At that moment, Nan Shuishui felt a chill spread through her body. If these people hadn't revealed themselves, she wouldn't have noticed them at all. This meant that if they had harbored ill intentions, they could have easily killed her.
"I never expected that the renowned Dean Jing of Douluo Continent would visit our Earth Dragon Sect. Why didn't you send word beforehand? Your sudden arrival has left us unprepared, and I fear we have not extended proper hospitality." Nan Shuishui forced a smile as she recognized the famous Jing Hongchen.
The three men had not concealed their faces, but since she had rarely left Dragon City in recent years, she only recognized Jing Hongchen. The information she had about the Soul Dueling Tournament came from others.
Jing Hongchen was the head of Mingde Hall and a powerful Rank 9 Soul Engineer. His reputation made him easily recognizable.
Of course, the reason she adopted such a humble attitude was not just his fame but his overwhelming strength. As a Rank 9 Soul Engineer, he could wipe out the Earth Dragon Sect if he wished.
Jing Hongchen belonged to the Sun Moon Empire, whose relationship with the three Douluo nations had always been tense. If not for Shrek Academy's intervention back then, the three nations might have already fallen under the Sun Moon Empire's rule.
Nan Shuishui believed that, despite their defeat in the war over four thousand years ago, the Sun Moon Empire had never abandoned its ambition to conquer the Douluo nations and unify the continent. This deep seated conflict made their relations irreconcilable.
So why had Jing Hongchen suddenly come to Earth Dragon Sect? They were merely a small sect with nothing valuable except for that mysterious secret realm, which had always been kept hidden. Could it be that the secret had somehow leaked?
Or was the Sun Moon Empire launching an invasion? Was this the beginning of war? Had Jing Hongchen come to eliminate the Earth Dragon Sect as a strategic move before taking Dragon City?
What about Old Tianlong? Had he been surrounded too?
Nan Shuishui's thoughts were in disarray.
"Mom!" Nan Qiuqiu felt uneasy seeing her mother adopt such a submissive attitude. Earth Dragon Sect might not be a major force on the continent, but in Dragon City, it was undoubtedly the second strongest faction.
Even the city lord had to show deference to them, and Old Tianlong of the Tianlong Sect treated Nan Shuishui with respect.
Impulsively, Nan Qiuqiu said, "They've trespassed into Earth Dragon Sect without permission, violating our sect's rules. They should "
"Qiuqiu! Enough!" Nan Shuishui turned and glared at her daughter, cutting her off.
Jing Hongchen, sensing some of Nan Shuishui's concerns, maintained a warm smile, trying to appear as friendly as possible. "Sect Leader Nan, please don't worry. We are not here to destroy Earth Dragon Sect, so there's no need to be so tense."
With Huo Yuhao's help, Jing Hongchen and Xuan Ziwen had actually arrived at Earth Dragon Sect much earlier and had even observed Nan Shuishui and Nan Qiuqiu's sparring match. To be honest, the fight didn't last long Nan Shuishui had easily defeated her daughter.
Nan Shuishui remained skeptical. "Then why have you come? Surely not just to sell soul tools?"
"Of course not." Jing Hongchen sighed. Mingde Hall's soul tools sold themselves. As long as they bore the "Mingde Hall" name, their prices would automatically rise.
Why would he come all the way to a place like Earth Dragon Sect to market soul tools?
He turned to Huo Yuhao. "Yuhao, you should explain."
Huo Yuhao nodded slightly, his gaze briefly sweeping over Nan Qiuqiu. He noted that, compared to the original story, she seemed more immature. But that made sense back in the original timeline, Earth Dragon Sect had appeared during the second Soul Dueling Tournament he participated in, when Nan Qiuqiu was older.
Taking a step forward, Huo Yuhao looked at Nan Shuishui and spoke solemnly. "Sect Leader Nan, we are here to save you. You are already trapped in a life and death crisis."
"Save me?" Nan Shuishui was puzzled. Wasn't her greatest threat standing right in front of her? With Jing Hongchen, a Rank 9 Soul Engineer, looming over her, her survival already seemed uncertain.
But then she recalled that Jing Hongchen had addressed this young man as "Yuhao." Could he be the Sun Moon Empire's genius, Huo Yuhao?
"Yes. According to our investigation, before you got married, you had two suitors. You chose one and married him, while the other mysteriously disappeared."
"That's true, but what does that have to do with my current predicament?" Nan Shuishui asked.
"The man you rejected was so enraged by your decision that he became an evil soul master. Now, he is a Titled Douluo known as Nether Thunder Douluo. Given the nature of evil soul masters, what do you think he will do to you when he returns to Dragon City?" Huo Yuhao said.
He was deliberately playing on the deep seated prejudice Douluo Continent had against evil soul masters.
Evil soul masters had an absolutely vile reputation. Anyone associated with them never met a good end.
Nan Shuishui's eyes widened in shock. "Back then, he was an upright man. How could he…"
She trailed off. If these people could uncover something as obscure as her two suitors from years ago, then the claim about Nether Thunder Douluo was likely true.
After a brief moment of contemplation, she muttered, "If not for me, maybe he wouldn't have turned down this dark path."
A flicker of guilt surfaced in her heart, but she quickly buried it. No matter how deeply he had once loved her, that was in the past. Now, as an evil soul master, he was a genuine threat. If he harbored resentment, she and her daughter could be in grave danger.
She feared not only for her daughter's safety but also for the survival of the entire Earth Dragon Sect.
Her expression grew resolute. "You must have your own motives for helping me. Do you have a way to deal with him?"
She didn't believe in selfless assistance. However, if they were willing to help, it at least meant that Earth Dragon Sect was temporarily safe.
"Of course. Our goal is to make contact with Nether Thunder Douluo," Huo Yuhao nodded. "We need you to cooperate by arranging a meeting with him. Once you lure him out, leave the rest to us."
Nan Shuishui hesitated. "Will he even agree to meet me? The last time we saw each other was twenty five years ago. Time has passed, and he may no longer have feelings for me."
"Trust me, he will," Huo Yuhao replied confidently.
He recalled that, in the original story, Nether Thunder Douluo had indeed loved Nan Shuishui deeply even going so far as to shield her and her daughter from harm on multiple occasions.
(End of chapter.)
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