"Stop right there. This is the Qin Residence. Do you have a calling card?"
The guards outside the Qin Family estate raised their hands to stop Hu Liena from approaching any further.
At the moment, Hu Liena's face was veiled. As the Saintess of Spirit Hall, she feared that some people might recognize her.
Should I use a Soul Skill to sneak inside?
The moment that thought arose in Hu Liena's mind, she dismissed it.
Qin Yuntian, the head of the Qin Family, was a Soul Saint, and Qin Jiuxiao might also be in the residence.
According to Bu Le's previous explanation, Qin Jiuxiao possessed the strength of a Titled Douluo.
What she did might be seen as a provocation.
She had come to see what kind of person Qin Jiuxiao was and recruit him.
It would be troublesome if they became enemies.
"Guard brother, I'm a friend of Young Master Qin's. We arranged to meet here."
"Could you please go in and inform him?"
The two guards exchanged glances and nodded.
One of them ran into the estate, while the other told her,
"Sorry for the trouble, please wait a moment. The family head will be here shortly."
Upon hearing this, Hu Liena began examining the Qin Residence from outside.
Along the way, she had heard quite a few things about the Qin Family.
Qin Jiuxiao had awakened Innate Full Soul Power and caught the Heaven Dou Crown Prince's attention. The crown prince had bestowed the title of Earl upon the Qin Family head and granted him a city.
Yet instead of becoming arrogant and tyrannical because of this, the Qin Family had established strict rules to restrain every member of the family.
There had never been any incidents of the Qin Family bullying men or abusing women. The family even frequently helped commoners.
They helped them find work in the city to support their families.
Their reputation could be said to be excellent.
However, Qin Jiuxiao himself was extremely low-profile. Other than enjoying trips with his maidservants, sightseeing, and making friends, there was almost no news about him.
Nothing at all was heard regarding his cultivation.
"Low-key and reserved, knowing how to hide his edge."
"With such composure, even if Qin Jiuxiao's strength is exaggerated, he will definitely become a top-tier powerhouse in the future."
"I'm becoming more and more curious about you."
The smile beneath Hu Liena's veil became increasingly enchanting.
Tap, tap, tap!
Footsteps sounded behind her.
The guard who had gone to report her arrival had returned, accompanied by a middle-aged man.
Qin Yuntian looked at Hu Liena. Though her face was covered by a light veil, her figure could not be concealed.
He knew his son's temperament well enough.
His son was devoted.
Devoted to beautiful women.
Even the maidservants following him came in all types—lolis and mature beauties alike.
Seeing Hu Liena's bearing, she had definitely become another romantic debt his son had incurred outside.
"Ahem. May I ask your name, miss, and what relationship you have with my son?"
To be safe, Qin Yuntian decided to ask.
The moment Hu Liena heard this, she knew the man before her was Qin Jiuxiao's father. She immediately bowed slightly.
"Greetings, Uncle. I am a friend of Young Master Qin's, and we arranged to meet here."
"Is he at home now?"
Qin Yuntian narrowed his eyes. He was no simple man; merely from a few words, he could grasp the general situation.
Hu Liena had come looking for Qin Jiuxiao, so how could she not have agreed on a time beforehand?
If they had agreed on a time, how could Qin Jiuxiao possibly forget?
That left only one possibility: this person had come to investigate his son, Qin Jiuxiao.
A trace of ruthlessness flashed through Qin Yuntian's eyes. Perhaps someone had learned that his son's first and second Soul Rings were ten-thousand-year Soul Rings.
Should he eliminate her?
But after only a moment's consideration, Qin Yuntian abandoned that thought.
The fact that she dared come alone meant she had backing. More than one person knew about this matter.
If he dealt with her, he might alert the enemy instead.
The best course of action now was to contact his son and tell him about this matter.
With Qin Jiuxiao's intelligence, he would know how to handle it.
The thoughts passed in an instant, and a smile returned to Qin Yuntian's face.
"Miss, Jiuxiao may have forgotten the time. He went out and has not returned yet."
"If you have anything to tell him, you can tell me, and I'll pass it on."
"You may also wait in the residence. I'll send someone to tell him to return quickly."
As the Saintess of Spirit Hall, Hu Liena naturally had some insight. She knew that she had already been exposed.
As expected of Qin Jiuxiao's father—he was no ordinary man either.
She bowed slightly with a soft laugh, a hint of embarrassment appearing on her face.
"Perhaps I remembered the time incorrectly."
"Then I'll look for Jiuxiao outside. Perhaps I'll run into him if I'm lucky."
"Sorry for the trouble, Uncle. This junior will take her leave."
With that, Hu Liena slowly turned and left at an unhurried pace.
As Qin Yuntian watched Hu Liena's figure disappear, the smile on his face gradually faded.
"Someone."
He waved over a Soul King and had him follow from afar, wanting to see exactly who Hu Liena worked for.
Then he summoned another person.
"Go to the Rose Hotel and find the young master. Tell him what happened here."
That person nodded and swiftly disappeared.
Qin Yuntian looked over bustling Suotuo City and let out a faint sigh.
He had certainly heard last night's commotion.
How could he possibly not know about a battle between Titled Douluos so close by?
But just as he had been preparing to act, he received Qin Jiuxiao's letter.
It told him to remain at home and refrain from acting, only needing to calm the people in the city.
Qin Jiuxiao could handle things on his own over there.
Furthermore, a mysterious woman with the strength of a Titled Douluo was protecting him. He told his old father not to worry.
How could Qin Yuntian not know that Qin Jiuxiao was afraid he would be drawn into danger?
A Titled Douluo was not an opponent a Soul Saint like him could face.
"I never thought that one day, this Soul Saint cultivation I was so proud of would become a burden."
"That's only natural. This child was never ordinary."
"If he had not fallen from the sky and saved me twelve years ago, I might have been killed in that night raid."
Qin Yuntian muttered softly, and then his eyes filled with long-suppressed killing intent.
"And Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao. When you were traveling the continent back then, I should never have kindly given you that meal."
"The Soul Douluo head of my Qin Family discovered the secret of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast and kindly warned you."
"Yet, in order to protect the secret of that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, you launched a night raid on the Qin Family and disguised it as Spirit Hall's work."
"If my son had not appeared and completely concealed my aura, there would be no Qin Yuntian today."
"Jiuxiao's name was also given to him at that time."
"He fell from the nine heavens, and one day he will surely return to the skies and soar through the nine heavens once more!"
When Qin Yuntian thought of Qin Jiuxiao, his face was filled with fatherly affection.
A hint of satisfaction also surged within his heart.
"You, Tang Hao, are a Titled Douluo now, so I can't kill you."
"But my son Jiuxiao possesses the bearing of a god. One day, he will surely avenge me!"
"You don't have many days left to be arrogant!"
Qin Yuntian sneered, flicked his sleeve, and turned back toward the Qin Residence. He needed to return and continue cultivating.
It would be best if he could cultivate to the level of a Titled Douluo as well. Then perhaps he could personally take revenge.
As he walked, he muttered to himself.
"Jiuxiao seemed to have someone send me back a drop of blood. He said soaking in it while bathing would help cultivation. I wonder if that's true."
"He also told me to secretly purchase high-age Whale Rubber. I wonder why that brat needs supplements like that at such a young age."
"Could something be wrong with him in certain areas?"
"Forget it, I'd better not ask. I'll just do as he says."
Elsewhere, Qin Jiuxiao suddenly sneezed and opened his eyes to look around.
"Strange. Who's thinking about me?"
Before you continue