Chapter 60: Gains and Losses

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Heaven Dou City!

Dugu Bo sent Dugu Yan and Wang Li to the city's outskirts. In his dark green eyes, a dangerous glint flashed as he gave his instructions:

"Yan Yan, remember to come back before dinner. I'll have your favorite dishes prepared. We can enjoy a good meal together, just the two of us."

Dugu Yan, acting somewhat coquettish in front of her grandfather, agreed with a smile:

"Alright, Grandpa!"

She then took Wang Li's hand, leading him toward the heart of Heaven Dou City.

Watching their retreating figures, the dangerous light in Dugu Bo's eyes only intensified.

If he wasn't keeping an eye on them, he feared the two kids might cause trouble and surprise him in ways he wouldn't want. Although one was only sixteen and the other nine, this was Douluo Continent, where after a soul master's awakening at age six, many experienced the inner turmoil of their martial souls and often needed to visit brothels to "release" their pent-up energy.

The Dugu family owned a mansion in Heaven Dou City, located in a quieter corner. Though it was in a secluded area, its size made it a luxurious estate.

When Dugu Bo mentioned "going home," he was referring to the mansion where Dugu Yan was to return. Even though the two main residents were often away, the mansion was well-maintained by servants and cooks.

---

Meanwhile, on the other side!

Wang Li followed Dugu Yan into Heaven Dou City. For him, the city was a place of great curiosity. Compared to Liejia City, which already seemed tiny, Nuoding City now felt even smaller in comparison. And Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, was a massive metropolis—one of only two such giants on the continent, the other being Star Luo City, the capital of the Star Luo Empire.

While Spirit Hall's Soul City could house only soul masters or their families, it couldn't compare to the sheer scale of these two imperial capitals.

Back to Heaven Dou City, Dugu Yan was quite familiar with the area. Naturally, with a girl in tow, shopping and sightseeing were inevitable.

The streets were lined with all sorts of clothes, jewelry, and accessories, enough to make anyone's head spin. Wang Li, however, didn't have such troubles. As Dugu Yan tried on and modeled one outfit after another, he simply admired her and offered compliments.

Eventually, Dugu Yan, pulling a black gold soul coin storage card from a serpent-shaped soul guide bracelet on her slender wrist, used it to purchase all the items she liked, all while Wang Li continued to praise her.

In truth, Dugu Yan was a hidden wealthy lady. While she didn't have a powerful sect behind her, as Dugu Bo's granddaughter, money was never an issue.

Their shopping spree didn't stop at clothes and jewelry. They indulged in food and drinks as well. By the end of it, even Wang Li, with his great appetite, was feeling stuffed.

As the evening drew near and they began heading home, Dugu Yan suddenly stopped when she spotted a vendor selling candied hawthorns.

She turned to Wang Li and said:

"Don't wander off. I'm going to buy some candied hawthorns for you!"

With that, she sprinted off to catch up with the vendor.

Wang Li stood there, a bit flustered, his eyes wide. He had heard similar things before, but he never expected them to unfold in such a way today.

Dugu Yan was generous, giving the vendor a gold soul coin for two skewers of candied hawthorns. Even in Heaven Dou City, where prices were steep, the purchasing power of a gold soul coin was still impressive. The vendor, caught by surprise, couldn't hide his joy at making such a sale as the night drew to a close.

When Dugu Yan returned, she handed Wang Li one skewer:

"Hold this for me!"

Then, taking a hawthorn berry from her own skewer, she looked at Wang Li with eager anticipation and said:

"Eat some hawthorn. It's good for digestion. Come on, open your mouth, I'll feed you!"

Wang Li took a deep breath. His body might only be nine years old, but he wasn't truly just nine years old. Still, seeing the candied hawthorn covered in syrup, and then looking at Dugu Yan's eager face, he couldn't help but give in:

"Ah~~"

Dugu Yan successfully fed him, feeling a great sense of satisfaction. She had lost many loved ones during her childhood and had only her grandfather left. Now, she finally got to enjoy the role of an older sister.

With a gentle smile, Dugu Yan asked:

"Is it sweet?"

The hawthorn had been pitted, and after Wang Li bit through the sugary coating, he found the tangy, slightly sour fruit inside. The mix of sweet and sour was quite delicious, and he answered:

"Sweet!"

Encouraged, Dugu Yan proceeded to feed him all the hawthorns from both skewers. Once the candied hawthorns were finished, they returned to the Dugu family mansion.

That Evening!

Dinner began in a strange atmosphere, with the attendees being the "kind" grandfather, the gentle older sister, and the "lovable" younger brother.

Of course, this was Dugu Yan's perspective, and she deeply enjoyed this atmosphere. It was the kind of warmth that truly felt like home.

After a few days of carefree fun, where Wang Li accompanied Dugu Yan on shopping trips during the day, and Dugu Yan fed him, the "family of three" enjoyed a meal together in the evening, all until the holiday came to an end.

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Deep Inside Heaven Dou Royal Academy!

Dugu Bo, accompanied by Dugu Yan and Wang Li, directly stormed into the academy. As a titled Douluo, his presence was as imposing as it was authoritative.

The three members of the faculty—Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhilin—felt as if they were facing a great enemy, yet they still respectfully greeted him:

"Your Majesty the Crowned, may I ask the purpose of your visit?"

Dugu Bo responded coldly with a simple nod, placing one hand on Wang Li's shoulder with no room for discussion, as if issuing a command:

"I'm taking this child with me. He'll be training under my guidance from now on."

Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhilin all exchanged glances, their expressions changing. Meng Shenji stepped forward and spoke in a stern voice:

"Your Majesty, this child is a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Even if you are a titled Douluo, you cannot take him away at will!"

Sensing the escalating tension, Wang Li took the initiative to speak up:

"Honorable professors, I am still a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. However, the place where Senior Dugu is currently in seclusion is an environment that is very suitable for my unique cultivation. I requested him to allow me to train there, and I will be able to return at any time."

Dugu Bo held his head high and proudly declared:

"I'm only taking him for a while because of Yan Yan's request. The child has good potential, so I'll personally guide him for a time."

Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhilin's attitudes softened, and they regained their respect for Dugu Bo. After all, a Soul Douluo had to lower their head in front of a titled Douluo.

Meng Shenji, with a more polite tone, said:

"In that case, we entrust this child to Your Majesty. His talent is outstanding, and he's one of the members we've selected to participate in the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament as part of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team!"

As long as there was no danger to Wang Li's life and he remained a student of the academy, they had no reason to oppose. To receive guidance from a titled Douluo was something many soul masters could only dream of.

However, the three professors, while watching Wang Li, couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration, envy, or perhaps astonishment.

This child was no ordinary one. He had only been at the academy for half a month, and yet he had already formed a connection with Dugu Yan and secured the favor of Dugu Bo, a titled Douluo—one of the strongest figures on the continent.

It was a trade-off. Though Wang Li gained the favor of a titled Douluo, he had also lost the mundane troubles of everyday life.

Wang Li's life was destined to be incomplete. Having avoided decades of struggles and never experiencing the harshness of society, how could his life be considered truly complete?

(End of Chapter)