Heaven Dou City had stood on the Douluo Continent for twenty thousand years. Once the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, it held an exceptionally rich legacy of ages past.
The city had laid down an ironclad rule: to preserve the ancient city's appearance, no artificial structure could exceed fifty meters in height, except for the Spirit Pagoda's main tower.
There were no sprawling clusters of high-rises within the city. Scattered ancient buildings and towering old trees framed one another, long bluestone streets crisscrossed into the distance, and shops stood in rows. Soul Masters and ordinary citizens came and went in endless streams, the bustle of everyday life never fading.
Old and new mingled in the ancient city. Deep within its old streets and lanes stood a vast commercial complex, known to the locals as the Heaven Dou Myriad Treasures Mall.
Most of the city's fresh, lively events were held there.
The three found seats by the window in the Snow King Milk Tea Shop. Wind chimes jingled as the door swung open, and rich milky aromas mingled with the sweetness of fresh fruit, curling around them.
A fine layer of droplets clung to the chilled drinks, sending a faint coolness through their fingertips at a touch.
Leng Nu Jiao unconsciously rubbed her cup, her gaze repeatedly straying to the special fresh-fruit drink in Tang Qingye's hand.
Without waiting for his permission, she leaned forward slightly, caught the straw between her lips, and took a long sip. Refreshing sweetness flooded her throat, and the corners of her eyes curved, holding the lively mischief unique to a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl.
"How does it taste?"
Tang Qingye glanced sideways at her, his tone level and betraying little emotion. Beneath his cool brows, his gaze rested quietly on her puffed-out cheeks.
"Better than mine!"
Leng Nu Jiao tipped her head back and swallowed the juice, utterly unabashed. "How about we swap?"
Leng Yaozhu sat quietly beside them with her drink, her slender fingertips idly stroking the cold cup, her long lashes trembling slightly.
Watching the two banter, she wore a faint smile. Then she raised her hand and gently pushed her own drink toward Tang Qingye.
"Try mine."
Her voice was gentle and unhurried. Her phoenix eyes rested quietly on Tang Qingye, her gaze lingering and teasing, yet concealing a trace of unspoken probing.
Tang Qingye looked at the cup pushed toward him and paused slightly. A faint flush crept over the tips of his ears as he answered softly, "Master, we're in public. Isn't this a little inappropriate?"
Leng Yaozhu did not withdraw her hand. Still watching him quietly, a glimmer shifted in her eyes. "It's only a drink. Are you having it or not? Now you're acting all proper?"
There were plenty more simple yet forceful remarks like that.
Leng Nu Jiao looked between them and could not resist piping up softly, "Master, you're playing favorites! Why haven't you offered me a taste?"
"If you want one, I'll buy you one separately later."
Leng Yaozhu gave the girl a mild glance before turning her attention back to Tang Qingye.
Leng Nu Jiao muttered a couple of aggrieved complaints, then suddenly remembered their plans, her eyes lighting up. "Right, after we're done shopping, shall we have lunch at Yuhao Grilled Fish on the third floor? I heard they've introduced a spirit-pepper flavor."
Leng Yaozhu's lips lifted slightly. Her gaze shifted gently toward Tang Qingye beside her. "I have no objection. It depends on what Qingye wants."
Both gazes landed on Tang Qingye.
The bot replied, "Sure."
With most of her drink still left, Leng Nu Jiao happened to glance through the floor-to-ceiling window.
Pedestrians hurried along the street, and great crowds of visitors surged like a tide in the same direction. Noisy chatter and laughter slipped through the gaps in the window.
In their conversations, passersby mentioned Myriad Treasures Mall again and again.
Following the flow of people with her gaze, she saw an enormous, shimmering Soul Tool banner hanging outside a distant building. Its flashing words came clearly into view: Heaven Dou Myriad Treasures Mall-limited-time Romance Continent cosplayer gathering.
Leng Nu Jiao's eyes lit up at once. She immediately set down her cup and tugged lightly on Tang Qingye's sleeve. "Let's go take a look too! I heard lots of cosplayers have come whose costumes are incredibly faithful to the original."
"A cosplay gathering?"
Tang Qingye followed her gaze toward the distant banner and asked quietly, "Are they all portraying legendary figures from the continent?"
"Exactly!"
Leng Nu Jiao nodded repeatedly, brimming with enthusiasm. "Lots of people made a special trip here to check it out. It's a rare chance."
Leng Yaozhu nodded lightly, rose, and settled the bill.
"Since you want to go, let's take a look together."
Tang Qingye: It couldn't be what I'm thinking, could it...
The three joined the surging crowd and walked slowly toward the distant Myriad Treasures Mall.
The interior of Myriad Treasures Mall was spacious and bright. Colorful silk streamers hung along its tiered galleries, and shimmering Soul Guidance Lamps dotted the surroundings.
Visitors jostled shoulder to shoulder. Cosplayers in elaborate costumes were scattered throughout the hall, reenacting famous romantic scenes passed down on the Douluo Continent for ten thousand years.
Passersby raised Soul Tool cameras to film or started livestreams. Most people's gazes went straight to the female cosplayers' shapely figures.
Many of the female cosplayers were tall, their fitted gowns outlining full curves just so, with long, straight legs beneath their skirts.
Their makeup was exquisite, and their every movement drew crowds of visitors to stop and watch. The overlapping clicks of shutters never ceased.
Tang Qingye followed the crowd's gazes, openly studying the eye-catching figures.
Fake boobs sure were dazzling!
Noticing how long his gaze lingered on other people's graceful figures, Leng Nu Jiao felt a sudden sourness in her chest. Her cheeks tightened slightly, and she nudged Tang Qingye's arm, muttering, "Are they really that pretty? You're looking awfully closely."
Tang Qingye withdrew his gaze and glanced at her mildly. "They really are quite nice."
That honest answer only deepened Leng Nu Jiao's jealousy. She inwardly regretted it; had she known, she would never have dragged him here.
Leng Yaozhu stood quietly to one side, taking in everything before her as she pondered: her disciple was young and fond of admiring beautiful figures. Should she counsel him against it, or let nature take its course?
Her thoughts shifted, and she silently drafted an imaginary post: My disciple is still young and enjoys attending worldly cosplay gatherings to admire women's figures. Should I discipline him strictly?
The next moment, she saw replies arriving one after another: That's perfectly normal for a young man. Why punish him?
A master should be open-minded, not overly restrictive.
His master should cosplay herself to teach him, so he'll stop paying attention to worldly painted beauties...
On the temporary stage in the center of the hall, one pair of cosplayers was particularly striking.
The man wore a navy brocade robe subtly embroidered with slender Blue Silver Grass patterns, his bearing composed. The girl beside him wore a layered pink-and-white gauze gown, her hair loose, soft rabbit-ear ornaments hanging beside her ears, perfectly recreating the outfit from the sacrifice scene.
The blue-robed man bent down and gently gathered the girl into his arms. His shoulders trembled slightly as he threw back his head and roared in anguish, "Come back to life! My love!"
Low-grade Soul Tools simulated a faint, blood-red glow spreading outward. Visitors all around raised their cameras, overlapping exclamations of amazement rising from the crowd.
The surrounding crowd was immersed in the recreated iconic scene. Tang Qingye alone went rigid, a physical nausea churning inside him. His toes nearly clawed trenches into the polished stone tiles, and all he wanted was to get away as quickly as possible.
"Tsk."
What he had feared most had happened after all. Could his eyes and ears still be saved...?
They could, brother. They could.
Buddha: "Fall back behind me. Wash away the worldly paint; let none of it touch your family."
Noticing his listless expression, Leng Nu Jiao realized that her momentary whim had made him uncomfortable.
She stuck out her pink tongue, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. Her voice was soft and pleading. "Sorry! I didn't know you disliked watching this stuff. If I'd known, I wouldn't have dragged you here."
"It's fine."
Tang Qingye's tone softened, without any hint of blame, though he refused to look toward the stage again.
Leng Yaozhu said softly, "If it makes you uncomfortable, we can step aside for a while and continue browsing once this scene is over."
The Tang San and Xiao Wu cosplayers slowly left the stage, and most of the crowd gradually dispersed. Dense clusters of people gathered around another platform on the other side of the mall, and the noise swelled again.
A young man stood tall in a crisp, snow-white martial outfit. The woman beside him wore a pink-to-blue gradient gown, subtle light flowing through the butterfly patterns on its skirt. A butterfly mark adorned her forehead, and her features were bright and lively.
The young man hovered slightly above the ground, his gestures sharp and decisive as he loudly called out the names of his moves: "Haodong Three Absolutes! Si Dong Fist, Thoughts Flow Like a Spring! Winter-Longing Sword, Unforgettable Thoughts! Haodong Palm, For All Eternity!"
Pale-blue Soul Power phantoms appeared, simulated through props. The woman danced gracefully in time with his moves, creating a beautiful, lifelike scene as onlookers exclaimed in admiration.
"It's so moving!"
They were chasing me down to finish me off!
Leng Nu Jiao carefully watched his expression and suggested quietly, "How about... we go wait at the grilled fish restaurant early?"
Tang Qingye nodded slightly. "Sure."
Just as the three were about to move, a sudden commotion broke out at the edge of the crowd.
Visitors parted to either side like a tide. Many women looked disgusted and hurriedly pulled their companions far away.
At the center of the space everyone had cleared, a hunched, shriveled figure slowly emerged.
It was none other than 20240518853193.
My name is 20240518853193. I have no name, only this numerical ID.
I was alone and miserable from childhood. My parents died early, and with neither family nor friends, I struggled through the world alone.
I have no abilities, neither learning nor skills, and have never accomplished anything worthwhile in my life.
Only when I hide in the shadows and brazenly harass others, or attack strangers online and stir up disputes, can I grasp a faint shred of a sense of existence.
Others call me twisted, a pedophile. Everyone avoids me like the plague.
No one has seen my sunless childhood. No one is willing to spare me even a fraction of warmth.
I obsessively crave young girls, always approaching to spy on them, yearning for tenderness forever beyond my reach.
I know everyone loathes me and despises my filth and sickness, but the long-standing emptiness inside me is hard to fill.
By chance, I heard that Heaven Dou Myriad Treasures Mall was hosting a romance cosplay festival, with countless pretty cosplayers gathered there.
After much traveling, I made a special trip here. Originally, I only intended to watch from afar, but the twisted desires pent up inside me for years could no longer be suppressed.
The man was shriveled and hunched, his skin grayish-yellow from long deprivation of sunlight. Greasy, disheveled hair stuck to his forehead, his tiny, murky eyes constantly darted about, and a strand of sticky drool perpetually hung at the corner of his mouth.
His clothes were wrinkled, filthy, and covered in stains. A stale, rank, moldy odor surrounded him; even a distant glimpse was enough to make one uncomfortable.
He kept muttering vulgar obscenities, repeatedly whispering "Mommy" in a strange, deranged tone.
He brazenly pushed toward several female cosplayers, his gaze greedy and obscene, his hand about to reach out and touch them.
"How dare you!"
An angry shout suddenly rang out. A middle-aged Soul Master in martial attire among the crowd could no longer hold back.
Soul Power erupted. A concentrated, pale-green shockwave whistled forth, striking 20240518853193 squarely in the groin.
"Aah!!!"
A heart-rending scream exploded, shrill and piercing.
20240518853193's legs abruptly curled inward, and he crashed to his knees, both hands clamped tightly over his crotch.
Dark-red blood mixed with cloudy filth streamed continuously through his fingers, soaking his ragged clothes and spreading across the floor tiles. An intense, choking stench of blood and urine instantly filled the surroundings.
An uproar swept through the visitors. Everyone backed away, unwilling to approach that patch of filth.
The mall's patrolling security guards arrived at the noise, quickly parted the crowd, and rushed forward. Upon seeing the scene, they immediately produced restraints and subdued the constantly twitching 20240518853193, waiting for the city guard to take over.
Leng Nu Jiao glanced at the spreading filth on the floor and abruptly went pale. She hastily turned her head away, her brows tightly knitted as waves of nausea churned in her stomach.
Disgust rose in Leng Yaozhu's eyes. Unwilling to watch any longer, she reached out and lightly tugged Tang Qingye's sleeve. "This is an unbearable sight. Let's leave now and go straight to the grilled fish restaurant."
"Wonderful. I didn't want to keep browsing anyway," Leng Nu Jiao immediately replied, quietly drawing closer to Tang Qingye's side, wanting only to leave the chaos as soon as possible.
Tang Qingye swept an indifferent glance over the chaotic crowd and the man curled on the floor, then nodded lightly. "Let's go."
A wisp of pale-green mist silently drifted out and settled on 20240518853193. A fresh round of piercing screams suddenly erupted.
Finishing blows were important.
The three set off for Yuhao Grilled Fish.
The rich, charred fragrance of fish greeted them.
A gilded sign reading "Yuhao Grilled Fish" came into view. Inside, voices clamored, and thin smoke rose slowly from the charcoal grills.
Rows of water-filled jade tanks lined one side of the dining hall, with spirit fish of various kinds swimming freely within.
As the three entered, an attendant wearing a navy apron hurried over.
"Welcome, honored guests! All our grilled fish are live spirit fish, caught, slaughtered, and grilled fresh. We offer two-flavor and three-flavor combinations on a single fish."
Leng Nu Jiao walked slowly to the tanks and lightly touched the water with a fingertip, startling the fish into scattering.
"Young master, come look at this green-striped spirit fish. It's so well-proportioned and lively."
Tang Qingye walked over to the tank and calmly examined the swimming fish. "The flesh is decent, but it has a few too many bones."
Leng Nu Jiao frowned slightly, a touch of petulance entering her voice. "It's the liveliest one in the entire tank."
Beside them, Leng Yaozhu spoke softly with a smile. "No need to argue. Let's choose this one and try the restaurant's two-flavor grilled fish."
Leng Nu Jiao's expression relaxed, and she raised a hand to summon the attendant to catch the spirit fish.
They found a table and sat down to wait for their grilled fish.
Before long, the attendant brought their drinks and took the opportunity to mention the restaurant's event.
"Please wait a little, honored guests. Your grilled fish will be ready soon. We're currently holding a talent event. Adults and children alike can sing or play an instrument onstage, and anyone who performs receives a serving of spirit vegetables."
As he finished, Leng Nu Jiao's eyes brightened slightly, and she immediately turned toward Tang Qingye.
Leng Yaozhu also turned her head, both their gazes landing on him.
Leng Nu Jiao spoke with a hint of encouragement. "Young master, why not go up and give it a try?"
Tang Qingye shook his head lightly. "Performing in public is too showy. No need. I can't outdo 20240518853193."
"It's only to pass the time while we wait."
Leng Yaozhu calmly chimed in.
His master and senior sister fell silent, watching him quietly, plainly unwilling to let the matter drop.
Tang Qingye looked at them and sighed soundlessly.
I'd been set up, folks.
"Very well. But I don't have many talents. I can only play one piano piece. I wonder whether the restaurant..."
"We do, we do! There's a piano right on the stage in the dining hall!"
The attendant immediately answered.
Tang Qingye rose and walked toward the stage, slowly sat down, and rested his fingers lightly on the keys.
After a brief silence, a gentle melody began to flow. It was "Moonlight Sonata."
The music began soft as water, like moonlight spreading across a lake, before gradually taking on a faint layer of melancholy.
The notes spread in waves, sweeping through the entire grilled fish restaurant.
The overlapping chatter and laughter gradually subsided. Diners stopped talking one after another, instinctively looking toward the source of the piano music.
The lilting melody drifted through the open doors and out onto the street.
Xu Xiaoyu was standing outside the restaurant with Xu Xiaoyan.
He had heard that Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin had come together to Heaven Dou City for a vacation and had kept it in mind, but he did not know where they were.
Hungry, Xu Xiaoyan had clamored to visit this grilled fish restaurant, pestering him relentlessly. Helpless, he could only accompany her.
Xu Xiaoyan had delicate features, her light-blue twin ponytails falling to her shoulders. She looked quiet and well-behaved, but her temperament was stubborn and unruly, like an unrestrained little Demon Pill.
As the lovely piano music reached her ears, Xu Xiaoyan's eyes suddenly lit up, and she abruptly pulled free of Xu Xiaoyu's hand.
"Big brother, the piano sounds so pretty! I want to go see!"
Xu Xiaoyu hurriedly reached to catch her, gently cautioning, "Don't run off. Let's find somewhere to sit first."
Xu Xiaoyan would hear none of it. She darted through the diners coming and going, rushing toward the source of the piano music.
Xu Xiaoyu's heart clenched, and he hurried after her.
He pushed through the crowd, his gaze passing over the layers of figures to settle on the boy at the piano.
The instant their eyes met, images of his brush with death inside the Spirit Ascension Platform surged into his mind.
A bone-chilling cold crept up his spine, and the fear lingering from that day locked his limbs in a vise.
Xu Xiaoyu stopped dead in his tracks, his body trembling slightly beyond his control. His lips quivered for a long time before he haltingly squeezed out a few words: "You... you..."
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