Douluo Dalu 2: The True God King

Su Yu smiled cheerfully, completely unsurprised.

Yan Shaozhe—this was just the kind of person he was.

After chatting for a while longer, Su Yu took his leave. When he left, he brought Jiang Nannan with him.

Watching the three of them walk away, Yan Shaozhe's gaze grew contemplative. Beside him, Ma Xiaotao couldn't hide her disappointment.

"Teacher, he still refused."

Just moments ago, Yan Shaozhe had once again asked Su Yu to help treat Ma Xiaotao.

But who was Su Yu?

Yan Shaozhe hadn't offered any significant reward, so Su Yu naturally refused outright.

As for whether Ma Xiaotao would suffer a backlash from her evil fire, what did that have to do with him? He barely knew her!

Su Yu wasn't one to engage in a losing deal.

"Honestly, I didn't expect him to agree right away," Yan Shaozhe said, unfazed. "After all, you two don't have a close relationship."

"Teacher, what should we do then?" Ma Xiaotao asked, looking at Yan Shaozhe.

The words Su Yu had said earlier had truly been infuriating.

He'd remarked that since Ma Xiaotao's evil fire wouldn't erupt for another two years, they could revisit the matter then.

Was that even something a person would say?

Ma Xiaotao had almost lost her temper, her attempt to maintain a ladylike demeanor barely holding up.

She had gone to the trouble of dressing up extravagantly, and while he had no problem enjoying the view when asked for help, he shrank back faster than anyone.

How could Ma Xiaotao not be angry?

Yan Shaozhe chuckled mysteriously and said, "Your teacher has his ways. Let's head back for now."

Seeing the confident look on Yan Shaozhe's face, Ma Xiaotao couldn't figure out what he was planning.

Her sharp mind, not always obvious, couldn't quite keep up with his.

Still, trusting Yan Shaozhe had become second nature to her. If her teacher said he had a solution, then he surely did.

With that thought, she followed Yan Shaozhe and left the area.

Meanwhile, Su Yu, accompanied by Jiang Nannan, arrived once again at the rooftop.

The Soul Duel Tournament had ended. Standing atop the rooftop, one could see the dispersing crowd below.

The sea of people moving away was a truly striking sight.

Su Yu stood at the edge of the rooftop, the cool breeze ruffling his hair.

Beside him, Jiang Nannan's golden hair swayed in the wind, making her appear even more stunning and radiant.

"Nannan, now that the tournament is over, can you finally leave with peace of mind?" Su Yu asked casually, glancing at her.

"Mm, I'll go back and take care of my withdrawal from the academy," Jiang Nannan nodded.

Su Yu smiled faintly, his gaze softening. "Nannan, believe me. You'll be glad you joined the Ice God Palace."

"Our Ice God Palace treats its members very well."

Jiang Nannan smiled faintly in return. "I'm looking forward to it."

In truth, Jiang Nannan didn't care much about the treatment. As long as it was Su Yu's organization, that was enough for her.

"I'll have Elder Mu Wu escort you back. You've offended some petty people while standing by my side this time.

"If no one protects you, I'm afraid some might try to harm you.

"And as for Shrek Academy, they probably won't let you withdraw so easily. With Elder Mu Wu accompanying you, they wouldn't dare stop you.

"Finally, Elder Mu Wu will also guide you to the Ice God Palace after your withdrawal. The palace's location is quite hidden—it would be difficult for you to find it alone."

Su Yu spoke thoughtfully, while Jiang Nannan listened quietly, a serene smile gracing her face.

"I understand. Will you return to the Ice God Palace?" Jiang Nannan asked softly.

"I will, once matters with the Sun Moon side are settled. I'll make a trip back," Su Yu replied with a smile.

Hearing this, the smile on Jiang Nannan's face grew brighter.

The two gazed at each other silently, as if the world around them had fallen still.

"It's getting late. I should head back now," Su Yu said after a moment, breaking the gaze. He then swiftly descended from the rooftop.

Jiang Nannan turned and watched Su Yu's figure disappear into the distance, her lips curling into a faint smile as a unique gleam shone in her eyes.

...

That evening.

At the Star Emperor Hotel, in a top-floor private room.

The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy team was celebrating.

When Su Yu said he would host a feast, he meant it.

The enormous dining table, large enough to seat dozens, was laden with delicacies, rare fruits, and fine wines.

Every dish and every piece of fruit, being products of the Star Emperor Hotel, were exquisite and expensive.

But Su Yu didn't mind spending a bit of money.

No matter how costly the meal, it was still just food—how much could it cost?

Everyone gathered joyfully, and tonight, there were no tasks—just pure celebration.

Su Yu picked up a wine glass filled with a deep red wine, its rich aroma wafting through the air.

"There's nothing much to say—tonight, we won't stop until we're drunk. Just have fun!"

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses in unison and then dove into eating and drinking to their heart's content.

"Wow, this is delicious."

"This one's so good!"

"This one's amazing too!"

Each person picked their favorite dishes, savoring the feast with unrestrained delight.

The banquet prepared by the Star Emperor Hotel was top-notch, featuring exquisite delicacies from land and sea.

Su Yu delicately sliced the lobster meat on his plate. It came from the Deep Sea Fragmented Star Blue Dragon Lobster, named for the starry speckles on its shell.

The lobster's meat was not only tender but also had clearly defined textures. Its taste was refreshing, bouncy, sweet, and juicy—truly a rare delicacy.

Su Yu personally enjoyed seafood, and this particular dish delighted him.

One bite of the lobster meat brought a wave of icy freshness rushing through his senses, leaving him feeling invigorated. It even had a slight boost for mental clarity, making its steep price entirely justified.

"Brother-in-law, come, let's have a drink!"

Someone suddenly called out to Su Yu.

Looking up, Su Yu saw it was Xiao Hongchen. He smiled faintly and clinked glasses with him.

This, however, seemed to stir up a hornet's nest.

After Meng Hongchen, Ma Rulong, and the others began taking turns to toast him, Su Yu accepted every drink.

After finishing a toast with Mi Jua, Su Yu joked, "You guys aren't trying to get me drunk on purpose, are you?

"If I pass out, who's going to pay the bill?"

The group burst into laughter.

"Su Yu, are you scared?"

"If you can't drink, just say so. No one's going to judge you."

Xiao Xiaofeng teased, adding fuel to the fire.

"Oh, you cheeky devil!" Su Yu grinned, baring his teeth. "Whoever chickens out is the loser! Tonight, I'll show you what it means to have a bottomless capacity for alcohol.

"If you're a man, come take me on.

"Whoever can't keep up will have to sit at the kids' table for every banquet from now on. Deal?"

"Deal!"

Su Yu welcomed every challenger, diving headfirst into the drinking contest.

Two hours later, Ma Rulong, Xiao Hongchen, and the others were all sprawled on the table, completely out of commission.

"Not one of you can hold your liquor—hic."

Su Yu swayed on his feet, holding a wine bottle, clearly tipsy.

"Yu, you've had too much," Meng Hongchen said, quickly stepping forward to steady him, her face full of concern.

Su Yu leaned his head against Meng Hongchen's hair, mumbling incoherently.

"Meng'er... you smell amazing."

Meng Hongchen's cheeks flushed, but she gently wrapped her arms around him, supporting his unsteady frame.

...

...

...

The Next Morning

Su Yu woke up from his sleep, rubbing his temples. He still felt a bit groggy.

"Drinking messes things up. I shouldn't drink so much again."

He shook his head and was about to get up when he felt a weight on his arm.

Startled, Su Yu quickly turned to look.

Meng Hongchen was resting her head on his arm, sleeping soundly.

Her radiant face wore a satisfied smile, and her slightly upturned lips suggested she was having a pleasant dream.

For a moment, Su Yu panicked, wondering if he had done something inappropriate in his drunken state.

But after carefully checking, everything seemed normal.

Relieved, Su Yu let out a soft sigh. It was a good thing he hadn't done anything to hurt Meng Hongchen.

It wasn't that Su Yu had suddenly become saintly—he simply wanted their first time to be something meaningful, a good memory for Meng Hongchen, not... this.

Fortunately, everything was fine.

After all, someone truly drunk wouldn't be capable of doing much. Many so-called drunken mistakes were just excuses for acting on hidden desires.

Looking at Meng Hongchen's serene face, Su Yu couldn't help but feel his spirits lift.

What he loved most about Meng Hongchen was her purity and simplicity.

Though she was undeniably beautiful, her looks weren't the most extraordinary. Compared to Jiang Nannan, she fell short in terms of sheer appearance.

But he liked her all the same.

Being with Meng Hongchen always felt comfortable.

He truly enjoyed this feeling.

Su Yu didn't rush to get up. Instead, he rested his head lightly on the pillow, gazing at Meng Hongchen's delicate face. A wave of contentment surged through his heart.

This was his girl.

"System, daily check-in!" Su Yu carried out his daily ritual.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining 999 roses.]

[999 roses—symbolizing my love for you.]

Su Yu: "..."

"Such a flashy move."

He couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark, but still, he claimed the reward.

Soon, daylight filled the room.

Meng Hongchen woke up. Instinctively, she reached out to the side but felt nothing but emptiness. In an instant, her lingering drowsiness vanished.

"Yu~"

She called out hurriedly, clearly flustered.

After all, Su Yu had been right next to her the night before—so where was he now?

"I'm here."

At that moment, Su Yu walked in, carrying the breakfast delivered by the hotel.

"Freshen up and let's eat," Su Yu said with a smile.

"Mm."

Meng Hongchen nodded with a sweet smile. As she sat up, she noticed a large bundle of roses in the center of the room.

The roses were arranged in the shape of a heart, their fiery red blossoms strikingly vivid.

"Yu, what's this?"

"A bouquet of roses for you," Su Yu said with a smile.

Meng Hongchen's eyes curved into crescent moons, and an indescribable sense of happiness overflowed from her heart.

Still dressed in her pajamas, she jumped out from under the covers and threw herself into Su Yu's arms.

Su Yu smiled faintly and gently stroked her silky hair.

"Alright, go freshen up and eat breakfast."

"Mm!"

Meng Hongchen quickly changed her clothes, washed up, and joined Su Yu for breakfast.

After their meal, Su Yu took Meng Hongchen around Star Luo City, spending the day leisurely.

...

Two Days Later

Having finally received his winnings, Su Yu wasted no time and set off on the return journey with the others.

This time, Su Yu feels like he won the grand prize in Squid Game. Those who firmly believed Shrek would win had wagered all their hard-earned money, earned through blood, sweat, and tears, but now it's all in Su Yu's hands.

Moreover, he acquired the FPhoenix Left Arm Bone and an ice-attribute soul bone from the Star Luo Empire.

In addition to that, Su Yu's Ice Jade Scorpion Left Arm Bone and Meng Hongchen's Ice Bear Right Arm Bone could also be considered significant gains.

All in all, the trip to the Star Luo Empire was a resounding success.

The journey from the Star Luo Empire to Radiant City wasn't short.

They crossed the Mingdou Mountain Range and entered the territory of the Sun and Moon Empire. After nearly two days, they finally returned to Radiant City.

Upon their return, the group was warmly welcomed by the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.

A massive banner hung at the academy gates:

"Congratulations to the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy Representative Team for Winning the Soul Battle Tournament Championship!"

As the first championship win in thousands of years, its significance was extraordinary.

It was a cause for celebration throughout the academy.

Jing Hongchen spared no effort in giving everyone the recognition they deserved. The scale of the celebration was grand, with almost the entire academy gathered to witness the occasion.

The atmosphere of pride and cohesion was palpable, with every representative and reserve team member sharing the glory.

Apart from Su Yu, who remained calm, others like Ma Rulong and Meng Hongchen were visibly excited.

Even Wang Dong'er's face flushed red with enthusiasm, her energy electric.

The scene of being welcomed by tens of thousands was something to behold.

Jing Hongchen, ever the tactician, skillfully amplified the academy's pride while fostering unity and morale.

Back at the academy, the group entered the Illustrious Virtue Hall to meet with Jing Hongchen.

Without wasting words, Jing Hongchen first distributed the rewards—one soul bone per person. His generosity was undeniable.

After offering a few words of encouragement, everyone else was dismissed.

Only Su Yu, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen remained in the hall with Jing Hongchen.

Looking at the three young people before him, Jing Hongchen's face was full of satisfaction.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were his grandchildren, while Su Yu was essentially his grandson-in-law—all part of the family.

"Elder Ma told me everything. Your performance this time was outstanding, especially you, Su Yu. You did very well."

Jing Hongchen was well aware of Su Yu's contributions.

The decisive victory in the final battle hinged entirely on Su Yu. Whether it was his domain support in the team fight or his one-versus-seven victory in the individual match, his efforts were undeniable.

Su Yu was indeed the biggest contributor to the victory in this competition.

"I heard you even gave Meng'er a soul bone?" Jing Hongchen asked.

Meng Hongchen shook her head and corrected him, "It was two soul bones. Yu gave me two."

"One was a 60,000-year Ice Feather Beast Left Arm Bone, and the other was an 80,000-year Ice Bear Right Arm Bone. Both are top-tier soul bones."

As Meng Hongchen spoke softly, her gaze toward Su Yu was filled with tenderness.

Su Yu was truly too good to her.

"Oh?" Jing Hongchen raised his eyebrows. He had given her two soul bones?

This Su Yu was generous.

Being well-informed, Jing Hongchen naturally understood the value of these two soul bones. Together, they were worth hundreds of millions of gold soul coins.

"Meng'er is my girlfriend. Giving her two soul bones is only right," Su Yu said with a slight shake of his head.

He wasn't someone who gave his approval easily, but once he recognized someone, he was never stingy with them.

Since Meng Hongchen had given her heart to him, he truly didn't mind parting with two soul bones.

"Haha, you kid, you know how to care for someone. Looks like Meng'er didn't misjudge you."

Jing Hongchen laughed heartily. His round, chubby face creased with laughter, making his eyes look even smaller.