After an unknown amount of time, Hu Liena quietly wiped the tears from her face and broke free from Wang Zhong's embrace.
"Mm, you promised to help me, you can't go back on your word."
Hu Liena's lips curved into a slight smile, her bright fox-like eyes narrowing into crescents. She looked coy and playful, with no trace of tears on her face.
A proud and confident girl would never show such a disgraceful side to the boy she cared about.
"Of course, I'll never go back on my word."
Wang Zhong held the towel, baring his white teeth in a smile, and patted his chest as he vowed.
"I'm serious, you know. Hehe!"
Hu Liena clasped her hands behind her back and smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling with undisguised joy.
Stretching, Hu Liena walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and sat down with her legs bent.
"Zhong, help me dry my hair."
"It's so wet and uncomfortable."
"But I don't know how!" Wang Zhong exclaimed in surprise, holding the towel helplessly.
Wang Zhong's hair wasn't long, and he usually just gave it a quick rub after washing it. But Hu Liena's long golden hair cascaded down her back. He had no idea how to handle such long hair.
Moreover, he had never dried a girl's hair before.
"Oh, I don't care."
"I don't want to move right now, hurry up!"
Hu Liena propped her chin on her hands, gazing out the window, and whined petulantly without looking back.
"Alright."
Wang Zhong unconsciously scratched his head, walked behind Hu Liena, and with a hint of hesitation on his face, gently placed the towel on her forehead, then smoothly slid it down her hair.
When he reached the ends, he picked up the towel again and repeated the action.
Hu Liena cradled her face in her hands, her eyes closed, her long eyelashes fluttering. She felt the extreme gentleness of Wang Zhong's movements, and her expression became incredibly soft.
She looked like a kitten enjoying a caress, cute and obedient.
"The temples, the temples too!"
After a while, seeing that Wang Zhong hadn't moved, Hu Liena hummed and reminded him.
"Oh, okay."
Wang Zhong flipped the towel over and used the drier side to carefully stroke Hu Liena's temples and down her long hair to the ends.
"There, the temples are done too."
"Here, hold your hair here, wrap the towel around the back of your hair, and rub the ends thoroughly to remove any excess water."
Hu Liena brought her hands together at her temples, gathering her hair backwards. When it reached the nape of her neck, she stopped, held her golden hair together with one hand, and swayed it, instructing Wang Zhong.
Wang Zhong softly agreed, reached out to grasp where Hu Liena was holding her hair, and carefully rubbed it as she had taught him.
Her golden hair was long and soft. As Wang Zhong held it, he was suddenly struck by a pleasant, subtle fragrance.
Throughout the process, Hu Liena kept her eyes closed, not even opening them when guiding Wang Zhong's movements. She pursed her lips, a smile hidden in her eyes.
The sunlight was warm, making her body feel cozy, but her heart was even warmer.
Allowing Wang Zhong to play with her long hair, Hu Liena closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the moment. After a long while, she slowly shook her head and ran her hands through her now dry hair.
Her golden hair rippled like waves in the sunlight, each strand distinct and lustrous, bright and vibrant.
"Hmm, you did a great job."
"It took a while, and your movements were a bit clumsy, but I felt your gentleness, Zhong."
Hu Liena tilted her head, her golden hair cascading like a waterfall. Her smiling face looked almost saintly in its softness.
"If angels had a form, it would be like this."
Wang Zhong thought this as he looked at Hu Liena.
"Come, Zhong, sit here."
Hu Liena patted the floor beside her and beckoned Wang Zhong. After Wang Zhong sat down beside her, she rested her hands on her knees, placed her chin on her hands, and asked.
"Zhong, do you know about the Spirit Empire?"
Wang Zhong pondered for a moment and replied uncertainly, "An organization like our Spirit Hall, composed of evil soul masters."
"I heard they are quite powerful and are natural enemies of ours."
Hu Liena nodded emphatically, confirming Wang Zhong's words.
"The Spirit Empire isn't just 'quite powerful,' they are truly formidable."
"You could say that, besides Spirit Hall, the Spirit Empire is the most powerful soul master organization on the continent. The so-called Upper Three Sects and Lower Four Sects don't even qualify to be noticed by them."
Hearing this, Wang Zhong was surprised. He asked in amazement, "Nana, isn't it said that the seven strongest sects on the continent are the Upper Three and Lower Four Sects?"
Hu Liena shook her head and retorted, "That's not true. There are only three truly powerful forces on the continent. They are Spirit Hall, Sea God Island, and the Spirit Empire."
"Sea God Island is far away overseas. Its island master, Bo Saixi, possesses the powerful strength of level ninety-nine, and commands at least five Titled Douluo powerhouses."
"The Spirit Empire hides in the shadows of the continent, concealed in deep, remote forests or desolate lands. Their openly displayed strength includes nine Titled Douluo."
"In contrast, the so-called Seven Great Sects, at most, have the Clear Sky Sect, which currently has three members. Such a group dares to call themselves the Seven Great Sects of the continent; they are merely clowns entertaining themselves under the protection of Spirit Hall."
"If it weren't for Spirit Hall guarding the continent and standing between the Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires, the Spirit Empire could have turned both empires and the Seven Great Sects into scorched earth overnight."
When she mentioned the Spirit Empire, Hu Liena's tone became extremely low, filled with deep hatred and killing intent. Her small hands instinctively clenched into fists, trembling uncontrollably.
This was a manifestation of extreme anger.
"Nana, the Spirit Empire, they..." Wang Zhong gently placed his hand over Hu Liena's clenched fist and asked softly.
Feeling the warmth from his hand, Hu Liena pursed her lips slightly, opened her palm, and intertwined her fingers with Wang Zhong's. She said calmly, "If my research is correct."
"The one who killed my parents, destroyed my brother's and my clan, and turned our entire town into a sea of blood was the Ninth Elder of the Spirit Empire, Gui Yao!"
"Even now, I can clearly recall that piercing ghost cry, capable of shattering one's soul. It was sinister, bloody, and filled with an indescribable madness. With just one cry, it destroyed all the town's defenses, collapsed buildings, and reduced nearly half the population to blood mist."
"If Father and Mother hadn't protected my brother and me with their lives, we would have died long ago."
Hu Liena's voice was filled with sorrow, the deepest pain in her heart.
"The Spirit Empire, Gui Yao."
"Nana, when we grow up, we'll find him together."
Grasping Hu Liena's small hand tightly, Wang Zhong's face was gentle, but his voice was devoid of any fluctuation, as natural as breathing.
Find him, and for what?
Debts must be repaid, and murderers must die!
The Spirit Empire, Gui Yao, Titled Douluo, are they so great! Even the Pope could die, let alone a rat hiding in the shadows!
Give Wang Zhong some time, and he'll kill Titled Douluo for you too!
"Mm." Hu Liena rested her small head on Wang Zhong's shoulder and responded softly.