Chapter 232: The Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 232: Chapter 232: The Childhood Sweetheart

It was Old Huang!

Qin Tianxuan couldn’t believe it.

Back when he was just a boy, his master took him in. He learned all sorts of skills in a hidden mountain sanctuary. The one who was always by his master’s side, cooking and doing chores, was Old Huang.

He remembered Old Huang as a kind and gentle elder. Back then, what Qin Tianxuan loved most was Old Huang’s braised pork.

Once, when Qin Tianxuan had a fever, it was Old Huang who carried him on his back all the way from the mountains to the county town. He barged straight into the clinic and forced a doctor to see him in the middle of the night.

They were master and servant in name only; in reality, their bond was as close as uncle and nephew.

Ever since leaving his master to forge his own path, Qin Tianxuan had asked about Old Huang in every letter he wrote.

His master didn’t like using phones or computers, so he never even had a chance to video call Old Huang.

"Uncle!" Tears welled up in Qin Tianxuan’s eyes. He took a few steps forward and embraced Old Huang tightly.

Old Huang was also filled with emotion. "Tianxuan, you’re the Night Emperor now. Don’t be so sentimental. Look, isn’t your Old Huang doing just fine?"

Everyone in the arena was stunned!

Geshudao was also dumbfounded.

Wutian’s eyes went wide.

’What... what kind of relationship is this?’

The Grand Chief of Dragon Platform Phoenix Hall, the incredibly mysterious Lord Huangtian, actually had this kind of relationship with Qin Tianxuan!

Though not related by blood, they were the closest and most beloved of family.

At this moment, Old Huang looked at Qin Tianxuan, his eyes red as well. "The year you left the mountain, I secretly cried my eyes out. I watched you grow up, my boy. Your master and I are both so incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved today. Sometimes, I even feel quite smug!"

And with that, Huangtian burst out laughing. "The Northern Domain Night Emperor, who awes the world and defeated the Celestial Demon, is the very same boy I watched grow up! HAHA, you have no idea how happy I am."

Qin Tianxuan immediately knelt and kowtowed three times.

It was only right.

Without his master’s teachings, he would not have his current achievements. But without Old Huang’s care, he would never have survived those years in the mountains.

Reunited, the two of them started talking about the past and chatted for a full half-hour.

The people in the Martial Arts Arena stood motionless and in solemn silence.

Wutian was absolutely beaming with pride!

’Dragon Platform Phoenix Hall, such a powerful force, and its hidden leader has this kind of bond with our boss, the Night Emperor!’

’All those bastards who’ve been waiting for Mr. Qin to fail can just you wait.’

At that moment, Grand Chief Huangtian turned and ordered, "I am very happy today. I’m going to have a good, long chat with Tianxuan tonight. You are all dismissed."

Wutian, Geshudao, and the others respectfully withdrew.

Qin Tianxuan followed Huangtian out of the Martial Arts Arena to a small pavilion.

"We are completely safe here." Huangtian gestured to the area outside the pavilion. "Tianxuan, I came here specifically to find you. Don’t worry about the Imperial Capital!"

He spoke with pride, "If anyone dares to move against you, I’ll fucking make sure they don’t get away with it! I don’t care if it’s the Daqin Royal Family or the Divine Doctor Ye Family. And then there’s that piece of trash Luo Qilin. He’s made a complete mess of the Southern Domain, and he still thinks he’s some peerless general!"

Qin Tianxuan mused, "I’ve looked at the situation in the Southern Domain. Luo Qilin is incompetent. It seems he’s been deceived by the enemy. To have deployed his forces so deep into enemy territory... they’re bound to be cut off and defeated on their retreat!"

He had been thinking about this. He now offered his suggestion: "They should select elite squads and divide them into multiple teams that can support each other. They need to move through the Southern Domain Jungle, adapting as they find enemy tracks. If they encounter small enemy groups, they should annihilate them immediately. If it’s a larger force, they should perform reconnaissance first, then rally the other teams for a joint extermination!"

As soon as Qin Tianxuan laid out his plan, Huangtian exclaimed in admiration, "See, Tianxuan, you’re the one who understands strategy. You truly are the master’s student."

But then Huangtian sighed. "I wanted to recommend you for the Southern Domain, but the opposition is too great. Let’s leave it for now. It’s not urgent. Besides, isn’t Luo Qilin challenging you?"

"He is. At the Battle Department’s Martial Arts Arena in Jin City. He wants a one-on-one duel!"

Qin Tianxuan gave a faint smile. "I’ve already accepted!"

Huangtian waved his hand. "That’s not important either. I came this time for something even more important."

’Huh?’

Qin Tianxuan was confused.

Huangtian smiled. "Tianxuan, do you remember that girl, Xia Xueqing?"

Qin Tianxuan shot to his feet, his expression agitated. "Ah Xue? Uncle Huang, you found her?"

Xia Xueqing. Ah Xue!

How could Qin Tianxuan ever forget that name?

At that moment, unforgettable memories flooded his mind, as if he had returned to his youth.

Back then, when he was studying in the mountains with his master and Huangtian, Ah Xue was his only companion.

Xia Xueqing was a hunter’s daughter who also lived in the mountains. The two children became good friends as soon as they met.

His harsh life in the mountains became vibrant and colorful because of the exceptionally bright Xia Xueqing.

They were childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree.

And you could say they had been through life and death together.

Once, his master and Huangtian went out to buy supplies, leaving just Qin Tianxuan and Xia Xueqing at home. Ah Xue’s father was sick, so the two children snuck out to find medicinal herbs, only to run into a group of poachers who had come into the mountains.

It was incredibly perilous. At the critical moment, Qin Tianxuan took a rifle bullet for Ah Xue and nearly died.

And in the end, Ah Xue also took a knife blow for him, and she nearly died as well.

Even as they lay unconscious in a pool of blood, their hands were still clasped tightly together.

Qin Tianxuan snapped out of his memories and couldn’t help but touch his shoulder.

The scar from the rifle was still there.

"Uncle Huang, I’ve been searching for Ah Xue for so long. I even used the power of the Intelligence Hall, but I found nothing. After her father died from his illness, Ah Xue just vanished. You have no idea how heartbroken I was!"

Huangtian sighed. "It was the master who sent Ah Xue away to be adopted by another family. He concealed the matter, so of course you couldn’t find her."

’What?’

Qin Tianxuan gave a bitter smile. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

"The master felt Ah Xue was suited for a normal life. She’s different from you. You were destined for great things! Besides, back then in the mountains, a bunch of us grown men weren’t exactly equipped to raise a little girl."

Huangtian shook his head. "But now, Ah Xue is in trouble. Thinking of your old bond from the mountains, the master hopes you will personally go and handle it!"

Qin Tianxuan was shocked. "Quick, tell me the address! I’ll leave right now!"

He was burning with anxiety!

’Is Ah Xue in danger?’

’That girl—my childhood sweetheart, the one who grew up with me, who went through life and death with me—nothing can happen to her!’

"Go to Jin City. This is the name of the family that adopted Ah Xue. They’re a minor family in Jin City. I’m not clear on the specific details myself!"

Huangtian wrote on a slip of paper and handed it over directly. "Hurry! Don’t let anyone bully Ah Xue!"