Douluo: One man returns, Fan Tianyin smashes Tang San to death

After walking for about an hour, the surrounding scenery remained largely unchanged; the dead trees gradually thinned out, while the terrain became increasingly open.

He couldn't help but stop and rub his temples, thinking to himself, "What kind of hellish place did this teleportation talisman send me to? I can't even see a single living person."

Just as he was about to continue, he faintly heard a series of low footsteps in the distance, accompanied by the creaking sound of wood colliding.

Lu Yu's gaze sharpened, and following the sound, he saw a short, dark-skinned middle-aged man carrying a load on a dirt road, walking slowly towards them.

A hint of joy flashed in Lu Yu's eyes, and he quickly went to meet him.

He tried to make his tone sound gentle, cupping his hands and saying, "Brother, may I ask where this place is? I'm a little lost and would like to find some direction."

The middle-aged man stopped and looked Lu Yu up and down with a hint of wariness in his eyes. But seeing that Lu Yu was polite, he put down his load and replied in a deep voice, "This is the border of the Gara Empire, and it's still some distance from the capital."

"Are you from out of town? Judging by your attire, you don't seem to be a local."

Lu Yu was startled. The Gara Empire? The name made him frown slightly.

He thanked the middle-aged man and stood alone by the roadside, his thoughts heavy.

The name Gara Empire was not unfamiliar to him.

Wanzu, Pan An... these names floated in his mind like dark clouds.

He had clashed with these people, especially the Wanzu, who were vengeful and would never let him off easily.

What's more troublesome is that if he wants to return to the Spirit Empire, he will have to pass through the capital of the Gara Empire, and given his current situation, taking the usual route would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

If we detour through the Starry Sky Forest, we will have to travel an even longer distance, which will not only waste time but also be quite risky.

Thinking of this, Lu Yu frowned and felt a surge of resentment towards the mysterious man.

If that person hadn't forcibly taken him away, how could he have ended up in such a predicament? Lu Yu sighed, composed himself, and continued westward.

As the sun gradually set, a blood-red hue tinged the sky, as if draping an eerie veil over this desolate land.

After walking for about two hours, he finally saw the outline of a city.

The city walls weren't particularly tall, but the soldiers guarding the city all had solemn expressions, their armor reflecting a cold light in the setting sun.

Lu Yu approached the city gate and handed over his identity badge. The guards took the badge, their gazes lingering on him for a moment, a strange glint in their eyes.

The captain in charge waved his hand, signaling to let them pass.

A sense of unease rose in Lu Yu's heart, but he remained outwardly calm, nodded, and stepped into the city.

The streets in the city are not wide, lined with shops on both sides, but there are not many pedestrians, making it seem somewhat deserted.

Lu Yu found an inconspicuous inn and pushed open the door to enter.

The innkeeper was a tall, thin middle-aged man. When he saw him come in, he warmly greeted him and arranged a superior room for him.

Lu Yu ordered some simple food and sat by the window in the lobby, but his gaze kept sweeping out the window.

The way the soldiers guarding the city looked at him when he entered the city always made him feel uneasy, as if they were sizing up some kind of prey.

He lowered his head and took a sip of tea. The tea was slightly bitter, just like his mood at that moment.

As night fell, the city lights gradually came on, but the streets grew quieter.

Lu Yu sat cross-legged in the room for a while, circulating his soul power within his body, sensing the movements around him.

Sure enough, not long after, he sensed several auras approaching the inn, among which the soul power fluctuations were obvious, indicating that the individuals were not weak.

His heart tightened, and he quietly got up, climbed out the window, and left.

The night was as dark as ink; his figure blended into the darkness like a ghost, quickly disappearing into the alleyways.

At the same time, inside the inn, several armored generals led a group of soul masters in.

The shopkeeper was taken aback by their imposing manner and hurriedly stepped forward, smiling obsequiously, "Gentlemen, what is the matter?"

The leading general snorted coldly and said in a deep voice, "That outsider who entered the city today, is he staying here? Take us to his room!"

The innkeeper was taken aback. Recalling the guests from the daytime, he was initially somewhat confused, but he quickly remembered Lu Yu's unfamiliar face, nodded hurriedly, and led the general upstairs.

Pushing open the door, I found the room empty; the bed was neatly made, with not a trace of anyone having lived there.

The general spat angrily and said, "They got away! This was a great opportunity to get promoted and make a fortune!"

The Soul Master beside him frowned and whispered, "This person is extremely vigilant; he seems difficult to deal with."

The shopkeeper stood aside, not daring to breathe, but secretly rejoiced that he hadn't gotten involved in this mess.

Lu Yu had already left that city and continued westward under the cover of night.

As dawn broke, he finally arrived in another city.

The city gates had just opened, the morning mist had not yet dissipated, and there were few pedestrians on the streets.

He was just about to enter the city when he heard a familiar voice calling out from behind: "Lu Yu? Is that you, kid?"

Lu Yu was taken aback and turned around to look. He saw a tall, thin middle-aged man wearing square-framed glasses smiling at him.

Lu Yu's pupils contracted slightly, and he blurted out, "Dean Flander?"

He was filled with doubt. As the dean of Shrek Academy, Flander didn't have much interaction with the Spirit Empire, so why was he in the Gara Empire? Flander walked closer, patted Lu Yu on the shoulder, and smiled, "Isn't that me? I didn't expect to meet you here. What a coincidence."

Before the words were finished, a burly figure stepped out from behind the carriage beside him, his rough voice carrying a hint of mockery: "Hey, Lu Yu, it's been years since I last saw you. You've become a Soul Douluo? In a few more years, I'm afraid you'll leave this old bone behind!"

Lu Yu looked closely and saw that it was Zhao Wuji.

He quickly cupped his hands in humility and said, "Teacher Zhao, you are too kind. I am far inferior to you."

Zhao Wuji laughed heartily, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Flander briefly explained why he had come: "Old Zhao and I came to the Garo Empire on some business. We were passing by when we happened to see your familiar figure."

Lu Yu nodded upon hearing this, but secretly wondered what their so-called "business" was all about.

the goal of.

Zhao Wuji asked curiously, "What are you doing here, kid? The Gara Empire isn't a good place."

Lu Yu gave a wry smile and briefly explained his experience of being unexpectedly brought to the southeast by a teleportation talisman and now being in a hurry to return to the Spirit Empire. He also mentioned that the Gara Empire seemed to be unfriendly to him, and his return journey was quite bumpy.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuji frowned slightly, then patted his chest heartily and said, "Since we've run into each other by chance, let's go together! We're on our way back to the Heavenly Dou Empire anyway, and we can look after you along the way."

After a moment's thought, Lu Yu nodded in agreement.

Firstly, traveling with others would reduce the risk, and secondly, he hadn't seen Zhao Wuji and Flander for many years and wanted to take this opportunity to catch up.

So the three of them set off together. Zhao Wuji and Lu Yu sat outside the carriage chatting, while Flander sat on the other side, silently gazing at the distant scenery. The carriage moved slowly along the official road, the wheels creaking rhythmically over the stones.

Zhao Wuji lit a cigarette, exhaled a puff of smoke, and sighed, "I ran into Ma Hongjun a while ago. That kid said he was doing something for you and was extremely busy."

Tsk tsk, you bunch of kids from Shrek Academy, one prodigy after another.

Tang San, Dai Mubai, Yu Chen… they've all become renowned figures, especially Yu Chen, who's rumored to be about to break through to the Title Douluo level!

He paused, then shook his head. "This world is changing too fast. We old folks can hardly keep up."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu's heart was also stirred.

He recalled that a few years ago, he, Tang San, Dai Mubai and others were still studying hard at Shrek Academy. At that time, they were only Soul Masters of the thirties, but now they have stepped into the ranks of Soul Douluo and Soul Saint.

Time flies like an arrow.

He said softly, "Yes, so much has changed in just a few years."

Zhao Wuji patted him on the shoulder and grinned, "But don't be modest, kid. Not everyone can reach the level of Soul Douluo."

Who knows, one day you might also become a Title Douluo, renowned throughout the continent!

As dusk fell, with some distance still to go before reaching the Heavenly Dou Empire, Flander suggested finding an inn to rest for the night.

Lu Yu had no objection, and the three of them settled down at an inn in a nearby town.

The inn was small, but it was clean and tidy, with only a few guests in the lobby.

Lu Yu went downstairs to have a meal. When the innkeeper saw that he was alone, he enthusiastically recommended several of his signature dishes.

Lu Yu casually ordered some food and sat by the window, his gaze occasionally sweeping towards the street outside.

The innkeeper came over and explained with a smile, "Sir, you may not know this, but our inn is in a good location, but this town is remote, so the number of guests varies. Today it just happens to be a bit quiet."

Lu Yu nodded, picked up his teacup and was about to drink when he heard light footsteps coming from the stairs.

He looked up and saw a woman slowly walking down the stairs.

Her appearance was breathtakingly beautiful, with the sun, moon, and stars seemingly flowing between her brows and eyes. She possessed a dignified and noble air, and every gesture she made carried an undeniable majesty.

She walked straight toward Lu Yu, her gaze calm yet profound, as if she could see through people's hearts.

Lu Yu felt a chill run down his spine, vaguely sensing that this woman was no ordinary person.

She stopped at the table, her voice clear yet polite: "Young master, there are still plenty of seats available. May I sit with you at the same table?"

Lu Yu pushed open the wooden door of the inn. The hinges creaked slightly, carrying a hint of age.

The inn was dimly lit, with only a few oil lamps flickering in the corners, casting dappled shadows.

The air was filled with a faint aroma of wine and the smell of burning firewood. The tables and chairs were neatly arranged but the place felt deserted. Apart from the owner, who was dozing behind the counter, there wasn't a single other customer in the large hall.

Lu Yu frowned, slowed his pace, and looked around, keenly noticing that the inn in the center of Soto City was unusually quiet.

He chose a table by the window and sat down. The hustle and bustle of the street outside could be faintly heard, but it seemed to be separated by an invisible barrier, forming a stark contrast with the quiet of the inn.

Lu Yu unfastened the sword from his waist and gently placed it on the table. The scabbard collided with the wooden table, producing a low, muffled sound.

He had barely sat down when a figure blocked the light from the doorway, and a woman in a light blue dress walked in.

Her steps were light yet carried an indescribable composure. Her face was covered by a thin veil, revealing only a pair of clear eyes that seemed to see through people's hearts.

The woman looked around as if searching for something, and finally her gaze landed on Lu Yu.

She smiled slightly, walked straight towards him, and sat down opposite him, her movements as natural as if the two had known each other for a long time.

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow, crossed his hands on the table, and quietly observed her.

The woman's demeanor was completely out of place in this small inn; she exuded a subtle yet powerful aura, clearly not an ordinary person.

"This gentleman doesn't look like a local."

Lu Yu spoke first, his voice low and probing, "What brings you to Soto City?"

A hint of a smile flashed in the woman's eyes, her voice clear yet tinged with a touch of mockery: "Brother, you're quite direct."

I came here on business and happened to ask Flanders for help.

As for his identity…

She paused, and the corners of her mouth beneath the thin veil seemed to turn up slightly. "He's just a passerby, brother, don't overthink it."

Lu Yu remained expressionless, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer.

The sound of Flander's name coming from her lips stirred something within him.

Flander, the dean of Shrek Academy, is known for his greed. Anyone who can get him to do something is no ordinary person.

He chuckled softly, his tone half-serious and half-joking: "That old man Flander doesn't get things done cheaply."

"The young lady must have spent a lot of soul coins to get him to come,"

Upon hearing this, the woman gently shook her head, a meaningful glint in her eyes: "Flander? He won't dare take my money this time."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Lu Yu's face with a hint of scrutiny. "Brother, you seem to have some prejudice against Flanders? Or perhaps you admire Teacher Zhao Wuji more?"

Lu Yu was taken aback, not expecting her to be so perceptive in capturing his emotions.

He did have some reservations about Flander. Some things that happened at the academy back then made him feel that Flander was too pragmatic and not as genuine as Zhao Wuji.

But these were private matters, and he didn't want to say more. He simply waved his hand and said indifferently, "It's just a personal grudge, not worth mentioning."

Seeing that he was unwilling to talk about it further, the woman did not press him for details. She simply smiled slightly, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a sip.

Lu Yu frowned at this moment, his gaze sweeping over the empty inn lobby once more.

He got up, walked to the window, and pushed it open. The noise from outside the street became clearer, but it still couldn't mask the eerie silence inside the inn.

He turned around, his gaze fixed on the woman, and said in a low voice, "This inn is located in the center of the city, yet it doesn't have a single guest. Don't you find that strange, young lady? The situation in the Martial Soul Empire is complicated right now. If you have any conflicts with the local forces, you should be careful."

The woman put down her teacup, a hint of appreciation flashing in her eyes: "Thank you for the reminder, brother."

However, I know what I'm doing.

Her tone was calm, yet carried a convincing confidence, as if she had a way to deal with any situation.

Lu Yu nodded, saying no more, preparing to end this inexplicable conversation. (End of Chapter)