Hongchen looked at Jiang Shengyu with suspicion. "I heard from Yuhao—Qingtong's been back for two days already! She's not that exhausted. Are you just blocking us so we can't see her?"
Tang Ya brandished her Level-9 spirit tool, Former-Time Bright Moon, saying, "I still need to return this to Qingtong."
Jiang Shengyu remained polite to Tang Ya and Hongchen, but showed no such patience toward Xiao Hongchen. He waved him away. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to—already a five-ring spirit king, yet shamelessly looking to fight my sister…"
Xiao Hongchen looked serious. "She learned a lot at Shrek Academy. What's wrong with a friendly spar? I won't bully her just because I have more rings and energy. We'll stop when there's no need to continue."
Jiang Shengyu pointed outside. "Go see the school medic—get your head checked."
Xiao Hongchen froze. "Are you saying I'm nuts?"
"I'm worried about you," Jiang Shengyu corrected with a sigh. He truly had no desire to fight Xiao Hongchen.
So his interference won out: Xiao Hongchen's attempt to see Jiang Qingtong was firmly shut down, and Tang Ya and Dream Hongchen had to schedule another time. A few days later, Yuhao finished his research stint and prepared to journey to the Star‑Luo Empire to honor Auntie Huo. The three siblings left Mingdu together, heading north.
The Star‑Luo Empire had nearly banned citizens of the Sun‑Moon Empire, but Jiang Qingtong readily passed checkpoints once she flashed her Shrek Academy ID. They never saw Dai Hao there—though Yuhao grew tense when they learned that the Yu‑Ming checkpoint was his territory.
Jiang Shengyu noticed Yuhao's discomfort and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Yuhao, stay calm. One day, we'll make the White Tiger Duke's estate acknowledge Auntie Huo's injustice!"
Yuhao nodded in resolve.
They buried Huo Yun just outside Star‑Luo City—a small distance from the White Tiger Duke's estate. Beyond this, a child could not have continued.
After the ceremony, Jiang Shengyu noticed Yuhao's glum expression and asked, "You okay? What are your plans next?"
Inside Yuhao's mind, the spirit of the Dream‑Ice Silkworm writhed frantically. "Oh no—has he discovered? Rainhao, you must be careful with him!"
Yuhao whispered to the silkworm, "Calm down. He can't know about us."
Cautiously, he asked aloud, "Brother, why are we going to the Far North?"
"We have to inspect that site," Jiang Shengyu replied. "Master Shengyu and the Mingde Hall elders are conducting the final tests there. The launch of the spirit‑drive satellite is imminent. We're going to check on progress."
Yuhao hesitated. "Isn't it dangerous to go to the Far North together?"
Jiang Shengyu waved off the concern. "What are you worried about? Don't we all have multiple Level-9 soul tools to protect us?"
"Ahem…" Yuhao hesitated. "I only have a Level‑8 tool…"
Jiang Qingtong stepped forward and offered him Former-Time Bright Moon: "Here—you can have this. I've reset the return coordinates. Just bring it along and escape if things turn dangerous."
Yuhao gratefully accepted. "Thanks, cousin!"
"You're family," she smiled.
With that, the trio embarked north. Over half a month, they traversed the Tianhun Empire to approach the edge of the Far North. The farther they traveled, the fewer human settlements appeared. Though still within Tianhun, hundreds of miles seemed uninhabited.
Jiang Shengyu consulted a spirit-map—Mingde Hall's test site was clearly marked. They followed it into the icy, wind-swept region.
At the test site, Jing Hongchen and his team were shocked to see them. "You three came this far?"
Jing Hongchen brushed snow from their shoulders and directed attendants to provide hot tea and blankets.
"We accompanied Rainhao to Star‑Luo and figured, why not stop by?" Jiang Shengyu explained with a grin.
"Stop by? That's halfway across the continent—from Star‑Luo through all of Tianhun!" Jing Hongchen scoffed. "There's gotta be a reason."
Jiang Shengyu chuckled. "You're sharp. I knew you'd see through me."
Jing Hongchen shook his head. "Oh please. If your story fooled me, I'd resign from being a teacher and tell the emperor!"
Jiang Shengyu nodded. "I proposed the spirit‑drive satellite research topic. Progress looks strong. Once it's in orbit, our original three nations of Douluo Continent will be under control."
Jing Hongchen sighed. "You propose too many topics—how can I keep track?"
He still had the records brought in for the group.
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