First Meeting Qian Renxue

"You're awake!" A male voice came from beside him, startling Long Jie.

"Who?" Long Jie jolted awake and looked at the newcomer. It was a man, but his face was exquisitely beautiful, and his figure was equally perfect.

If he had not spoken with a man's voice, Long Jie would have thought he was a woman who looked like a man!

"You're Long Jie, right? I heard you're quite strong?" The newcomer smiled, walked over to a seat without waiting for a response, poured himself a cup of water, then poured one for Long Jie as well, gesturing for him to sit.

Long Jie hesitated before slowly taking a seat, watching him warily.

"I think I should be in the Heavenly Prison right now, not lying in such a luxurious bed. So... you saved me? Who are you?"

The newcomer smiled and poured another cup of water. He drank it in front of Long Jie, his Adam's apple bobbing as if he were proving something to him.

Only after finishing did the newcomer speak. "That's right. I saved you from the Heavenly Prison. My name is Xue Qinghe, Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family!"

Xue Qinghe? Qian Renxue?

Long Jie instantly understood. No wonder this person looked so much like a woman. She really is a woman!

"So it is Your Highness the Crown Prince. Thank you for saving my life!"

Although he did not know why Qian Renxue had saved him, Long Jie was not someone who failed to appreciate kindness. Since he had been saved, he naturally had to thank her.

"Hehe, there's no need to be so polite. I only saved you because someone asked me to," Qian Renxue said slowly. Once Long Jie knew Qian Renxue was a woman, hearing that masculine voice of hers somehow made him feel awkward.

Suppressing his discomfort, Long Jie said, "Someone asked you to? Could it have been Dean Liu Erlong?"

Xue Qinghe nodded. "When Dean Liu Erlong came to tell me about the matter, I believed you were not at fault. Xue Beng was. Besides, seeing your talent, I could not bear to see you thrown into the Heavenly Prison, so I saved you."

"I see... Then what about Zhu Qing..."

"She went back first."

Hearing that, Long Jie finally relaxed. As long as Zhu Qing was all right, that was enough.

"It seems you care a great deal about that little girl." Seeing Long Jie's reaction, Xue Qinghe could not help but smile.

"You like that little girl, don't you? Well, she is such a beautiful girl. Even This King is a little tempted, hahaha."

Tempted? What the hell are you, a woman, getting tempted for?

Grumbling inwardly, Long Jie replied, "Not really. Zhu Qing... she's a pitiful girl. I just feel sorry for her..."

"I understand... I understand, hahaha!" Xue Qinghe laughed heartily, making Long Jie's face burn with embarrassment.

"Um... Your Highness the Crown Prince, did you call me here for something?"

"Of course. And it is something that will be of great benefit to you!" Xue Qinghe stared steadily at Long Jie. Her gaze was clear, and it was hard not to feel some goodwill toward her.

"What is it?" Long Jie was curious. What could possibly make the Crown Prince value him so highly?

After Long Jie asked, Xue Qinghe was in no hurry. She slowly took a breath before saying, "Do you know about the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament?"

"The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament? Of course. Doesn't it begin two years from now?"

Xue Qinghe nodded. "That's right. The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament will only begin in two years, but I need to start assembling my own team now. And Long Jie, you are someone I have chosen!"

"Me? Why me?" Long Jie did not understand. I'm just a mere level-thirty-three Soul Elder. My soul rings are only Purple Purple Black...

Well, that actually seemed pretty impressive!

"Hehe, it sounds like you're asking a pointless question!" Xue Qinghe stood and walked to the window, looking down below.

From the Crown Prince's Residence, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy could be seen not far away.

"Heaven Dou Imperial Academy belongs to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family in name, but in truth, it belongs to Prince Xue Xing. Or rather, to Xue Beng!"

Xue Qinghe's expression turned serious as she watched the young men and women in Heaven Dou Imperial Academy laughing, playing, and fooling around. They were all children of Heaven Dou's nobility, the hope of Heaven Dou.

And Xue Qinghe's threat!

"If Heaven Dou Imperial Academy is not mine, then it has no reason to exist. At the very least... it cannot win!"

Turning around, Xue Qinghe looked at Long Jie. "That is why I chose Lan Ba Academy. Why I chose you, Long Jie. I hope you will not disappoint me!"

Long Jie fell silent. It seemed he had been dragged into a conflict, one he could not escape.

I really want to refuse!

But with his strength... sigh. Forget it.

"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Long Jie will not disappoint you!"

Long Jie calculated inwardly. If he became captain and led the team to defeat Shrek, would that count as changing the plot?

That would not be a bad deal.

"Good. When you return from Heavenly Water Academy in three months, I will arrange for you to begin training."

"Yes!"

Outside Lan Ba Academy.

Long Jie had packed his luggage and stood at the entrance of Lan Ba Academy, waiting for the carriage that would take him to Heavenly Water Academy.

"Big Brother... Are you really leaving? Why not take Little Wu with you?" Little Wu looked at Long Jie pitifully. Ever since they had met, they had never been apart for so long...

Long Jie smiled and rubbed her head. "Little Wu, don't make trouble. I'm only leaving for three months. I'll be back after three months!"

"Oh!" Little Wu pouted, her heart filled with unhappiness.

"Long Jie, I heard Heavenly Water Academy has lots of women. This time, you wouldn't happen to... hehe!" Ning Rongrong said strangely, giving Long Jie a look that said she knew exactly what he was thinking.

Long Jie's face darkened. "Is that the kind of person you think I am?"

"Yes!"

...Long Jie was speechless!

He then looked at Zhu Zhuqing. He had thought that after they recognized each other, Zhu Zhuqing would be gentler toward him. Yet when she looked at Long Jie now, her face was still as cold as ever.

As though someone owed her several hundred coins.

Since she did not speak, Long Jie had no choice but to speak first. "Um... Zhu Qing, I'm going to..."

Before he could finish, Zhu Zhuqing, who had been cold as ice, suddenly kissed Long Jie on the cheek.

"Come back early!"

With that, she jogged away.

Was that... a sneak attack? Long Jie stood there in a daze. He had never expected the frosty Zhu Zhuqing to kiss him.

Could she have feelings for me...? That can't be right. Doesn't she have a fiancé...?

"Wow! That's so unfair! Long Jie, how could you let Zhu Qing kiss you? Do you two have some secret?" Ning Rongrong cried out, her expression a little unhappy.

Why? Zhu Zhuqing was clearly the one who looked least likely to like him, so why had she kissed him? It made no sense.

Damn it, I want to kiss him too!

"That's right, Big Brother is too unfair! Little Wu wants one too!" Little Wu got angry and lunged at Long Jie. Just then, the carriage arrived, and Long Jie hurriedly jumped into it.

He had narrowly escaped disaster!

"Driver, hurry up!" Sitting in the carriage, Long Jie waved to the three girls and shouted, "Little Wu, Rong Rong, Zhu Qing, I'm leaving first! See you in three months!"

As the carriage rumbled away, Long Jie began his journey to Heavenly Water Academy!!!