Douluo Continent: The Ruler of Time, Reigning Supreme

Chapter 44 Going Further

"Sister Jiu Jiu? What brings you here?" Yin Chen greeted her.

Looking at the silver-haired boy in front of her for a long time, she felt a strange ripple in her heart, perhaps because of Xu Jiawei's previous words, and her gaze softened beyond recognition.

She smiled slightly:
"I was just about to look for you; there's something I want to tell you."

"What a coincidence, I also have something I want to talk to Sister Jiu Jiu about."

Yin Chen said.

He then gestured for her to speak first: "Sister Jiu Jiu, you go first."

She didn't refuse for a long time. She took out a beautifully crafted letter sealed with sealing wax from her soul tool and handed it to Yin Chen.

Yin Chen took it, his gaze falling on the letter—it was a recommendation letter for a city lord of the main city level in the Star Luo Empire.

With it, he was qualified to take the Shrek Academy entrance exam.

"This is……"

Yin Chen held the heavy letter, speechless for a moment.

He didn't expect that before he could even speak, Xu Jiujiu had already paved the way for him.

"Take this and go to Shrek."

Xu Jiujiu's voice was soft, yet it carried support and understanding.

"There, a wider world awaits you."

Yin Chen fell silent.

Looking into Xu Jiujiu's clear and gentle eyes, he felt a surge of complex emotions that were hard to describe.

He was well aware of the kindness and favor shown to him over the years.

From daily life to cultivation resources, everything he eats, lives in, uses, and even his current level of cultivation is almost entirely dependent on the full support of Xu Jiujiu and the Xingluo Royal Family.

It can be said that he owes Xingluo, and he owes her for a very long time, far too much.

However, driven by his ambitions, he deliberately ignored this increasingly heavy emotional bond and even prepared to leave.

Thinking of this, a sense of guilt welled up in his heart, making his throat tighten and leaving him at a loss for words.

After a long while, she noticed the struggle and apology in his eyes and suddenly chuckled softly.

That smile was like the first melting of ice and snow, the blooming of spring flowers, breathtakingly beautiful against the backdrop of the setting sun, causing Yin Chen's heart to skip a few beats.

"fool."

After a long while, she stepped forward and gently embraced Yin Chen, who looked slightly surprised.

As the warm, soft body entered his arms, Yin Chen's body instantly stiffened. The unique fragrance of Xu Jiu Jiu lingered around his nose, and he could clearly feel the softness and warmth of her body.

"You don't need to feel sorry for me, or that you owe me anything."

After a long while, she gently rested her cheek on his shoulder, her voice like a whisper, yet it clearly reached the depths of his heart.

"As long as you have Xingluo and me in your heart, it doesn't matter where you are, whether you stay in Xingluo or go to Shrek."

Feeling the warmth and unwavering trust of the person in his arms, Yin Chen's usually icy and calm heart finally cracked at this moment.

His tense body gradually relaxed, and after hesitating for a moment, he finally raised his hand and gently hugged her back.

At this moment, there was no calculation, no weighing of options, no ambition or anxiety about the future. Only the genuine warmth of my embrace, the faint fragrance lingering around my nose, and a feeling called peace of mind quietly flowing through my heart.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the two embracing figures, intertwining them as if foreshadowing that no matter how the future may change, the bond between them is ingrained in their very bones and can never be severed.

Uncle Hui stood under the eaves of Tingxue Pavilion, watching the couple embracing in the sunset in the courtyard. An irrepressible, extremely gratified smile appeared on his wrinkled face.

He has taken care of Yin Chen for so many years, practically watching him grow up. How could he not sense the ever-tense tension deep within this child's heart?
Whether it was his almost frantic cultivation or his composure and shrewdness far beyond his years, it all seemed as if something was chasing after him, making him dare not relax for even a moment.

But at this moment, seeing the noble princess embracing the boy he had watched grow up, and seeing Yin Chen finally relieved of some of his burdens and revealing his true emotions, Uncle Hui knew that the ice in this child's heart was being melted by warmth.

The road ahead may still be full of thorns, but he is no longer alone, nor does he need this old man to worry too much.

Time flies, and graduation day has arrived as scheduled.

His career at the Star Luo Royal Junior Soul Master Academy has officially come to an end.

The day for Shrek Academy's admissions is drawing ever closer.

Since their parting at Tingxuexuan that day, the relationship between Yinchen and Xu Jiujiu has entered a subtle and intimate phase.

The unspoken understanding between them hadn't been completely broken, and they still addressed each other as brother and sister. However, the warmth in their eyes when they met, the natural closeness they showed when they were together, and the increasingly frequent visits to Tingxuexuan after a long time all made it clear to anyone with discerning eyes that they were not truly close.

Xu Yun was the first to jump out and shout that she couldn't stand it anymore. She circled Yin Chen several times, wrinkling her nose as she said:
"Yin Chen, you...you and my aunt...ahhh, just thinking about how I might have to call you uncle in the future makes me feel like the sky is falling. You're only a year older than me."

She exaggeratedly covered her head, causing Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo to cover their mouths and chuckle.

But the look in their eyes when they looked at Yin Chen carried a hint of sadness; the admiration that belonged to young girls had to be buried even deeper.

The day of parting has finally arrived.

On the outskirts of Xingluo City, beside the official road leading east, a meticulously crafted soul-guided carriage is ready to go.

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu had already been picked up by people from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.

Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo traveled with Yin Chen, a decision their families were happy to see.

In the upper echelons of Xingluo City, who doesn't know that Yin Chen is a peerless genius whom the royal family has devoted their efforts to cultivating and who has a close relationship with Princess Jiujiu?
The uncrowned king of the Star Luo Royal Junior Soul Master Academy.

The Lan family sees it as a great thing that the Lan sisters can befriend Yin Chen, with no harm whatsoever.

Xu Jiujiu came to see him off in person. Today she was dressed in a light gold palace dress, elegant and noble, still maintaining the demeanor of a princess. However, the look in her eyes when she looked at Yin Chen was gentler than ever before.

Xu Yun stood beside her aunt, her mouth grumbling, but her eyes were full of reluctance.

"Be careful on the road. Once you get to Shrek Academy, you'll have to rely on yourself for everything."

After a long silence, she gently instructed him and placed a small storage soul tool embroidered with a star crown pattern into Yin Chen's hand.

"Here are some emergency funds and supplies, as well as contact information for Xingluo's secret base in Shrek City. If needed, you can seek their help."

"Thank you, Sister Jiu Jiu."

Yin Chen took the soul tool. It felt slightly heavy in his hand. He could feel that it contained not only money, but also a heavy sense of concern.

Uncle Grey stood to the side, his old eyes slightly red, repeatedly saying, "Young Master, take care of yourself, remember to eat on time..."

Yin Chen agreed to each of them, his gaze sweeping over Xu Jiujiu, Xu Yun, and Uncle Hui, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.

These are all the things that bind him to this world.

(End of this chapter)