Douluo: I am the True Master

After a brief moment of silence, Ye Wen said, "Take a seat." 

Faced with an absolute powerhouse like Ye Wen, Ju Zi didn't dare entertain any sly thoughts. She obediently sat down on the stool, fully prepared to accept whatever fate Ye Wen had in store for her.

Seeing this, Ye Wen's lips twitched slightly. Did he really come across as such a villain? 

But then again, summoning a beautiful and delicate young woman alone in the dead of night was bound to make anyone uneasy—especially when the person summoning her was a Title Douluo who left her utterly powerless to resist. 

However, Ye Wen had lived for an incredibly long time, and his thick skin rivaled the walls of a fortress. With an impassive expression, he asked: 

"Do you know why I've called you here, Miss Ju Zi?" 

Ju Zi lowered her head and replied in a muffled tone, "No, but if Lord Tianxing has any orders, I will carry them out without question." 

Ye Wen's gaze darkened. Through their interactions during this period of study and exchange, Ju Zi had grown somewhat familiar with him. But at the same time, Ye Wen couldn't help but feel pity for the young girl before him. 

At an age when she should have been vibrant and carefree, she had been forced to mature prematurely and think deeply about life's harsh realities. 

After all, how could an ordinary person ever catch the eye of a twisted Crown Prince like Xu Tianran? 

The two sat in silence, locked in a tense stalemate. After a long while, Ye Wen finally spoke in a slow, measured tone: 

"Ju Zi, you must harbor deep hatred for the Star Luo Empire and the other nations of the Douluo Continent, don't you?" 

Ju Zi's expression grew complex. She had always prided herself on her ability to conceal her emotions, maintaining the appearance of a lazy, indifferent person. How had this Lord seen through her façade? According to the intelligence provided by the Crown Prince, there was no mention of Ye Wen possessing a spirit-type martial soul. 

But now wasn't the time to dwell on the accuracy of the intelligence. If Ye Wen was so certain of her hatred for the Three Kingdoms of Douluo, did that mean he also knew about her abilities? Was he planning to eliminate her before she could pose a threat? 

Ju Zi wanted to cry for help, but facing a transcendent Douluo like Ye Wen, she knew that a single shout would likely result in her instant death. 

Her eyes filled with conflicting emotions, Ju Zi bit her lip but said nothing. Instead, she raised her head and met Ye Wen's gaze squarely, preparing to face her demise with dignity. 

In that fleeting moment, Ju Zi's heart overflowed with regret. Why had she accepted this mission? Was the vengeance for her parents' deaths about to end here? 

But when Ju Zi looked into Ye Wen's eyes, she froze. 

What kind of gaze was this? Compassion? Admiration? Or something else entirely? 

"Why are you looking at me like this?" Ju Zi lowered her head awkwardly, her voice strained as she asked. 

Ye Wen's current gaze felt unfamiliar to Ju Zi, yet it stirred something deep within her. She was reminded of her parents, who used to look at her with the same tender affection during their leisurely afternoons. 

At this moment, Ju Zi couldn't bear to look into Ye Wen's eyes any longer. She feared being drawn back into those sweet yet painful memories of the past. 

"Ju Zi, I know everything about your past. 

So there's no need to be so guarded around me. I bear you no ill will—in fact, I feel sorrow for the path your life has taken." 

Ju Zi's body trembled uncontrollably, her beautiful face contorted with emotion. 

"Please, stop, Lord Tianxing," Ju Zi said through gritted teeth. 

"Can you tell me why you summoned me here in the middle of the night? 

I consider myself quite mediocre in terms of talent compared to you. There's no reason for you to go to such lengths over someone like me." 

Ju Zi's self-control was undeniably impressive. After a brief loss of composure, she quickly regained her emotional balance, deliberately letting her gaze wander as she feigned calmness while addressing Ye Wen. 

Ye Wen sighed. It was clear that Ju Zi remained highly wary of him. 

But as the saying went, the first step was always the hardest. Ye Wen wasn't the type to give up easily. Slowly sitting down in front of Ju Zi, he spoke softly: 

"Rest assured, I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do. 

Let's start with the basics—getting to know each other." 

Perhaps Ye Wen's display of kindness was so strong that Ju Zi instinctively relaxed her guard against him. 

But Ju Zi, who had spent her entire life walking on thin ice, quickly became vigilant again. She realized her current state was inappropriate—this man was her enemy. How could she afford to let her guard down? 

However, Ju Zi was soon captivated by the story Ye Wen began to tell. 

Ye Wen didn't fabricate some overly dramatic tale of suffering. Instead, he recounted his early days on the Douluo Continent. 

"I, like you, came from the lowest rungs of society. Perhaps my origins were even more humble than yours. At least your father worked as a chef, but my family lived in the most remote rural areas. 

But I refused to accept my fate. From the moment I began cultivating as a soul master, I devoted myself to studying the mysteries of martial souls. 

During this process, I must admit I was extremely fortunate. I met my beloved, encountered some influential mentors, and eventually, despite numerous hardships, founded my first academy. That marked the beginning of my legendary journey." 

The story of a transcendent Douluo was undoubtedly fascinating, and it also revealed a wealth of information. 

Ju Zi gradually became engrossed in the tale. However, with her sharp intellect, she soon noticed something amiss. 

"If this Tianxing Douluo claims he rose to prominence through studying martial souls, why haven't I ever heard of him before? And according to the intelligence from the Crown Prince, it's as if he appeared out of thin air!" 

Noticing the subtle shift in Ju Zi's expression, Ye Wen's lips curved into a faint smile. This was, of course, a deliberate flaw he had left in his story. 

When Ju Zi heard Ye Wen claim that he had unified the Douluo Continent, her eyes widened in shock. After all, the Douluo Continent had gone thousands of years without achieving true unification. What nonsense was this man spouting? 

But under the oppressive weight of Ye Wen's overwhelming strength, even though Ju Zi knew he was lying, she dared not say a word, fearing that provoking him might lead to her demise. 

In her heart, however, Ju Zi labeled Ye Wen as unreliable and full of empty talk. 

Still... 

When Ju Zi heard Ye Wen describe the peace and prosperity of a unified Douluo Continent, a flicker of envy passed through her eyes. 

How wonderful it would be to live in such a peaceful era. Unlike now, where wars broke out every decade or so, leaving countless orphans like herself scattered across the continent. 

But falsehoods were still falsehoods. After her moment of envy faded, Ju Zi's gaze turned despondent, and a trace of resentment toward Ye Wen emerged. Why had he painted such a beautiful illusion only to shatter it before her eyes? 

Yet Ye Wen's story didn't end there. Instead, he moved on to a plot twist that left Ju Zi utterly incredulous.

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