Soul Land IV (Douluo Dalu) : Ultimate Fighting

Chapter 1235: Chapter 1235: The Reunion of the Gold and Silver Dragon Kings

The silver dress cascaded down to her feet, gently floating above the surface of the lake, and just as splendid was her silvery hair that fell behind her like spun crystal threads, drifting lightly in the wind.

A face of incomparable beauty, as if she was the grace of the world personified. Her large purple eyes were filled with bewilderment and daze.

She slowly raised her hand, foolishly gazed at her tender, spring onion-like fingers, and then at the circles of silver ripples quietly undulating under her feet. On her palm, silver scales flickered out of sight.

On the boat, Lan Xuanyu was so excited he could hardly contain himself, about to rush out at a moment’s notice. But he was pulled back onto the boat by a strand of golden energy from beside him.

A strong, trembling hand landed on his shoulder, pinning him to the boat. In the next moment, the owner of that hand had already stepped out, silently landing on the surface of the lake.

A faint golden halo spread out from his feet, touching the silver ripples that emanated from afar, merging into layers of colorful light.

The sudden change drew the attention of the figure with silver hair and purple eyes; she lifted her head in surprised confusion, looking in this direction.

Their eyes met, as if everything was eternal. The gaze that touched, in an instant, made all else freeze.

Truly freeze; time around them momentarily stood still. Even those at the God level and True God-level powerhouses were unable to move the slightest bit in that instant.

In Tang Wulin’s world, everything else had disappeared, all that existed was the person before him.

His vision blurred with tears that turned into lenses, magnifying the figure before him in his eyes, in his heart.

Oh, a separation of ten thousand years! Reunited once more, the memories from ten thousand years before, still clear as day.

…

A little girl squatted by the roadside, appearing to be even younger than Tang Wulin himself, her hair a short silver, reflecting the sunlight naturally.

As if some inexplicable force was drawing them together, the little girl looked up at him. Her face was dirty, and coupled with her somewhat tattered clothes, she looked like a little beggar. But besides her silver hair, she had a pair of eyes unlike any other.

Her eyes were large, and the pupils were like two pieces of clear amethyst, even though there was some distance, Tang Wulin felt as if he could see his reflection in her eyes. Her long eyelashes naturally curled upwards.

Tang Wulin himself had attractive eyes, and naturally took a liking to peers with big eyes. He instinctively stopped in his tracks. The little girl did not avoid his gaze; those beautiful eyes just carried a hint of surprise.

…

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. The bad guys have already been chased away by me. My name is Tang Wulin, what’s yours?”

The little girl was stunned for a moment, then finally spoke, “My name is Na’er.”

…

“I can’t finish mine, here, you can have it.” Just then, a voice sounded beside him, and a snowy-white steamed bun was placed on Tang Wulin’s tray.

Tang Wulin looked up, and it was none other than Gu Yue who had handed him the bun. Only now, she had changed into the academy’s uniform, seemingly indistinguishable from the other students.

“Thank you.”

Gu Yue nodded at him and then walked away.

“Wulin, I think, she might have fallen for you. She talked to you as soon as she joined our class today. Now she’s giving you buns, I think she’s been charmed by you.”

…

“The ‘Love at Second Sight’ segment continues, the next person is…”

“Number fifty-one. Please come up.”

“For some reasons, I left for three years. In those over a thousand days and nights, I’ve missed the academy every single moment. For since my parents suddenly left this world, this place has become my home. Today, I’ve returned, and just in time for the Sea God’s Luck matchmaking event. I didn’t hesitate, coming straight here. Because I was afraid of missing out, more so, afraid that you would’ve fallen in love with someone else.”

“More than three years ago, I asked you if you got close to me because of my bloodline. During those dull days that followed, I thought a lot and realized how silly it was of me to ask. I shouldn’t have. You gave me a definite answer, and it saddened me, even more than when I learned I had a wasted Martial Soul and possessed a defective Soul Spirit. Yet, I couldn’t show it, because I was the captain, and I couldn’t let everyone see my weak side.”

“I have been enduring the pain in my heart to lead the team in the competition until we finally won. But at that time, I still didn’t know how to face you. Or rather, how to face myself.”

“More than three years have passed, and during these more than a thousand days and nights, I have thought about a lot. Many things I didn’t understand before, I’ve now figured out. Why care too much when you like someone? No matter why we met, since I have fallen for you, I am willing to accept everything about you. If you like me too, let’s be together. If you don’t like me, then I will do everything to make you like me, and still be together. So, no matter what, I will never give up on this love! From now on, I belong to you, and you must take responsibility for me.”

…

“According to the rules, the girls who have not taken off their bamboo hats can only choose their man at the last moment. Girl number seventeen, please tell us, do you choose the man you admire?”

Tang Wulin’s gaze crossed the hundred meters of lake surface, landing directly on her. All eyes were also focused on her, especially those who had guessed who she was, even more so.

Under everyone’s gaze, girl number seventeen was silent for a moment, then gently shook her head.

Her movement was very slight, seemingly simple, but it made Tang Wulin, who was standing on the lotus leaf, feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

She shook her head, she did not choose, indeed, she didn’t choose him. She didn’t choose anyone, nor did she take off her bamboo hat.

Undoubtedly, this meant that she had no love interest and was not interested in finding a partner at this matchmaking event.

Tang Wulin felt as if something had seized his heart, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe.

His eyes became hazy, a trace of faint bitterness emerging from the corner of his mouth.

All the past events flooded in his mind, why, why won’t you choose me?

…

“If one day I am gone, will you miss me?”

“Of course I will, very, very much.”

…

“Wulin, it’s your turn; you have one minute.”

But Tang Wulin shook his head, then looked at Gu Yuena, “I don’t need a minute; I only need to ask her one question.”

“Gu Yue, in this world, I have only loved one girl, and that is you. Do you love me?”

He had a thousand words he wanted to tell her, but when he really faced her, all he could say was this one sentence. And this sentence was enough; what he needed was an answer, an answer that would cause him to throw everything aside, or one that would lead him into another world.

His right hand raised, turned his palm upwards, glistening golden scales spread from his wrist, hidden below his clothes, up to the entire palm, showing a glistening, sharp claw, fingers curved backward, with the claw pointing directly above his head.

An indescribable, intense aura of blood suddenly burst forth from him, and at the moment when the strong bloodline aura appeared, all the Soul Masters with dragon-class Martial Souls could not help but moan, their faces pale, including Long Yue.

“Brother, no!” Na’er screamed, but she dared not move. She clearly saw the golden dragon claw’s light flickering; Tang Wulin only needed to drop his hand slightly to rip open his own skull.

“I just need to know the answer, the true answer in your heart. Don’t lie to me, from the look in your eyes, from the essence of your bloodline, I can feel whether you are telling the truth.”

Gu Yuena watched him, stunned, with no more tears flowing.

Suddenly, it was as if she crumbled, nodding vigorously, the tears that had just stopped now pouring down, her whole body crouching down on the lotus leaf, unable to speak, just nodding, nodding forcefully.

Tang Wulin smiled, a proud smile, and lowered his right hand. With one step, he was already in front of her.

He pulled her up from the lotus leaf into his arms.

(For the story of Tang Wulin and Gu Yuena, see my work “Douluo Dalu III: The Legend of the Dragon King”)

…

The past Sea God’s Lake and the present Sea God’s Lake gradually overlapped into one, overlapping into a single lake, into a single person.

He looked at the silver, lively figure. Tang Wulin could no longer hold back his tears, streaming down his cheeks.