Qian Renxue: Is Something Wrong with Your Body?

"Since we've started, we might as well see it through." Zhao Linchuan lowered his voice further, yet every word was clear. "Find a suitable opportunity and send Xue Ye... to his death. Then 'you' can ascend the throne naturally."

"When would be the best time to act?"

"Two years from now, during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament."

"What method?"

Zhao Linchuan raised his eyes and gave her a meaningful look. "How did the Second Prince... die back then?"

Qian Renxue's pupils contracted slightly. "Repeating the same method might arouse suspicion..."

"Then find a scapegoat." Zhao Linchuan's tone was icy. "For example, that seemingly useless Fourth Prince, Xue Beng."

"Xue Beng? That wastrel?" Qian Renxue found it hard to believe.

"I know a little about him." Zhao Linchuan said calmly, "He may be overbearing, but he is by no means completely foolish."

"At the very least, his reputation as 'useless' may not be entirely genuine."

"When you have time, you should keep a closer eye on him."

Qian Renxue committed the name to memory and nodded solemnly. "I understand."

Just then, there came a light knock on the Study Room door, followed by She Long's voice. "Young Master, the luncheon is ready."

"Got it." Qian Renxue answered. The killing intent on her face vanished in an instant, replaced by a bright smile. She made an elegant inviting gesture toward Zhao Linchuan. "Lin Chuan, I'm sure you're hungry as well. Come, let's eat."

Zhao Linchuan nodded slightly.

The two said no more and walked side by side through the sunlit corridor toward the dining hall.

The sunlight stretched their shadows long.

Inside the dining hall, candle flames swayed, illuminating two slightly flushed faces.

The air was filled with the fragrance of wine and the lingering aroma of fine food. The grave scheming from earlier seemed to have melted away in the warm atmosphere, leaving only the relaxed ease of host and guest enjoying themselves.

Two lovely blushes colored Qian Renxue's snow-white cheeks. She picked up the wine pot again and filled the Nightglow Cup before Zhao Linchuan with amber-colored fine wine. Raising her own cup, she looked at him with slightly unfocused eyes.

"Come, Lin Chuan, one... one more drink." Her voice was soft and glutinous with intoxication, unlike her usual clear tone.

"Cheers!" Zhao Linchuan had clearly drunk quite a bit as well. His gaze drifted slightly, but he did not refuse. He readily raised his cup and lightly clinked it against hers before tipping his head back and draining it in one gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing with bold abandon.

Time slipped quietly away amid the exchange of cups.

Qian Renxue propped her elbow on the table, cradling her warm cheek in her palm as she gazed drunkenly at the man across from her, as though she wanted to see through him.

"Lin Chuan," she mumbled, her voice full of sincere admiration and curiosity, "what exactly... is inside that head of yours? It's like... you have endless wisdom and inexhaustible ideas."

Zhao Linchuan grinned drunkenly, looking somewhat foolish yet sly beneath it. "You want to know?"

Qian Renxue nodded vigorously, unconsciously leaning closer to him. Her Golden Hair nearly brushed his arm. "I do!"

Zhao Linchuan looked mysteriously to either side. Though there was no one else in the hall, he still lowered his voice and beckoned to her. "Then I'll tell you, but you can't... tell anyone else."

"Mm-hm!" Qian Renxue hurriedly promised. Like a little girl eagerly awaiting a secret, she leaned her ear closer.

Zhao Linchuan leaned toward her ear. His warm, wine-laced breath brushed over her sensitive ear and neck as he drawled in a near-whisper, "Because... I read a lot of books~"

That warm breath, coupled with the obvious teasing in his answer, made Qian Renxue's ears tingle, as if a feather had brushed across her heart.

She suddenly straightened up and Shook Head hard. Seven parts drunk and three parts coquettish indignation, she pounded the table lightly. "You... you're teasing me!"

"Hehe." Zhao Linchuan smiled smugly, waved a hand without a care, and filled both their cups again.

Qian Renxue seemed to have forgotten that she had been teased. Or perhaps the alcohol simply made her too lazy to argue. She raised her cup as well and drank with him again.

She stuck out her small tongue and lightly licked away the wine at the corner of her lips. Under the candlelight, the unconscious gesture carried an unexpectedly alluring charm.

"Lin Chuan," she said after setting down her cup. With her hands folded on the table, she leaned forward and pressed on curiously, "Then... then can you tell me how exactly you absorbed Soul Rings beyond your limit?"

"And those miraculous Self-Created Soul Skills of yours... how did you come up with them?" She paused, then added, trying to make the question sound more formal, "I can exchange resources of equal value with you. I definitely won't let you suffer a loss."

Zhao Linchuan narrowed his drunken eyes and deliberately drew out his words. "You want to know?"

"I do!" Qian Renxue answered without hesitation.

"Then..." Zhao Linchuan curved his lips, returning to the old matter, "you have to beg me."

Qian Renxue pouted, drunk and imperious. "Then if I beg you, you... you can't tease me again!"

"Of course." Zhao Linchuan promised with a straight face. "I never deceive... fools." He artfully slurred over a certain word.

Qian Renxue was thoroughly drunk by now and did not examine it closely. Following his lead, she pleaded softly:

"Fine, Lin Chuan, I'm begging you, please~ Just tell me, okay?"

"Come closer." Zhao Linchuan gestured again.

With expectation and a hint of wariness, Qian Renxue leaned the side of her face toward him once more.

Intending to tease her, Zhao Linchuan first deliberately blew a puff of warm breath into her ear.

"Ah!" Qian Renxue cried softly, shuddering all over. Her cheeks instantly reddened like ripe cherries. She glared at him in embarrassed irritation. "Lin Chuan! Stop fooling around... hurry up and tell me!"

Seeing that she was truly getting anxious, Zhao Linchuan finally put away his playful mood and said seriously in a whisper, "Actually... there's no particularly profound secret to it."

"The core is a unique Body Refining Method, supplemented by high-quality Whale Rubber to strengthen the foundation and nourish the essence."

"As long as you temper your physique to a level far beyond your current Soul Power Level, and your meridians, bones, and flesh can withstand enough Force Bearing, absorbing Soul Rings beyond your limit... will naturally follow."

"Whale Rubber?!" At the word, Qian Renxue's brows suddenly drew together, as if something had pricked her. More than half of her drunkenness vanished at once.

She abruptly sat upright, her eyes turning sharp and concerned as she stared intently at Zhao Linchuan. "Lin Chuan, what... is wrong with your body?"

Her tone was full of disbelief and urgency. "You're still so young. Why would you need to come into contact with... that kind of thing?"

All sorts of messy thoughts flashed through her mind. Unable to help herself, she lowered her voice and imagined aloud, "Could it be that you... lacked restraint and ruined your body, then... stumbled upon this... this method by accident?"