Angel's Love

Heaven Dou Empire, Crown Prince's Estate, Qian Renxue's study.

Ling Qianyue roughly explained what had happened to Qian Renxue, leaving out the details of obtaining the immortal herbs and the number of herbs he had acquired.

Dugu Bo's Martial Soul had evolved, and Dugu Yan would soon take the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd as well. The matter of the immortal herbs could not be kept secret to begin with.

To keep Qian Renxue quiet, Ling Qianyue decided to hand over two great treasures to her.

He carefully took two rare immortal herbs from his storage bracelet. One was the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, shaped like a huge chrysanthemum, its petals fluffy and glittering like golden threads, with stamens towering high at its center.

The other was the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. The tip of its grass-like leaves resembled a rooster's comb, while its veins were crimson gold.

"This first one is the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, the original form of Chrysanthemum Douluo's Martial Soul." Ling Qianyue pointed at the immortal herb and slowly introduced it. "Its medicinal properties are moderate. Consuming it can clear the eight extraordinary meridians and cultivate the Indestructible Vajra Body.

"This herb is exceptionally compatible with Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's Martial Soul. If he obtains it, it will surely be of immense help to his cultivation."

"This second one, the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, has potent medicinal properties. For those with fire-attribute Martial Souls, it is a tremendous blessing. Aside from greatly raising Soul Power, it should further enhance the power of a Martial Soul's fire attribute."

Qian Renxue accepted the specially made jade box containing the two immortal herbs, though thoughts continued to flicker through her mind.

"What is your Soul Power Level now?"

"Level 33."

A trace of surprise flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes. "Didn't you say—"

"The immortal herb I absorbed did very little to raise my Soul Power Level. It focused more on stabilizing my foundation and increasing my potential."

Qian Renxue nodded. After putting away the two immortal herbs, she gave him a teasing look. "Knowing you, I doubt those are the only immortal herbs you found. I've also read the botanical records Chrysanthemum Douluo sent over.

"They recorded so many immortal herbs. If Dugu Bo's secret Medicine Garden can truly produce such herbs, then it must be the treasure basin of heaven and earth described in those records.

"I imagine every immortal herb listed in the book can be found there.

"The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum is a reward for Chrysanthemum Douluo. Then the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower is your explanation to me?"

Qian Renxue propped up her delicate face with one hand and watched Ling Qianyue with a faint smile. "My Six-winged Angel Martial Soul possesses sacred, fire, and light attributes. This immortal herb is indeed fairly suitable.

"Only..."

She suddenly leaned forward. With a flash, she appeared behind Ling Qianyue, wrapping her slender arms around his neck from behind.

"Slurp—"

Qian Renxue's cherry lips quietly enclosed his earlobe, her pearly teeth gently rubbing against it as her warm breath brushed across Ling Qianyue's cheek.

The soft, tingling sensation made Ling Qianyue shudder as though he had been electrocuted.

Qian Renxue murmured softly into his ear, "Are you hiding some other good things for that little kitty girlfriend of yours?"

"Stop touching me." Ling Qianyue caught her wandering hand, his cheeks faintly red. He tried hard to break free from Qian Renxue's embrace, but her arms coiled tightly around him like snakes.

Qian Renxue chuckled, her voice carrying a hint of mockery. "What? Did I hit the mark? Are you embarrassed? Is your little kitty also hoping you'll bring some immortal herbs back for her?"

Her arms abruptly tightened, making it impossible for Ling Qianyue to move. She whispered, "That immortal herb Chrysanthemum Douluo's botanical records described in great detail—the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. Did you get it?"

"No."

"Hmph, what are you nervous about?" Qian Renxue gave a soft snort. "We've practiced Martial Soul Fusion Skills for so long that our hearts are already connected. You still want to lie to me?

"If you say you don't know how I feel, I'll personally destroy you, you evil little brat.

"Be good. Let me take a look."

Ling Qianyue sighed. He knew Qian Renxue's temperament. Once her curiosity was piqued, she would never let the matter rest until she got to the bottom of it.

He turned around and met Qian Renxue's eyes, helplessness flashing through his own.

"The condition for picking the Lovesick Heartbreak Red is absolute sincerity and purity, with no distractions in one's heart. Only one devoted to love can pick it. Because of our Martial Soul Fusion Skill, our hearts are connected.

"Perhaps you already see me as the one destined to be your future, and you've poured the feelings buried in your heart for so long onto me.

"But I can also clearly feel that besides affection, your feelings for me are mixed with a powerful possessiveness and complicated emotions you have not fully sorted out.

"I can't pick it. Neither can you, not as you are now. I don't want you to be hurt by failing to pick it, and I don't want our relationship to become awkward because of it."

Qian Renxue's arms around him gradually relaxed. She admitted that if ten parts of liking amounted to love, then what she felt for Ling Qianyue had perhaps not reached that level yet. It was only eight or nine parts.

Just as Ling Qianyue had said, her feelings did indeed contain some complicated elements: her longing for genuine affection, her expectations for a future partner, and a faint, barely noticeable desire for control.

"But this feeling is real, isn't it? Let me try."

She suddenly spoke softly. After hearing Ling Qianyue's words, she instead became even more determined to try.

Seeing the look in Qian Renxue's eyes that said she would not give up without trying, Ling Qianyue hesitated for a moment before taking out the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

"What a beautiful flower," Qian Renxue praised. Then her gaze shifted to Ling Qianyue. With a slight curve of her lips, she struck her own chest with a fist.

A mouthful of heart's blood spilled from her lips onto the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. She then closed her eyes, and Ling Qianyue's figure appeared in her mind. Everything that had happened between them, as well as every little moment they had spent cultivating together, played out like a film.

Nourished by that heart's blood, the crimson hue on the Lovesick Heartbreak Red's white petals gradually spread, quickly soaking through the entire flower.

This breathtaking red seemed as though blood might drip from it at any moment.

The Lovesick Heartbreak Red trembled without pause. Its roots, connected to the Black Stone below, seemed to become soft and hesitant at that moment, as though moved by Qian Renxue's true feelings, yet still maintaining their final restraint due to some unknown force.

Crack—

One root had already separated from the Black Stone. It shook even more violently!

At some point, Qian Renxue opened her eyes. She smiled radiantly, and the Lovesick Heartbreak Red stopped trembling. The crimson color on its petals gradually receded, returning to its original state of white petals streaked with several patches of blood-red. The root that had detached also clung once more to the Black Stone.

"What a pity," Qian Renxue said with a smile.

Ling Qianyue opened his mouth, staring blankly. "Just now, it seemed like you could—"

A jade finger pressed against Ling Qianyue's lips. Qian Renxue chuckled, a trace of cunning flashing through her eyes. "If you hadn't said all that earlier, perhaps the result would have been different.

"As long as you understand it in your heart. To me, this thing is nothing more than a tool for confirming my feelings. But a certain girl only has one evil little brat.

"This time, I won. Remember everything that happened today. I want you to feel guilty for the rest of your life."

Qian Renxue leaned in and bit down hard on Ling Qianyue's shoulder blade, not stopping until a trace of blood appeared.

"Does it hurt?"

"No." Ling Qianyue shook his head. He was certain that Qian Renxue's feelings for him had changed somewhat just now. She could pick the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.