I will be away for 3 days. Adios!
------***------
"Tom, Tom, where are you?"
A green streak of light darted through the Star Dou Great Forest. It was Shen An, who had taken a speed potion.
Although the speed potion's effects could last for an hour, Shen An didn't dare to slack off for even a moment. He frantically searched for Tom.
Even though he knew Tom was immortal, even though he knew Tom had the Superman suit, Shen An's heart still clenched when Tom had risked himself to draw the enemy's attention and save him.
At this moment, Shen An's soul power was surging wildly. In his left hand, he held a brick, and in his right, he carried the unconscious Ye Zi. He followed the massive footprints on the ground, searching for any trace of Tom.
Shen An had been frantic with worry, but after hearing two furious roars, he calmed down.
If something had really happened to Tom, the enemy wouldn't be this angry.
The fact that they were roaring like this meant that Tom had undoubtedly used some trick to humiliate them.
Shen An looked in the direction of the roars, a cold glint in his eyes.
Shen An didn't know much about the plot of Douluo Continent, but he had heard of the two kings of the forest—important figures in the story.
"100,000-year soul beasts, huh? Wanting to avenge that rabbit? Fine, I'll remember this," Shen An muttered to himself as he hovered in the air.
For the first time, Shen An had experienced the terror of death. Before, whether it was the wild wolves he had first encountered, or even Flender and the Spirit Hall, someone had always stepped in to protect him.
But this time, no one had. The Titan Giant Ape's overwhelming, tyrannical aura had left a deep impression on Shen An.
Even with the speed potion, Shen An hadn't been able to escape the Titan Giant Ape's grasp in less than ten breaths.
That massive hand, like a mountain, had reached out to crush him, making Shen An acutely aware of his own insignificance—like an insignificant insect.
Against such a top-tier powerhouse, he hadn't even had the chance to pull out his brick. If it hadn't been for Tom stepping in to save him, he would have been reduced to dust.
Shen An didn't like this feeling of having his life hanging by a thread, and he didn't want to experience it again.
The complacency he had felt after advancing to Soul Elder was now completely gone, replaced by a burning determination.
Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape, your lives will be mine one day. As thanks for the fear you instilled in me today!
Shen An stopped staring into the distance and turned to leave. The Star Dou Forest was too vast, and finding a cat here was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Instead, Shen An decided to return to the spot where he had left Ye Zi.
He believed Tom would come back too. All he had to do now was wait.
---
Tom was leisurely riding on the back of a black leopard, which seemed completely unaffected by his weight as it sprinted madly through the forest.
Its speed was so fast it became a blur of black light, yet Tom remained perfectly stable, sitting as calmly as if he were on a couch.
Occasionally, Tom would let out a small burp, his stomach gurgling. Well, he had drunk a lot of water, after all.
Tom noticed that the scenery ahead looked familiar, so he decisively jumped off the leopard. If he kept riding, he might lose his way and have to backtrack to find Shen An.
After all, anyone who's gotten lost in the wild knows that if you accidentally get separated from your friends, it's best not to wander aimlessly. Instead, retrace your steps and look for them.
When Tom returned to the spot, Shen An was hiding in a tree with Ye Zi in his arms. The forest was filled with fleeing soul beasts, and staying low would have risked being trampled.
As soon as Shen An saw Tom, he hugged him tightly.
"You scared me, Tom! Don't do something so dangerous again. If it comes to it, just use the Superman suit."
Tom stuck out his tongue and gestured with his paws.
"Alright, I know you said the Superman suit is important and should be saved for critical moments, but your life is the most important thing."
"Even if you can't die, what if they capture and imprison you?"
Shen An rambled on, while Tom nodded obediently. But Tom, the Cat Emperor, was a smart little feline. There was no way he'd let himself be captured.
"By the way, Tom, why do you smell so bad? It's like you fell into a latrine."
Tom's previously obedient expression froze. He didn't want to talk about it.
Damn it! Even though it was to save you, I, Tom, will never admit that I crawled into the giant ape's backside and blew up its... well, you know. It's too embarrassing!
---
While the two kings of the forest were roaring, Xue Qinghe, in the nearby town, felt his eyelids twitching uncontrollably. He had a vague sense that something terrifying was about to happen, but fortunately, it eventually subsided.
Hmm, he's back. Xue Qinghe saw Shen An walking over with Ye Zi in his arms.
Shen An had buried the events of the Star Dou Forest deep in his heart. From now on, he would focus on gaining fame and reputation until he had the strength to avenge today's humiliation.
"Apologies, Brother Jerry. For some reason, I feel like we've met before, so I took the liberty of asking the innkeeper about your name."
As soon as Shen An entered the hotel, Xue Qinghe's voice reached him.
Shen An looked at Xue Qinghe strangely. Not only was Xue Qinghe's enthusiasm a bit unusual, but the name "Brother Jerry" also felt oddly out of place.
Beside him, Tom was already struggling to hold back his laughter. Brother Jerry? Hahahaha, this is too funny!
"Haha, your demeanor also feels very familiar to me," Shen An replied. What else could he say? When someone flatters you, you flatter them back. That's just how it works.
"Brother Jerry, you went into the Star Dou Forest this morning, right? Did you notice anything unusual?" Xue Qinghe asked casually.
Shen An's eyes narrowed. This person wasn't simple. He was in a small town, yet he could sense the disturbances in the forest.
"It's strange. The soul beasts in the forest suddenly went berserk. Luckily, I had already helped this girl obtain her soul ring and left by then," Shen An said, mixing truth with lies.
He didn't plan to mention the Titan Giant Ape. A mere Soul Elder surviving an encounter with a 100,000-year soul beast was too unbelievable and would only invite unnecessary trouble. It was better to keep it to himself.
"Is that so? By the way, I've been talking for so long without introducing myself. How rude of me."
"I am Xue Qinghe, from Heaven Dou City."
"I am Jerry, from Soto City."
Xue Qinghe's eyes flickered. Soto City? Wasn't that where the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was staying?
Could this person be the genius youth Fei Erd had mentioned? According to the letter, the youth's name was Shen An, which didn't match the name "Jerry." Unless... he was using a fake name.
"What a coincidence! I'm actually heading to Soto City as well. If Brother Jerry has no other plans, why don't we travel together?" Xue Qinghe smiled. He didn't care about the truth or lies. Once they reached Soto City, he would find out.
As long as he showcased his charm and ambitions during the journey, and then revealed his identity as the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou, Xue Qinghe was confident he could recruit this person.
After all, what people sought in life was nothing more than fame and fortune, and Xue Qinghe was confident he could provide both. Of course, if things went south, he could always find a way to eliminate the problem.
Shen An looked at the man in front of him with surprise. This guy was way too familiar. Could it be that he had seen Shen An slay those three men with his sword yesterday and developed some... interest in him?
"Holy crap, how are you still alive?!"
Feng Xiaotian and his group, who had just walked in from outside, exclaimed in shock when they saw Shen An, as if they had seen a ghost.