After Countless Voyages, He Returned Still a Youth!

Ripples rose in Dugu Chen's eyes. Perhaps even he had never expected that Ah Yin, whom he saw as gentle and kind, could sometimes become so brave.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment, as though afraid of losing the girl's resolute determination.

This was the most passionate rush of her life, and also the firmest persistence in her heart.

A gentle smile curved Dugu Chen's lips. Without the slightest hesitation, he tightened his arms and held Ah Yin tightly against his chest.

Their bodies instantly pressed together snugly, without even the smallest gap between them.

Dugu Chen lowered his head, his lips brushing Ah Yin's crystalline, rounded earlobe as he spoke with unwavering resolve:

"I am willing. Even if it means death, I am willing. No one can stop us from being together."

Ah Yin suddenly reached out and covered his lips with her finger.

A faint shimmer filled the girl's eyes, and her fingertips carried a trace of chill. Yet the heat in her words seemed capable of burning straight through his heart.

"Don't say that. If you die, what meaning would there be in my living?"

Ah Yin's almond-shaped eyes curved slightly as she smiled. Within her watery gaze, a warm light seemed to shine forth from the depths of her heart.

"Ah Yin... Sister!"

Dugu Chen's voice was soft, and his gaze suddenly became hazy. It was like a murmur, as though he feared disturbing this beautiful moment...

"Xiao Chen, if... I mean, if one day I have to become an enemy of the world, what would you do?"

Ah Yin grabbed Dugu Chen's hand, lightly biting her cherry lips as mist welled in her beautiful eyes.

Dugu Chen softened his gaze and voice. He took Ah Yin's hand and lightly kissed it, his words carrying bone-deep coldness and killing intent:

"Then I will stand at your side, sword in hand, slaughtering in every direction. If a man blocks me, I will kill the man; if a god blocks me, I will kill the god!"

"If the whole world is your enemy, then I will become an enemy of the world!"

"No, don't do that."

"If you do, you'll die. I don't want you to die..."

Ah Yin tightly wrapped her arms around Dugu Chen's broad waist, as if she wished to meld her entire body into his.

Mist swirled in those sapphire-clear eyes, gradually gathering into tears that slowly slid down her snowy cheeks.

Her voice carried a heartbreaking sorrow and haze...

Dugu Chen rested his forehead against Ah Yin's, his eyes unable to hide their tenderness and resolve.

"Then what do you want me to do? Leave you behind and live alone in loneliness? I'm sorry, I can't do that!"

"What I can do is cut down every enemy for you. Either we live together, or... we die together!"

At those words, Ah Yin's body suddenly trembled, and the delicate hand resting on Dugu Chen's chest clenched tightly.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but before the words could emerge, her expression abruptly turned bitter, and she began to sob soundlessly.

Perhaps Dugu Chen's words had instantly shattered Ah Yin's emotional defenses, or perhaps it was because she had truly fallen in love!

Tears streamed from her eyes in sheets, quickly soaking Dugu Chen's chest layer by layer.

Ah Yin raised a hand to cover her lips, her eyes trembling with emotion.

Though she was crying, she desperately held back any sobs. Her shoulders shook violently, twitching...

"It's all right, don't cry, don't cry. If you keep crying, you won't be pretty anymore!"

Dugu Chen held Ah Yin close, his nose twitching slightly as he raised a hand to caress her cheeks and comforted her softly.

At this moment, she had lost some of her liveliness, replaced by a sorrow and melancholy that made Dugu Chen feel suffocated.

Holding Ah Yin, he silently clenched his fists. His gaze turned toward the sky beyond the window, becoming incomparably resolute.

Become stronger. Becoming a Title Douluo would not be enough—then he would become a god!

Only if he possessed enough power to intimidate others could he make those covetous wolves draw back their claws, allowing him to truly stay with Ah Yin forever and never part!

At this moment, his determination to grow stronger had never been more intense!

Dugu Chen took a deep breath, lowered his head, and said firmly:

"Ah Yin, no matter what happens, I will stand resolutely before you."

"Although my strength is still weak when placed on the continent, don't worry. One day, I will certainly possess enough strength to protect you!"

"Mmm... Xiao Chen, I believe in you!"

After a long while, Ah Yin finally stopped crying and lifted her head from Dugu Chen's chest.

Crystal tears hung from her slightly reddened almond eyes, seemingly about to fall.

Lowering his head to look into those beautiful, shimmering eyes, Dugu Chen smiled and said:

"Ah Yin, although I don't know what the future holds, I am willing to face it together with you!"

Upon hearing this, Ah Yin immediately smiled through her tears.

She had not expected that the words she had just said would be repeated back to her by Xiao Chen today.

The two lingered affectionately together for a long while before finally rising to pack their things and prepare to head for Heaven Dou City.

After going downstairs, Dugu Chen returned the room key to the innkeeper.

The innkeeper accepted the key with a smile, an ambiguous look in his eyes as he watched the two embracing each other.

"Honored guests, did you sleep well last night?"

Dugu Chen gave a slight nod and looked at him calmly.

"Not bad. By the way, innkeeper, do you know where in Azure Wind City I can rent a carriage?"

"Of course I do. Head toward the eastern part of the city. There are many people there, and plenty of merchant caravans pass through."

The innkeeper pointed outside, his face beaming with enthusiasm.

"Thank you for telling me!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Dugu Chen's face as well. It seemed his money had not been wasted.

With that, he led Ah Yin out of the inn, looking every bit like an immortal couple.

"Take care, honored guests. You are welcome to visit again."

Listening to their voices fade into the distance, the innkeeper sighed inwardly.

If only a few more big-spending customers like them came by, it would nearly match a whole year's income from running the inn...

Dugu Chen took Ah Yin to the eastern part of the city. Just as the innkeeper had said, the place bustled with people, and the flow of passengers and goods was extremely frequent.

He spent several Golden Soul Coins to rent a merchant caravan's carriage bound for Heaven Dou City and traveled with it.

Heaven Dou City, the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, lay slightly northeast of the empire's center and was the core of the entire Heaven Dou Empire.

It was also one of the two largest cities on the continent. Across Douluo Continent, perhaps only the imperial capital of the Star Luo Empire could compare to it.

Standing before Heaven Dou City's gates, Dugu Chen's heart surged with excitement, and he nearly threw back his head and let out a long howl.

Heaven Dou City, I'm back!

After three or four days of arduous travel, Dugu Chen and Ah Yin had finally arrived at Heaven Dou City.

It had already been half a year since he left home. Half a year was neither particularly long nor particularly short.

But this was the first time he had been away from home and his family for so long.

When he saw Heaven Dou City's gates once more, he could not help feeling timid as he neared home.

Ah Yin held Dugu Chen's hand and looked toward Heaven Dou City, a hint of shyness appearing in her eyes.

"I'll soon meet Xiao Chen's family. Does this count as... meeting the parents?"