[Check Out My P4treon For +50 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/roooaaa]
===
The scenery along the way always lacked a pair of eyes to appreciate its beauty.
"There's no need to rush the journey back."
After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, Zhongli parted ways with Qian Renxue and Cixue.
The return trip was a destination, but their circumstances were different.
Zhongli was in no hurry to go back, but Qian Renxue had no choice—she had to return as soon as possible. Thus, going their separate ways was for the best.
"Zhongli, I never expected Miss Qian Renxue to have hidden in Heaven Dou City for so many years—and even disguised herself as the Crown Prince!" Paimon remarked with some amazement.
Zhongli was a bit bewildered by Qian Renxue's honesty.
Logically speaking, something so important should have required an explanation, followed by a request for secrecy.
Yet, against all expectations, she had laid everything bare—even how she had murdered Xue Qinghe and the other princes.
"Don't you think Qian Renxue's methods are a bit too cruel?"
Zhongli tilted his head slightly, a faint smile on his face.
"Cruel?"
Listening to Qian Renxue's story, Paimon had felt like she was hearing a tale—nothing about it struck her as particularly cruel.
If anything, Zhongli smashing two 100,000-year soul beasts right in front of her had been far more brutal.
"Well… maybe a little cruel."
"After all, Xue Qinghe took Qian Renxue in out of kindness, only to end up raising a viper in his bosom. She assassinated him, then disguised herself as him to kill others."
Paimon rubbed her chin, answering thoughtfully.
"In human terms, those who achieve great things do not dwell on trivialities."
"But these methods are indeed rather underhanded."
Zhongli shook his head and murmured to himself.
Liyue had been built in the most geographically advantageous location in all of Teyvat—not through underhanded means, but through sheer force.
Absolute force.
Whether it was the adepti, the yakshas, or the Millelith—all possessed formidable power.
Three thousand Millelith could battle gods!
Of course, the main forces were still Morax and the Dragon King Azhdaha.
In ancient Liyue, due to its prime location, it was also the land with the most active gods.
That Morax had survived there until the end was not due to shady tactics—his philosophy had always been simple: If you don't submit, I'll beat you until you do.
In the end, it was erosion that wore down his temper.
"Sigh..."
"But for some reason, Paimon doesn't dislike Qian Renxue at all. How come?"
Paimon blurted out, blinking at Zhongli.
Hearing this, Zhongli's eye twitched.
"A few good meals and some gold and jewels were enough to buy your favor—of course you don't dislike her."
But he kept those words to himself.
"We were in a hurry on the way here and didn't get to appreciate the local customs."
"On the way back, we can take our time and experience them properly."
"Let's go, Paimon."
"Zhongli, wait for me!"
Qian Renxue's Side
"Young Miss, you were so direct in revealing everything to Lord Zhongli… What if the plan gets exposed?"
Cixue's expression was strange—he couldn't understand why Qian Renxue had done this.
Hearing this, Qian Renxue glanced at him and replied calmly, "Uncle Cixue, do you really think Mr. Zhongli didn't already know my identity?"
"Paimon might not have realized, but with a martial soul like mine, how could Mr. Zhongli not know?"
"Honesty is the deadliest weapon."
The Six-Winged Angel—there was only one family in the entire Douluo Continent that possessed it. Was there even any room for doubt?
Besides, if Zhongli had truly wanted to stop her, whether she confessed or not wouldn't have made a difference.
Cixue froze, then thought it over. Indeed, Zhongli had followed them all the way to the Star Dou Great Forest, witnessed Qian Renxue's "transformation," and even seen her martial soul in action. Anyone with a bit of insight could have guessed her identity.
"But it's strange… Why would Lord Zhongli follow you all the way to the Star Dou Great Forest in the first place?"
"There's no reason for it."
This was the part Cixue couldn't wrap his head around. Even though Zhongli had saved their lives, it still made no sense to him.
Some things were just baffling.
Cixue's words reminded Qian Renxue of something that had happened two days before their departure.
"This trip may carry risks. You…"
At the time, she hadn't taken it seriously. With a Title Douluo accompanying her to hunt a 20,000-year soul beast, what danger could there possibly be?
It should have been effortless.
"Perhaps… he knew I would encounter danger."
But she kept this thought to herself and didn't voice it to Cixue.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Qian Renxue turned to Cixue and said, "Uncle Cixue, regarding Mr. Zhongli's matters, I hope you'll keep them confidential. I don't want Grandfather or that woman to find out!"
Cixue shuddered. This was the first time he had seen Qian Renxue with such a resolute expression.
Keep Lord Zhongli's affairs hidden from the High Priest and the Pope?
Wasn't this putting him in an impossible position?
If the High Priest and the Pope later found out that he had concealed this, how could he possibly survive?
"Young Miss, a man like Lord Zhongli… sooner or later—"
Before he could finish, he noticed Qian Renxue staring at him intently. He knew that if he didn't agree today, things would not end well for him.
Gritting his teeth, Cixue nodded.
"Rest assured, Young Miss. I will not breathe a word about Lord Zhongli or Paimon regarding this trip."
"Thank you, Uncle Cixue."
Though she thanked him, Cixue could only force a bitter smile.
Being a subordinate is truly difficult.
Meanwhile, in Heaven Dou City
Recently, a major event had occurred in Heaven Dou City—the former Blue Tyrant Advanced Soul Master Academy had suddenly changed its name to Shrek Academy.
The Blue Tyrant Academy had been quite well-known in Heaven Dou City. Establishing an academy in such a prime location required ironclad connections.
Even the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was located in the outskirts, yet the Blue Tyrant Academy was right in the city!
For it to suddenly rebrand itself with an unheard-of name was truly bizarre.
"Xiaogang, Flender, are you saying that as soon as you arrived in Heaven Dou City, you ended up revealing a Douluo's true strength?"
The man hadn't intended to expose himself, but because of that idiot Dai Mubai, their entire group had nearly been wiped out!
Liu Erlong, who lived a reclusive life, naturally wouldn't have known what had happened in the city.
During today's casual conversation, Yu Xiaogang had brought up the incident at the city gates.
He couldn't help but envy Zhongli!
Both had detached beast martial souls, yet Zhongli was a twin-soul master—and had even reached the Title Douluo level!
He wasn't bringing this up out of spite—he didn't have the guts for that.
As long as this man willed it, he was practically invincible. Who would dare provoke him?
Even Yu Xiaogang's father, Yu Yuanzhen, would tremble in fear before such a being…
"That Douluo is a guest of the Crown Prince's residence. Initially, even the Crown Prince didn't know his true strength—he was hired as a guest advisor purely for his knowledge."
"If it weren't for Dai Mubai's idiocy, that Douluo wouldn't have lost his temper and exposed his power…"
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 65 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 40 power stones I will publish the next chapter.