Zuzong wasn't unfamiliar with the elegant woman in front of him; she was the same person he had seen riding in a carriage on the streets of Heaven Dou City last time.
He was a bit surprised to realize that this woman was actually Tang Yuehua.
Tang Yuehua smiled and said, "It seems you still remember me, Zong. After all these years, you haven't changed a bit—still so young and handsome. Are you with Erlong now?"
"Uh…" Zuzong felt a bit awkward. What was happening? Did the senior who had crossed over also manage to get involved with Tang Yuehua?
Frowning slightly, Zuzong responded seriously, "Madam, I think you and Aunt Erlong are mistaken. I'm not the 'Little Zong' you know."
Tang Yuehua quickly stepped forward, met Zuzong's gaze, and grabbed his right hand with both of hers. After realizing she couldn't determine his bone age, she relaxed but her eyes filled with tears. "Zong, back then you said you were going to save someone important to you. But after you left, there was no word from you for years. I thought you had died. And now, you're still trying to deceive me?"
"I—" Zuzong was about to explain but was cut off by Tang Yuehua.
"You're going to say you've practiced a soul skill, so I can't figure out your bone age, right?"
Her lips trembled, and she suddenly threw herself into Zuzong's arms, crying uncontrollably. Her hands tightly clung to his waist, as if she wanted to melt into him. Despite her usual elegance, at this moment she seemed to have completely lost her composure.
Her sobs, which were purely an emotional release, drew attention.
Feeling the softness in his arms and inhaling her fragrance, Zuzong's mind began to wander.
This damned allure...
Oh well!
It seemed that this woman was also someone the senior who crossed over had left behind. Zuzong decided to lend her his solid shoulder for a while.
After all, Zuzong always had a soft spot for beautiful women.
After a long time, Tang Yuehua's sobs finally subsided. She slowly lifted her head and looked deeply into Zuzong's eyes. "Zong, how have you been all these years? Do you know how hard I've been searching for you?"
Zuzong frowned slightly and said, "Madam, you seem to know Aunt Erlong. But I'm only thirteen years old; I wasn't even born decades ago. So I can't be the 'Zong' or 'Little Zong' that you and Aunt Erlong knew. Aunt Erlong even said that the 'Little Zong' she knew might have been my father."
Tang Yuehua shook her head. "No, maybe Erlong can't see it, but I can. A person's appearance may stay the same, but their eyes don't lie. Not only me, but I'm sure the person you went to save back then must have recognised you long ago. I don't know why she hasn't revealed herself to you, but you are him, without a doubt. Perhaps—"
At this point, Tang Yuehua fell silent. In her mind, a theory was forming: the Douluo Continent was full of mysteries. Maybe, by some stroke of fate, Zuzong from the future had returned to her time. This would explain why his appearance hadn't changed.
"Perhaps what? And who is this person?" Zuzong asked softly.
"Nothing… nothing at all. You'll understand when the time comes," Tang Yuehua replied, shaking her head. She chose not to reveal her thoughts, fearing that she might alter history, which could have unintended consequences.
After leaving Yuexuan Pavilion, Zuzong's heart remained unsettled. Tang Yuehua's words had shaken him. Could it be that he had really traveled back to the past? And according to her, someone besides Tang Yuehua and Liu Erlong had been secretly watching him. But who could it be?
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Zuzong felt a headache coming on.
"System, will I return to the past in the future?"
[Ding! The system cannot predict events that haven't occurred yet.]
Well, that made sense. Who could really know what the future holds?
Just as Zuzong was deep in thought, a servant approached him. "Excuse me, are you Master Zuzong?"
"Yes, that's me," Zuzong replied.
"The Prince's residence has sent this for you," the servant said, handing over a gold-threaded pouch.
Taking the pouch, Zuzong wondered what the famous "most beautiful woman in Douluo" was planning. Opening it, he found a token with the character for "Snow" and a letter.
"Zuzong Brother,
We got along so well when we met.
If you ever find yourself in trouble, show this token.
With this token, it will be as if I am present.
Also, the tea you made was delicious.
—Xue Qinghe."
Zuzong shook his head and murmured, "So he wants to recruit me. If I show this token publicly, won't that mean I've pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince?"
With that, he put the token away.
Happy days passed quickly, and in no time, Zuzong had spent a month at Shrek Academy. His requested leave was over, so he returned with Xiao Wu to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
At the gates of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
Xiao Wu jumped off Zuzong's back and stretched. "Ah! That nap was amazing. Come on, Zong, let's go inside!"
Zuzong rolled his eyes. This rabbit was getting lazier by the day. The distance from Heaven Dou City to the Imperial Academy was only a few dozen miles—a trivial journey for soul masters at their level. Yet she had complained about being tired after just a few steps.
If she hadn't grown up, Zuzong swore he wouldn't have carried her at all.
Zuzong turned to Xiao Wu and said in a low voice, "Xiao Wu, I'll be going into seclusion when I return. I won't come out for a month."
He planned to visit the Legend Of Qin world to refine his sword techniques. During his fight with Gu Rong, Zuzong realized that his sword style was strong but lacked flexibility, preventing him from getting close to Gu Rong. If he could one day reach the level of Gai Nie, the legendary swordsman who used a wooden stick as a sword, and combine that with his second soul skill—Blue Silver Blades—his strength would surely soar.
"Yeah, yeah, more training. But you have to take me shopping when you're done!" Xiao Wu complained, grabbing his arm.
Zuzong ruffled her hair. This rabbit had become even more radiant after absorbing the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. But still, it would be another year before he could "consume" her. The same went for Zhu Zhuqing.
"Let's head in," Zuzong said, taking Xiao Wu's hand and walking through the academy gates.
"Xue Beng?"
Zuzong was surprised. He didn't expect the first person he'd meet upon returning to the academy would be this notorious playboy.
"How are you still alive?" Xue Beng exclaimed, his pupils contracting in shock as if he had seen a ghost.
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