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She could clearly sense that of the newfound power within her, one part came from the Creation Mystic Soul Pill, while another came from that strand of Cold Spring Water. And the source of it all was the young man before her, whom she had brought back to the Shui Family twelve years ago.

"Yekong." Shui Qingrou reached out and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "You gave the Shui Family a Titled Douluo. I'll remember this kindness for the rest of my life."

Bing Yekong smiled and shook his head. "What are you saying, Aunt Shui? We're all family. There's no need to distinguish between such things."

Seeing how calmly he took it, Shui Qingrou became even more convinced that this young man was extraordinary. So young, yet already so composed; he brushed aside such a tremendous contribution as though it were nothing. With such temperament, he was destined for greatness.

She still wanted to say something, but a sudden commotion came from outside.

"Qingrou! I heard you broke through to Titled Douluo?!"

A booming voice rang out from beyond the main gate, full of vigor and carrying the distinctive lightness and flamboyance of a wind-attribute Soul Master. Immediately afterward, Feng Tianlin strode through the gates of the Shui Family, followed by Huo Lieyang, the Fire Clan head, dressed in red.

Feng Tianlin and Huo Lieyang were both veteran Soul Douluos of Element City and had been friends with Shui Qingrou for many years. As the leaders of Element City's three great families, their relationship was both close and subtle. They were allies, but also rivals competing in secret.

The moment Feng Tianlin entered, his gaze fell upon Shui Qingrou. The naturally emanating pressure of a Titled Douluo could not escape his senses. His expression shifted from initial confirmation to shock, then from shock to undisguised admiration.

"It's true! Qingrou, you really broke through to Titled Douluo!"

Huo Lieyang also stepped forward and looked Shui Qingrou up and down, nodding repeatedly. "Good! Excellent! Element City finally has a Titled Douluo standing guard! If word gets out, it'll probably cause quite a stir even in Heaven Dou City."

Shui Qingrou smiled and welcomed them. "You two came at just the right time. I was about to send someone to invite you over for a drink. Someone, prepare tea!"

After the three took their seats, Feng Tianlin sighed with emotion. As he drank tea, he slapped his thigh and said, "Qingrou, you have no idea. These past few days, my Xiaotian has been shouting every day about training hard, saying he can't let himself be surpassed by Bing Yekong. At first, I wondered why he had suddenly become so motivated. Then I found out." He glanced at Bing Yekong. "It was the pill your boy gave my son."

Huo Lieyang picked up the thread as well. "My girl was the same. After she returned, she became a completely different person. She's been training more than three times as hard as before. Even Huo Wushuang has been acting like he was injected with stimulants, spending every day in the training grounds. When I looked into it, I learned it was also a pill Yekong gave them."

Under the blazing gazes of the two family heads, Bing Yekong rubbed his nose awkwardly. "You two are too kind. They were just small things, not worth mentioning."

Feng Tianlin burst into laughter. "Not worth mentioning? You made my daughter's Martial Soul evolve into Ultimate Fire, and that's not worth mentioning? My Xiaotian rose three ranks in a row, and that's not worth mentioning?" He stood and walked over to Bing Yekong, giving his shoulder a forceful pat. "From now on, you're an honored guest of the Feng Family! If you need anything, just say the word. Uncle Feng won't refuse!"

Huo Lieyang rose as well and solemnly cupped his hands toward Bing Yekong. "The Fire Clan feels the same. From this day onward, your affairs, Bing Yekong, are the affairs of the Fire Clan."

Bing Yekong hurriedly stood and returned the salute, though inwardly, he let out a quiet sigh of relief. When he gave pills to Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian, he had already anticipated this day. The Feng, Shui, and Fire families had always been closely connected. Now that Shui Qingrou had broken through to Titled Douluo, he, the young man who had linked them together, naturally became the bond drawing the three families even closer.

With the Feng Family and Fire Clan making their positions clear, the Shui Family's standing in Element City became more unshakable than ever.

That evening, Shui Qingrou hosted a banquet for the two family heads. The table drank cup after cup, from afternoon until the moon hung high in the sky. Feng Tianlin and Huo Lieyang were both forthright men. During the feast, they alternated between marveling at how difficult Shui Qingrou's path to Titled Douluo had been and pulling Bing Yekong over to praise his accomplishments at such a young age, making his ears burn red.

After the banquet ended, the courtyard returned to silence. Bing Yekong saw off the two slightly drunk family heads. As he turned and walked deeper into the Shui Family residence, he saw Shui Qingrou standing beneath the old locust tree in the courtyard, looking up at the moon overhead.

She wore a simple blue dress that day. The evening breeze stirred her hem and the ends of her hair, making her seem to possess less of a family head's authority than usual and more of an ordinary woman's gentleness.

"Aunt Shui, you're not resting yet?"

Hearing him, Shui Qingrou turned around. When she saw it was him, she smiled. "I can't sleep. I only broke through recently, so my soul power is still a little restless."

Bing Yekong walked over and stood beside her, lifting his head to look at the bright moon as well. The full moon hung at the center of the sky, its silvery light spilling across the courtyard and coating the tree shadows and stone steps in a faint silver sheen.

"You're a Titled Douluo now," he suddenly said. "What plans do you have?"

Shui Qingrou paused slightly before shaking her head. "I haven't thought that far ahead yet. First, I'll manage the Shui Family well and raise Bing'er and Yue'er into capable people. We can talk about the rest later." She turned to look at Bing Yekong, her eyes holding a gentle smile. "Besides, you have more ideas than I do. You can make the decisions about the future."

Bing Yekong met her warm eyes, and his heart stirred slightly. Then he smiled and nodded. "All right. Leave it to me."

The night wind swept through the old locust tree in the courtyard, making its leaves rustle. Shui Qingrou patted his shoulder, then turned and headed toward her own courtyard, her steps far lighter than usual.

Bing Yekong stood where he was and watched her figure disappear around the corner of the corridor. Then he withdrew his gaze and looked once more at the moon overhead.

From today onward, the Shui Family had a Titled Douluo as well.

That afternoon, Bing Yekong was helping Yang Wudi organize a new batch of medicinal herbs in the alchemy room when someone sent by Shui Qingrou summoned him to the headmistress's office.

When he pushed open the door, Shui Bing'er was already seated inside. Five unfamiliar yet vaguely familiar faces stood beside her. Shui Qingrou sat behind the desk with a list in hand. Seeing Bing Yekong enter, she beckoned him over.

"Yekong, come take a look at this."

Bing Yekong stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the five girls. They appeared to be third- and fourth-year students of Tianshui Academy, dressed in the academy's signature blue-and-white uniforms, each with a distinct bearing. Some were quiet and reserved, while others looked spirited and imposing, but without exception, they all watched Bing Yekong with obvious curiosity and scrutiny.

After all, the title of Tianshui Academy's only male student had long since spread throughout the academy.