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The fabric of the girl's clothing was of the highest quality, even surpassing what Ye Wen and Ah Yin were wearing. It was the kind of attire only high-ranking nobles could afford.
However, her luxurious clothes were now torn and ragged, clearly indicating that her journey had been fraught with hardship. Given that she was an auxiliary soul master who had become separated from her companions, it wasn't hard to understand why she was in such a state.
Long-established families of high-level soul masters held honorary noble titles within the empire, and their status was determined by the strength of their strongest member. Though her elegant gown was tattered, one could still faintly discern the embroidered image of a nine-petaled begonia—a symbol of the Nine-Heart Begonia Ye Family.
Calmly sipping his soup, Ye Wen felt no need to worry about any hidden schemes since they bore no grudges against each other. He casually asked:
"Little miss, are you from the Nine-Heart Begonia Ye Family?"
The girl nodded meekly, her expression tinged with grievance.
"Come sit down. It seems the commotion earlier today was caused by your family encountering that Diamond Gorilla. You've had quite the misfortune to run into such a top-tier spirit beast."
Ye Wen's gentle voice soothed the girl's anxious heart. Slowly, she approached and sat beside them.
Ah Yin warmly served her a bowl of hot soup.
The girl accepted it, taking small, delicate sips. Her refined demeanor, even in her current plight, revealed the etiquette instilled through noble upbringing. She reminded Ye Wen of the wealthy classmates from his past life.
"What's your name?" Ye Wen stirred the firewood on the ground and asked casually.
"Ye Xixi."
"Do you want to freshen up? You look rather disheveled—it must be uncomfortable."
"Thank you for your trouble."
"Ah Yin, would you mind helping her?"
"Mm."
Not far away, there was a clean pool in a small valley, already heated by Ye Wen. While Ye Wen, as a man, could go two or three days without bathing and was used to being scruffy, Ah Yin, being a fragrant and elegant beauty, naturally couldn't tolerate such neglect.
Bathing took a long time for girls. Half an hour passed, and they still hadn't emerged, though their laughter could occasionally be heard.
At this moment, the sound of footsteps echoed from the nearby bushes. Ye Wen looked over cautiously.
A burly man appeared, his long beard and hair blending together, making him resemble a lion. Behind him stood a young man with a swollen face and a beautiful woman.
Neither party rushed to speak, instead sizing each other up. Then, the burly man stepped forward.
"Boy, have you seen a girl around fifteen or sixteen years old?"
"Predecessor Chen Gang?" Ye Wen countered.
Chen Gang frowned. That was correct—he was the Soul Douluo who had fought fiercely with the Diamond Gorilla earlier that day.
But Chen Gang didn't recall knowing someone like Ye Wen. "Who are you?"
Ye Wen smiled amiably and gestured to the chair beside him.
"Please sit down, Predecessor. There's no need to stand while speaking."
Chen Gang didn't object and sat upright on the chair, watching Ye Wen intently. Meanwhile, the young man and the beautiful woman followed suit.
"It's normal that Predecessor Chen Gang doesn't recognize me. I've only seen your introduction in some materials. Besides, with the commotion earlier today, it would've been impossible not to notice you. After all, the name Lion King Chen Gang is quite renowned.
As for the girl you're looking for—she must be your daughter, Ye Xixi. She's washing up in the nearby valley with my wife and should return shortly."
Chen Gang paid no heed to Ye Wen's flattery. As a member of the second tier beneath the Title Douluos, he was accustomed to receiving praise. However, hearing that his daughter was safe and washing up nearby eased his worries.
"Thank you."
In the Sunset Forest, where distrust reigned among soul master groups, Ye Wen's acceptance and protection of his daughter was truly considerate.
Having risen from the lower ranks through brutal struggles, Chen Gang had encountered more than his share of despicable soul masters. His greatest fear was that Ye Xixi might encounter some twisted soul master.
"Predecessor, have you eaten? I still have some flatbread here," Ye Wen offered warmly.
Only then did the three realize they hadn't eaten while searching for Ye Xixi. Now feeling their hunger, they gratefully accepted the flatbread from Ye Wen and began chatting leisurely.
After a while, Ah Yin and Ye Xixi finally emerged.
"Father! Mother!"
Ye Xixi, who had been in good spirits after freshening up, saw her family and immediately teared up, rushing to embrace her mother, Ye Yingying.
Seeing his daughter's state, Chen Gang realized she must have endured much hardship during their separation. With a mix of pity and frustration, he gave his son, Chen Lie, a sharp rap on the head.
Chen Lie, momentarily dazzled by the freshly bathed and fragrant Ah Yin, snapped back to reality with a jolt of pain from his father's blow. Still, he could only grin foolishly.
Ah Yin's charm was undeniable, but Ye Wen knew she had done nothing inappropriate—her actions were guided by propriety.
"This is my wife, Ah Yin," Ye Wen introduced.
At this point, Chen Gang remembered they hadn't yet introduced themselves. Straightening up, he formally stated:
"I am Chen Gang of the Nine-Heart Begonia Family. This is my wife, Ye Yingying, and my son, Chen Lie. As for my daughter, I believe she has already introduced herself to you."
(A/N: Here's an additional setting from the original story. When children of influential families marry, if their offspring awaken the martial soul of the other family, their surname changes, and they are recorded in the other family's genealogy to prevent the outflow of bloodlines.
By Douluo 2, this rule becomes even stricter within the Body Sect. Anyone possessing a Body-type martial soul will be forcibly recruited.)
"I am Ye Wen, principal of Tian Xing Advanced Academy."
Upon hearing this title, the eyes of the Nine-Heart Begonia family flickered with astonishment. They hadn't expected this refined young man to be the renowned martial soul master who had recently gained fame across the continent.
"We've long heard of you. To meet Master Ye Wen in person is an honor. Forgive my earlier rudeness."
If Ye Wen had been an ordinary soul master, Chen Gang could have dismissed him casually. But now, knowing that Ye Wen was both a celebrated scholar and a dual-empire count, he adopted a more respectful demeanor.
"Not at all. For a strong predecessor like yourself, I hold great admiration."
What followed was a round of mutual flattery—the adult world was indeed tiresome.
Ah Yin, yawning incessantly, along with the exhausted Ye Yingying and Ye Xixi, retired to the tent early to rest.
As for the three men, they were left to take turns keeping watch through the night.
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