Chapter 184: Misunderstandings and Diverging Paths
"What do you mean by coming to your room at night…"
Ling Luochen's face flushed red instantly. Although Xiao Qiang was undeniably good-looking, she hadn't mentally prepared herself for such matters. His sudden suggestion caught her completely off guard.
But Xiao Qiang remained calm, completely unaffected by her embarrassment. "In three days, I'll help you with the next round of attribute sublimation. Is there a problem?"
"Ah? You meant that… I thought you…"
"What?" Xiao Qiang looked at her steadily, probing her reaction with quiet intensity.
"I thought…" Ling Luochen was overwhelmed by his steady gaze, and her voice trailed off. Her emotions surged—embarrassment, confusion, and then indignation. Eventually, she stomped her foot in frustration.
"I thought you were asking me to trade my body for the Ice Jade Scorpion!"
Her words burst out, flustered and loud. But Xiao Qiang remained composed, his eyes cool and level.
"You thought I wanted to make a deal with you in bed?"
He looked her up and down calmly, and Ling Luochen instantly wished she could sink into the ground. The shame and anger only grew stronger.
"Don't overthink it. In the future, stop entertaining such nonsense."
His tone was flat, even indifferent—but instead of calming her, it made Ling Luochen feel even more humiliated.
"What do you mean? Am I so undesirable that I don't even stir a flicker of interest in you?"
Xiao Qiang gave her a rare glance, his eyes deep. "I have desire—but do you really think I'm someone who would be ruled by it so easily?"
"Ugh…"
"That's enough. Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo—once you two reach level 37, come find me. Ling Luochen, remember to come to my room in three nights for the sublimation process. If there are no further questions, you can go back for now. Also, write a letter to your family explaining your situation, and give me a list of your relatives. I'll arrange for someone to bring them here."
"I understand. Also, regarding the invincible shield…"
Before she could finish, five Level 6 Invincible Shields floated into her hands. Though such high-level soul tools were rare and tightly regulated, rarity was a relative concept—especially for Xiao Qiang, who had taken control of the Hongchen family's hidden trove. He had no shortage of soul tools.
"Anything else?"
"…No."
The three women shook their heads and left the room.
Not long after they returned, Xiao Xiao sought out Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo.
"So? What happened over there?"
The twins exchanged glances. They had been close with Xiao Xiao even before joining Shrek, and their bond had only deepened during their time away from home. After a moment of hesitation, Lan Luoluo spoke seriously.
"Xiao Xiao, Xiao Qiang's forces are still small right now. You're from the same family. Why not join us and become part of what he's building?"
Xiao Xiao looked stunned. "Wait, what? Join Xiao Qiang's faction? He's from the Sun-Moon Empire! You were only there for a little while, and you're already pledging loyalty? Have you been tricked? What about Senior Sister Ling? Didn't she stop you?"
Lan Susu looked at her gently. "Senior Sister Ling has joined too. Xiao Xiao, come with us. Together, we'll have high standing in Xiao Qiang's group."
It was true—once Xiao Qiang's power base was fully formed, there would be factions within it. Having reliable allies early on would be a major advantage.
Ling Luochen had outstanding talent, and with the boost from the Ice Jade Scorpion and the extraordinary quality of her spirit rings, she was now on a clear path to becoming a level 97 or even level 98 powerhouse. The twins themselves, while limited by their martial spirits, still had potential to become Super Douluo—especially with their fusion skills. With Xiao Xiao's twin martial spirits, the three of them had the potential to form a formidable group.
Strength, bonds, and early entry into the inner circle—it was a smart play.
Lan Luoluo and Lan Susu believed that winning Xiao Xiao over now would ensure their group's place at the heart of power later.
But Xiao Xiao didn't share their excitement. She was shaken. "Have you gone mad? And even Sister Ling Xue? What did he promise you?"
Lan Susu looked into her eyes, speaking slowly. "He promised us soul bones. Not just one—and not just ten-thousand-year ones. If you join us, you'll get one too. He also has a secret method to absorb higher-level spirit rings."
"You're being delusional!" Xiao Xiao slapped Lan Susu's hand away, drawing a clear line.
"Multiple ten-thousand-year soul bones? You've been deceived! Do you even know what he did? He sent Brother He and Yuhao to work in the plantation!"
Xiao Xiao had a close bond with Huo Yuhao and was connected to He Caitou. The promise of support from Shrek had secured her loyalty. She would never betray Shrek—and certainly not for vague promises.
"Xiao Xiao," Lan Luoluo said earnestly, "we and Senior Ling can both tell—Xiao Qiang isn't bluffing. Come with us. With your talent, you might even get a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring in the future."
"And now you're really talking nonsense. A hundred-thousand-year ring? More than one ten-thousand-year soul bone? Even in the inner courtyard, soul bones are rare. The Sun-Moon Empire doesn't even have as many as us. You've clearly been fooled!"
The twins fell silent. As non-blood relatives, they couldn't say much about what they had received. Even though soul bones were less rare in Douluo Dalu II compared to the original series, a ten-thousand-year soul bone was still valuable enough to incite murder—let alone two.
They wanted to convince her. They really did. But ultimately, all they could do was sigh.
It's hard to reason with someone who won't listen. Since they weren't true family, they could only try their best—but it seemed it had no effect.