hearty, which helped Xiao Hongchen perk up a little.

"Next Friday, Xiao and I are going on a trip," Jing Hongchen said as he picked up a cup of fragrant tea, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "We'll be back in about two or three days. Meng, you stay home and cultivate properly."

"Eh—" Meng Hongchen's fork froze in mid-air. "That's not fair! Meng wants to go out and play too!"

"It's not for play," Xiao Hongchen reached out to ruffle his younger sister's hair. "We're going to Star Luo to handle some business."

"That's just playing!" Meng Hongchen grabbed his arm and hung onto him. "I've grown this old and have never been abroad! Brother, please let me go with you."

Finally, a normal sibling relationship.

Xiao Hongchen calmly pulled his arm away and feigned disgust. "Don't do that. You're making it hard for me to eat my breakfast."

Meng Hongchen pressed her palms together and pleaded, "Just let me go. It'll be the weekend anyway, Brother."

Seeing his sister in this state, Xiao Hongchen found it hard to refuse, so he offered a compromise: "If you can stop slacking off in your cultivation from now on, I'll take you."

Because studying Soul Tools was so mentally draining, neither Xiao Hongchen nor Meng Hongchen had been particularly diligent with their meditation in the past.

The reason they were able to reach a soul power level above forty-five by the age of thirteen was largely due to the vast amount of cultivation-assisting drugs provided by the Hongchen Family.

While Xiao Hongchen spent significantly more time on Soul Tools than his sister, he was able to absorb rare metals to assist his cultivation, keeping his soul power on par with hers; rare metals were the one thing the Hongchen Family never lacked.

However, every medicine had its side effects. Xiao Hongchen had already planned to gradually reduce his drug intake and intended to nudge his sister to stop relying on them so heavily.

"You're so cunning, Brother," she muttered, lowering her head to poke at the breakfast on her plate, her voice muffled. "I don't have your boundless energy, yet you insist on dragging me to cultivate... Are you trying to exhaust your cute little sister to death?"

Xiao Hongchen chuckled. Although they possessed a martial soul fusion skill, they did not have the one-hundred-percent compatibility that Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong shared, nor did they have that monstrous "Hao Dong Power." Their daily soul power cultivation was done individually; neither could help the other.

"Who's dragging you?" he said unhurriedly.

"I mean, you need to change that 'three days of fishing and two days of drying nets' meditation habit of yours. Don't always count on taking drugs; you have to put in the work yourself. How about this: from now on, when you aren't working on Soul Tools at night, go meditate properly, and I'll take you."

Meng Hongchen pursed her lips, wanting to struggle a bit more.

Xiao Hongchen's tone turned serious. "Meng, the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament starts in less than a year and a half. This time, we are going to completely and utterly defeat Shrek Academy."

Meng Hongchen looked up at her brother's expression and realized he was truly invested. She could only whisper an "en" and lower her head to continue poking at her breakfast.

Yet, while eating, she muttered from time to time about how "Brother has become strict" and "there won't be any good days ahead."

Just then, the butler, Pin Hongchen, walked into the dining room and bowed. "Young Master, a young girl claiming to be Ye Guyi is here to see you." He paused, then added, "She is holding Young Master Xiao's token."

The air at the dining table froze for a moment.

Xiao Hongchen put down his fork, his expression unchanged. "Tell her to wait in the reception hall. I'll be there shortly."

She came faster than I expected. This child is truly impatient. I should have known better than to give her the token; she could have gotten in regardless.

Beside him, Meng Hongchen looked completely shocked, the fire of gossip burning in her eyes. "Brother, have you finally opened your heart?"

Before he could explain, Meng Hongchen interrupted him with a barrage of questions. "Tell me! Is she pretty? How on earth did you two meet?!"

"You even gave her your token—don't tell me you've already made a secret vow to each other?!"

Xiao Hongchen felt a massive headache coming on and turned his head to seek help from his grandfather.

But Jing Hongchen said nothing, his gaze clearly conveying a few words: Explain it yourself.

"Sigh, you've all misunderstood. Ye Guyi's martial soul is the Holy Angel."

Meng Hongchen blinked. "Holy Angel? The one that... specifically counters evil soul masters?"

"Correct." Xiao Hongchen let out a sigh of relief; his sister was finally able to speak normally. "It took a great deal of effort for me to pull her into our Hongchen Family's camp. What on earth are you thinking about?"

He turned back to look at Jing Hongchen. "Grandfather, is there any problem? She will be a trump card for our Sun Moon Empire in countering evil soul masters."

Xiao Hongchen knew very well that Jing Hongchen was capable of contacting the Holy Spirit Cult. In the original story, it was Jing Hongchen who told Zhongli Wu about Ma Xiaotao's complete corruption and her exact location within the Sea God's Pavilion.

"Of course. Evil soul masters deserve to be eradicated by everyone."

Xiao Hongchen felt a slight sense of relief.

But Jing Hongchen did not stop. He seemed to be weighing his words.

"Xiao, Meng," Jing Hongchen raised his eyes, shifting his gaze from his grandson to his granddaughter, and then back again. "It is time to tell you some things."

Xiao Hongchen sat up straight.

"In the Sun Moon Empire, evil soul masters are no longer just scattered fugitives." Jing Hongchen's voice was calm, yet carried a weight that made it impossible to interrupt.

"They have formed a massive organization called the 'Holy Spirit Cult.' Their members are spread throughout the empire, and their core leadership is unfathomable. Furthermore, they have reached some sort of agreement with the Imperial Family. I do not know the specific details, but one thing is certain: until you become Titled Douluo, do not meddle with the Holy Spirit Cult."

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen both nodded heavily.

Jing Hongchen paused for a moment before continuing:

"As far as I know, the Holy Spirit Cult has reached some sort of agreement with the imperial family. Not only that, I have met their cult leader, and I sensed an extremely intense threat from him; I estimate that I am no match for him. That is not even mentioning their Offering Hall, whose strength is even more unfathomable."

Meng Hongchen was clearly startled, not just because the imperial family was colluding with evil soul masters, but also because she had always assumed her grandfather was among the top three powerhouses in the Sun Moon Empire, never expecting that there would always be someone even stronger.

Xiao Hongchen, however, had no reaction; he had known this for a long time. Just within the Sun Moon Empire alone, Ye Xishui, Long Xiaoyao, Zhongli Wu, and Kong Deming were all superior to Jing Hongchen, and there were also Ye Yulin and Feng Ling, who were no less capable than his grandfather.

"Therefore," Jing Hongchen said, "you were right to win over this successor of the Holy Angel."

"Between the Sun Moon Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult, there will eventually be a reckoning. When that time comes, whoever holds the cards to restrain the evil soul masters will have the qualifications to sit at the negotiating table."

"...I understand," Xiao Hongchen said.

It seemed his grandfather and the Holy Spirit Cult were indeed at odds, merely dealing with each other superficially.

"Alright, let us go and meet this possessor of the Angel martial soul. Do not keep her waiting too long."

Jing Hongchen stood up and headed toward the reception hall, pushing open the door. Xiao Hongchen and his younger sister followed behind him.

Ye Guyi stood up from the sofa. Her posture was neither servile nor overbearing as she bowed slightly to Jing Hongchen.

"Junior Ye Guyi greets Senior Jing Hongchen."

Jing Hongchen's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he nodded and walked over to sit in the main seat.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen followed him in and took their seats on either side.

From the moment she entered, Meng Hongchen had been staring at Ye Guyi, her azure eyes filled with curiosity. She had grown up to this age, and this was the first time she had seen a girl who made her brother take such initiative.

Ye Guyi sat back down, her gaze sweeping over the three of them before finally landing on Xiao Hongchen. Her voice was cool yet carried sincerity:

"Xiao Hongchen, thank you for your invitation yesterday. I have considered it, and I am willing to join your... family."

Jing Hongchen narrowed his eyes slightly:

"Have your relatives agreed to you joining our Hongchen Family? You must consider this carefully; once you join, you cannot withdraw."

Ye Guyi was silent for a moment:

"I have no relatives left. My parents were killed by evil soul masters from the Holy Spirit Cult three years ago..."

She poured out her entire tragic life story.

Meng Hongchen's fingers gripped the hem of her skirt involuntarily. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found she did not know what to say.

"Since you no longer have any worries, then on behalf of the Hongchen Family, I officially welcome you. From today on, you are a member of the Hongchen Family. I will provide you with the corresponding status and resources, but I also hope you remember that the Hongchen Family will never tolerate betrayal."

Jing Hongchen said in a deep voice.

Ye Guyi stood up and bowed deeply and solemnly to Jing Hongchen:

"This junior understands. Guyi will certainly do her utmost and not fail the family's high expectations."

Meng Hongchen could finally hold back no longer. She suddenly stood up, walked over to Ye Guyi, and grabbed her hand:

"Sister Guyi... from now on, you are part of our family! If my brother bullies you, I will help you bully him back! Don't be sad; from now on, I will accompany you... we are sisters now, okay?"

Ye Guyi was clearly stunned. She looked at the young girl with sincere eyes before her, and for the first time, a soft emotion appeared in her own eyes.

She gently squeezed Meng Hongchen's hand back and whispered:

"Okay... thank you, Miss Meng."

Watching this scene, Xiao Hongchen also felt a warmth rise from the bottom of his heart.