Repayment

"It was the target I chose for my Fifth Soul Ring. I chased it for three days, and it got away from me several times. Thank you for helping me stop it." Qian Renxue pointed at the Red Flame Tiger's corpse, a rare hint of emotion in her voice.

Tang San gave a wry laugh and shook his head. "No, no. If you hadn't arrived in time, Fairy Sister, I'd be its snack by now. It was a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Even if I had a hundred lives, they wouldn't be enough to feed it. When you think about it, Fairy Sister, you saved my life. I should be the one thanking you."

The corners of Qian Renxue's lips curved ever so slightly. Her gaze fell on Tang San's face, lingered for a moment, then moved away.

"Whatever the case, you did hold it up. If it had kept running, I might have needed much longer to find it, or perhaps it would have escaped somewhere I couldn't find it."

Qian Renxue's voice returned to its cool calm, but now carried a hint of unquestionable certainty. "You did me a favor, and I intend to repay you."

Tang San hurriedly waved his hands. "No need, no need, really. You saved my life, Fairy Sister. I didn't do anything except get in its way for a moment. How could I ask for a reward?"

Qian Renxue ignored his refusal. She took a token from her storage bracelet. It was gold all over and the size of a palm, with a pair of outspread wings engraved on the front and an upright sword between them. One look was enough to tell it was no ordinary object.

Qian Renxue held the token out to Tang San. "This is one of my personal tokens. If you run into trouble in the future, you can use it to find me at the Martial Soul Temple in Heaven Dou City. When the people of Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City see this token, they'll bring you to me."

Tang San knew how much this token was worth. Qian Renxue's personal token meant she owed him a favor, and he could ask her for help if he ran into difficulties in the future.

Although Tang San wasn't sure whether he would ever actually use the token, having another fallback was never a bad thing.

Tang San immediately accepted the token and tucked it into his robes, then bowed solemnly. "Thank you, Fairy Sister!"

"Then I won't disturb you while you absorb the Soul Ring, Fairy Sister." Tang San tactfully took a step back, his gaze sweeping over Qian Renxue's pretty face. "I'll take my leave!"

With that, Tang San turned and headed deeper into the forest. After a few steps, he looked back and waved to Qian Renxue, then plunged into the shadows of the dense woods.

Tang San darted swiftly between the trees, vanishing into the layers of green in moments.

Qian Renxue remained where she was, watching the direction Tang San had disappeared in. A thoughtful look flashed through her golden eyes. She was silent for a moment, then withdrew her gaze and turned to the Red Flame Tiger's corpse.

The old man in golden robes slowly approached Qian Renxue from a distance. He glanced in the direction Tang San had disappeared, then at Qian Renxue's expression. After a moment's hesitation, he spoke in a low voice:

"Young master, this person saw your true appearance and Martial Soul. If he goes out and talks carelessly..."

Qian Renxue did not answer immediately. She looked at the Red Flame Tiger's corpse and the black Soul Ring slowly pulsing above it, remaining silent for a few seconds. Then she shook her head. "It's fine. He's just a child. Whether he can even make it out of Sunset Forest is another question. Even if he does, who would believe the words of a little Soul Master who doesn't even have his Second Soul Ring? So what if he saw my face? It won't affect our infiltration plan in any way."

Qian Renxue paused, determination flashing in her golden eyes. "Absorbing the Soul Ring is more important. Elder She, help guard me."

"Yes, young master." Snake Lance Douluo bowed slightly and said nothing more. He stepped back and stood a short distance behind Qian Renxue, his sharp gaze sweeping over the surrounding forest as he kept watch for any possible threats.

Qian Renxue sat cross-legged before the Red Flame Tiger's corpse. Three pairs of golden wings slowly unfurled behind her as she began drawing the Soul Ring toward herself.

The black Soul Ring drifted from above the Red Flame Tiger's corpse toward Qian Renxue and settled around her body.

Deep in the forest, Tang San quickened his pace, weaving through the dense woods.

After running for roughly ten li, Tang San discovered a concealed cave on a hillside. Its entrance was half-hidden by a dense thicket of thorns; if Tang San hadn't been deliberately searching, he could never have found it. Tang San checked around the entrance again and, after confirming there were no Soul Beast tracks or scents, crawled inside with peace of mind.

Tang San moved several rocks to block the cave entrance, leaving only a narrow gap for ventilation. Then he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began regulating his breathing.

Soul Power circulated slowly through his body, and the energy of the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone was activated. Blue-gold light coursed over his right leg, and warm energy spread from it throughout his body.

The Evergreen Body's passive recovery effect also continued to work, its vitality repairing damaged tissue at an astonishing speed. Under the combined effects of both self-healing abilities, his burned skin quickly scabbed over and fell away, revealing tender new flesh beneath. The edges of his claw wounds began drawing together, flesh growing and closing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Tang San could clearly feel his body recovering rapidly. Fatigue peeled away from his muscles, aches faded from his bones, and his mind gradually relaxed from its state of tension.

About half an hour later, Tang San opened his eyes and let out a long breath of turbid air. All the injuries on his body had completely healed, and his burned skin had been replaced by a new layer. His Soul Power had returned to its peak, and he was full of spirit and vigor.

Tang San rolled his shoulders. He felt as though he had just woken from a long sleep, every cell in his body brimming with vitality.

He was back to one hundred percent. At this moment, the recovery abilities granted by the Evergreen Vine Soul Ring and the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone had been displayed to their fullest.

Tang San was in no hurry to leave. He took the small porcelain bottle and the token from his robes and laid them side by side in his palm, studying them for a while. For a moment, he found himself lost in a daze.

Qian Renxue. Tang San silently repeated the name, and her breathtaking appearance emerged in his mind. Her long golden hair cascaded down like a waterfall, three pairs of wings spread behind her, and golden light enveloped her in a sacred halo, like a goddess who had descended from the heavens. Her lofty, noble bearing stood in stark contrast to the girlish shyness she had revealed for that instant, making one unable to resist looking at her a few more times.

Tang San patted his head and gave a soft sigh, temporarily dispelling Qian Renxue's image from his mind. What am I thinking? My first priority right now is to find a suitable Second Soul Ring, then find the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, obtain the Immortal Herbs, and improve my strength—not sit here in a daze over the token of someone I met by chance.

Tang San carefully put the small porcelain bottle and the token into his Storage Soul Tool, then rose and walked out of the cave.

The sky outside was a little darker than when he had entered the cave. The sun had already begun to sink in the west, and the light in the forest had grown dimmer. But there was still some time before nightfall, enough to explore a little longer.

Tang San checked his bearings. With Blue Silver Grass's perception ability still fully active and alert for any possible danger around him, he set off in the direction opposite the one he had come from.