Chapter 186: Gu Qiuer
During the remaining days of the holiday, the various affairs of the Water God Church advanced in an orderly and systematic manner.
The research team headed by Dr. Oak established contact with the soul beasts of the Great Star Dou Forest, officially launching a series of groundbreaking studies. Could soul beasts cultivate through the use of techniques? Could they directly transform into human form without needing to reach a hundred thousand years of cultivation? Or could the re-cultivation process be shortened in some way? Should breakthroughs be achieved in any of these areas, they would completely alter the destiny of the soul beast clans.
Dr. X and Dr. Tomoe also actively participated. They studied the physiological structures and energy circulation patterns of soul beasts on a deeper level, hoping to draw inspiration to further perfect their research on artificial soul rings and artificial soul bones. After all, soul beasts themselves were the best possible research specimens.
At the same time, Furina was also trying to help Ye Guyi search for more traces of evil soul masters.
Unfortunately, their luck was rather poor. The evil soul masters were usually concealed so deeply that, when one really went looking for them, not many decent ones surfaced. The occasional small fry they found had practically negligible effect on Ye Guyi, whose martial soul had now evolved and whose strength had greatly increased; they didn't even qualify as a warm-up.
Ye Guyi, however, was in no rush. She simply continued her diligent daily cultivation, patiently awaiting an opportunity.
Wang Dong and the others focused on their cultivation within the Water God Church. In their spare time, they would go to the Spirit Arena to participate in real combat and sometimes sparred and exchanged pointers with Xiao Huohuo and the others from Canaan Academy. Both sides traded victories and defeats, and everyone benefited greatly.
The days passed in this manner, one by one—fulfilling and tranquil.
Until, with only a few days left of the holiday, an unexpected visitor suddenly arrived.
Di Tian.
Furina sat face-to-face with Di Tian. At her side stood Neuvillette, as always serving as a silent and reliable guard.
At Di Tian's side, however, sat a golden-haired young girl.
The girl had delicate, refined features and a proud, aloof bearing; a cascade of long, golden hair fell like a waterfall. With a single glance, Furina understood in her heart—this appearance bore a certain resemblance to Wang Dong when she resumed her female attire.
Furina spoke first, a hint of surprise in her tone: "I didn't expect you to come looking for me, Di Tian, and in human form at that. It's fortunate you concealed your aura, or it would have caused quite a bit of trouble on my end."
Di Tian inclined his head slightly, his expression frank and open: "Naturally. I also did not wish to attract too much attention, causing trouble both for myself and for you."
He paused, and a trace of helplessness crept into his voice: "Although... I am indeed about to cause you a bit of trouble, right now."
Furina's gaze fell upon the golden-haired girl at his side, and the corner of her lips curved upward: "Is it because of her?"
Di Tian nodded and turned to the girl: "Introduce yourself to Pope Furina."
The golden-haired girl stood up and gave Furina a slight bow with natural grace and poise.
Her movements were elegant, yet carried a hint of innate pride, though without coming across as impolite—it was the confidence of one who stood above others.
"Hello, Sister Furina!" Her voice was crisp and pleasant, brimming with the unique vitality of a young girl. "My name is Gu Qiuer! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Furina's heart settled.
Gu Qiuer—wasn't this the Wang Qiu'er of the original story? Only, because she hadn't met Huo Yuhao or experienced those events, her name had been changed, and her appearance was different.
Di Tian explained from the side: "As you have likely guessed, she is the Auspicious Beast of our Great Star Dou Forest, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion."
He sighed, his voice filled with the helplessness of an old father: "She wanted to come out and play. I simply couldn't dissuade her. I thought to myself, your place is the only one that is relatively safe and could put my mind at ease."
As he spoke, his gaze inadvertently swept over Neuvillette.
After Furina had left, Gu Yuena had spoken with him at length about this Water God Envoy. Gu Yuena could sense within Neuvillette a bloodline power no less formidable than her own—which meant he was not subject to her bloodline suppression. Although his strength was locked at the level of a human Limit Douluo, his depths were truly unfathomable.
With such a powerful expert stationed here, Di Tian could indeed rest assured leaving Gu Qiuer in this place.
Furina noticed Di Tian's gaze and understood clearly. With such a reliable and powerful adult present, if it were her, she too would feel safe entrusting a child here.
Before she could speak, Gu Qiuer had already chimed in with a rebellious air: "I keep telling you, Uncle Di Tian, I can definitely take care of myself! I'm not a little kid anymore!"
She lifted her chin, her tone full of indignation: "Besides, I'm very strong! And I still have all those things you guys gave me!"
Di Tian sighed deeply in his heart.
The herb had already been given to Gu Qiuer to consume, allowing her to assume her current human form. The Golden Dragon Spear had also been given to her—a super divine weapon, now bound to her, unusable by anyone else. His own reverse scale was also carried on her person for protection.
Coupled with the vast influence of Furina's Water God Church and the presence of an expert like Neuvillette stationed there...
Di Tian thought it over and felt that he truly had nothing to worry about anymore.
"Fine, fine." He waved his hand helplessly. "Just be careful yourself."
Watching the interaction between this "father and daughter," Furina couldn't help but smile: "Don't worry, I will take good care of Gu Qiuer. After all, it concerns whether or not you'll launch another beast tide."
She deliberately made the latter half of her sentence sound light and teasing, carrying a hint of jest.
But the words were also true.
In the original story, Wang Qiu'er's death had triggered a beast tide. Now, she was merely Wang Qiu'er renamed to Gu Qiuer, but her essence remained unchanged—she was still the Auspicious Beast, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
Di Tian, upon hearing this, nodded seriously: "That is correct. If she were to die, I would indeed launch a beast tide against humanity."
His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable, solemn gravity.
"However—" he looked at Furina and added, "as long as it is not the doing of the Water God Church, even if I were to launch a beast tide, it would absolutely not bring harm to you."
Through this period of cooperation and exchange, Di Tian had developed a different perspective on the Water God Church. Compared to the soul masters and humans outside, the people of the Water God Church were more trustworthy. Here, there were people who loved soul beasts, people willing to research techniques for soul beasts. Their thoughts and actions were fundamentally different from the humans Di Tian knew.
Although... they were more or less a little strange.
Gu Qiuer couldn't bear to listen anymore and rolled her eyes at the two of them, her tone carrying the unique playful reproach of a young girl: "Honestly! I'm perfectly alive and well right now, and you're already talking about my death? You two are both a bit weird, in one way or another!"
She placed her hands on her hips and declared with righteous conviction: "Besides, I told you, I'm very strong! And with all the things Uncle Di Tian and Sister Gu Yuena gave me, how could I possibly have an accident?"
She thought for a moment, then added: "Even if I really did run into danger, I'd just call for you guys! You would come and save me anyway, right?"
The matter-of-fact tone made Di Tian feel helpless all over again.
Furina, however, suddenly burst out laughing.
"Ha ha ha!" She laughed so hard she nearly doubled over, pointing at Gu Qiuer. "No way, no way! Why is Di Tian 'Uncle,' but Gu Yuena is 'Sister'?"
She blinked, her eyes brimming with mischievous mirth: "Logically speaking, if you count from the Dragon God, Gu Yuena's age is actually even greater than Di Tian's! And as for Di Tian, if I recall correctly, he should have taken care of you since you were little, right? Doesn't that make him at least half a father?"
She looked at Gu Qiuer, her smile deeply meaningful: "Calling him that way—aren't you afraid Di Tian will be heartbroken?"
Gu Qiuer froze, and her face flushed slightly.
She opened her mouth, wanting to retort, but didn't know where to begin. In the end, she could only stamp her foot, turn her face away, and mutter quietly: "I-I'll call him whatever I want! Uncle Di Tian wouldn't care about something like that!"
Di Tian stood at the side, silently watching this scene, a barely perceptible smile curving faintly at the corner of his mouth.
This child has truly grown up.
"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore." Furina waved her hand with a smile. "Since you're here, just enjoy yourself at my place. Canaan Academy has plenty of children around your age. You can make friends with them, and you can also go to the Spirit Arena to spar."
She thought for a moment, then added: "Of course, there's also someone here on my side who looks very much like you, just with a different hair color. Would you like to get to know her?"
Gu Qiuer's eyes lit up: "Really? Such a person really exists?"
Furina smiled meaningfully: "Of course she exists. There are plenty of people in the world who resemble each other."
"Oh, and there's also Huo Yuhao. I believe you'll get along well with him too. He's very skilled at cooking and can make all sorts of delicacies. I guarantee you'll like them too."
"Really, really? Is that true?" Gu Qiuer's eyes shone even brighter, her voice filled with anticipation. "Don't you lie to me! I've eaten all kinds of delicious things growing up in the Great Star Dou Forest—can human food really be even tastier than what I've had before?"
"Why not go and try it yourself to find out?"
Di Tian watched Gu Qiuer's eager, itching-to-go expression, a complex mix of emotions swirling in his heart.
This child, after all, must eventually fly away.
He only hoped that she could find her own path out there.
"Then, I entrust her to you." Di Tian stood and gave Furina a solemn bow.
Furina also rose and returned the courtesy with equal gravity: "Rest assured. With me here, nothing will happen to her."
Di Tian nodded. He cast one last glance at Gu Qiuer, then turned and departed.
His figure quickly disappeared beyond the door.
Gu Qiuer stood in place, gazing in the direction he had left, a flicker of reluctance passing through her eyes. But that emotion was swiftly suppressed and replaced by brimming anticipation and excitement.
She turned her head and looked at Furina, a radiant light shimmering in her eyes: "Sister Furina, where shall we go next?"
Furina smiled faintly and extended her hand: "As I just said—I'll take you to meet some new friends."
Gu Qiuer grasped her hand and nodded firmly.
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Thanks for reading the chapter!
I started a new translation and I would be very happy if you decided to check out my new translation for a rather rare fandom. It's a fic based on Honkai: Star Rail.
Honkai Star Rail: Herta's Assistant Wants to Blow Up Nous
https://www.webnovel.com/book/36823191000494605