Fate Intertwined, Leaving the Star Dou Forest.

The fragmented memories flooding his mind gradually coalesced into a complete picture.

He saw himself holding the woman who had transformed from the Three-Eyed Golden Ni, fleeing under the pursuit of over a dozen Titled Douluo.

During their escape, the golden-haired, red-eyed woman in his arms whispered something into his ear.

Then, her entire body ignited with crimson-gold flames, transforming into a crimson-gold soul ring in his embrace that fused into his own body.

The scene shifted instantly; he was kneeling amidst ruins, clutching a jade pendant engraved with the character "Qiu," his eyes filled with sorrow and bewilderment.

Each image struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

After a long while, Liu Lin finally opened his eyes, though his gaze remained unfocused, as if he had yet to fully return from the visions he had just witnessed.

He looked up at the Three-Eyed Golden Ni who was still holding him, his voice raspy as he asked, "Is this the future you saw?"

The golden-haired girl nodded at Liu Lin's words, her voice muffled as she replied, "Yes."

Liu Lin stood on his tiptoes, patted the Three-Eyed Golden Ni's head, and looked at her with a serious expression.

"I swear that the things of the future will not happen again. I will definitely protect you well."

The Three-Eyed Golden Ni watched the firm resolve etched onto Liu Lin's youthful face.

Tears welled up and slipped from the corners of her eyes, yet the upturned corners of her mouth betrayed her true feelings.

He was only six years old, yet he insisted on acting like an adult to comfort her.

"Fine, then I'll wait for you to protect me in the future," the Three-Eyed Golden Ni said with a touch of feigned arrogance, still watching his determined eyes.

"Agreed."

"Then it's a promise. Let's pinky swear. If you fail to protect me in the future, I'll have Uncle Di Tian come and beat you up."

After saying this, the Three-Eyed Golden Ni released Liu Lin, stepped back twice, and extended her small pinky finger toward him.

Seeing her fair, delicate hand, Liu Lin extended his own pinky and hooked it around hers. Two hands, one large and one small, sealed a vow that belonged only to them within the space created by the Three-Eyed Golden Ni.

"Right, there is one more thing I must warn you about." After withdrawing her hand, the Three-Eyed Golden Ni wiped the smile from her face and said to Liu Lin earnestly, "Be careful of the people from the God Realm. That future event is related to someone from there."

"I don't know his name, though. My future self told me that if I were to speak his name, I might be detected, so she didn't tell me."

"Someone from the God Realm?" Liu Lin fell into silence upon hearing this. When the Emperor Auspicious Beast spoke those words, he knew exactly who she meant.

It was, of course, the great Tang Buddha himself, Tang San, who had personally split his own daughter into three parts and loved to train dogs.

Fearing that Liu Lin might not know about the God Realm, the Three-Eyed Golden Ni explained it to him once more.

"So I'm telling you to be careful. Did you remember?"

Although Liu Lin already knew about the God Realm, he couldn't explain how, so he simply nodded to show he understood.

"Alright, I've told you everything I needed to. This is a gift I'm leaving for you." As she spoke, a vertical pupil appeared on the woman's forehead.

A golden beam of light shot from the pupil and landed on Liu Lin's forehead.

Liu Lin clearly felt a surge of energy flowing from his forehead into his eyes.

"I have to go, Liu Lin. If I don't return soon, Di Tian will come looking for me."

"Oh, and your companions outside—they were only knocked unconscious by me, so don't worry. Finally, wait for me to come find you, Liu Lin." After saying this, the Three-Eyed Golden Ni's figure dissipated within the space.

On the other side, before Liu Lin could even say goodbye, he fell into a deep faint.

Outside, after the Three-Eyed Golden Ni awoke, she lifted the mental attack on Old Wang and the others. She took one last look at the unconscious Liu Lin and departed.

After she left, Old Wang and the others slowly regained consciousness.

Old Wang rubbed his splitting headache and said to Sun Heng beside him, feeling as though they had narrowly escaped death, "Old Sun, we're not dead?"

"No," Sun Heng nodded, but then he spotted someone lying not far behind Old Wang and pointed, "Old Wang, look over there. Isn't that Young Master Liu on the ground?"

Old Wang followed Sun Heng's gaze and discovered Liu Lin lying nearby.

Terrified, Old Wang sprang up and dashed to Liu Lin's side. Only when he saw his chest rising and falling rhythmically did he heave a sigh of relief.

If this person were gone, Old Wang would have nowhere to turn. He wouldn't just be unable to return to the Star Luo Empire; he might even be hunted down.

"Old Wang, is he alright?"

"He's fine, just fainted. He'll be okay after some rest." With that, Old Wang picked up the unconscious Liu Lin and headed toward the carriage.

Sun Heng breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this; if this Young Master Liu had died, he would have truly considered running away, as returning to the Star Luo Empire would mean certain death.

Inside the carriage, Xu Jiujiu woke from her stupor. She rubbed her head and scanned her surroundings, her expression turning panicked when she realized she was alone.

Just as Xu Jiujiu stood up to search for the others outside, she saw Liu Lin being carried onto the carriage by Old Wang.

Seeing the unconscious Liu Lin, Xu Jiujiu's face turned ghastly pale.

"Old Wang, what happened to Liu Lin? Does he need medicinal pills to recover?"

She immediately pulled several bottles of pills from her storage soul tool, preparing to feed them to him.

Seeing the anxiety in Xu Jiujiu's eyes, Old Wang shook his head.

"I've already checked him with my soul power. Young Master Liu has only fainted and is not injured; there is no need to feed him pills."

"You only need to look after the young master. We brothers will follow Elder Lin's instructions and take you back to Star Luo City immediately."

"Very well, thank you all for your hard work," Xu Jiujiu said gratefully.

"No need for thanks; this is our duty," Old Wang replied, then worked with Xu Jiujiu to help Liu Lin to her side.

After settling Liu Lin down, Old Wang stepped out of the carriage and spoke to his brothers:

"Alright, everyone, pack up. We're preparing to leave the Star Dou Forest."

Sun Heng and the others nodded, then departed from the Star Dou Forest.

Inside the carriage, Xu Jiujiu watched Liu Lin, whose brows were tightly furrowed as he leaned against her shoulder. Worried that the jolting of the carriage was making him uncomfortable, she moved his head to rest upon her lap.

However, as the carriage bumped along, Liu Lin's head shifted restlessly against her thighs, causing Xu Jiujiu's cheeks to flush a deep red.

Deep within the Star Dou Forest, two figures were locked in a constant struggle in the air. Suddenly, one of the figures ceased fighting, turned, and flew off toward a specific location.

Seeing the Red King depart, Elder Lin felt a wave of relief despite his deep confusion; had he continued to clash with the Red King, he surely would have died today.

He couldn't help but marvel at the Red King's immense power.

Elder Lin changed out of his tattered, ruined clothes, pulled out a positioning soul tool, and flew off in the direction Liu Lin had gone.