The evening sky had already turned to night by the time Wang finally saw the distant silhouette of Heaven Dou City.
From high above, the enormous city looked almost peaceful beneath the rising moonlight. The tall walls surrounding the capital stretched across the horizon, while countless buildings rose behind them in orderly rows. Even from this distance, he could see the movement of people entering and leaving through the massive gates.
He slowed the Celestial Sword considerably.
"Finally."
Six months.
It had been six long months since he had last seen a proper city, and he had spent almost every one of those days surrounded by spirit beasts, trees, rivers, mountains, and enough danger to make ordinary camping look like a luxury vacation.
He had originally entered the Star Dou Forest as a Level 89 Soul Douluo.
Now he was returning as a Level 92 Titled Douluo.
He still wasn't entirely sure whether the entire experience had been a blessing or a particularly elaborate punishment. At least he had received some useful gifts.
He adjusted his collar. "Much better."
"Yuehua definitely won't laugh at me now."
He paused.
"...Probably."
The thought of her immediately brought a smile to his face.
It had been six months.
He had become accustomed to her absence during his time in the forest, but now that he was close to seeing her again, the distance suddenly felt much longer than it had before.
He wondered what she had been doing. How much had the Moon Pavilion changed? How had her cultivation progressed? Had she been worried about him?
Probably.
He knew her well enough to know that she would have been concerned, even if she understood why he had gone into the forest.
He sighed.
"I should've sent a message."
[The System agrees.]
He looked toward the empty space beside him.
"Nobody asked you."
[The System merely stated an objective observation.]
"You sound like her."
There was a short pause.
[The System is uncertain whether that is a compliment.]
"It wasn't."
[Understood.]
He couldn't help but laugh.
The Celestial Sword descended gradually.
He wasn't going to fly directly into Heaven Dou City. That would attract far too much attention, and attracting attention was the exact opposite of what he wanted.
He landed several hundred meters outside the city and dismissed the sword.
The guards at the city entrance barely glanced at him as he joined the flow of travelers. He kept his aura completely restrained. To everyone around him, he was simply another young Soul Master returning to the capital.
That was perfect.
The moment he passed through the city gates, he felt strangely nostalgic.
Heaven Dou City had always been lively, but after spending six months in the Star Dou Forest, even ordinary streets felt extraordinary. People were everywhere. Merchants pushed carts filled with goods. Carriages moved along the roads. Children ran between adults while being scolded by their parents.
Soul Masters wearing various academy uniforms walked through the streets. The Soul Master Arena was already thronging with audience. Restaurants were beginning to fill with customers as evening approached.
Wang simply walked.
There was no particular hurry in his steps. For once, he wasn't chasing a spirit beast. He wasn't escaping from anything. He was simply walking home.
After several streets, the familiar surroundings gradually began to appear. He had visited Heaven Dou City before. But there was one place he knew better than almost anywhere else.
The Moon Pavilion.
Eventually, the familiar building came into view. He stopped for a moment. The Moon Pavilion was far more impressive than he remembered.
The building stood several stories tall, its elegant architecture making it noticeably different from the surrounding establishments. A large sign bearing the name "Moon Pavilion" hung above the entrance, while several guards stood outside.
He saw carriages bearing crests of various noble houses moving in and out. There were either students within them who were leaving after classes or nobles visiting the establishment.
He smiled.
"She's really done it."
He had known Yuehua would succeed. Still, seeing the result with his own eyes made him proud.
He walked toward the entrance. One of the guards immediately stepped forward.
"Please stop."
He looked behind himself. Nobody was there.
Wang blinked. He pointed toward himself again.
"...Me?"
"Yes, sir."
Wang looked at the Moon Pavilion. Then at the guard. Then back at the building.
"...I don't think you understand."
The guard remained professional.
"Only members, invited guests, and registered visitors are permitted beyond this point."
"I'm not exactly a visitor."
The guard frowned slightly. "Then may I ask who you are?"
Wang opened his mouth. Then closed it.
He suddenly realized that he had never considered this part. Who exactly was he supposed to say he was?
He couldn't exactly announce: Hello, I'm the secret boyfriend of your Pavilion Master.
That seemed like a terrible idea.
Especially when he had no idea whether the guards knew about their relationship.
He smiled awkwardly. "I'm a friend of the Pavilion Mistress."
The guard's expression remained unchanged.
"Do you have an appointment?"
"...No."
"Then I'm afraid I cannot allow you inside."
Wang stared at him. He had fought ten-thousand-year spirit beasts. He had survived the depths of the Star Dou Forest. He had broken through to Level 92. He had met beings who existed before time itself. And now he was being stopped by two guards with spears.
He looked at the guards again.
"Do you know Tang Yuehua?"
The younger of the two guards, immediately stomped at him, "How dare you call the Pavilion Mistress by her name?"
He raised his spear and strode at him. Wang was just about to raise his fingers when an elderly figure appeared at the gates.
"What is happening here!"
He looked elderly, but his sound carried a trace of authority that made the guard freeze mid stride.
The two guards exchanged glances.
The hot headed guard spoke, "Chief! This man tried to enter the Pavilion and claimed to know the Mistress. He even referred to the Mistress by her name."
The Chief seemed annoyed, "If he referred to the Mistress by her name, he must know her. Such a well dressed gentleman wouldn't lie, would he?"
He then turned to Wang, " Do you truly know the Mistress?"
"Of course. I'm here to see her."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No."
"Then I'm afraid you cannot enter."
Wang's smile disappeared. "...We seem to be going in circles."
The Chief coughed slightly. "Sir, Pavilion Mistress Tang receives many visitors. We cannot allow everyone who claims to know her to simply walk inside."
"That's fair." Wang nodded.
He couldn't really argue with that. Then he thought about it for another second.
"But what if I actually know her?"
The younger guard looked suspicious.
"Then you should have no difficulty proving it."
"How?"
The Chief stepped in, "Please provide your identification."
Wang reached into his clothes. Then stopped. He had identification. Somewhere. Probably. Maybe.
He had spent six months in the forest. His priorities had changed. He slowly withdrew his hand.
"...I left it somewhere."
The other guard stared at him.
"Where?"
"That's the problem."
The younger guard's expression became increasingly suspicious.
Wang sighed. "This isn't going well."
[The System agrees.]
"Helios, you're not helping."
[The System was not attempting to help.]
He rubbed his forehead. The situation was becoming increasingly ridiculous.
He could simply release a tiny portion of his aura and make every Soul Master in the building realize that a Titled Douluo had arrived.
But that would defeat the entire purpose of keeping his return quiet. Besides, these guards were doing their jobs.
There was no reason to intimidate them.
He looked toward the building again.
"Can you at least send someone inside and tell her that Wang is here?"
The guards froze. The Chief narrowed his eyes.
"Wang?"
"Yes."
"Your name is Wang?"
"Yes."
The Chief looked him up and down.
"Just Wang?"
"No, Wang Luan."
The older guard thought for a moment. The name didn't seem familiar. He shook his head.
"I'm sorry, young master Wang, but I cannot disturb Pavilion Master Tang without confirmation."
Wang sighed.
"Fine."
He turned around. The guards relaxed slightly. The Chief turned back.
Then he stopped.
"Wait."
The younger guard frowned.
"What is it?"
"Could you at least tell her that there's an idiot outside who has been standing here for five minutes?"
The two guards exchanged confused looks.
The Chief cleared his throat, "Why?"
"Because she'll know who you're talking about."
Before any of them could respond, a voice came from behind them.
"What is happening here?"
The guards immediately straightened.
Wang's expression changed. He recognized that voice. He slowly looked over their shoulders.
A young woman dressed in the Moon Pavilion's formal attire was walking toward the entrance, accompanied by another attendant.
She had clearly heard the conversation from inside.
Her gaze passed over the guards. Then settled on him.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Wang smiled.
"Hi."
Her eyes widened.
The color briefly drained from her face before returning just as quickly.
"Wang?"
The guards looked at each other.
The attendant beside her stared at him in surprise.
Wang raised one hand.
"Yep."
The woman hurried toward him.
"You..."
She stopped directly in front of him.
For a moment, she simply stared.
Six months. Six months without seeing him. He looked different. Not visually. But there was something about him that she immediately noticed.
His presence.
Something had changed. Yet beneath all of it, he was still the same person. The same relaxed expression. The same slightly mischievous smile. The same person she had fallen in love with years ago.
She stared at him for another moment. Then her expression hardened.
"You disappeared for six months."
Wang's smile weakened.
"Technically—"
"Don't."
He immediately shut his mouth.
The guards watched the exchange with growing confusion. The attendant looked between them. The Chief simply stared.
Wang glanced toward the guards.
"These two were very helpful."
The younger guard suddenly looked nervous.
"Pavilion Mistress, this gentleman claimed to know you."
Yuehua looked at him. "Of course he knows me."
She paused. Then looked toward Wang again.
"Unfortunately."
Wang placed a hand over his heart.
"That hurts."
Her expression twitched. For the first time, the anger in her eyes weakened.
She almost smiled.
Almost.
"You are unbelievable."
"I've been told that before."
"Come inside."
"Gladly."
He took one step forward. The guards immediately moved aside.
As he passed them, Wang leaned slightly toward the Chief, "Just between us, I was beginning to think I would have to sleep outside."
The guard looked horrified.
"The Mistress would never—"
Yuehua turned around. "What was that?"
"Nothing."
He immediately continued walking. The guards watched them disappear into the building.
The younger guard slowly turned toward his companion.
"Who exactly was that?"
The other guard remained silent for several seconds.
"I have absolutely no idea."
The younger guard frowned.
"But the Pavilion Mistress clearly knows him."
"Very clearly."
"Do you think he's important?"
The older guard looked toward the closed doors.
"Considering she personally came to get him..."
He shook his head.
"Extremely."
The Chief smacked both of them on their heads, "Get back to your posts!"
"Yes Sir!" The both immediately scampered off.
Inside the Moon Pavilion, Wang followed Yuehua through a quiet corridor.
The moment they were far enough from the entrance, she stopped. He nearly walked into her.
She turned around.
"Six months."
He smiled awkwardly.
"I know."
"You left at Level 89."
"Yes."
"You said you would return after obtaining your ninth spirit ring."
"Technically, I did."
"Six months later."
"Also technically correct."
She stared at him.
He raised both hands. "Okay, I'll stop."
She took a breath.
Her anger was real, but beneath it was something else. Relief.
She had spent months wondering whether he was safe. Whether something had happened to him. Whether he had encountered a powerful spirit beast. Whether he had been injured.
Now he was standing in front of her.
Alive.
And apparently still incapable of taking anything seriously. Her expression finally softened.
"I'm glad you're back."
His smile became genuine.
"Me too."
For a moment, neither spoke. Then her eyes narrowed.
"Something is different."
Wang blinked.
"What?"
"You."
He immediately became cautious.
"What about me?"
"I don't know."
She studied him carefully.
"You feel different."
He smiled.
"Maybe I just bought better clothes."
She gave him an unimpressed look.
"No."
He laughed softly.
"Fine."
She continued looking at him.
Then, slowly, she reached out and touched his arm.
Her expression changed.
She could feel it.
The power hidden beneath his deliberately restrained aura.
Her eyes widened.
"Wang..."
He knew what she had sensed.
There was no reason to hide it from her.
He smiled. "Level 92."
Silence. Yuehua stared at him.
Then she slowly closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, there was disbelief written across her face.
"You were Level 89 when you left."
"Yes."
"And now you're Level 92."
"Yes."
"Six months."
"Also yes."
She stared at him.
"How?"
Wang smiled.
"Technically I was very close to breaking through to 90 when I left. I actually planned to track the beast I had seen when I went to hunt my 7th ring. But that's a very long story."
She crossed her arms.
"We have time."
He looked down the corridor. Then toward the comfortable-looking lounge nearby.
He smiled.
"Can we sit down first?"
She sighed.
"Fine."
They walked toward the lounge together.
For the first time in six months, Wang felt completely at ease. He was finally home.
But there was another battle waiting for him. And he would most probably admit defeat there.