Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Clay, the Creator of All Things

And so, an invisible magical force sealed Lu Yan's mouth and nose.

That's a bit too much of a show.

Lu Yan then looked at the dirt on his shoes and trousers.

With a single thought, magical power surged, cleansing it away.

Time flew by as Lu Yan waited.

An hour later, Xue Qinghe returned.

However, compared to his previous appearance, he looked much more disheveled now.

The casual clothes, made of high-quality fabric, were covered with numerous small, dirty handprints.

At this moment, he no longer possessed the feigned elegance, affability, and approachability he had before.

But it looks much more real.

The delicate handkerchief that he always used to cover his mouth and nose had long since disappeared from his hands.

"Brother Qinghe, now you can tell me your answer." Lu Yan looked at Xue Qinghe who had returned, a playful smile on his lips.

The experience he just had might have been quite a shock to him.

Lu Yan never expected that he would be able to witness the deep bond between a mother and daughter among the poor so coincidentally.

What a coincidence.

"Brother Lu, I think I need to do something." Xue Qinghe stood steadily in front of Lu Yan, and after a long while, she spoke seriously.

Lu Yan noticed that there was still a trace of moisture left in the other person's eyes.

"Then let's do it!" Lu Yan smiled easily, feeling that the result was pretty good.

"Please help me, Brother Lu." With that, Xue Qinghe prepared to bow to Lu Yan.

Lu Yan stopped him from doing so.

The two made physical contact and looked into each other's eyes.

“Brother Qinghe, there’s no need for that. This is also my wish.” Lu Yan’s tone was also more serious this time.

The same scene that occurred in the Star Dou Great Mountain Range is now playing out here as well.

At this moment, just as at that moment.

However, the two of them were more sincere than last time.

Sincerity my foot!

"Brother Qinghe, what's that sticky stuff on your hands?" Lu Yan released Xue Qinghe's hand, the slippery feeling making him feel a little nauseous.

Controlling the urge to smell it, Lu Yan used his magic to completely remove it.

"Ha ha"

Xue Qinghe laughed, a genuine laugh with a touch of wicked humor, a laugh that carried the satisfaction of a triumphant revenge.

"Brother Lu, whatever you think it is, that's what it is." After saying this, he also stirred his soul power and eliminated it.

Lu Yan understood; this guy was probably retaliating for the disgusting thing he had done to him before.

Okay, whatever makes you happy.

How petty.

Thus, the two of them began to walk out of this area.

Along the way, Lu Yan thought the other party would start talking to him about the next plan.

Unexpectedly, Xue Qinghe suddenly asked Lu Yan a question: "Brother Lu, do you think every mother loves her child?"

"Yes." Lu Yan uttered this word first, then changed the subject: "However, there are some exceptions."

"An exception?" Xue Qinghe murmured, then asked, "What exception?"

"Hmm, let me think." Lu Yan pondered for a moment, "For example, for that mother, what kind of pain does this child represent?"

"There are some folk tales, such as that if a child is born in a difficult labor and almost takes the mother's life, it may result in such an outcome."

"Or perhaps, this mother gave birth to this child because of reasons she couldn't bear to look back on."

"What reason?" Xue Qinghe pressed.

“There are many more. If Brother Qinghe is interested, you can look them up yourself.” Lu Yan naturally wouldn’t say it directly, but changed the subject.

"There's another possibility..." He paused, whetting Xue Qinghe's appetite.

It wasn't until Xue Qinghe looked at him that Lu Yan spoke up: "That's because this child was born too ugly, the kind that not only the mother, but everyone dislikes."

Chapter 127 Habitual thinking is unacceptable.

"Brother Lu, has anyone ever told you that sometimes the way you talk is really annoying?"

Xue Qinghe glared at Lu Yan angrily, her tone full of disdain.

Unfortunately, at this moment, he has Xue Qinghe's appearance. If he had his original appearance, I believe the charm he would have at first glance would be quite remarkable.

But the fact that a man could have such a feminine expression made Lu Yan feel uneasy.

Damn it, have I been turned gay?!

Thus, Lu Yan forced a smile and changed the subject: "Brother Qinghe, why do you suddenly have this question?"

"I was just saying this out of the blue. Brother Lu, do you know where I was earlier..." Xue Qinghe paused here, unsure how to describe the place he had just been.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that Tiandou City, the capital of the Tiandou Empire, was such a place.

It's unbelievable that there is such backwardness, dilapidation, filth, chaos, oppression, ignorance, and despair.

It was a place that he couldn't fully describe with negative words all at once.

"Slums," Lu Yan reminded him.

Xue Qinghe gave Lu Yan a wry smile and began to recount his previous experiences.

Lu Yan listened to Xue Qinghe's narration while occasionally responding with a few words.

It's not exactly a new story.

Simply put, it's about a wealthy young man who suddenly appears in the slums, someone who looks extraordinary at first glance.

The people at the bottom were initially terrified, but then, after noticing that Xue Qinghe didn't seem to have any malicious intent, they realized that he was not.

Some people became bolder and arranged for children to step forward and beg to test the waters, and then they took advantage of the situation and did so.

Xue Qinghe experienced the wickedness of human nature in the slums.

If that were all, Lu Yan's purpose might backfire.

Xue Qinghe, after turning from light to darkness, encountered a little girl being chased for stealing food.

After escaping, the emaciated girl couldn't bear to eat the small piece of black bread she had so painstakingly obtained.

Instead, they took it back to their dilapidated shack, which was so simple it was almost drafty, and delivered it to the little girl's seriously ill mother.

The mother and daughter were seen politely deferring to each other over the meager amount of food.

Xue Qinghe was subtly moved.

Especially later, the victim of the theft came to seek revenge.

The little girl's mother, despite being seriously ill, shielded her daughter behind her.

Lu Yan noticed tears welling up in Xue Qinghe's eyes.

Xue Qinghe emerged from the shadows and stopped the conflict.

However, no punishment was given to the aggrieved party who came to seek revenge; they were simply driven away.

Because the other person was also just a skinny young boy.

What happened next was naturally handled by the people Xue Qinghe had secretly assigned to guard him.

This mother and daughter, who had suffered for many years, finally met a benefactor.

Perhaps, the poor people in this area have all met their benefactors today.

"Brother Lu, I want to do something, but I don't know where to start."

After recounting her experiences, Xue Qinghe spoke in a weak voice.

At this moment, the two had already boarded Xue Qinghe's luxurious carriage, but Lu Yan felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

"Oh? Brother Qinghe, don't you think they're ignorant and lowly, born to live in such a corner?"

Lu Yan sat there casually, speaking without any sign of awkwardness.

It's quite comfortable. The frame is much better than Ning Fengya's. This person knows how to enjoy life.

"Alas, Brother Lu, why do you say that? They are nothing but a pitiful bunch." Xue Qinghe sighed with a bitter smile.

"That's right! It seems Brother Qinghe has come to a certain understanding." Upon hearing this, Lu Yan's lips curled up, and he continued to speak.

"When people have to struggle desperately for food and for the most basic survival, it is not that people are wrong."

"It is this empire, and indeed the world, that is wrong."

"So, where does the problem lie?"

Lu Yan's question caused Xue Qinghe to fall silent for a long time before she finally spoke.

"Brother Lu is absolutely right. This is not their fault, but the fault of the empire!"

"The problem lies in the empire's administration and governance."

"I think I understand why Brother Lu brought me here today."

"Once I ascend the throne, I will certainly address the corresponding livelihood issues!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan shook his head, "It seems that Brother Qinghe still doesn't understand what I mean."

"You can't solve these problems now, and you won't be able to solve them after you ascend the throne."

"Brother Qinghe, you seem to have misunderstood the cause and effect. The problem cannot be solved until you ascend the throne."