Huo Yun'er was a rare gem, and Qian Ran had high expectations for her.
Properly "trained," her allure would undoubtedly be unmatched, bringing him immense satisfaction.
What made it even better? The joy of enraging his enemies. To savor beauty while ensuring someone else suffered—what could be more rewarding?
Women like Huo Yun'er, Xiao Wu, Bo Saixi, and Ah Yin shared a particular trait that Qian Ran adored, though he didn't bother explaining it.
Back on Earth, Qian Ran would have never been interested in women with such a background—often associated with older or less appealing stereotypes. But in the world of Douluo Dalu, age was hardly a concern.
For high-ranking soul masters, age had little impact on appearance. If anything, older women exuded a mature, refined beauty that was irresistibly "ripe."
"Who doesn't love a refined, mature woman? It's the ripeness that counts!" Qian Ran chuckled to himself.
As he stood over Huo Yun'er's former grave, Qian Ran handed her a human skin mask.
"Put this on. Your identity is too sensitive to reveal for now."
With a flick of his finger, he sent a blast of soul power that obliterated the tombstone and any traces of the past.
"The Huo Yun'er of before is gone. From now on, you're my personal maid."
At the White Tiger Duke's Mansion
Dai Hao had returned from the military several days earlier, spurred by the news of Dai Yueheng's condition.
"What will happen to Yueheng? He's still so young, and now he's crippled, unable to even care for himself!" A plump, weeping woman wailed beside him.
"It's all because of that damn Qian Ran! I won't let him get away with this!" Dai Hao slammed his palm onto the table, shattering it to pieces.
Though Dai Yueheng's injuries were an accident, why hadn't Qian Ran helped him? Wasn't he part of Shrek Academy?
"He stole Huabin's fiancée and crippled Yueheng! What good are you as a father if you can't protect your family?" the Duchess snapped. Though she had never met Qian Ran, her hatred for him burned brightly.
She only had two sons, and both had suffered because of him.
"Enough! Don't think I've forgotten about Huo Yun'er!" Dai Hao roared.
"Besides, Yueheng's injuries aren't untreatable. I'll demand answers from Shrek Academy's top brass," Dai Hao growled. His frustration with Qian Ran ran deep, but his thoughts kept returning to Huo Yun'er.
He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that something terrible was about to happen.
Later, after the Duchess had stormed out of the room, Dai Hao prepared offerings for a visit to Huo Yun'er's grave. Alone, he made his way to the burial site.
When he arrived, his heart sank.
"What… who did this?"
The area was completely leveled—her grave and all its surroundings had been obliterated.
Searching frantically, Dai Hao found no trace of Huo Yun'er's remains. It was as if they had been stolen.
"Yun'er… could it have been Huo Yuhao? Did that child come back to take her?"
A grim sense of foreboding weighed on him. It seemed as though misfortune had been hounding the Dai family lately.
Dai Huabin, Dai Yueheng, and now even his role as Duke seemed fraught with challenges.
As he pieced everything together, the common thread was clear—Qian Ran. Since the boy had entered their lives, the Dai family had known nothing but hardship.
"Curse him! If he ever falls into my hands, I'll tear him apart!" Dai Hao's voice was thick with venom.
"Perhaps I can help… but I'll need something in return."
The deep, resonant voice startled Dai Hao. Spinning around, he found himself face-to-face with an elderly man who had approached undetected.
"Who are you?" Dai Hao demanded, his expression a mixture of anger and fear.
The man's ability to appear so silently was unnerving, and Dai Hao knew he would stand no chance if this figure chose to attack.
"Sea God Pavilion Master, Mu En," the old man said with a small, knowing smile.
In the Divine Realm
At that very moment, Tang San felt his connection to Huo Yun'er's soul abruptly severed. His eyes snapped open.
"What's wrong, Brother San?" Xiao Wu asked softly, noticing his troubled expression.
"Huo Yun'er… her soul has disappeared. Something must be wrong in Douluo Dalu."
Ever since his plans in the mortal realm began to unravel, Tang San had been plagued by unease. On the surface, he appeared to be orchestrating events in Douluo Dalu, but in truth, he was laying groundwork for his ambitions in the Divine Realm.
Expanding his power openly within the Divine Realm was fraught with risks. The other God Kings kept close watch, leaving him few opportunities.
Huo Yuhao had been a critical piece in his plans—a potential puppet God King under his control. With Huo Yuhao's ascension, Tang San had hoped to gradually weaken the influence of the other God Kings and consolidate his dominance over the Divine Realm.
But now, the situation was spiraling out of control.
"What should we do? Should we bring Wu Tong back?" Xiao Wu asked, worry evident in her voice. She longed to see her daughter again, unable to bear the separation any longer.
"I'll think of something," Tang San said, forcing a reassuring smile.
Once Xiao Wu had left, Tang San's face hardened.
"Wu Tong? If sacrificing her helps me achieve my goals, so be it. If I bring her back now, how will I continue to manipulate Huo Yuhao?"
"As long as I succeed, Tang Wulin will receive the best opportunities. One day, the Divine Realm will belong to me, Tang San, and my family."
"No one will disrupt my plans."
Tang San's expression twisted with determination and malice.
Though he longed to investigate Douluo Dalu personally, it was as if the world had been sealed off from the Divine Realm. Communication was severed, and his connection to the mortal plane grew weaker by the day.
Could this be the work of the God King of Destruction? No… it didn't feel like his doing.
It was as though an unseen hand had quietly undone everything Tang San had meticulously built over the years.
(Chapter ends)