Please check out my new translated fanfic:
Douluo: My Wife Is Qian Renxue, Mother Of My Seven Gourd Vines
....
"Traveler, where are we going, ah-woo~?" Paimon asked, munching on a handful of snacks.
"To a place you know well."
"A place I know well?"
Paimon blinked. Hadn't they just arrived here a few days ago? What place could she possibly be familiar with?
"I got it!"
"Oh?"
Aether looked at Paimon with interest. Was her intelligence finally online today?
"Hmph~ but we just ate, I'm kinda full now, can't eat more…"
"???"
"Eh? If it's a place I know… could it be that hotel we went to yesterday? Their food was pretty good."
"…"
As expected, Paimon was not to be relied on too much.
Without another word, Aether led Paimon through several streets, twisting and turning. Passersby cast curious and confused glances at the unusual pair.
But neither of them cared. Having stayed in this world so long, and with Paimon's peculiar figure, it wasn't just Paimon who had grown used to being stared at — Aether himself had gotten used to the feeling.
"The Spirit Hall? Traveler, there's a Spirit Hall here too!"
"Yeah, that's the place I meant."
Aether glanced up at the imposing Spirit Hall, its grandeur still intact, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile curved the corner of his lips.
"What are we doing here?"
Paimon peered into the Spirit Hall through its great doors. The two soul masters guarding the entrance noticed something unusual. One stepped forward, his tone unfriendly:
"Spirit Hall grounds—loiterers keep out!"
"Eh… Traveler, he's so fierce."
Paimon quickly hid behind Aether and whispered anxiously.
"Please notify your superior that someone is here to see them," Aether said, shielding Paimon behind him as he addressed the guard.
"May I ask your name? Do you have an appointment?"
The guard, seeing the gold card in Aether's hand, stopped being domineering and instead questioned him cautiously.
"Aether, a traveler. No appointment."
"Our officials are busy. Not just anyone can meet them. If you don't have an appointment, please leave quickly."
The guard's expression darkened when he heard no appointment.
Having worked the post for so long, he had seen countless people attempting to bribe or sneak into the Spirit Hall to meet the officials.
As a gatekeeper, he had to strictly control access—after all, the Spirit Hall officials weren't people just anyone could see.
"…"
"Traveler, why do we need to meet that 'official' anyway?"
Sensing the hostility, Paimon whispered again.
"If I'm not mistaken, they're the ones looking for us."
Aether shook his head in resignation. Then he remembered something and beckoned with his hand. A golden card appeared in his palm.
"Eh?" Paimon's curiosity deepened.
"What's that…?"
The guard was stunned by Aether's casual conjuring of the object. Taking a closer look, he saw a faintly carved golden palace on the card.
The guard was very familiar with that palace—it was the emblem of the Spirit Hall headquarters.
"Forgive us for not recognizing your presence sooner," the guard said, bowing respectfully after confirming the card.
This kind of gold card was a form of soul currency used widely across the continent.
When soul coins—gold, silver, and copper—became cumbersome to carry in large amounts, this card system was introduced as high-value currency.
The cards were generally issued by the empire they belonged to.
But due to a special relationship between the empire and the Spirit Hall, some cards were embossed with the Hall's emblem for their use.
They represented a significant connection with the Spirit Hall, granting the cardholder certain privileges and status within the Hall.
This was similar in function to the Spirit Hall elder's token.
Only the elder's token was a definitive identity, while the card indicated cooperation or ties to a high-ranking Spirit Hall figure.
"Since you recognize this, please notify your superior."
Aether looked at the golden card in his hand — it was a gift from Xue Qinghe and others when they parted ways.
Back then, he noticed the peculiar engraving on the card, which matched his guess perfectly—it belonged to the Spirit Hall.
Who would have thought this card had uses beyond just buying stuff…
"Yes! Please wait a moment, honored guest, I'll go notify at once."
The guard replied and hurried off into the Spirit Hall.
"Wow! Didn't expect the card Xue Qinghe gave us to have such power. That guy just changed completely," Paimon exclaimed.
She recognized the card; it was the travel funds Xue Qinghe had given them.
"Actually, Xue Qinghe isn't really Xue Qinghe. He's not a man at all—she's a girl, Paimon, did you know?"
Aether teased, noticing how easily Paimon called out to Xue Qinghe.
He wanted to see Paimon's surprised reaction to the truth.
"Eh? I know," Paimon nodded, not denying it.
"???" Aether blinked in surprise.
Paimon's lack of shock caught him off guard.
"How do you know that?"
"Umm~ when I grew bigger that time, somehow I saw through Xue Qinghe's disguise…"
Paimon pondered for a moment. Maybe because she was super powerful then, she could easily see through any disguise.
"…"
Aether understood immediately.
Paimon's strength was so great that seeing through a disguise was effortless. He had underestimated her, thinking she'd been in the dark all along.
Meanwhile, inside the Skywater branch of the Spirit Hall, a woman with an elegant figure knelt on one knee, reporting to a figure with their back turned.
"Chief Yi, someone is here to see you."
At that moment, a guard's voice sounded outside the door.
"No time. Just send them away."
The kneeling woman glanced briefly at the back figure, then said quietly.
"Chief, the visitor carries a Spirit Hall gold card…"
The guard could tell Chief Yi was annoyed but dared not offend either side and continued reporting.
"Did they give a name?"
"He says his name is Aether… and that he's a traveler."
The guard reported Aether's exact words.
"!!!"
Chief Yi was shocked, looking up at the figure.
That figure turned slowly, lips parting to speak in a cold, clear voice:
"Didn't expect him to see through your identity so quickly… Go."
"Yes! And you…"
The kneeling woman replied.
"I'll be here. Report everything you find out to me."
"Understood!"
She nodded again and then stepped back to the door, opening it.
"Where is that person now?"
Closing the door, the woman asked the guard urgently.
"Right outside the hall entrance."
Upon hearing this, she hurried toward the hall entrance.
_
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