CHAPTER 335: CHAPTER 335: WIDOW NAN SHUISHUI

The Underworld Thunder Douluo (Ming Lei) hurriedly lifted his head and looked ahead.

Walking toward him were seven or eight Soul Masters. Leading them was a mature woman in a pink dress, her skin fair and smooth, with full curves radiating mature charm.

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief—was he dreaming? Could it really be Nan Shuishui of the Earth Dragon Sect, the goddess he had chased for a lifetime?!

"Shuishui... Shuishui..." He reached out trembling, his voice joyful.

Nan Shuishui startled, immediately moving to the front and unleashing her soul power. A dragon roar sounded, and a scarlet-dragon illusion appeared behind her. Simultaneously, eight soul rings rose from the ground beneath her.

—An Eight-Ring Soul Douluo!!!

Nan Shuishui stared nervously at Ming Lei and gritted her teeth, "Ming Lei! Why are you here? What do you want?!"

The others tensed. They knew Ming Lei was an evil soul master of terrifying power. If he bore ill intent, no one would likely escape.

Surrounding a pink-clad, petite girl, they all activated their martial souls and glared at Ming Lei warily.

Ming Lei forced a bitter smile and said, "Shuishui, don’t be afraid. I no longer have any power... even if I did, I couldn’t harm you."

He struggled upright against a tree trunk. Now his strength had dropped to that of a Second-Ring Great Soul Master. He might not even match up to that young girl, Nan Qiuqiu.

But his words failed to calm the others.

"Too scheming—you expect us to trust you!" Nan Shuishui snorted coldly. She raised a pink ring imbued with an annihilation attribute, ready to throw it anytime.

Ming Lei hastily waved his hand and summoned his soul rings.

Two dark yellow rings rose from the ground.

He looked miserable as he spread his arms, "Do you believe me now? I was betrayed! You must help me..."

Ming Lei began spinning a tale, portraying Dan Heng and the others as another group of evil soul masters who had robbed him of soul power and sealed it.

"Shuishui, you must help me! We’ve had so many years together. Besides, I only became an evil soul master because of you..."

He wept and pleaded.

Nan Shuishui frowned slightly, her fair face showing hesitation.

"Lord Sect Leader, he’s an evil soul master with malice. He should be eliminated immediately!"

"Absolutely! We must kill him while he’s weak!"

"Mother, this man dared set his sights on you. We can’t let him live!"

Many voiced their opposition loudly.

Nan Shuishui looked nervously at Ming Lei.

Feeling panicked, Ming Lei added, "If that group comes later—if I’m around, I can help you. But if I die too, how will you handle them?"

Meanwhile, Dan Heng and the others were following the route Ming Lei had fled, while also keeping pace for Huo Yuhao’s sake.

It was naturally Huo Yuhao’s task to finish off Ming Lei.

They moved swiftly through the forest and chatted along the way.

"After this, let’s visit Dan Heng’s house?"

Poseidon, the Sea God, laughed as he said.

"Can we come too, Sister Ziji?" Tang Ya asked excitedly.

Ziji rolled her eyes and glared at Poseidon, "Some people really have no shame..."

He shot back, "You stole my disciple’s soul tool, yet you speak of shame?"

"Poseidon! What do you mean by that?" Ziji demanded.

They challenged each other with cold glares.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei shrank behind Dan Heng, nervous about being caught between them.

Dan Heng cradled Longlong in his arms, shaking his head with no intention to intervene. Longlong, now asleep, rested peacefully.

"I won’t go at your level! When Longlong grows up, I’ll show you!"

Ziji pulled Longlong free from Dan Heng and shouted back. Though Longlong rubbed his eyes confusedly, he didn’t awaken or cry.

Poseidon snorted coldly, "Talking about needing backup—don’t think you can beat me!"

As they bickered, they noticed in a small clearing ahead a group camping by a campfire. An incense stick burned, releasing a faint perfume-like fragrance.

Ziji recognized it: "It’s the scent of the Rouge Dragon—those are its soul masters. Around the Star Dou Great Forest perimeter, it’s safe from danger."

Dan Heng and company halted about fifty meters away—within a "safe" distance. The soul masters across saw them too and watched warily.

Poseidon patted Huo Yuhao’s head. "Alright, Little Yuhao—now it’s your turn."

Huo Yuhao nodded firmly and waved to them, slowly approaching.

A woman emerged from their group—it was their sect leader, Nan Shuishui.

She stepped forward and appeared beside Huo Yuhao before he could take many steps.

"You’re soul masters too?" Nan Shuishui asked.

Huo Yuhao glanced down, embarrassed in front of the beautiful woman.

"Yes... yes..."

Nan Shuishui smiled softly and looked at Dan Heng and the others. Her eyes brightened upon seeing them. She immediately sensed that they weren’t the villains Ming Lei described.

They seemed harmless.

Poseidon nudged Dan Heng with an elbow, winking. Ziji tried to kick Poseidon but he easily sidestepped.

Dan Heng quietly shook his head and avoided making eye contact.

"What brings you here?" Nan Shuishui asked with a smile.

Huo Yuhao scratched his head and said, "We’re hunting an evil soul master—named Ming Lei... Have you seen him?"

"No... I haven’t."

Nan Shuishui replied lightly.

"Sorry to bother you then." Huo Yuhao quickly turned to leave—he dared not linger with such a beautiful woman nearby.

Poseidon slapped his forehead, embarrassed: "You really believe her? You’re so easy to fool!"

Huo Yuhao paused and turned back slowly. "Are you lying to me?"

"At this point, stop talking! If you’re not honest, we kill you now!"

Ziji had had enough. How dare he stare at her husband with her standing there! So she unleashed ancestral-level soul power—exceeding Titled Douluo strength.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei also activated their martial souls.

Nan Shuishui’s expression changed immediately. Ziji’s aura exerted a fierce pressure—spanning both soul power and life-level aura. It meant Ziji’s martial soul could suppress others.

There was no way to resist!

Ziji charged at her—it felt not like a human but a ferocious beast staring down prey.

Nan Shuishui braced—and swiftly ducked behind Huo Yuhao, instinctively moved behind someone, and seized Dan Heng by the neck. At the same time, she activated a ring with annihilation attribute energy in her hand.

She warned: "Stop! Or else I can’t guarantee what happens..."

Ziji halted in surprise—meanwhile, Dan Heng stood firm. It seemed Nan Shuishui had grabbed Dan Heng.

Poseidon, Tang Ya, and Bei Bei all stepped back with oddly amused expressions—they knew Dan Heng’s strength and were surprised Nan Shuishui chose to seize him.

Poseidon laughed, "Haha... Dan Heng—looks like in her eyes, I’m the more imposing one! Same no martial soul—but she grabbed you!"

Tang Ya and Bei Bei tried not to laugh. Though they hadn’t seen Dan Heng’s full strength, from others’ reactions they knew he must be the strongest.

Yet Nan Shuishui panicked and grabbed him.

"Hey..."

Nan Shuishui looked dumbfounded. She held Dan Heng—why wasn’t anyone concerned?

She chose him partly because he looked gentle. But more so, because he seemed like a good person—good people always get targeted?!

Poseidon grinned, "If you’re brave enough, go ahead kill him—we won’t stop you."

Ziji glared at him and snapped, "Don’t act arrogant! She grabbed my husband because she’s lusting after him! Can’t you see what she’s thinking?"

She looked at Poseidon and sneered, "You? You’re undesirable—you’re so ignored she doesn’t bother looking at you!"

Poseidon’s face flushed red, "You... you’re talking nonsense!"

"Nobody wants you! Nobody! Haha!"

Ziji bragged triumphantly. Poseidon stared blankly—millions of years single, now insulted publicly.

Huo Yuhao awkwardly tugged Poseidon aside to calm things. Tang Ya and Bei Bei tried to soothe Ziji.

Neither side paid attention to Nan Shuishui, who was still holding Dan Heng—and now feeling utterly ignored!

Dan Heng sighed softly and gently removed Nan Shuishui’s hand from his neck.

Surprised, she looked at him—something about his side profile seemed even calmer and aloof than his front.

Dan Heng said, "Alright, let Yuhao proceed in that tent—go now."

"Yes, senior tutor!" Huo Yuhao lifted his trident and charged.

Poseidon and Ziji glared at each other and snapped coldly—neither wanting to look at the other.

Ziji hurried to Dan Heng’s side and elbowed Nan Shuishui aside. "What are you looking at? That’s my husband! If you want a man, go look at that shameless guy over there!"

Nan Shuishui was stunned, face reddening, "I... I wasn’t..."

She was indeed a beautiful widow—but not so fickle as to chase after every handsome man.

She only glanced at Dan Heng because he was exceptionally beautiful—but that didn’t mean she wanted to remarry.

Poseidon, now even more furious by being ignored, glared in rage. Just then, distant shouts sounded.

Nan Shuishui snapped back to attention and shouted, "Don’t stop him! Everyone step back!"

She realized clinging onto Dan Heng wouldn’t help—especially if they ended up fighting over Ming Lei; it would be disastrous.

In the clearing, Huo Yuhao smashed through the tent and engaged Ming Lei.

On one side was a young rookie heralded by divine techniques. On the other stood a cunning old veteran reduced to Great Soul Master power.

Their fight was fiercely balanced. Though Huo Yuhao suffered many wounds, his ferocity kept him in the fight.

Now Nan Shuishui truly believed that Ming Lei was limited to Great Soul Master’s strength.

"Not bad, Dan Heng. Little Yuhao did well, huh? No true strength yet, but that ferocity—he’s no simple opponent."

Poseidon boasted, grinning.

Ziji, irritated by his arrogance, slapped Tang Ya’s head and said, "Little Ya, go!"

Tang Ya and Bei Bei charged, joining to press Ming Lei. Especially as soul superiors, they could suppress him.

And Ming Lei had no soul tool now.

Suddenly, a red-brown blur burst from nearby underbrush—it was a Pink Queen, a thousand-year soul beast!

It resembled a giant scorpion with a small head protected by petal-like scales and two large claws.

It dashed to the battlefield, stirring pink poisonous mist.

Anyone inhaling the fog would become excessively excited—and untreatable, could die from the overdose.

Tang Ya pulled Huo Yuhao aside and covered his nose.

But Ming Lei was prepared—rolling onto the Pink Queen’s back and swiftly escaping.

Everyone gasped. Even in dire straits, with only Great Soul Master power, twisting fate by summoning and enslaving the Pink Queen—a thousand-year beast?

"Miss, this soul beast would be perfect for you!"

One of Earth Dragon Sect’s soul masters cried out.

Suddenly a water dragon roared in, tearing through grasses as it chased after Ming Lei.

It trailed an afterimage before wrapping around both Ming Lei and the beast, suspending them midair in a tight bind.

"What’s this?!"

"Shuishui, help me! Think of our years together!"

Ming Lei panicked, screaming—realizing his fate was sealed.

(End of Chapter)