The teahouse.
Inside a private VIP room.
After finishing a pot of fine tea, Qian Renxue set down her cup and looked at Bai Wanwan, who was eating pastries with her head lowered. She gently flicked her forehead.
Feeling the barely noticeable sting on her forehead, Bai Wanwan put down her half-eaten pastry and looked at Qian Renxue in confusion.
"What is it, big sister?"
Bai Wanwan blinked a few times, her eyes full of innocence.
"Wanwan, would you like to take a look at the residence Xue Luochuan gave us?"
Qian Renxue played with the key in her hand as she asked softly.
"Go look at the residence?"
Bai Wanwan glanced up to check the time, a thoughtful look entering her eyes.
"Why don't we go tomorrow?"
"Big sister, we didn't rest at all last night. How about we go back and get some rest first?"
Bai Wanwan brushed the pastry crumbs off her hands, her expression utterly earnest.
They had spent last night absorbing the Immortal Herbs. Strictly speaking, that counted as going without rest all night, so there was nothing wrong with taking a little break now.
Mm, that was it.
It absolutely wasn't because she wanted to rest her head in big sister's lap.
She, Bai Wanwan, could thump her chest and swear on her own moral integrity to that.
Moxiong, who had been resting with his eyes closed, instantly opened them and discreetly sized up Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan.
Naturally, he knew the two had spent last night in the same room.
Then what had the Young Master and the Young Lady been doing all night without resting?
A peculiar look gradually crept into Moxiong's eyes, but he quickly shook those thoughts out of his head.
The Young Master and the Young Lady had been close friends since childhood, with a deep bond and an excellent relationship. Everyone in the Worship Hall knew that.
They must have spent the entire night diligently cultivating.
Moxiong reaffirmed that belief, and his gaze gradually returned to normal.
"All right, let's go back first, then."
Qian Renxue smiled, put away the key, and rose from her seat.
The moment Qian Renxue stood, Bai Wanwan got up as well, slipped her hand around Qian Renxue's arm, and headed outside.
Moxiong followed silently behind them.
They left the teahouse.
And returned to the hotel.
Qian Renxue reached the door to her room and went inside with Bai Wanwan.
This time, Moxiong did not follow them, instead returning to his own room.
Inside the room.
Qian Renxue had barely sat down on the bed when Bai Wanwan lay down on her side, resting her head in her lap.
Qian Renxue was already accustomed to this, so she said nothing and simply stroked the ice-blue strands with her fingertips.
Bai Wanwan let out a soft yawn.
She nuzzled against her slightly, found the most comfortable position, then gradually closed her eyes, seemingly drifting off to sleep.
The room was quiet, without a sound.
Qian Renxue continued stroking Bai Wanwan's hair, but a barely perceptible thoughtfulness entered her eyes, her gaze fixed on Bai Wanwan's sleeping face.
"Wanwan?"
Qian Renxue called softly, looking at her slightly parted, cherry-red lips. For some reason, she found them remarkably tempting.
She waited a moment.
Bai Wanwan did not respond, but her breathing was very steady, as though she were asleep.
Qian Renxue stopped stroking her hair and involuntarily lowered her head a little, leaning closer to Bai Wanwan.
The distance between them shrank.
Until their breaths gently stirred each other's hair.
Bai Wanwan still did not move, but her small hand resting beside her silently gripped the bedsheet.
She had heard Qian Renxue's voice, but she had been on the verge of sleep, and Qian Renxue had spoken so softly that she had not responded.
Now, however, Bai Wanwan was wide awake.
Although her eyes were closed, she could clearly feel that Qian Renxue was close to her-very close. So close that she could even feel her breathing.
Why was big sister leaning so close?
Should I open my eyes?
As her thoughts raced, Bai Wanwan suddenly remembered Qian Renxue's joke that morning about having her repay her by giving herself to her.
Could big sister be about to...
That wouldn't be okay, would it? She couldn't become a Dragon Knight.
But big sister was a Spirit Emperor, while I was only a Spirit King nearing Spirit Emperor. Setting combat strength aside, could I resist, or couldn't I?
While Bai Wanwan pondered this seriously, she distinctly felt Qian Renxue move a little closer, her faintly warm breath brushing across her face.
Then...
Knock, knock, knock. The sound echoed through the room.
"Wanwan, this Silver Crown really is beautiful."
Qian Renxue's gaze shifted upward to the Silver Crown Bai Wanwan wore. After murmuring those words as though to herself, she looked toward the door.
"What is it now?"
Qian Renxue questioned the person outside.
Hearing Qian Renxue's voice, Bai Wanwan quietly breathed a sigh of relief, and her hand loosened its grip on the bedsheet.
So she was looking at the crown?
Bai Wanwan thought to herself, a faint disappointment quietly rising within her that even she failed to notice.
"Young Master, Dugu Bo is here. He says he has something to discuss with the Young Lady."
Moxiong's voice came from the doorway.
"Understood."
Qian Renxue replied, then looked down at Bai Wanwan, whose head was still resting in her lap.
Bai Wanwan opened her eyes just then.
"Dugu Bo is here?"
"That was even faster than I expected."
Bai Wanwan sat up and met Qian Renxue's gaze. "Big sister, I'll go see him."
"Go ahead."
Qian Renxue nodded gently.
Bai Wanwan walked to the door and turned the handle. With a click, the door opened, and she walked straight out.
After Bai Wanwan left, Qian Renxue shifted her gaze to the creases her grip had left in the bedsheet.
She gently smoothed them out with her fingertips.
The corners of Qian Renxue's lips curved almost imperceptibly, and a faintly contemplative look appeared in her eyes. There was no telling what she was thinking.
Outside the room.
In the rather quiet corridor, Bai Wanwan looked at Dugu Bo standing beside Moxiong. She gestured for him to follow, then walked ahead.
At the end of the corridor.
Bai Wanwan and Dugu Bo sat facing each other in the lounge the hotel provided for its guests.
"May I ask what brings you here at this hour, senior?"
Bai Wanwan asked, despite already knowing the answer.
"The matter of curing the poison."
"I've decided what I can offer in return. We can discuss it properly."
Dugu Bo let out a soft breath, his expression exceptionally serious.
"Please go ahead, senior."
Bai Wanwan made an inviting gesture, signaling for Dugu Bo to state his offer first.
"I don't have much to offer. My strength is about the only thing worth mentioning."
"If you need anything done in the future, or want someone killed, just tell me, and I'll take care of it for you. What do you think?"
Dugu Bo asked softly.
Before you continue