407. Memory Restored

Bang! Bang! Ah—!

In a rarely visited alley, the sounds of brief combat and screams echoed.

"You... you're a Soul Elder? And a Black Ring at that!"

Liu Erlong lay on the ground, a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth. She stared blankly at Qian Renjue, who had effortlessly taken down both the Soul Master and the Soul Grandmaster.

Could this guy really be under ten years old? Or does he just look young?!

Qian Renjue closed his eyes as the lingering coldness in his heart gradually dissipated. When he opened his amethyst eyes, he stood in the sunlight, gazing down at Liu Erlong.

"Thank you," he said casually, biting into a candied hawthorn skewer before stepping over Liu Erlong and walking toward the alley's exit.

Turning back slightly, he reminded her:
"Get up and head to the clinic to treat your wounds. I don't need your protection."

"..."

Liu Erlong said nothing, lying on the ground and staring at the boy holding the candied hawthorn.

Now she was sure—he was indeed a child.

Glancing at the Soul Masters lying unconscious around her, Liu Erlong gritted her teeth, stood up, and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with a bold gesture.

With a defiant snort, she said,
"Hmph! So what if you're impressive? Someday, this old lady will also become a Soul Elder!"

With that, Liu Erlong quickly left.

But instead of heading to the clinic, she tended to her wounds herself—she didn’t want to worry her mother.

When Liu Erlong returned to the clinic after treating her injuries, she was met with a surprising sight.

Qian Renjue was sitting beside Liu Meier, helping her with her meal.

The two of them were chatting and laughing, with a hint of bashfulness on Qian Renjue’s face.

Liu Erlong pursed her lips and slowly approached. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen her mother smile like this.

"Mom, what are you two talking about?"

"..."

Qian Renjue quickly restrained his smile, casually pointing to a nearby lunchbox.

"Nothing much. Your meal is over there. Eat it while it’s hot—I’ll keep an eye on your mother," he said nonchalantly.

"Hehe, Erlong~ Go on now and take a break," Liu Meier said gently, her face full of warmth as she urged her daughter to step aside.

"Alright, Mom, I know," Liu Erlong replied softly, biting her lips as curiosity and a hint of grievance filled her eyes.

What exactly did her mother talk about with this guy?


---

Three Months Later in the Dream World

Within the city of Heaven Dou, Qian Renjue’s figure had vanished, and so had Liu Erlong and her mother.

Outside the city on a hillside, Liu Erlong knelt before a freshly built grave.

Her forehead touched the ground as she wept bitterly.

It was the second time she had experienced such a loss.

Qian Renjue stood quietly nearby, his thoughts briefly drifting to the recently departed Qian Xunji.

As he listened to Liu Erlong’s sobs and watched the yellow paper money burning in front of the grave, Qian Renjue offered a simple prayer and left behind some Gold Soul Coins before turning to leave.

His good deed had reached its end; it was time for him to explore this dream world.

Rain began to fall, washing everything clean.

Qian Renjue opened an umbrella, glancing back at the girl standing in the rain before slowly walking away.


---

After the Rain on the Official Road Outside the City

The air was fresh, and the sunlight warm but not overly intense.

The boy walked ahead, and the girl trailed behind.

Qian Renjue turned to look at Liu Erlong, frowning slightly.

"Why are you following me?"

"I told you—I have to repay the money I owe you!"

"And I told you, Gold Soul Coins are as worthless as dirt to me."

"I don’t care! I’ll repay you no matter what!"

Liu Erlong’s eyes were red as she stubbornly trailed behind Qian Renjue.

As Qian Renjue stared at her, the girl stared back, her dark eyes filled with gratitude, curiosity, and faint, indescribable emotions.

Frowning, Qian Renjue studied her for a moment, then silently turned and walked away.

"Wait for me!"

Liu Erlong, carrying her bundle, hurried after him.


"What's your name? Can you tell me now?"

"No comment!"

Qian Renjue replied flatly, walking forward steadily.

"You hate me, don't you? Then why did you help me?!"

"..."

Qian Renjue remained silent. He had only helped the woman and her daughter—her other identities were irrelevant to him.

"No matter what, thank you anyway," Liu Erlong said as she quickened her pace to walk beside him. She added resolutely, "I’ll pay back those Gold Soul Coins you gave me!"

"Suit yourself."

"Are you traveling through the world of Soul Masters? I have a lot of experience; I can help you."

"..."

"Are you even listening to me?"

...

"Haha, you rookie, got tricked again, huh? How about taking me with you?"

"..."

"Look at you—falling for something as obvious as a pity trick! If you bring me along, that won’t happen."

"..."

"Don’t go over there! They’re accomplices—it’s all an act."

"..."

"Hey! That shop up ahead is a scam. Don’t go inside."

Finally, Qian Renjue glanced at her and said, "Qian Renjue."

"What? That’s your name?"

Liu Erlong froze for a moment, then, after her initial surprise, she broke into a grin.

"Haha! So, does that mean you’re letting me tag along?"

"..."

Qian Renjue walked silently into the very "scam" shop she had warned about.

"Qian Renjue… Ah Jue… Haha."

Standing in place, Liu Erlong happily repeated his name.

"Ah Jue! Wait for me!"

Fearless of any scam, she ran after him and quickly stood by his side.


---

After months of persistence, Liu Erlong’s face was filled with excitement.

"Ah Jue, calling you this shouldn’t be a problem, right? After all, you’re younger than me."

"..."

Qian Renjue sat quietly at the table, not eating anything—scarred by past bad experiences. Watching Liu Erlong devour her food, he frowned and asked,

"Didn’t you say this was a scam shop?"

"Haha, the prices here are just high—they don’t poison the food. Otherwise, they’d have been shut down already."

"See? Having this old lady around isn’t so bad, is it?"

Perched on her chair, Liu Erlong grinned, rice stuck at the corner of her mouth.

Qian Renjue frowned, picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and muttered,
"If you call yourself 'this old lady' one more time, you’re leaving."

"Old la—uh!" Liu Erlong quickly covered her mouth before she could finish, nodding obediently.


---

A short while later, both were full, and the sounds of the waiter and shopkeeper’s screams echoed as Qian Renjue tossed them downstairs.

Leaving behind a fair amount of money, the pair departed.

"Ah Jue, are you okay?" Liu Erlong asked, watching the icy youth, who seemed to become a different person after each battle.

"Side effects," Qian Renjue replied curtly.


---

"Ah Jue, there’s a bandit hideout on that hill ahead. Interested?"

"Sure, let’s have some fun."

"Take it easy this time—don’t accidentally hit me again."

"If you’re scared, you can leave."

"Hey! Can’t you talk nicely? Why do you keep trying to drive me away?!"

"..."


---

In a courtyard blooming with flowers, Hu Liena, Ning Rongrong, and Ling Yuan Douluo stood beside Qian Renjue, their expressions anxious.

"Sister Ling Yuan, what’s wrong with Senior Brother?"

"I don’t know," Ling Yuan said, frowning. "I’ll go get the Pope to check on him."

Just as Ling Yuan was about to leave, she noticed Qian Renjue’s dull violet eyes suddenly regain their luster—a brilliance tinged with a hint of world-weariness—only for it to fade just as quickly.

The golden threads lingering in the air vanished without a trace.

"Sister Ling Yuan, there’s no need to trouble my mother," Qian Renjue said, speaking up in time to stop her.

"Senior Brother!" Hu Liena called out, her worried eyes now filled with joy.

Ning Rongrong clung to Qian Renjue’s arm, her eyes red, tears streaking her cheeks as she sobbed,
"Brother Holy Son, are you alright? Rongrong kept calling you just now, but you didn’t respond."

"Don’t cry. I was just remembering some things," Qian Renjue said with a faint smile, gently ruffling her hair.