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"Miss Zhu Zhuqing, goodbye!"
At the entrance of the Seven Treasures Hotel, Paimon waved enthusiastically.
"Goodbye, Paimon."
Zhu Zhuqing raised her hand in response before turning to Zhongli.
"Zhongli, um... goodbye."
"Mn. Farewell."
Zhongli nodded slightly, still feeling that something about this black-haired girl was oddly familiar, though he couldn't pinpoint why.
During the meal, her gaze hadn't lingered on the dishes—but on him.
Was there something on his face?
Zhongli was utterly baffled.
Inside the hotel, the owner clutched his chest, a pained expression on his face as he leaned against the counter, staring blankly at the long receipt in his hand.
"No... I can't bear this alone. These bills must be forwarded to the clan."
But the bill wasn't his main concern.
What truly troubled him was—
Who was that black-haired girl dining with Zhongli?!
Or rather—why had Zhongli invited her?
If he could uncover the answer, the bill would be a trivial matter.
"Zhu Zhuqing..."
"She needs investigating."
He needed to know the full story.
If Zhongli simply had a preference for that type, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would spare no effort to find him a match!
A strong man with desires was far easier to handle than one without any!
Alas, he was dead wrong.
Zhu Zhuqing's meal with Zhongli and Paimon had been pure coincidence.
To both sides, the other was a familiar stranger.
Zhu Zhuqing knew the Geo Archon from her dreams.
Zhongli, having read Douluo Dalu in his past life, knew Zhu Zhuqing's entire story.
They understood each other—yet had never truly met.
Zhongli was a transmigrator, and his memories from his previous life had indeed awakened.
Logically, he should've exhibited the typical transmigrator traits—
Declaring himself the greatest under heaven, claiming all beauties and riches as his own, and using his future knowledge to grovel at Spirit Hall's feet...
Bah!
He was Morax!
Compared to his six to seven thousand years of memories and habits, his past life's measly two decades were utterly insignificant.
Recovering those memories had merely broadened his knowledge—nothing more.
Could millennia of ingrained behavior be overturned so easily?
That wouldn't be memory recovery—it'd be an otherworldly demon's possession!
"Zhongli, should we go listen to some music next, or go shopping?"
Paimon's question made Zhongli pause, eyeing her with slight surprise.
Was this little creature already slacking off at such a young age?
Hadn't she been begging to travel before?
It seemed the Star Dou Great Forest expedition had dashed her enthusiasm.
"Let us stroll the streets. We are no longer as financially constrained as before."
Zhongli replied calmly.
"Yay! Let's go!"
"Last time, I saw so many desserts but couldn't buy any!"
Well, it wasn't that they lacked money—just that they never carried any.
"After shopping, we can visit the Spirit Arena! It's a unique feature of Douluo Continent—skipping it would feel like missing out!"
Paimon chattered excitedly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Despite being in this world for so long, they hadn't visited the Spirit Arena yet.
Mainly because Zhongli was either at tea houses or enjoying musical performances—
The latter often took place in establishments that, while resembling brothels, only sold art, not flesh.
Douluo Continent was a bizarre fusion of Eastern and Western cultures—like forcibly merging Mondstadt and Liyue, from architecture to customs.
Crown Prince's Mansion
Qian Renxue and Cixue had returned to Heaven Dou City over ten days earlier than Zhongli and Paimon, having traveled nonstop after leaving the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Lord Zhongli has returned?"
Hearing Cixue's report, Qian Renxue's face lit up with joy as she rose eagerly, ready to seek him out.
Had it not been for Zhongli's protection, she and Cixue would've faced near-certain death—their survival chances below ten percent.
And that was only if Cixue sacrificed himself.
The trip had truly been a brush with mortality.
Seeing her reaction, Cixue's heart sank.
The young miss had likely fallen for their guest.
"Sigh..."
"I just hope the High Priest doesn't execute me for this..."
He understood Qian Renxue's feelings all too well.
Zhongli had descended like a deity, saving them from peril.
His overwhelming might had slain two 100,000-year soul beasts on the spot.
What maiden wouldn't be smitten?
Hell, even Cixue himself had been moved—
If only he weren't a man...
He shook his head violently.
No, no—such thoughts were dangerous!
"Young Miss, there's no need to rush. Lord Zhongli is currently dining at the Seven Treasures Hotel with Paimon."
Then, as if remembering something, he added hastily:
"Ah, right. There's also a student from Blue Tyrant Academy—Zhu Zhuqing."
"Zhu Zhuqing?"
Qian Renxue's expression darkened, her brows knitting together.
That name definitely belonged to a woman—and not a good one!
"Her martial soul is the Netherworld Spirit Cat. If I recall correctly, she's a daughter of the Star Luo Zhu Clan."
With a name like Zhu Zhuqing and that martial soul, the connection was obvious.
Only the Zhu Clan's hereditary martial soul was the Netherworld Spirit Cat.
During his investigation, Cixue hadn't just uncovered Zhu Zhuqing—he'd also found Dai Mubai!
"Additionally, the escaped Third Prince of Star Luo, Dai Mubai, is also at Blue Tyrant Academy..."
"I suspect this may be a Star Luo imperial plot targeting Lord Zhongli!"
Qian Renxue's eyes widened in realization.
She'd felt the name Zhu Zhuqing was familiar—now she knew why.
They were from Shrek Academy!
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing—
The Netherworld White Tiger that had slain countless Spirit Hall soldiers!
"Uncle Cixue, even if Star Luo Empire learned of Lord Zhongli's existence, they couldn't have responded this quickly."
"???"
Upon reflection, her words made sense.
The distance between Heaven Dou City and Star Luo City was immense—a round trip would take at least two months under normal circumstances.
Unless a flying-type Soul Sage or above delivered the message, such rapid communication was impossible.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 80 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 45 power stones I will publish the next chapter.