Jiang Mingyuan shook his head. Perhaps he really was overthinking things. Over the past three years, he had occasionally felt someone watching him.
Surely Di Tian hadn't come to stake the place out three years ago.
After Jiang Mingyuan entered the room, a faint ripple spread through the space beside the stone table. Had a Titled Douluo been present, they might have noticed something amiss.
A handsome man with stern, resolute features sat on the stone stool. A dazzling streak of gold ran through his black hair, and his brilliant golden eyes exuded an authority that needed no anger to command respect.
He turned toward the two women seated beside him, one in a green dress and the other in purple, then toward the white-haired young man with eerily beautiful features who stood quietly attending them. "Forget everything you just saw and heard. Understood?" he said evenly.
Seated at the dining table with chopsticks in hand, Jiang Mingyuan looked at the lunch Na'er had carefully prepared for him, but still hadn't taken a bite.
Something about Na'er felt off.
"What's wrong, big brother?"
"Nothing. Oh, right. This is for you."
Jiang Mingyuan took an exquisite little gift box from his Storage Soul Tool. Na'er accepted it and opened it.
Inside lay a translucent red pendant carved into a lifelike phoenix. A golden glow flowed within it, and a thin red silk cord ran through it.
"Wow! It's so pretty!" Na'er eagerly put it around her neck.
"I made it myself. It's a protective charm. Keep it with you at all times. If you ever run into danger when I'm not around, it might be able to protect you."
Na'er froze for a moment. Jiang Mingyuan had no idea what she was thinking just then, nor did he want to know. Whatever happened, happened. He would eat first.
Still, Jiang Mingyuan noticed Na'er looking up at him from time to time. Wondering whether she was about to say goodbye, he began bracing himself emotionally.
Yet every time, Na'er seemed about to speak, only to stop herself, leaving Jiang Mingyuan at a complete loss.
At last, after they finished eating, Jiang Mingyuan carried all the plates and bowls into the kitchen. As he was about to wash them, Na'er stood in the doorway and summoned her courage. "Big brother. While you were taking Tang Wulin to the Spirit Pagoda, my family found me."
Jiang Mingyuan stood with his back to Na'er, scrubbing a plate. Unable to see his expression, she continued, "They've missed me a lot, too. They want to take me home."
"That's a good thing. Your family must have had a hard time searching for you these past three years. Go back and see them." Jiang Mingyuan's tone was unusually calm as he spoke to Na'er.
"Big brother, I..." Na'er lowered her head, unsure what to say. She hadn't expected her brother to react so calmly.
It was as though two little figures were talking inside Na'er's head.
Gu Yue: Why is he so calm? I'm leaving!
Na'er: Big brother knows the pain of losing his family. Now that I've found mine again, he must be happy for me. He just isn't good at expressing it.
While Na'er wrestled with her feelings, Jiang Mingyuan set down the plate, wiped the water from his hands, and walked over to her, spreading his arms.
Na'er felt warmth and reassurance, just as she had every time over the past three years when Jiang Mingyuan comforted her and held her in his arms.
Jiang Mingyuan patted Na'er's back.
"Go home. They must miss you, too. Besides, this isn't goodbye forever, is it? Na'er will come back to visit her big brother. That's enough." Jiang Mingyuan was as gentle as ever.
Na'er couldn't hold back her tears. They slid down her cheeks and soaked the front of his clothes.
"Don't cry. You'll cry yourself blind. How about we make a promise?"
Jiang Mingyuan released Na'er and wiped the tears from her cheeks. He raised his right hand and extended his little finger. "Come on, pinky promise. Na'er will come back to visit her big brother, and her big brother will come looking for Na'er, too."
"Okay. Pinky promise." Holding back her grief, Na'er raised her own right hand and extended her little finger.
"Pinky swear, hang it high. For a hundred years, the promise won't change."
On that bright, sunny afternoon, the two made a small promise, each looking forward to the day they would meet again.
Aboard the train bound for Eastsea City.
Jiang Mingyuan had to admit that his state of mind had truly been affected. He had thought that, having lived a second life, he would be able to come to terms with many things. Reality had shown him that some things simply couldn't be reasoned away.
After three years together, the day of parting had come all the same.
Seeing his good friend so downcast, Tang Wulin felt low as well.
In his memories, Jiang Mingyuan had always been confident and gentle. He had never looked this sad.
"Brother Mingyuan, don't be sad. Didn't Na'er say she would definitely come back?"
Bang!
Suddenly, an explosive report rang out in the carriage.
"Everyone! Stay in your seats and put your hands up! Don't even think about fighting back!"
Jiang Mingyuan looked up. Four men stood in the carriage, weapons in hand. The man who had just spoken held a Soul Tool Gun, a white Soul Ring pulsing around him.
Tang Wulin gripped Jiang Mingyuan's arm tightly and whispered, "Brother Mingyuan. Is this a robbery?"
But the robber nearest them heard Tang Wulin's whisper. He swung his blade over and pressed it against Jiang Mingyuan's neck.
"You little brat, what are you muttering about? Hurry up and hand over everything valuable! Then I'll spare your life."
Jiang Mingyuan's expression darkened. I'm already in a foul mood, and you still dare walk straight into the line of fire.
After three years of cultivation, Jiang Mingyuan had gained a deeper understanding of his Martial Soul. His earlier distinction between its two forms hadn't been entirely accurate. The male phoenix form wasn't incapable of fighting. Its outward calm merely concealed a deadly threat beneath the surface, just as people living in society had to learn to be smooth and steady rather than bare their fangs and claws.
The female phoenix form, on the other hand, was like a person pushed to the brink, with brutality, hatred, loathing, rage, and other extreme emotions fused together, harboring utterly undisguised killing intent.
In the Douluo World, Martial Souls and Soul Masters were closely intertwined. Ordinarily, normal emotions could mask these negative feelings. But once his emotions fluctuated, it was like setting a dry powder keg alight-an explosion could erupt in an instant.
Not to mention that the female phoenix form also carried the Destruction Godhead trait, which intensified that influence even further.
Under normal circumstances, Jiang Mingyuan would certainly have made an effort to calm himself. Right now, however, he had no desire to do so. All he wanted was to set these four bastards who had walked straight into his line of fire ablaze.
In an instant, Karma Fire ignited, spreading along the robber's arm and engulfing his entire body. The robber sprang up in a frenzy, dancing wildly. The surrounding passengers shrank back into their seats, terrified of catching fire.
A crimson domain spread from Jiang Mingyuan, enveloping the entire carriage.
Jiang Mingyuan stood, his fiery-red hair streaming wildly, and raised his hand. Like a witch of flame, he controlled everything within his domain.
Three balls of fire swooped toward the remaining robbers like ghosts. No matter how they fled or dodged, the flames would eventually catch them and burn them alive.