As darkness fell, the group turned into an inconspicuous alley.
At the end of the alley was a courtyard with green tiles and gray walls, the gate ajar. Yue Guan and Gui Mei had been lingering in this place for days, waiting for Su Zui and Qian Renxue to come out.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei went into the kitchen and personally served rice to Su Zui and Qian Renxue. Su Zui led Qian Renxue around the Screen Wall and into the backyard. Once the door closed, only the two of them were left in the room.
Su Zui then turned around and looked at Qian Renxue.
"Sister, please sit down."
Qian Renxue sat down at the table as instructed. As soon as she relaxed her shoulders, a hand was placed on her forehead.
Su Zui placed his palm on her forehead, and a wisp of Soul Power flowed into her through his fingertips, slowly circulating within her body. This was not the intent of a killing sword, but a technique he had specially devised to regulate her body. The force was neither too light nor too heavy, gently kneading away the remaining turbidity in her Divine Soul.
Qian Renxue's eyelashes trembled slightly.
The weariness that had been building up all along the Hell Road was actually being drawn out little by little by this wisp of Soul Power. Her back, which had been taut all day, finally slumped down a little.
"When did you learn this?" Her voice was a little muffled, carrying an undisguised weariness.
"I just learned it." Su Zui said calmly, his hands still moving. "I saw you struggling on the Hell Road and figured it out on the spot. You still have that Baleful Aura about you, and if I don't suppress it, I won't sleep well at night."
Qian Renxue didn't speak again, closing her eyes and letting him massage her. Warmth spread from her brow, making her feel more relaxed, but the blush on her ears was even deeper than when they were traveling.
After a while, she spoke softly, "Su Zui."
"Um."
"After we get back... what are you going to say to Grandpa?"
"Just tell the truth." Su Zui withdrew her hand and sat down opposite her. "Admit what you need to admit, don't hide anything."
Qian Renxue looked up at him, but didn't move for a long time.
"Aren't you afraid he'll beat you?" she asked with a hint of teasing. "He's so stingy. You stole his wine, and he chased you for three blocks. Now that you've kidnapped his granddaughter, he'll definitely hang you up and beat you."
"Fine, then." Su Zui's expression remained calm, but his tone was steady. "After the fight, I'll still admit what I'm owed."
Qian Renxue couldn't help but slightly curve the corners of her mouth. The candlelight reflected on her face, and that smile eased the weariness between her brows, revealing a touch of vitality.
A soft sound came from under the eaves outside the door. Yue Guan deliberately made his footsteps heavy and spoke cautiously, "Your His Highness the Holy Son, Young Master, dinner is ready."
"Sister Ju, come in."
The door opened a crack. Yue Guan came in carrying a food tray, placed it on the table, then took a half step back respectfully, her eyes lowered.
After leaving the Slaughter City an afternoon, Su Zui's murderous aura had subsided considerably. Sitting under the lamp, he looked like an ordinary young man.
Qian Renxue tapped the edge of the table with her fingertip. "Sister Ju."
"Your subordinate is here."
Please keep it a secret for us!
Yue Guan paused for a moment, then smiled, his eyes crinkling. "Your subordinate obeys!"
The door closed again. The courtyard fell silent, broken only by the chirping of insects.
Qian Renxue picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of food, but didn't put it in her mouth, staring blankly at the rim of her bowl. She had something on her mind, and ate the meal absentmindedly.
Su Zui leaned against the doorframe, not urging her.
"Xue'er." After a long while, Su Zui suddenly spoke, without calling her Snow Sister.
Qian Renxue looked up.
"Trust me, and trust Grandpa too." Su Zui looked at her, her words calm. "He'll be very happy to know we're together."
A night breeze blew in through the crack in the door, causing the candlelight to flicker. Qian Renxue pursed her lips, swallowed the "but" that was on the tip of her tongue, and lowered her head to eat a mouthful of rice.
She wanted to ask Su Zui, "What about Rongrong?"
She knew that her grandfather had already sent the betrothal gifts to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the engagement was with Ning Rongrong. Su Zui and Ning Rongrong's marriage was made public even earlier than hers. In a way, she was the one who came later, the one who had barged in.
Thinking of this, Qian Renxue couldn't help but feel wronged.
She was clearly the one who liked Xiao Zui the first.
Growing up in the Spirit Hall, Su Zui was still the little boy she watched grow taller and taller, and she already had feelings for him. At that time, he didn't understand these things, and she just secretly remembered them. She always thought that as long as she waited long enough, her turn would come eventually.
How did Rongrong manage to beat her to it?
There was another thought, one she dared not voice. She had liked Su Zui since Xiao Zui so young. If she were to honestly tell him, would he think she was a pervert?
Qian Renxue became increasingly confused as she thought about it. She lay in Su Zui's arms all night, lost in thought and unable to sleep. One moment she was thinking about the betrothal gifts from Qian Daoliu, and the next she was thinking about her own shameful old feelings. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions of bitterness and sweetness. She finally drifted off to sleep in the middle of the night.
Su Zui was quite carefree. He held Qian Renxue in his arms and slept soundly all night, feeling refreshed and energetic when dawn broke.
We set off the next day, before dawn.
Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo was already waiting outside the courtyard. Seeing the two of them come out, Yue Guan was about to step forward to speak, but before he could take a step, he froze.
Overnight, His Highness the Holy Son looked refreshed and radiant. In contrast, his young master had dark circles under his eyes and looked like he hadn't slept enough, as if he had been exhausted all night.
Yue Guan opened her mouth, then closed it again.
He dared not speak, nor did he dare ask.
Is His Highness the Holy Son's physique really that strong? Isn't it said that there are only oxen that die from exhaustion, not fields that are ruined by plowing? How come the ox is still full of energy, while the field has withered first?
Su Zui, unaware of the Chrysanthemum Guan raging within him, looked up and said, "Let's go back to the Spirit Hall."
Ghost Douluo didn't say anything, but silently gave Su Zui a thumbs up, his eyes full of admiration.
The group of four traveled through city after city, heading towards Spirit City. After two days, the outline of Spirit City finally came into view in the distance. The gray-black city walls and towering temple spires looked like a crouching behemoth in the twilight, pressing heavily on the edge of the plain.
Qian Renxue slowed her pace; she needed some time to readjust herself to the demeanor of the Spirit Hall Young Master.
Sure enough, after a few steps, Qian Renxue straightened her back, the fatigue on her face disappeared, and the cold and domineering aura belonging to the Spirit Hall Young Master reappeared.
As they entered the city gate, the guards at the gate saw the two of them and bowed in unison. Su Zui and Qian Renxue kept their eyes straight ahead, walked side by side through the city gate, and strolled along the long corridor toward the palace.
Inside the hall, Qian Daoliu was polishing the Angel God Sword.
The old man stood with his back to the palace gate, his movements unhurried, the snow-white blade of his sword flashing repeatedly under the lamplight. Suddenly, his hand stopped moving.
A chilling aura wafted from outside the palace, approaching from afar.
That was the aura of Angel.
The pure, primal aura of Angels is unique to Qian Renxue.
"Xiao Xue, you're finally back!"