Rescuing Qian Renxue

The tent contained only a simple wooden bed and a set of table and chairs.

Qian Renxue sat on the wooden bed, her long golden hair somewhat disheveled, and her face looked much more haggard than Tang San remembered.

Those golden eyes gleamed with intense hatred upon seeing the newcomer.

Tang San didn't say much. His gaze lingered on Qian Renxue for a moment to confirm that she was the real Qian Renxue, and then he struck Hu Liena on the back of the neck with a palm strike.

Before Hu Liena could even utter a sound, her body went limp and collapsed to the ground.

Tang San immediately reverted to his original appearance, strode forward, placed his hands on Qian Renxue's shoulders, and looked directly at her. "Xue'er, it's me."

Qian Renxue's eyes widened suddenly at the sound of "Xue'er," her pupils reflecting the face she had longed for for so long.

She threw herself into Tang San, her lips trembling, a sob escaping her throat. "Why did you only come now... Waaah~"

Qian Renxue wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, buried her face in his chest, her shoulders heaving, and her tears soaked his clothes.

Tang San quickly released the seal on her Soul Power, then quietly hugged her for a while, letting her release all the emotions that had been building up for so long.

After a moment, Tang San gently lifted her face and wiped away her tears with his thumb. "This isn't the place to talk. Let's leave here first."

Qian Renxue nodded, her eyes blurry with tears as she looked at the unconscious Hu Liena on the ground. "What about her?"

Tang San glanced at Hu Liena on the ground, paused for a moment, and then said, "Take her back with you."

He left a note that read: You wouldn't want your precious disciple to perish, would you? Exchange it for two Soul Bones that are over 50,000 years old.

Then, Tang San bent down, scooped Hu Liena up from the ground, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and then took Qian Renxue's hand. "Let's go."

Having found Qian Renxue, there was no need to pretend anymore. Tang San carried Hu Liena on one arm and Qian Renxue in the other, soaring into the air and speeding towards Jialing Pass.

The night wind howled past the three of them, and the tents and campfire below quickly shrank into a blurry dot of light.

When that dark purple light shot into the sky from the Spirit Hall Empire's command tent, Tang San had already landed on the city wall of Jialing Pass.

In the military camps of the Spirit Hall Empire beyond the Great Wall, lights were rapidly being lit, like a giant beast awakened, exuding an atmosphere of chaos and vigilance.

Tang San gazed at the rapidly lighting up lights, a slight smile curving his lips.

Tang San brought Qian Renxue and Hu Liena to his residence.

He first handed Hu Liena over to Dugu Yan to guard. After the door closed, only Tang San and Qian Renxue remained in the room.

Tang San stepped forward, embraced Qian Renxue, and lowered his head to kiss her lips.

The light cast two overlapping shadows on the wall, like a silhouette frozen in time.

Qian Renxue's hands climbed up his back, her fingertips digging into his robes.

The two seemed to be trying to fill the void of so many years with the most primal touch.

After a special comforting remark, the sky was gradually turning a pale white.

The bedroom was a mess, with clothes scattered haphazardly on the floor.

Qian Renxue lay in Tang San, feeling as if all her strength had been drained away. She was limp and weak, and the blush on her skin from being kissed repeatedly had not yet completely faded.

She closed her eyes, her breathing much more even than before, and curled up in his arms like a little bird that had finally returned to its safe nest after a storm.

The two lay in silence for a while, enjoying the long-lost quiet and the warmth of each other.

After a moment, Tang San reached out and brushed aside the sweat-dampened strands of hair from her forehead, breaking the silence. "Xue'er, what are your plans next?"

Qian Renxue opened her eyes, her golden pupils gleaming. "I haven't decided yet."

Tang San's hand slid across her snow-white skin. "In large-scale wars, it's always the civilians who suffer the most. It's unnecessary and undesirable. As long as we become gods and possess the power of deities, no obstacle can stop us."

He paused, his gaze turning serious. "I suggest you return to the Worship Hall immediately, as originally planned. Under the protection of your grandfather, Qian Daoliu, continue your Divine Examination and inherit the Angel God."

Qian Renxue's fingers paused on his chest for a moment, as if she hesitated.

But Tang San's next words gradually dispelled the hesitation in her eyes. "After you escape, the Great Enshrined will no longer be coerced by Bibi Dong. You can ask him to remove the retainers from the Worship Hall, preventing them from appearing on the battlefield of Jialing Pass and avoiding their casualties. As long as the retainers don't take action, Bibi Dong won't pose a real threat to Jialing Pass. This war won't be able to continue, and we can remain locked in a stalemate until we become gods."

Qian Renxue looked up at him. "What about you after I go back?"

Tang San gently squeezed her shoulder. "I'm continuing my Divine Examination. When I rescued you, I learned from Bibi Dong that Zhang San was also secretly undergoing his Divine Examination. So our time is very tight; now it's a race to see who can finish the last few steps first."

"Okay, I'll listen to you. Once we become gods, we won't have to be afraid of anyone anymore."

Qian Renxue nodded and buried her face in his shoulder again.

The two lingered tenderly for a while, then, as if they had reached some kind of tacit understanding, they simultaneously turned over and began another, more profound farewell.

The light streaming through the curtains grew brighter and brighter, and the sounds in the room rose and fell, finally falling completely silent as dawn broke.

After daybreak, Qian Renxue put her robes back on and tidied her appearance.

She glanced at Tang San, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment, then smiled and said, "Wait for me to come back."

After saying that Qian Renxue turned and walked out of the room, transforming into a golden streak of light that rose from the top of Jialing Pass and flew rapidly towards Spirit City.

Tang San was exhausted. He had been "fighting" all the way from the Little Fox's camp in the Spirit Hall Empire to Jialing Pass, and now he could finally take a break.

Soon, Qian Daoliu learned that Qian Renxue had been rescued, and that very day he ordered the withdrawal of all those from the Worship Hall who were participating in the front-line battle.

However, even at this point, Qian Daoliu has not publicly turned against the Spirit Hall Empire, perhaps because the Spirit Hall Empire was formerly his Spirit Hall.

All Qian Daoliu could do was withdraw his people from Bibi Dong's place.

On the same day, the six enshrined masters— Golden Crocodile, Lion, Azure Luan, Guang Ling, Qian Jun, and Jiang Mo— withdrew from the camp outside Jialing Pass and returned directly to the Worship Hall in Spirit City.

With six top-tier combatants suddenly gone from the Spirit Hall Empire's camp, the atmosphere in the entire camp visibly somber.

On the third day, Bibi Dong's messenger arrived.

It was a cardinal wearing a dark purple robe, carrying two sealed jade boxes.

Tang San met with him privately.

The envoy spoke, "His Holiness the Pope wishes to discuss a matter with Blue Hao King. We are willing to redeem Saintess Hu Liena with two Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones. These are the right arm bone of the 70,000-year-old Snow Demon Wolf King and the left leg bone of the 50,000-year-old Death Demon Spider. Please take a look, Blue Hao King."

Tang San's gaze swept over the two Soul Bones.

One piece was entirely silver-white, radiating a cool, icy energy; the other was entirely dark purple, exuding a chilling aura.

Both Soul Bones were of high quality, so Bibi Dong's offer was generous and showed her eagerness in this matter.