"Tang San, have you noticed that Chen Sixue's Martial Soul looks a little like Chen Tianyi's?"
Qian Fan asked the question he most wanted answered.
The instant Qian Fan saw Chen Sixue, he had thought of Chen Tianyi.
Although there was a vast gap between their ages, their bearing was strikingly alike.
No one would believe she wasn't his daughter.
Tang San instantly understood what Qian Fan meant.
"Brother Fan, you sensed it too."
Qian Fan nodded.
Xu Yuan'er nestled in Qian Fan's arms.
Tang San immediately thought of Xiao Wu.
A bitter ache welled up inside him.
Qian Fan sensed Tang San's longing.
"Tang San, I, Qian Fan, promise you that one day, I'll take you back to the Douluo Continent to find Xiao Wu."
Tang San looked at Qian Fan.
In his heart, he finally accepted him wholeheartedly as his elder brother.
"Brother Fan, I, Tang San, promise you too. Whatever difficulties you face in the future, I'll climb mountains of blades and plunge into seas of fire to help you."
Qian Fan laughed heartily.
"Hahaha, Tang San, we can talk about that later. For now, take Chen Sixue to Atlantis immediately and find Chen Tianyi. If he isn't there, return to the Royal Capital and find Yuan'er and me."
Tang San nodded slightly.
Then he left with Chen Sixue in his arms.
Qian Fan took Xu Yuan'er's hand.
They headed toward the Royal Capital.
Along the way, Xu Yuan'er looked somewhat sad.
Qian Fan noticed too.
"What's wrong, Yuan'er?"
Xu Yuan'er raised her head and met Qian Fan's eyes.
Her eyes instantly reddened.
She bit her lower lip hard, her gaze filled with endless sorrow and hurt.
Tears swirled in her eyes, threatening to spill at any moment.
Her hands clenched tightly and trembled slightly. Her face turned pale, and her once-bright eyes grew dull and dim.
Qian Fan's body trembled slightly, as though Xu Yuan'er's emotions had startled him. His lips parted as he tried to say something, but for a moment, words failed him.
Qian Fan watched Xu Yuan'er intently, trying to read her thoughts from her expression.
Soon,
Qian Fan gave up.
He simply asked her outright.
"Yuan'er, what's wrong?"
Xu Yuan'er threw her arms tightly around Qian Fan.
"Brother Qian Fan, please don't go back to the Douluo Continent, okay? Don't abandon me. What will I do if you abandon me?"
With that,
Xu Yuan'er buried her head in Qian Fan's chest.
She cried the whole way.
She even fell asleep from exhaustion. That evening, Qian Fan went to see Xu Yuan'er.
It was a peaceful night, with moonlight spilling over the ground like water. Xu Yuan'er sat quietly by the bed, tears welling in her eyes and her heart heavy.
Qian Fan walked softly to her side, sat down, and gently drew her into his arms.
"Don't be sad. I won't leave you behind." Qian Fan's voice was filled with comfort and promise. He gently stroked Xu Yuan'er's hair, letting her feel his warmth and care.
Xu Yuan'er raised her head and looked into Qian Fan's eyes, her own filled with pain and unease. "I'm so scared. Scared you'll leave me..." Her voice trembled.
Qian Fan took her hand and smiled. "I know you're worried, but I promise I'll always be by your side. Whatever happens, I won't leave you." His gaze was firm and sincere, giving Xu Yuan'er a little peace of mind.
Qian Fan continued comforting Xu Yuan'er, telling her about the wonderful times they had experienced together and recalling the happy moments they had shared. He said those memories were an unbreakable bond between them, one that would always hold them close.
Xu Yuan'er gradually calmed down. She leaned against Qian Fan's shoulder, feeling his warmth.
"Brother Qian Fan, will you marry me in the future?"
Qian Fan nodded.
"Yuan'er, one day, I'll marry you and take you back to the Douluo Continent to meet my grandfather and younger sister. There are so many fun places there. When the time comes, I'll take you to every corner of the Douluo Continent.
"But before that, I need to improve my strength as quickly as possible. So I'm thinking of going into seclusion in five days to try breaking through to level 81 without a Soul Ring. It might take over a month. Would you agree to that?"
Xu Yuan'er slowly loosened her embrace.
"Brother Qian Fan, I agree. I need to improve my strength too. But tonight, you have to sleep beside me. You must, and you can't argue."
That night,
The moon shone especially brightly.
Qian Fan and Xu Yuan'er lay on the soft bed, their bodies pressed close as they felt each other's warmth. A faint fragrance filled the room, and soft light fell over them.
Qian Fan gently stroked Xu Yuan'er's hair, his eyes filled with tenderness and love. Xu Yuan'er nestled quietly in his arms, enjoying the peace and intimacy.
Their breathing gradually steadied, as though they were the only two people in the world. In that quiet moment, their hearts drew even closer as they shared their dreams and hopes.
Happy times were always fleeting.
Early the next morning,
At the Star God Palace,
Xu Fangyuan and Chen Dao stood facing each other, their auras as weighty as Mount Tai. Even the air around them seemed to freeze.
As they moved, dull crashes rang out one after another, like thunder exploding in the sky.
Every attack came with a howling rush of wind, like the furious roar of a mighty dragon.
Their weapons clashed with crisp metallic notes, like a peal of chime bells reverberating throughout the space. The mighty fighters' breathing was clearly audible too, sometimes deep, sometimes rapid, like drumbeats playing a stirring melody for the battle.
Xu Fangyuan, at the Supergod Third Tier, was locked in fierce combat with Chen Dao, at the Supergod First Tier.
Light flashed across the sky, their auras surging with tremendous force. Xu Fangyuan was tall and imposing, every punch carrying the power to destroy heaven and earth, while Chen Dao was agile and unpredictable, his swordplay like a gale-driven downpour. The shock waves from their battle shook the surrounding houses until they teetered on the verge of collapse, and people fled in terror in every direction.
Qian Fan and Xu Yuan'er watched nervously, sensing the ferocity and danger of the battle.
Xu Yuan'er gripped Qian Fan's hand tightly, her eyes full of worry.
At the battle's climax, Xu Fangyuan unleashed his ultimate technique, sending a massive beam of light hurtling toward Chen Dao.
Chen Dao gave it everything he had, his swordplay weaving together like phantoms as he tried to block the blow.
At last, the light collided with the sword radiance, unleashing an explosion that shook heaven and earth. Amid the billowing smoke and dust, Xu Fangyuan and Chen Dao each staggered back several steps, their breathing showing a hint of exhaustion.
The battle subsided for the moment.
Until Qian Fan stepped out, holding Xu Yuan'er's hand...
Before you continue