Everyone remained silent.
Not even Sword Douluo himself understood what had just happened. The oppressive illusion, the suffocating paralysis, and now, every eye was fixed on the cloaked figure standing casually beneath the canopy of Star Dou Forest.
Xīrán, who had just finished absorbing her soul ring, tilted her head in confusion and asked innocently,
"what's going on?"
At her voice, all attention shifted toward the black-cloaked man.
Eren, still in the form of Uchiha Itachi, gave a faint sigh and began walking toward her. He didn't even spare a glance at Chen Xin, who still knelt gasping for air with a hand on his neck.
He spoke plainly, voice devoid of emotion.
"Nothing serious. Just a certain so-called Pedophile Douluo ogling you with a repulsive grin. I punished him accordingly."
As if stating that the sky was blue.
Xīrán blinked. She turned to look at the pale, trembling old man and instantly stepped behind Eren, keeping her eyes on Chen Xin with clear disgust. Her small hands gripped the back of Eren's cloak tightly.
Chen Xin, still coughing, looked up with shock and despair.
"Wait—no, child! It's a misunderstanding! I—"
She didn't even let him finish. She simply turned her head away.
How could a Title Douluo act so shamelessly?
The admiration she had for Itachi grew in that moment. He had acted swiftly, decisively, and with such overwhelming power that the Pedophile Douluo hadn't been able to lift a finger. She hoped she could one day be like him, someone others feared to cross, someone who protected those who followed him.
Chen Xin stammered.
"N-no, I wasn't ogling her! I just...!"
But even he couldn't explain the look on his face from earlier. He had been smiling, yes, but it wasn't what they thought. It had nothing to do with impure intent. He had simply been thrilled at the thought of gaining a once-in-a-lifetime disciple. He wanted to brag. To parade her around. That had been the source of his grin.
"I just wanted to take her as my disciple!" he finally blurted, seizing onto the only justification he had. "I'm Sword Douluo! The strongest swordsman on the continent! A Title Douluo!"
The atmosphere was silent.
Then came Xīrán's voice, calm but biting.
"Yuck. I'd never accept a pervert as my master. I already have a master."
Her words struck like a sword to the chest.
Chen Xin fell to his knees. The hope in his eyes died instantly. Even his breathing grew shallow. Behind him, Gu Rong and Ning Rongrong arrived, looking bewildered by the unfolding scene.
Gu Rong furrowed his brow.
"Pedophile? Pervert? What on earth is going on?"
He looked at his old friend—who now looked like a broken man.
Eren turned back slightly and said flatly,
"We should go. You need to prepare for the academy entrance. I'll request that Master Eren teach you a few self-defense techniques as well. They'll help if you run into any... similar situations in the future."
Chen Xin, still kneeling, managed to croak out,
"Wait… aren't you her master?"
Before Eren could respond, Xīrán stepped forward proudly, voice brimming with loyalty.
"No. My master is far stronger than him. All of us, me, and others, are simply servants following him. He trains us. Guides us. Gives us what no one else ever did."
Eren smirked faintly.
"My first member," he said under his breath. "A fine choice."
All three elders were stunned, especially Chen Xin. He had seen the man's strength firsthand. That illusionary technique, that pressure, that power, it was unlike anything he had ever faced. And this same man, who moved like a shadow and spoke like a sword, was not even the true master? Merely a servant?
Suppressing the humiliation in his heart, Chen Xin asked with a raspy voice,
"Can… you tell me your name?"
Xīrán spoke first, her voice proud and unwavering.
"Li Xīrán of the Black Lotus."
Eren followed calmly.
"Uchiha Itachi of Black Lotus."
With that, he placed a hand on her shoulder. In the blink of an eye, both disappeared.
The forest was silent once again, The three onlookers stood utterly stunned as the duo vanished before their eyes. Even after extending their spiritual perception to the limit, they found nothingno trace of aura or presence. It was as if the two had completely vanished from existence.
Gu Rong finally turned and stared at his old friend, unable to suppress a grin.
"Well? What happened to our glorious Sword Douluo? How did you end up kneeling in front of a little girl's protector like a scolded boy?"
Chen Xin didn't answer. He looked down at his trembling hands, then touched the fading red print on his neck where he had once strangled himself under illusion.
He replied quietly,
"It's fortunate she completed her absorption when she did. Any later… I might not be here."
Gu Rong raised a brow.
"You're serious? He was that strong? Even against the two of us?"
Chen Xin laughed bitterly.
"You didn't see his eyes. You didn't feel the pressure. He could've killed me before I even summoned my martial soul. I doubt you'd last even a breath longer than I did."
Gu Rong frowned, finally understanding the severity.
Inside Xiran's house, the air shimmered briefly as the two figures reappeared. Exhausted from the day's ordeal, Xiran collapsed onto the floor, exhaling heavily.
Eren glanced at her and spoke in his usual calm tone, "You should rest today and tomorrow. The day after that, Master Eren will come to take you to Nuoding Academy."
He paused for a moment, then added as a reminder, "Remember, he's on a confidential mission, so whatever you've seen or experienced, keep it to yourself. Act like a regular village girl with a Blue Silver Grass martial soul and a soul power of 0.5. Do not reveal your true martial soul. You're already strong enough that it will be easy for you to keep your martial soul hidden."
Still catching her breath, Xiran nodded in understanding.
"Don't sleep just yet," Eren added. "Eat something first, then rest."
With those final words, he vanished from the room in a flicker, reappearing moments later inside his house in Holy Soul Village.
Without wasting time, he took out his book and pen and began to write:
[By tomorrow morning, the entire continent will know Sword Douluo as the Pedophile Douluo.]
Closing the book, Eren summoned his gourmet tablecloth. A plate of steaming chicken curry and a bottle of chilled Fanta materialized before him. Sitting back, he began to enjoy his meal in peace, a faint smile on his face as he imagined the chaos that would unfold come morning.