22 Chapter 21: Smile
"Si Lao, order all the Animal Path Clones to contract with strong spirit beasts." Nian Zhen said to Si Lao. After coming back from Shrek Academy, Nian Zhen was now preparing to go towards Slaughter city.
"Also send a clone in a disguise as a delivery man to Tang Hao informing him to meet tomorrow morning at the east gate." Nian Zhen added.
"Yes, my Lord." Si Lao said, exiting Nian Zhen's room.
[Host, how long are we gonna stay at Slaughter City?]
"At least until I talk with Tang Chen and get the Death God Domain. Then there is some other place to go." Nian Zhen said with a slight smile.
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Morning, Suotuo City, East Gate.
A black robed figure was seen, eating a fresh apple. The figure was naturally Tang Hao who was waiting for Nian Zhen. After a while, Tang Hao saw a Red Robed figure headed towards him.
"This kid actually has the nerve to make me wait…" Tang Hao said. The meeting time had long since passed but Nian Zhen arrived only now.
"Ah!...Sorry old man, I overslept a bit." Nian Zhen said embarrassedly. Last night Nian Zhen ended up staying late in order to watch 'Kitchen Nightmares' videos stored in the 'Sanctuary'.
".....Lets go." Tang Hao said indifferently as he headed towards the west. Nian Zhen followed behind him.
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Crossing many mountains and towns, the two arrived at the city located at the border of the two great empires two weeks later.
"Kid, what job do you have here?" Tang Hao asked with a frown. He didn't like this city at all. This city belongs entirely to his enemy, Spirit Hall. Naturally the city they have come to is the Spirit City itself.
"Old man, you don't need to worry. I have some business with the Spirit Hall. You know that I inherited Gu Lao's seat as the Patriarch of the Ancient Forge Clan. It seems spirit hall has some of the things which belonged to my clan. I am just here to take back what is mine." Nian Zhen said as he entered the city with Tang Hao.
"Are you sane? You are thinking they would hand your things away that easily?" Tang Hao said. He really wanted to dissect Nian Zhen and see what was going on in his brain. Sometimes Nian Zhen would be extremely smart but sometimes he will be extremely dumb as well.
"You don't have to worry old man. I have some acquaintances of mine in the Spirit Hall. I will meet you here tomorrow morning. Till then enjoy around the bars." Nian Zhen said before disappearing.
"...." A blue vein popped in Tang Hao's forehead.
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[Host, do you really think Bibi Dong will hand over the things to you that easily?]
"I have my own plan for that. Gu Lao wanted the Clan to be formed again so obviously I need to take back things which belonged to the clan. Even if 'Chi Yue' may vanish somewhere in the future, I at least want the Ancient Forge Clan to be there." Nian Zhen said.
Heading towards the Spirit Hall, Nian Zhen saw a huge majestic castle made up of marbles and gold.
[Spirit hall? More like Spirit Castle.] Enron Commented.
"I couldn't agree more."
Heading towards the entrance, Nian Zhen was blocked by two Spirit Kings.
"Whoever wants to go inside must show identification." A middle aged Spirit king said.
Sighing, Nian Zhen gave the token Bibi Dong had given him three years ago.
"This…!! We are extremely sorry for our rudeness. Please come inside. I shall go and inform Her Eminence of your arrival." The man said.
"Good." Nian Zhen nodded.
Heading inside, Nian Zhen saw a huge hall covered in Gold and Gems. Two stairways led upwards while in front of Nian Zhe was a huge door, currently locked, which possibly leads towards different Sections of the Spirit Hall.
Nian Zhen noticed many people walking around, some were even glancing strangely at him. While he was observing his surroundings, Yue Guan suddenly appeared before him.
"It was really you huh kid. Come inside. Her Holiness is calling you." Yue Guan said. Glancing strangely at Nian Zhen, Yue Guan led the way. Seeing this others were now guessing the identity of Nian Zhen.
"So kid, have you finally decided whether to Join the Spirit Hall?" Yue Guan said as the two walked towards the Supreme Pontiffs Palace.
"Old man. I will tell that directly to Her Holiness." Nian Zhen said indifferently. This caused Yue Guan's mouth to twitch.
After a while, the duo arrived at the entrance to the Supreme Pontiff's Hall.
"Head Inside." Yue Guan said.
"I know you are there, Gui Mei. Don't be shy if you want to say hi." Nian Zhen said indifferently as he headed inside the hall.
"This kid…." Yue Guan said. Gui Mei mysteriously appeared beside him at that time with a frown on his face.
"To be able to detect me….who is this kid?" Gui Mei said in confusion.
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Inside the Hall.
As Nian Zhen entered, he was greeted by an Empty Space. No one was here except for the figure currently seated at the throne of the Supreme Pontiff. The figure unlike three years ago, was now dressed in black gilt-lined luxurious robes, wearing a nine tailed purple gold crown with a more than two meter long scepter in her hand, inlaid with countless precious stones.
The figure gave off a cold and majestic vibe as she glanced towards Nian Zhen.
"Wew...It's kinda cold here huh….Don't you think so too 'Supreme Pontiff'" Nian Zhen said with a bright smile on his face. Seeing that smile, fluctuation appeared in Bibi Dong's temperament. No matter how many times she sees Nian Zhen smile, she always feels uncomfortable, slight palpitations rising on her heart.
Looking at the now grown, Nian Zhen who appeared to be around 13-14 y/o Bibi Dong slightly opened her mouth.
"What do you want..?" Bibi Dong said coldly.
"Cold aren't ya. Well not that it matters. By the way, shall I call you 'Her Holiness' or 'Sister Mei' or.." Nian Zhen asked with a mysterious mile on his face.
"...Your choice." Bibi Dong said lightly.
"So Dong'er-" Before Nian Zhen could complete his statement he was directly blassted off by Bibi Dong.
"I was joking! Sheesh, can't you laugh?" Nian Zhen said, patting off the dust on his robe. Looking at Bibi Dong, her eyes were covered with killing intent.
[Host. Don't tease her. Do what you came to do.]
"Fine...Your Holiness, I am the current generation Patriarch of the Ancient Forge Clan. 2000 years ago, the ancestors of the Spirit Hall had taken my Clan's treasures and techniques. I have come this time to get them back." Nian Zhen said in a serious tone showing the token that represented his Clan, completely different from his previous tone.
"Hmm. And you think I will hand it over so easily?" Bibi Dong said coldly.
"....Sister Mei. Can't you help me this time. Please, in the future I will also help you." Nian Zhen said innocently.
[Host, I don't know how you can act like this…]
"..." Bibi Dong gave a blank glance to Nian Zhen.
"No...Even if I agree, the stuff from those times are currently possessed by the Elder Hall. They may not agree." Bibi Dong said indifferently.
"Sister, you don't have to lie. If you just give the order, your people can easily obtain my items." Nian Zhen said.
"....Fine. Remember your promise." Bibi Dong said. After hearing Nian Zhen promise to give her his help once, she had already thought of a plan. After that plan succeeds, Nian Zhen will inevitably be joining the Spirit Hall. Thinking of it, Bibi Dong's face became covered in a faint smile.
"Sigh...As beautiful as ever." Nian Zhen said loud enough so that both the eavesdropping Titled Douluo could hear it. Hearing it, Bibi Dong gave Nian Zhen a fierce glance.
"Yue Guan, Gui Mei you heard him. Search for those items and bring them fast." Bibi Dong said without the slightest hint of emotion.
After a while, two figure's came handing out a ring to Nian Zhen. After looking at him in an extremely weird way, the two slightly bowed to Bibi Dong and disappeared again.
Putting away the spirit ring after checking its content, Nian Zhen looked at Bibi Dong with an evil smile. Seeing that, Bibi Dong's heart suddenly felt an extremely bad premonition.
"By the way Sister, I have always wanted to ask you. Why don't you smile more often. You look beautiful that way." Nian Zhen said shamelessly.
[....I feel a sudden urge to vomit. Shit that was cringey](Enron as well as Author)
"....Shut up." Bibi Dong said lightly.
"I mean, Dong'er…"
*Boom*
A huge force directly hit Nian Zhen. This time, Bibi Dong attacked with the intent to kill. Before the attack hit him, Nian Zhen had already activated his Dragon Martial Soul.
[Host. You should not have teased her like that.]
Sigh....
"Anyway, catch up with you later, Sister Mei- I mean Sister Dong. Thank You for entertaining me" Nian Zhen said as he disappeared from the hall.
As soon as Nian Zhen disappeared, two figures bombarded the place where Nian Zhen was standing.
Seeing that he had disappeared, Yue Guan and Gui Mei decided to follow him but they were suddenly stopped by Bibi Dong.
"No need. He was just getting on my nerves. Leave him be. He will come back sooner or later. Focus on the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament." Bibi Dong said. What surprised the two was not the fact that Bibi Dong let the kid go. What surprised them was the smile on Bibi Dong's face as she looked at the place where Nian Zhen was standing before.
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[Host that was extremely shameless, stupid and unnecessary…]
"Hmm. Well I couldn't resist teasing her as it had been a long time since we met." Nian Zhen shrugged.
[Where are we headed now? Search for Tang Hao?]
"No. I have someone else to meet up with." Nian Zhen said, as he went towards a certain direction.
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"Lord.." Two voices sounded inside the room in an inn Nian Zhen had rented for the night.
"You have arrived Shi'er, Shi San." Nian Zhen said, looking at his two clones.
"Sit. Tell me what is happening at your respective halls." Nian Zhen said.
The next morning, Nian Zhen had arrived early at the meeting place. After a while, Tang Hao arrived.
"It seems you are alive, kid." Tang Hao said jokingly.
Giving him a blank glance, Nian Zhen said, "Lets' go...No more stops now. We are directly going to Slaughter City now."
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After a little more than a month, Nian Zhen and Tang Hao arrived at a village, crossing countless mountains and towns along the way.
"We have arrived…" Tang Hao said.
