A conversation with Zhang Lexuan, awake only to faint again, Little Meng readied her poison for Brother Xiao

"Who are you? Is this the Sun Moon Empire? I'm Zhang Lexuan of the Shrek Inner Court, not some princess. I'm afraid you've mistaken me for someone else."

Zhang Lexuan was not someone who lost herself in male beauty. She quickly picked out a crucial piece of information from Yu Tianjun's words.

This was the Sun Moon Empire, a place akin to hell for Shrek students. Had she become their prisoner?

What was this powerful sense of closeness? Why did this boy, who was around Bei Bei's age, perhaps even a little younger, make her feel this way?

"As you can see, this is the Medical Room of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. I'm your attending physician, and also the person who rescued you from the Star Dou Great Forest."

Yu Tianjun shook out his limbs and settled comfortably into the sofa. Smiling, he said, "We can discuss your identity at our leisure. But when speaking to the person who saved your life, shouldn't you adopt a more relaxed attitude?"

"You remember what happened that night, don't you? With no expert protecting you from the shadows, you would already be buried in a bear's belly if we hadn't intervened."

"Even now, I find it unbelievable. I can't understand why Shrek sent no powerful protector when they knew full well how dangerous Star Dou was, with several ferocious beasts living there. Could you clear up this little puzzle for me, Senior Sister Zhang?"

Why had no one protected us at the crucial moment? Shrek didn't think we mattered, so they didn't send anyone.

Zhang Lexuan did not intend to answer that question, but she still had to preserve Shrek's dignity in front of an outsider.

"The academy has its own arrangements. I'm only a lowly Inner Court teaching assistant. I'm afraid you won't get an answer by asking me."

"Really? I happen to know you're no ordinary teaching assistant. You wouldn't trade that position even for the post of Outer Court dean of discipline."

Yu Tianjun's voice was gentle, his conversation composed and elegant, making people want to keep listening despite themselves.

"Leader of the previous generation of the Shrek Seven Devils, two-time participant in the Continental Soul Fighting Tournament, eight rings with a hundred-thousand-year ring, and the youngest person in three thousand years of Shrek history to become a Soul Douluo.

"You're the chosen successor of the current Sea God Pavilion Master, Dragon God Douluo Mu En, and the heir to Sea God's Pavilion after the next generation. Am I wrong?"

Zhang Lexuan remained calm through the first part, but her heart abruptly sank when Yu Tianjun named Mu En. When she heard "the heir to Sea God's Pavilion after the next generation," she nearly lost control of her expression.

Mu En had remained secluded for years. The outside world believed he had already fallen in battle against the Body Sect's previous sect master. Everyone knew only that Xuan Zi was the foremost figure in Sea God's Pavilion. How did this person know about Mu En?

Her status as the pavilion's heir after the next generation was a closely guarded secret even within Shrek. How could it have leaked?

Had Xuan Zi drunkenly blabbed and let a Sun Moon Empire spy overhear, or had a traitor in Sea God's Pavilion leaked it...

Impossible. It had to be the former!

Zhang Lexuan warned herself not to doubt the Four Deans and the elders. They were all over a hundred years old and could never betray the academy.

"Senior Sister Zhang, let's speak plainly. Your position in Shrek is far from low, yet Shrek's leadership doesn't value you much. You don't even have a protector. After what happened to you, these contradictory statements are the only way I can describe your situation at Shrek.

"After learning your identity, we had no intention of using it to get anything out of Shrek."

Yu Tianjun watched Zhang Lexuan's expression change three times in a second. She was clearly far from calm. This was the perfect moment to swing his hoe and dig at Shrek's foundations.

"Then what do you want? To entice me into joining the Sun Moon Empire? I advise you not to waste your effort. Even if I owe you my life, I will never betray Shrek."

When Yu Tianjun said the Sun Moon Empire did not intend to use her to profit from Shrek Academy, Zhang Lexuan's first reaction was disbelief. Then she found herself wanting to see what this person was plotting.

She had lost consciousness that night, and Ming'er had been nearby. Perhaps Ming'er was now in the Sun Moon Empire too. She could not afford to anger him lightly.

She said, "I can repay your kindness in a personal capacity, but I hope your demands will be realistic. No genius from the Three Kingdoms has ever defected to Sun Moon, much less someone like me."

Yu Tianjun shook his head with a chuckle. "There's a problem with that statement. Your martial soul is the moon, a martial soul passed down through the direct line of the Sun Moon Imperial Family. Martial souls symbolize bloodlines. You surely know that."

"So you aren't entirely a person of the Original Three Kingdoms. If my guess is correct, an important figure in the imperial family is very interested in you and probably wouldn't mind another granddaughter."

"In terms of bloodline, I should be more purely from the Three Kingdoms than you. For certain reasons, I came here from the Heaven Dou Empire."

Zhang Lexuan's expression stiffened. She said solemnly, "Even if my ancestors included members of the Sun Moon Imperial Family, that was a very long time ago.

"My family was a minor noble household in the Heaven Dou Empire. Villains murdered my entire family. Mu En of Shrek avenged them and taught me to cultivate. I also swore to protect Shrek for the rest of my life."

"What about you? Why did you turn to the Sun Moon Empire? Forgive me, but I'm too weak right now to discern anything special about you beyond your looks."

Yu Tianjun did not answer directly. He glanced sideways at the instrument constantly displaying Zhang Lexuan's physical condition and said calmly:

"As expected of the Senior Sister of the Inner Court. Your body really is strong. Your bodily functions have been recovering steadily since you woke up."

"You have my sympathy for what you went through. We did want to investigate your ancestry, but your entire family was murdered, and your enemies are dead too. There's nowhere for us to begin."

"Shrek claims to be neutral, yet Mu En, in his capacity as Sea God Pavilion Master, intervened in infighting among the Three Kingdoms' nobility. He exterminated your enemies' entire family to win your allegiance to Shrek, breaking the rules in the process. That was a transaction.

"From that, we can see that Shrek's neutrality can change. It's merely a question of whether the price is high enough. You did receive his kindness, but you've faced death twice, both times doing your utmost to protect students. That debt can be considered settled."

"Enough! Stop trying to sow discord. Shrek may have some shortcomings, but I won't allow you to tarnish Mu En's name!"

Having only just awakened from her grave injuries, Zhang Lexuan's pale cheeks gained a flush of color from her anger.

"I'm merely telling the truth. He interfered in the Three Kingdoms' internal affairs in exchange for your loyalty to Shrek. That's plainly a transaction. Not to mention his failure to teach his disciple properly. Yan Shaozhe cultivated under him for nearly a century. His character certainly didn't develop overnight."

Facing a Zhang Lexuan who temporarily could not silence him with her fists, Yu Tianjun felt quite relaxed. Shouting won't change your situation. Do you think I can't argue lofty principles too?

Shaking his head, Yu Tianjun revealed his identity.

"You asked why I came to the Sun Moon Empire. I'll tell you now. I hope you won't get too worked up..."

A little while later.

"Dark Qilin Yu Tianjun? How could it be you?"

All color drained from Zhang Lexuan's lovely face. That name had left a deep impression on her.

One Inner Court disciple of Shrek had died at his hands, and another had had his future severed by him. Yet all of it had been brought on by Yan Shaozhe himself.

"Back in Death Canyon, the King of Hell saw how stubbornly I clung to life and refused to take me. He told me to send Yan Shaozhe to him later."

Yu Tianjun yawned and said softly, "As you can see, I've left my homeland, concealed my identity, and started over in the Sun Moon Empire. Expecting me to respect Mu En is asking far too much. I'm not some spineless turtle."

"Now I'm really looking forward to seeing the expressions on those Shrek leaders who don't care about you when I appear at next year's tournament in Star Luo City as captain of the Sun Moon Team's second squad and lead them to shatter Shrek's ten-thousand-year undefeated golden body."

"Senior Sister Zhang, interested in going to Star Luo City with us next year? I'll cover your tickets and accommodations. I guarantee the best seats and the best lodgings. I'll test Shrek's true mettle fairly and squarely."

"Shrek Academy has stood on the continent for ten thousand years. Surely it wouldn't fear an ignorant young brat who doesn't know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth is? What do you think?"

Zhang Lexuan froze like a statue, her eyes staring blankly. What sort of situation was this, one she would never encounter even in a nightmare?

The person Shrek's dean had wrongfully killed was alive. He had fled countless miles to the Sun Moon Empire, would compete on its behalf, and regarded Shrek as his lifelong enemy, intent on revenge!

Coming from anyone else, those words would have been dream-talk. Coming from him, they were no idle boast. In thirty years, he really could send Shrek into the heavens.

Once an Ultimate Soul Master fully matured, a Soul Saint could fight a Titled Douluo, and a Titled Douluo could fight an Ultimate Douluo. Mu En had little life remaining. As for Xuan Zi reaching the Ultimate level, even if it was not utterly impossible, it was still a hopeless dream.

When Shrek's old guard faded before its successors were ready, who could stop the revenge of a fully matured Dark Qilin? The Three Great Empires of the original Douluo Continent would suffer too.

Once Shrek fell, the Sun Moon Empire would surely seize the opportunity to launch a war, drive straight into the Three Great Empires, and wipe away the humiliation of the holy war four thousand years ago in one stroke, renaming Douluo Continent as Sun Moon Continent.

And Shrek City would become a historical ruin like Spirit Hall. With luck, someone might salvage a few bricks.

"Why did I have to face something like this the moment I woke up? Dean Yan, what have you done?"

The more she thought, the more despairing she became. The immense pressure triggered her brain's protective mechanism. The Senior Sister of the Inner Court's mind overloaded, and she fainted.

"She just fainted like that? Are my words really that lethal?"

Zhang Lexuan's head fell back into sleep. Yu Tianjun blinked. His tone had been very calm, hadn't it?

It seemed her injuries were still too severe. He would have another heart-to-heart with her next time.

Having found the cause, Yu Tianjun activated the equipment again to stimulate Zhang Lexuan's martial soul and begin another course of treatment.

Moments later, Golden Extremity returned with a mass of dark golden soul power. Yu Tianjun refined it into his body and let out a long, clear breath.

"The dark gold terrorclaw bear's soul power is pretty good."

"Look, Meng! These are the documentary photos your brother took for you in the Star Dou Great Forest. Every shot has spirit, every frame shines."

At the Hongchen Family's Ancestral Residence, the newly promoted Soul King Xiao Hongchen strode along humming a tune, announcing Brother Xiao's triumphant return as king.

His Three-Legged Golden Toad martial soul issued a danger warning, alerting its host to a pair of icy gazes shooting toward him from the sofa.

Those icy gazes belonged to Meng Hongchen. Mingdu's Number One Study Companion, who could be either cool or sweet in front of Yu Tianjun, wore a frosty expression and a brilliant yet terrifying smile:

"Xiao Hongchen, you'd better give me an explanation. Why did you invite Tianjun out without inviting me? Don't tell me you're trying to steal my man."

Meng Hongchen's emotions had taken a complicated journey over the past few days. First, the term had ended, finally giving her time to invite Yu Tianjun on a trip around the continent and fulfill her duties as his study companion.

Then her dear grandfather told her that Yu Tianjun had requested leave to go home, and he had already let him go.

Little Meng was dumbstruck on the spot: (#>д<)ﾉ

Seeing trouble brewing, Jing Hongchen produced a Supreme External Soul Bone as though performing a magic trick—the Death Spider Emperor Eight Spider Lances, obtained from a fifty-thousand-year death spider emperor.

My dear granddaughter, your poison backlash will never be a problem again. This is a treasure your sweetheart Yu Tianjun, your grandfather's fine future grandson-in-law, entrusted to me for you before he left. The continent's future number one poison Soul Master can only be you!

A soul bone over fifty thousand years old was a priceless treasure for any Soul Master, and an external soul bone was a supreme treasure beyond even that. Sooner or later, it would become a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone and raise a Soul Master's talent by a major step.

If Meng Hongchen originally had only the talent to become a rank-ninety-five Super Douluo, absorbing the external soul bone would raise her ceiling by at least one rank.

Thus, this soul bone maxed out Jing Hongchen's favor toward Yu Tianjun. Was there anyone in the younger generation with better character, greater talent, more generous hands, or finer looks?

If they did not settle the relationship now, Jing Hongchen was even a little afraid Old Kong might select an appropriately aged girl from the imperial family for a matchmaking date, or simply stuff that "notorious" imperial Innocent Princess into the academy.

Little Meng's mood soared from the depths of the earth into the sky. The warmhearted boy she had first met in Dragon City had always remembered the root of her poison backlash. After obtaining a Supreme External Soul Bone, he had saved it for her instead of absorbing it himself...

Waaah, Little Meng hereby unilaterally declared that Yu Tianjun was the best man in the world. Letting him slip away would bring a lifetime of regret! (^o^)/~

Seeing his granddaughter's emotions stabilize, Jing Hongchen continued to comfort her, telling Meng not to worry. Xiao and Ji Juechen had both gone out with Yu Tianjun, and Liao Mengkai was accompanying them too.

That sentence made Meng Hongchen bristle.

Meng Hongchen: →_→

Liao Mengkai was a bodyguard, and the Sword Addict needed to hunt for a soul ring. What had Xiao Hongchen gone out for?

Was he trying to steal my man and lead that upright, kindhearted, pitiful Qilin down a road of no return?

In an instant, Meng Hongchen had even decided where to bury Xiao Hongchen after poisoning him to death.

She returned home and waited by the stump for Xiao to come hopping along. She channeled her vermilion sunny ice toad poison into the external soul bone and achieved a preliminary fusion with death spider emperor poison. It could easily kill a Five-Ring Soul King.

Meng Hongchen prepared an entire bottle of that poison.

I've already uncorked the poisoned wine that will send you to heaven, so don't celebrate too soon. Explain every last thing properly if you want to return to Mingdu and see your hometown elders!

The moment she spoke, Xiao Hongchen snapped out of the joy of his kingly return. He hurried over in three steps: on the first, he took out the photos; on the second, he presented them; on the third, he began pounding her back and kneading her shoulders.

At the same time, he did everything possible to make his doomed mouth say something pleasing.

"Meng, listen. We went out strictly on proper business. Proper business, understand? I went along on your behalf to keep an eye on Qilin and see whether he had any girls he was close to over there."

Xiao Hongchen stood at attention, waved his hand, and shouted, "Loyalty to Little Meng!"

Meng Hongchen nodded slightly and asked, "Then did Tianjun bring any other girls back from the Original Three Kingdoms?"

Xiao Hongchen answered without thinking, "He brought back Zhang Lexuan and Wu Ming from the Shrek Inner Court... uh, Meng, don't misunderstand."

The phantom of a Vermilion Sunny Ice Toad appeared. Meng Hongchen's eyes seemed on the verge of turning crimson as she sharpened her poison for Brother Xiao.

"Have I misunderstood?"

"Those two are old women! We were taking prisoners, taking prisoners!"

Xiao Hongchen reiterated the nature of the incident and stressed, "They're both getting on in years. Qilin definitely isn't interested in them."

"That's more like it."

The chill dissipated, and Meng Hongchen returned to normal. She gave a soft huff. "Tianjun isn't interested in them, but those old women are the most ruthless when it comes to acting coy. Make sure you keep a close eye on them."