A Bite of Douluo Continent

Doesn't this become an indirect kiss?

In an instant, Yan hope's face flushed red. She couldn't help but pull her hand back, but to her surprise, Mo Qi leaned over and took a bite of the xiaolongbao on her chopsticks.

"Smack smack..."

As Mo Qi savored the chewy outer skin of the xiaolongbao and the tender, juicy meat filling slowly blending together during chewing, along with the refreshing, sour, and spicy sauce from the cucumber salad, he found the food exceptionally delicious.

The taste is somewhat similar to xiaolongbao dipped in vinegar, but it has an added spiciness and a different vinegar flavor, creating a completely different taste experience.

"The steamed buns are so delicious." Mo Qi nodded vigorously, then turned to look at Yan hope, "Xi Xi! I think... wait? Why is your face so red?"

"You..." Yan Xi felt a rush of heat to her head, her whole face turning bright red. She looked at Mo Qi with embarrassment, "You big idiot!"

"what?!"

"you shut up!"

"... "

As the two were fooling around, a soft sobbing sound suddenly came from nearby.

Once things quieted down, they quickly realized that the source of the crying was the girl sitting opposite them.

The boy next to her looked both reluctant and helpless. He wanted to reach out and wipe away her tears, but he stopped in mid-air, somewhat at a loss.

"Excuse me... what happened?"

Seeing this, Mo Qi couldn't help but ask.

End-of-month summary

It's that time of the month again for our end-of-month review.

First, let's continue promoting the group. The general book club group number is 820074544. All readers are welcome to join without any restrictions.

Then, I am extremely grateful for everyone's support and love. Every improvement in the book's performance is inseparable from your efforts.

There were quite a few new favorites this month. Last month, the number of favorites increased by about 3,000, and this month it's over 5,000. I'm very satisfied with this progress, and I want to thank all the new readers for their support.

What makes me happiest is that the average monthly subscription has increased a lot, and it has even reduced my subscription-to-collection ratio to some extent, from 25:1 to 22:1. There are probably not many Douluo fanfiction works where the subscription-to-collection ratio has been decreasing since they were released.

What? You don't know what subscription-to-receipt ratio is?

It's the ratio of the number of favorites on Qidian to the average subscription. The lower this number, the better the performance. It can be considered a reference data point.

So, to thank everyone for their support, I'm going to give out red envelopes on December 18th after I receive my royalties this month.

Same as before, 100 for the general group, 200 for the VIP group and 200 for the full subscription group. There are still more than ten days left, so... those who haven't joined the group yet, hurry up!

Finally, here's a preview of the December update. If all goes well, we should be able to finish Volume 3 in December and start Volume 4. I can give you a little hint now: Qi Han will complete the intermediate chef exam, and that will be the end of Volume 3. As for what Volume 4 will be about, guess?

Okay, that's all for now. May the new December bring us all the best.

Let us encourage each other.

Emergency Chapter

Chapter 272 has been approved. Please be patient and read it when it is released.

Explanation

There's another chapter, 272, before the end-of-month summary. I was previously detained for making a little bit of a suggestive joke, but it's been released now, so don't miss it!

Chapter 273 Backstabbing (The Beginning of December, Requesting Recommendation Votes)

Since Feng Yi's incident a week ago led Qi Han to successfully gain a story related to food, Qi Han specifically instructed Fu Ya to inform him immediately if she noticed any similar abnormal emotional behavior among the diners in the restaurant.

Although this approach was somewhat like waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump, Qi Han had no other choice.

After all, he can't really ask everyone he meets: "Do you have a story?"

That Taishe died.

Therefore, when the girl sitting opposite Mo Qi and Yan hope suddenly burst into tears, Fu Ya, who noticed the situation, immediately informed Qi Han.

When Qi Han finished his work and rushed over, the girl was already slumped over the table, her sobs becoming increasingly noticeable.

This…

To avoid being disturbed while eating, Mo Qi and Yan hope, with Fu Ya's help, moved their food to another table. However, their minds were clearly on the food, and they kept glancing over at each other while eating.

Before Qi Han arrived, Mo Qi and Yan hope had already tried to ask about the situation, but no matter how they asked, the girl remained silent and only sobbed, while the boy sat to the side, sighing softly.

"Hello, gentlemen. May I ask what's wrong with you?"

While asking questions, Qi Han observed the two of them. A bundle in front of the boy quickly caught his attention. A corner of the bundle was visible, and he could vaguely see the cuff of a red uniform. There was even a Shrek Academy logo on the cuff.

The red Shrek Academy uniform.

This is a special uniform worn only by students of the Inner Court.

Strange, I don't think I've ever seen this boy before. Is he also a student of Shrek Academy's inner court?

Qi Han felt a sense of doubt.

"Hello, Mr. Qi." Although Qi Han didn't recognize the boy, judging from his expression, the boy must know him. He smiled apologetically and said softly, "Sorry to disturb your business."

"No, not at all." Qi Han shook his head decisively.

Or perhaps he was a little excited?

After all, this couple clearly has a story.

"However... can you tell me what happened?" Qi Han's expression was very sincere. "After all, I would be happy to help the diners of this restaurant."

“This…” The boy glanced at the girl beside him, whose sobs had subsided but who still refused to look up, and sighed softly before speaking slowly.

“My name is Song Qiluo, and this is my…” He glanced at the girl beside him, paused, and continued, “My girlfriend, Yan Ling.”

Everyone's attention was focused on Song Qiluo, and no one noticed that the girl named Yan Ling trembled slightly after hearing the word "girlfriend".

Ignoring Yan Ling's reaction, Song Qiluo continued speaking.

"Yan Ling and I have been together for six years. We are from the same hometown, grew up together, and are about the same age. After our martial souls awakened, we studied at the same primary soul master academy, and later at the same intermediate soul master academy. In a way... this situation should be considered... childhood sweethearts?"

“My innate soul power is higher, so my soul power level has always been higher than Yan Ling’s, and my strength is also stronger than hers.” Song Qiluo paused in her speech.

“In the small village where we lived, none of the other children our age had the aptitude to become Soul Masters. Only the two of us remained. So when we were sent to the Junior Soul Master Academy, I remember the village chief saying that we were from the same village and that we should help each other at the academy.”

“When I was little, I was very well-behaved. Because of what Grandpa Village Chief said, I always protected Yan Ling and no one could bully her.” Looking at Yan Ling lying on the table, Song Qiluo’s eyes showed a bit more complexity. “But as we grew up, we inevitably developed feelings for each other after spending so much time together. When we got to the Intermediate Soul Master Academy, we got together.”

"I was only about ten years old at the time, how could I understand so much? The so-called being together was nothing more than a clumsy imitation of how older kids date. Later, when I was twelve, my soul power level had reached level twenty-seven. It wouldn't be difficult to enter Shrek Academy with that level of soul power, but Yan Ling was only level eighteen at the time, making it very difficult for her to enter Shrek."

“Although Shrek Academy’s admission threshold has been changed from reaching level 20 before the age of twelve to reaching level 15 in soul power before the age of twelve, the threshold is only a basic requirement for admission. It doesn’t mean that you can get in just by reaching it.” Song Qiluo smiled bitterly. “This is the best soul master academy on the continent. Every year, countless young soul masters from all over the continent come here, wanting to enter it.”

"The competition is fierce."

“Although Yan Ling insisted on coming with me to participate in Shrek Academy’s entrance exam, in the end…” Song Qiluo glanced at the girl beside her with some heartache, “Yan Ling was still eliminated, while I was admitted to Shrek Academy.”

"To be honest..." Song Qiluo gave a self-deprecating laugh, "Back then, I was young and impulsive. At that moment, I even considered leaving Shrek Academy to stay with Yan Ling..."

"In the end, it was Yan Ling who stopped me." Song Qiluo shook her head. "She was already so sensible back then."

"At the age of twelve and with a cultivation level of eighteen, it was very difficult to enter Shrek Academy, but it was not too difficult to enter other schools. Yan Ling chose Tiancang Academy, which was closer to home. For the next six years, we were separated by distance."

Tiancang Academy...

Qi Han blinked. He seemed to have a vague memory of it. This academy was said to have been originally a higher soul master academy called Canghui Academy. Later, it merged with several other advanced soul master academies. After several twists and turns, it has developed into a very strong academy now.

In the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament in Xingluo City, this academy squeezed into the top eight.

“The competition at the Advanced Soul Master Academy is intense. Although we get together during the holidays of each semester, we rarely have the chance to meet normally.” Song Qiluo’s eyes showed a hint of bitterness. “We can only send letters to each other to find out about each other’s situation and tell each other how much we miss each other. This kind of relationship is really too agonizing.”

“Shrek Academy holds the Sea God’s Fate event at Sea God Lake every year, and the day after the Sea God’s Fate event ends is the time for the inner academy’s admissions.” Song Qiluo pointed to the bundle on the table. “I’m very lucky to have become a member of the inner academy today, but I’m not happy at all right now.”

"Because...this is the last day for Yan Ling and me as a couple."

The diners around her, who had been listening attentively to Song Qiluo's story, suddenly looked at her with a strange expression upon hearing this.

Even Qi Han felt a sense of unease.

What's so special about this?

Is this a Douluo Continent version of Chen Shimei?

Does entering Shrek Academy's inner courtyard mean you want to break up with your partner?

However, he didn't intend to accuse the other party; these were just his own guesses and hadn't been confirmed yet.

However, Qi Han didn't speak, but Yan Xi, who had a fiery temper, couldn't hold back any longer. She stood up abruptly and glared at Song Qiluo, "You scumbag! Yan Ling has been with you for so many years, and you actually want to dump her the moment you enter the inner courtyard? Are you even human?!"

Song Qiluo gave a bitter smile, but before he could speak, Yan Ling suddenly raised her head. Her pretty face was like a pear blossom in the rain, and although her bright eyes were red and swollen from crying, she looked at Yan Xi with utmost seriousness, "You can't say that about Qiluo. He's not like that at all!"

ha?

Yan hope was a little confused. She didn't expect that when she stood up for Yan Ling, the first person to object would be Yan Ling herself.

I was betrayed.

Other diners also looked puzzled.

It seems there's more to this story than meets the eye?

Qi Han blinked, sensing that things were not so simple.

“Because…” Two lines of clear tears streamed down Yan Ling’s cheeks.

"I was the one who initiated the breakup."

Chapter 274 I don't want him to lose anything more for me.

As soon as Yan Ling spoke, the surroundings fell silent.

The situation was completely contrary to what everyone had imagined.