Reincarnated Rock Prince, you're saying this is Douluo Continent?

Chapter 77: Youth and the Sea

"Lord Martial God, I'm sorry, Xiao Ningguang..."

Ningguang's mother was a woman in her thirties, and there was no fluctuation of soul power on her, indicating that she was not a soul master.

Before she could finish speaking, Zhongli waved his hand and handed Xiao Ningguang to her mother, saying, "It's alright."

“Ningguang is very cute. When she reaches school age, let her study at Liyue Academy.”

"The children are the future of Liyue. There's nothing wrong with them liking me, so why should I apologize?"

After hearing this, everyone fell silent.

That makes sense, but aren't you being a bit too easygoing?
Upon hearing about going to school, Ningguang's eyes lit up, and she said in her childish voice, "Big brother Martial God, I will definitely study hard, and then become the richest merchant in Liyue, the richest merchant in the entire Douluo Continent, and one of the Seven Stars of Liyue!"

Most people consider Ningguang's words to be just children's fantasies; reality is much harsher!

But no one mocked them; weren't they the same when they were kids?
Fantasy of becoming a Soul Master, a Title Douluo, becoming...

Their failure does not mean that others cannot succeed.

"Alright, the moment you become one of the Seven Stars of Liyue, I'll give you a gift, how about that?"

Zhongli smiled slightly and spoke to Xiao Ningguang.

"Okay, big brother Martial God, you can't lie to Ningguang like Mom did!"

"You have no joke!"

The "君" here does not refer to an emperor, but to a gentleman. A gentleman keeps his word and never speaks lightly!

Meng Hongchen stepped forward, looked at Ningguang, and asked in confusion, "Little Ningguang, how did your mother lie to you?"

How can such a young child distinguish between a lie and a fact?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ningguang's mother's expression changed, becoming somewhat somber; clearly, this was something she didn't want to bring up.

“My dad went out to sea to fish six months ago. Each time he goes fishing, he comes back in no more than two weeks.”

Because of the sea spirit beasts, fishermen on the Douluo Continent can only fish in the near sea and will not go too far.

Therefore, fishermen usually only stay at sea for ten days to half a month before returning home to replenish their supplies.

"Mom said Dad went to a very far place and it will be a long time before he comes back. I know Dad won't be coming back."

As she said this, Xiao Ningguang's expression was calm, but a trace of sadness flashed in her eyes.

She was not yet old enough to awaken her martial spirit, but she knew more than ordinary children.

Upon hearing this, Meng Hongchen's smile vanished abruptly; she seemed to have said something wrong!

This little guy...

"Sorry……"

"Big sister, it's okay. My mom and I are doing very well now. Dad will be very happy if he knows."

Xiao Ningguang waved her hand and said.

Meng Hongchen fell silent, her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

She and Xiao Hongchen are actually quite pitiful.

He lost his parents at a young age and grew up with his grandfather.

Such things are commonplace in the Douluo Continent.

Surprisingly, they weren't as open-minded as a little kid.

Upon hearing this, Zhongli frowned, then closed his eyes, as if trying to discern something.

After a short while, he opened his eyes, his eyelids twitching slightly.

"Um……"

Zhongli looked at everyone, then at Xiao Ningguang.

"Big Brother Martial God, what's wrong?"

Xiao Ningguang blinked at Zhongli and asked in confusion.

Everyone looked at Zhongli, their eyes filled with doubt.

Why is the God of War doing this?

Why are you hesitant to speak?

After a moment of contemplation, Zhongli said, "Little Ningguang, your mother did not lie to you."

"well??"

Everyone, including Xiao Ningguang's mother, was stunned and somewhat bewildered.

what's the situation?
Who among those present couldn't see it?
Ningguang's mother was lying to her; her father had perished at sea and wouldn't be coming back. But what did the God of War mean by that?
What does it mean to say there was no deception?
"Big brother Martial God, are you going to lie to Ningguang too? Ningguang is five years old this year, not a three-year-old child."

Xiao Ningguang pouted and said with some dissatisfaction.

"A promise is a promise," huh? He's just making empty promises to her!

Zhongli shook his head and said, "Little Ningguang, your big brother didn't lie to you."

"Your father is indeed still alive."

"well??"

"???"

Everyone was filled with questions and somewhat bewildered.

Zhongli waved his hand casually, and an image appeared in mid-air.

In the video, a young man in his early thirties is desperately pulling on a bent fishing rod, as if it were something enormous.

The ship, towed by the giant object, gradually sailed away.

The young man, however, was reluctant to let go, muttering something to himself.

"We absolutely cannot let them escape! With this big fish, their lives will be improved!"

"Wife, daughter, wait for me!"

As the sun rose and the moon set, the boat drifted away to who knows where, dragged by the giant fish.

With sheer willpower, the young man fought the giant fish for three days and three nights!

"father!"

"husband!"

The video cuts out at this point.

When the scene reappeared, the young man suddenly looked several years older, with only a huge fish beside him.

Yes, he succeeded!
Countless days and nights passed, and the fish and meat became increasingly scarce. Finally, he saw land!

"Where is this?"

After he got ashore, he soon encountered some dark-skinned people.

"This is within the territory of the Sun Moon Empire. What's going on here?"

This was the first time they had ever seen fishermen so disheveled!
"???"

The young man was full of questions. He had drifted all the way from the East Sea to the Sun and Moon Empire.
You should know that although he has some soul power, his level is not very high, otherwise he wouldn't be a fisherman.

The Sun and Moon Empires gather in the East Sea...

Even a titled Douluo would need about a week to travel!

What the hell!

The video then abruptly cuts off.

Zhong Li said, "Your father is indeed not dead; he is currently within the territory of the Sun Moon Empire."

He wanted to come back, but he couldn't!

To return from the Sun Moon Empire, one needs to cross the Mingdou Mountains, a military stronghold. How could someone from the Douluo Three Kingdoms possibly cross there so easily?
Returning from the sea?
Leaving aside whether he can endure loneliness, it's questionable whether he can have such luck again.

Upon seeing this, Jing Hongchen felt cold sweat trickle down his forehead!
For the sake of this little girl, the God of War actually used his divine power to investigate!

The little girl's father is trapped in the Sun and Moon Empire!
What the hell!

If they were spies, that would be one thing, but they were just fishermen!
"Lord Martial God, where is this child's father? I will personally go and bring him back to reunite with them!"

Jing Hongchen truly lives up to his reputation for high intelligence and emotional intelligence; there's not a single flaw in what he said.

"Grandpa, is it really okay?"

Xiao Ningguang looked at Jing Hongchen expectantly and asked.

She only knew that her father was very far away from her, but she didn't know just how far away the Sun Moon Empire was located in the East Sea!
Jing Hongchen trembled. This girl called the Martial God "Big Brother" but called him "Grandpa." Wasn't this going to kill him?

"Little Ningguang, although I look a bit old, I'm still at the age where I should be working hard. You can just call me brother!"

Ning Guang: "..."

Everyone: "..."

(End of this chapter)