Chapter Thirty-Four: The Nine-Heart Begonia Family

"Get out!" Xiao Yu stared coldly at Liu Lang, slowly retracting his soul power that had been released, and spoke with disdain.

Looking at Xiao Yu, who was clearly younger than himself, and recalling the soul power fluctuations far beyond his own tenth level just moments before, Liu Lang's arrogance vanished entirely. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he hurriedly nodded, stammering, "Out, out, out—I’ll leave right now!"

Watching Liu Lang flee so miserably, Ye Lengleng couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. Yet the next moment, remembering Liu Lang’s words, her expression fell into desolation. Even if one Liu Lang left, another would soon appear. As long as the imperial family of Heaven Dou harbored covetous desires for the Nine-Hearted Begonia martial soul, true freedom would always elude her.

“Silly girl, don’t be afraid.”

Although Xiao Yu hadn’t caught the entirety of their conversation, he could infer much from fragments, and it answered a question that had puzzled him: Why was Ye Lengleng sent far from her family, when the Nine-Hearted Begonia clan resided right in Heaven Dou City?

He reached out and gently ruffled Ye Lengleng’s hair, speaking in a low voice, “With me here, no one can force you to do anything against your will—not even the Heaven Dou imperial family.”

“Mm.” Ye Lengleng nodded softly. She didn’t know why, but despite Heaven Dou Empire being one of the two great empires of the age, with a million-strong army and nearly ten Soul Douluo-level experts (though no Title Douluo among their offerings), she wasn’t sure whence Xiao Yu’s confidence sprang. Yet she simply believed what he said. More importantly, being protected like this felt truly wonderful.

“Young Master!”

Just then, Zi Long, Xie Wu, and Mi Yi Mei caught up from behind. Xiao Yu had seen Ye Lengleng being harassed from afar and had hurried his steps.

“Oh, let me introduce you.” Xiao Yu took the opportunity to present them to Ye Lengleng: “These are all young members of my sect—this is Zi Long, this is Xie Wu, and this is Mi Yi Mei. All of them have attained the Soul Grandmaster level.”

Ye Lengleng was astonished to hear that these youths, about her age or Xiao Yu’s, had all reached Soul Grandmaster, and she greeted them courteously.

Zi Long and the others quickly returned the gesture.

“Lengleng, apart from visiting you, I also have some private matters to attend to in Heaven Dou City.” Xiao Yu gave Ye Lengleng a slightly apologetic look. “This is our first time here, and we don’t know the city well or have a place to stay. I wonder if we might?”

“Of course!” Ye Lengleng nodded. “The Nine-Hearted Begonia clan still carries some weight in Heaven Dou City. If you stay at my home, you’ll avoid much unnecessary trouble. Also,” she hesitated, blushing slightly, “I’ve mentioned you several times before. Grandpa and Father both want to meet you.”

“Good. I was planning to pay my respects to your father and Clan Leader Ye myself.” Xiao Yu nodded. “I’ve brought some gifts for them, which I believe they’ll like.”

“Then let’s go!” Ye Lengleng said, taking Xiao Yu’s hand and leading him toward the city.

...

The Nine-Hearted Begonia clan’s residence was in the north of Heaven Dou City—a vast manor covering over a thousand meters.

The family numbered about two hundred. Due to the inherent limitations of the Nine-Hearted Begonia martial soul, most members hadn’t awakened it, but their souls were generally of the healing type, mostly plant-based. To highlight this trait, the manor was planted with many flowers and greenery, making it a charming sight from afar.

Clan Leader Ye Renxin was an eighty-first-level Soul Douluo, while Ye Lengleng’s father, Ye Wentai, was a sixty-fourth-level Soul Emperor specializing in healing, with a martial soul of a single begonia flower. Even so, when he exerted himself, his healing ability was not much weaker than that of the Nine-Hearted Begonia.

“Junior pays respects to the elders.”

Inside the Ye family’s council hall, Xiao Yu bowed to the two seated above.

“You are Xiao Yu?” Ye Wentai scrutinized him from head to toe. The young man was rather presentable—no wonder his daughter always had him in mind.

His daughter had previously sent letters hoping the family would secure him a spot at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Having lived half a lifetime, Ye Wentai easily understood his daughter's intentions. Were it not for the imperial family's relentless pressure, he wouldn’t have minded fulfilling her wishes.

“Young man, at your age, how goes your cultivation?”

Ye Wentai feigned a lofty demeanor, thinking that Xiao Yu, willing to visit his home with his daughter, likely favored her. Yet he doubted that a nameless youth like Xiao Yu could compare to the imperial family. He intended to send Xiao Yu away, lest the imperial family discover this and bring disaster upon him.

Xiao Yu smiled slightly. “I am hardly talented, but not long ago I broke through to the fortieth level.”

“Oh, forty... At your age, that’s not bad, but in our clan—” Ye Wentai began, but suddenly changed expression halfway, abruptly rising. “Wait, how many levels did you say?”

“Forty,” Xiao Yu replied calmly, releasing his soul power.

Though Ye Wentai’s manner was off-putting, Xiao Yu did not believe that someone as kind as Ye Lengleng would have a father who was truly arrogant or narrow-minded. Remembering the earlier scene in Heaven Dou’s streets, he could guess Ye Wentai’s intentions, so he felt no resentment.

Sensing the soul power rivaling a Soul Sect, Ye Renxin, who had been half-dozing at the head seat, opened his eyes, exchanging a glance with Ye Wentai. Their faces were instantly filled with astonishment.

How old was this boy—twelve, or thirteen? Even at thirteen, a Soul Sect of that age was unheard of. They’d never heard of a Soul Grandmaster that young, let alone a Soul Sect.

Ye Lengleng’s twelve-year-old, twenty-fifth-level cultivation was already a one-in-ten-thousand talent.

Xiao Yu’s talent could only be described as monstrous.

Ye Renxin and Ye Wentai were certain: unless Xiao Yu met an untimely end, he would surely become a Title Douluo, and one of the strongest among them.

Unfortunately, for now, he was not.

But to offend a future Title Douluo of such potential was unwise, especially when their precious daughter clearly favored Xiao Yu.

Indeed, one side was a prodigious classmate she’d grown up with, the other a notorious, unremarkable imperial scion. In their shoes, they’d know which to choose. For a moment, the Ye father and son fell into deep contemplation.