Chapter 34: Young Friend, Do You Have a Dream?
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Zhongli and Paimon strolled leisurely toward Heaven Dou City, passing through numerous villages and towns, experiencing the local customs and lifestyles along the way.
Their "landing point" had been Heaven Dou City itself—arguably the most prosperous location in the entire Heaven Dou Empire.
In Heaven Dou City, whether commoners or nobles, life was relatively comfortable. At the very least, three meals a day were guaranteed, and there was even spare money for entertainment—watching spirit battles, listening to music, and the like.
But compared to the capital, the villages and small towns they passed now were like night and day.
Forget prosperity—just the matter of food alone was heartbreaking.
Gourmet cuisine was a luxury only those with full stomachs could pursue.
Most commoners barely ate once a day. How could they possibly indulge in fine food?
On this day, the two arrived at an unnamed village—small, with only about eighty households.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Grandpa."
Paimon held a bowl of porridge, her expression slightly guilty as she addressed the elderly man.
Though called "porridge," it was practically just water with a few grains.
These people were already so poor, yet they still offered what little they had. Paimon couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
She had wanted to leave, but Zhongli showed no intention of departing. Instead, he sipped the porridge slowly, commenting on things like "heat control" and "texture."
Paimon was baffled.
Seriously?! You're the Geo Archon! How can you accept porridge from people this poor?!
Her eyes widened as she stared at Zhongli, as if seeing him for the first time.
"No need for thanks. Our home has nothing worthy of serving guests—I apologize."
The old man spoke earnestly, his words sincere.
He wasn't treating them kindly just because Zhongli was well-dressed and refined—or because Paimon was adorable.
In his decades of life, he had never seen such a peculiar and charming "martial soul" before!
If only his family had more to offer, he would have gladly shared.
Beside the old man stood a boy of about ten, clad in patched clothing, his frame emaciated.
His eyes were glued to the bowl of porridge in Zhongli's hands, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard.
Longing filled his gaze—yet he clenched his teeth and endured.
With Zhongli's abilities, how could he not know this family's circumstances?
Yet he continued drinking the porridge unhurriedly, undisturbed.
"Elder, how old is your grandson?"
At some point, Zhongli set down the empty bowl and turned to the old man, his expression calm.
This was perhaps the plainest porridge he had ever tasted. Normally, he wouldn't have touched it.
But this wasn't just porridge—which was why he drank it without hesitation.
The old man and the boy both froze at the question.
How old was he?
Had it been four… five, or six years since his spirit awakening?
For poor families, birthdays were hardly a priority.
"Honored guest, this grandson of mine… should be twelve."
Zhongli sighed, glancing at the empty bowl, then at the skeletal child.
A twelve-year-old boy, smaller than an eight-year-old from Liyue.
Tragic.
The child had no trace of spirit power—meaning he lacked innate soul force and could never become a spirit master.
For commoners, the only path to a better life was producing a spirit master.
Just one could elevate an entire family's status.
"Young friend, what is your name?"
Zhongli's deep, reassuring voice seemed to wrap around the boy like warmth. He blinked before answering:
"Sir, I… I'm called Wang Gou Dan (王狗蛋)..."
Zhongli: "…"
Almost.
He had almost lost his composure.
That name was… something else.
Taking a deep breath, Zhongli steadied himself.
"Wang—"
"Hmm…"
He nearly said "Wang Gou Dan" aloud but swallowed the words at the last second.
"Honored guest, please forgive us. We're uneducated folk. I'm called Wang Ma Zi (王麻子), and his father, Wang Tie Zhu (王铁柱), passed early. So I gave him this name."
"Sir, you seem like a learned noble. Perhaps… you could give Gou Dan a proper name?"
Wang Ma Zi ventured cautiously.
In the village, names were just for convenience—there were even stranger ones.
But a better name wouldn't hurt.
Seeing the hopeful looks on both the old man and the boy's faces, Zhongli finally nodded.
Naming was neither a small nor trivial matter.
"Zhongli, with all your knowledge, it's finally time to put it to use!"
"I heard you were the one who gave Xiao his name too, right?"
Paimon fluttered beside him, grinning.
Zhongli glanced at her.
Truthfully, he had named many of his old friends.
And each time one of them fell, his heart would ache as if blocked by something…
"That is correct."
He acknowledged but didn't elaborate.
Though this world had no erosion, the heart could still break.
"Sigh…"
After a long pause, Zhongli spoke:
"Young friend, your surname is Wang. How about a single character for your given name—Chen (辰)?"
"Wang Chen (王辰)—the 'Chen' of the stars and cosmos."
Most couldn't carry such a name's weight, but this boy… might be different.
"Wang Chen?"
The boy's eyes brightened instantly.
"Thank you, sir! From now on, I'm Wang Chen!"
Chen—a name implying the dragon, soaring to the heavens.
Born under the darkest corner of the starry sky, you will carve your own path…
"Young Wang Chen, do you have a dream?"
"A… dream?"
"I have no spirit power, and my martial soul is useless…"
Wang Chen lowered his head, as if resigned to fate.
This was the reality of the Douluo Continent.
Without innate soul force, dreams were luxuries.
Zhongli nodded thoughtfully but didn't press further.
Then, as if remembering something, he added:
"Ah, Elder Wang and Wang Chen, Paimon and I never take without giving."
Paimon: "???"
"Since I carry nothing of value, let this amber serve as payment for the meal."
With that, Zhongli produced an amber-hued glass orb from seemingly nowhere and placed it on the rickety table.
"No need—"
"Apologies, but we have urgent matters. Farewell!"
Before Wang Ma Zi or Wang Chen could react, Zhongli gave Paimon a look, and the two departed swiftly.
"???"
When the old man and boy finally snapped out of their daze, they stared at the gem left behind.
Even if they had never seen such a thing before, its radiance alone told them—
This was no ordinary trinket.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 65 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 40 power stones I will publish the next chapter.