Liu Erlong

Qian Chenzhou stepped onto the carriage using a small stool and sat inside. Ghost followed him in at the same time, unable to understand where the little fellow was heading now.

But his task was to protect him, so he did not ask further.

The coachman did not ask for their destination either. Once Qian Chenzhou had boarded, he immediately drove toward the predetermined location.

Golden Crocodile landed directly atop the carriage, staring curiously at the Soul Douluo.

After all, they were members of his own clan. Even if he was discovered, it would not matter much—as long as that brat Chenzhou did not discover him!

The horses had Soul Beast bloodlines, and their endurance and speed far surpassed ordinary horses. The only troublesome part was that they needed to eat flesh and blood, but that was not much of a problem.

In the dead of night, the coachman casually slaughtered a century-old Soul Beast and tossed it onto the ground.

The horses immediately began tearing into it.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, they continued on their journey.

After leaving Spirit City's territory, the roads became rather unsafe. Under the rule of the Heaven Dou Empire, nobles were practically absolute local tyrants, and many commoners had been displaced and turned to banditry.

However, none of those people dared to stop a carriage traveling at night when it bore Spirit Hall's insignia.

After a full two days and two nights of travel, they finally reached their destination.

Dragon Family Village, within the Heaven Dou Empire.

When the villagers heading out to work the fields that morning saw the luxurious carriage arrive, they could not help stopping to observe it.

There were Soul Masters here, but they were generally only Great Soul Masters. Their knowledge naturally surpassed that of these farmers.

"This humble one is the chief of Dragon Family Village. Greetings, my lord from Spirit Hall."

The middle-aged man, around fifty years old, stepped forward and bowed to the Soul Douluo before him.

The carriage curtain was drawn aside, and Qian Chenzhou stepped down, sweeping his gaze over the villagers.

"Which one of you is Liu Erlong?"

The village chief froze for a moment before delighting. "Honored young master, I know. I will lead the way for you."

Qian Chenzhou got down from the carriage and followed him along the ground.

Hidden in the distance, Golden Crocodile heard that the brat Chenzhou had come looking for someone and could not help wondering who this Liu Erlong was to make him care so much.

An old wooden house stood there. Inside, a young girl in practical clothes held an axe and split firewood with practiced, crisp movements.

The firewood was soon chopped into pieces and piled beneath the eaves in front of the courtyard.

"Erlong! Erlong! Distinguished guests have arrived!"

Just as Liu Erlong was about to take some firewood, she heard the familiar voice of the village chief. She turned around and saw him leading one adult and one child toward her. She clapped her hands together, brushing off the dust.

When Qian Chenzhou approached, Liu Erlong could tell from his clothing that it was certainly expensive.

She did not understand why someone like him had come looking for a girl from such a remote village, but she became thoroughly vigilant.

"Cough, cough."

A burst of coughing came from inside the house.

"Please excuse me for a moment." Liu Erlong did not wait for their response before turning and rushing into the house.

Seeing Liu Erlong act this way, the village chief cursed her inwardly for not knowing any better!

Turning back, he smiled apologetically at Qian Chenzhou. "Young master, please do not be angry. Erlong has always been like this. She has a gravely ill mother to care for. She could have entered an advanced academy for further study, but she could not bear to leave her mother. She is a filial child."

"Go and bring a healing Soul Master here."

The Soul Douluo acknowledged the order and swiftly headed for the nearest Spirit Hall Branch.

Qian Chenzhou walked toward the wooden house.

Pushing open the door, he saw a woman lying in bed. She was rather pretty, but thin and gaunt, with sunken eye sockets. Clearly, she had suffered from illness for many years.

Liu Erlong sat beside the bed, lifted the medicine bowl from its side, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to her mother's mouth.

"Erlong, guests have come." The woman sat by the bed and reached out to take the medicine, patting Liu Erlong's hand at the same time. "Mother can take the medicine herself. Go entertain the guests first."

"There is no rush." Qian Chenzhou stepped forward and placed his hand over her wrist, feeling her pulse. "This is not a major problem. Once you receive treatment later and take the medicine I prescribe, it will be fine."

"It will simply take time."

"Really?!" Liu Erlong swiftly turned her head, looking at Qian Chenzhou with excitement.

For years, she had watched her mother's condition worsen day by day, and she had been frantic with worry. She was unwilling to give up on any hope.

Over the years, every subsidy she had received from Spirit Hall had gone into this. She had hired healing Soul Masters before, but the results had never been good.

The Soul Douluo moved quickly. Less than half an hour later, he appeared in the house with a healing Soul Master behind him.

When the healing Soul Master saw Ghost, his expression changed drastically, and he was just about to bow.

"Treat her." Ghost pointed at the woman on the bed and spoke calmly.

"Yes!"

"Sixth Soul Skill, Healing Light."

Six Soul Rings appeared beneath the healing Soul Master. His sixth Soul Ring lit up, followed by the Soul Staff in his palm.

Green light entered the woman's body.

The woman's complexion gradually became much rosier. She still coughed, but the frequency had eased considerably.

"Thank you! Thank you!"

With tears in her eyes, Liu Erlong looked at Qian Chenzhou and immediately dropped to her knees before him.

She had previously gone to the Spirit Hall Branch in search of this healing Soul Master, yet she had never even been able to see him. Not to mention the costly Gold Soul Coins required to ask for his help. Yet now, it had taken only a single word from this young man.

It made her realize that the youth before her was already a descendant of one of Spirit Hall's foremost families.

What confused her even more was why he had come to find her.

There were surely many more female Soul Masters than her, and beautiful ones as well. If he wanted a maid or a woman, all it would take was a word.

"It is too early to thank me." Qian Chenzhou spoke lightly, quickly taking out paper and brush and writing out a prescription in sweeping strokes. "Have medicine prepared for your mother according to these amounts. From here on, it will only be a matter of recuperation."

"Thank you!" Liu Erlong excitedly accepted the prescription and pressed it to her chest like an incomparable treasure. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Come out and let us talk."

Liu Erlong looked at his retreating figure. Without asking anything, she followed him outside.

In the front courtyard, at a glance from Ghost, the village chief and the Soul Douluo left the small courtyard. Ghost casually set up a barrier of soul power, cutting off all outside sight.

"You are not actually called Liu Erlong. You should be called Yu Erlong, am I right?" Qian Chenzhou asked with a smile, looking at the young girl across from him.

Upon hearing the name Yu Erlong, Liu Erlong's expression changed.