A Deal with Fate

Inside the carriage, Qian Renxue's gaze rested calmly on Lin Jin. Her eyes seemed capable of piercing through flesh and staring straight into his soul.

She spoke calmly. "How do you know that I, the Crown Prince, can save your younger sister?"

Lin Jin knew that Qian Renxue was testing him.

At this moment, Lin Jin could not say something like, "I know you're Qian Renxue." That would be no different from suicide.

Otherwise, the two towering guards beside her could kill him with a single look.

He had to provide a reasonable explanation for why he was so certain that "Xue Qinghe" could save his younger sister.

"I don't know, but everyone in the village says that His Highness the Crown Prince is kind and benevolent, that he loves the people as his own children. I could only treat a dead horse as if it were alive." Lin Jin spoke with a trace of despair in his voice.

"Today was supposed to be the village's Martial Soul Awakening Day, but halfway through the ceremony, we encountered an Evil Soul Master. Not only did he kill the Lord Soul Master who came to the village, he killed my parents too."

"Your Highness, please! As long as you can save my younger sister!"

"I'm begging you..."

The instant Lin Jin's words fell, his mind and body, stretched to their limits, finally gave out.

The exhaustion from fleeing through the night, the drain of awakening the demon armor, the grief of losing his dearest family, and the overwhelming worry for his younger sister's safety all crashed down on him like floodwaters bursting through a dam, instantly shattering his young will.

His vision abruptly went black. Before he could even let out a muffled groan, his body pitched straight forward and slammed heavily into the cold snow, losing all consciousness.

Only those small hands still clung tightly to the younger sister on his back.

The sudden turn of events left all the guards stunned, their gazes turning toward the carriage in unison.

Inside the carriage, Qian Renxue looked at the two figures, one large and one small, lying in the snow. Her brows furrowed ever so slightly.

One of the guards beside the carriage said, "Your Highness, it should be an Evil Soul Master."

Qian Renxue's voice remained calm, but she made her decision.

"Snake Guard, take him back to the residence."

"The rest of you, follow the child's tracks. Inspect the village and search for the Evil Soul Master."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"Xiao Xue!" The moment Lin Jin regained consciousness, he called out for his younger sister.

But the first thing he saw was the canopy above him, ornate and finely carved.

"Your younger sister is fine."

A cool voice came from beside him.

Lin Jin abruptly sat up and turned his head. "Xue Qinghe" was seated at a table not far away, holding a steaming cup of Fragrant Tea.

On another, softer small bed beside him, his younger sister Lin Xue slept peacefully. Color had returned to her little face, her breathing was steady and long, and the strand of black mist that had tormented her was gone without a trace.

He could even vaguely sense a gentle presence of light lingering around her, nourishing her body.

Seeing that his younger sister was safe and sound, the taut string in Lin Jin's heart finally relaxed completely.

Holding back his emotions, he rolled out of bed and knelt on the floor once more. "I will never forget Your Highness's life-saving grace!"

Qian Renxue set down her teacup and walked before Lin Jin, looking at him calmly. "Tell me. How did you know that I could dispel evil Soul Power?"

"If you're going to repeat what you said before fainting, there's no need."

Lin Jin froze. Qian Renxue was sharper and more direct than he had imagined. She did not believe that excuse about kindness and benevolence at all.

He could neither reveal that he was a transmigrator nor directly expose her Angel Inheritance from Spirit Hall.

Therefore, the only thing Lin Jin could make use of now was the Martial Soul he had awakened not long ago.

Lin Jin took a deep breath and raised his head. "It... told me."

Lin Jin raised his right hand, and a set of dark greenish-black armor appeared in his palm.

Qian Renxue's golden eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at the Martial Soul in Lin Jin's palm, not interrupting him.

Though she said nothing, she could now sense its extraordinary nature more directly than before.

She even suspected that the Armor Martial Soul in Lin Jin's hand was no less powerful than her own Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul.

"When I approached Your Highness's carriage, the Martial Soul within my body told me that the immense sacred power within Your Highness could dispel the evil presence on my younger sister."

Lin Jin could only answer Qian Renxue's question with a half-true, half-false explanation.

"The Martial Soul's name." Qian Renxue continued asking.

"Immortal Demon Armor," Lin Jin answered.

After one night, Lin Jin had already learned exactly what his Martial Soul was.

Immortal Demon Armor was the source of Kain's power on King's Continent. Lin Jin did not know why it had become his Martial Soul.

"Immortal Demon Armor..." Qian Renxue softly repeated the name, a faint glimmer flashing through her golden eyes.

She was certain she had never heard this name before. Yet this Martial Soul possessed a certain degree of "spirituality," or perhaps "instinct," allowing it to sense the essence of Angel Divine Power.

That explained why he had been able to find her so precisely, and it also meant that this Martial Soul stood at an extremely high level.

"Not a bad Martial Soul." As Qian Renxue spoke, she walked over to Lin Xue's side. "I saved your Younger Sister. It is time for you to fulfill your promise."

Lin Jin answered resolutely, "Please give your orders, Your Highness."

"You said before that you were willing to serve me?" Qian Renxue repeated Lin Jin's words.

"That is correct. I am willing to clear every obstacle in Your Highness's path with the sword in my hand."

"Very good." Qian Renxue smiled. "From today onward, your Younger Sister, Lin Xue, will remain at the Crown Prince's Mansion, where she will receive the finest care and training. She will be one of my people. I will guarantee her safety and future."

Lin Jin silently nodded. This was the best arrangement.

"And you." Qian Renxue's gaze seemed almost tangible as it fell upon Lin Jin. "If you wish to serve me, your current Strength is far from sufficient."

"Your Martial Soul is also highly unusual—and highly dangerous. It needs battle and bloodshed to grow. A true Sharp Weapon cannot be forged in a greenhouse."

"The Northern Border of the Heaven Dou Empire borders Star Luo. War has raged there year-round, and banditry never ceases. It is the best place to temper you—and to test your worth."

Lin Jin immediately understood what she meant.

He needed to enlist in the army at the Northern Border, prove himself on the battlefield, and at the same time plant a nail within the military that Qian Renxue might one day control.

"I will give you a new identity: the orphaned descendant of a minor noble family fallen into ruin, joining the army. You will be assigned to the harshest Vanguard Camp of the Northern Border Guards." Qian Renxue's tone allowed no doubt. "There, the only things you can rely on are yourself and the Martial Soul known as the 'Immortal Demon Armor.'"

"You will need to exchange Military Merit for status, and use the heads of your enemies to prove your loyalty and worth. You are to become my strength in the shadows—the sharpest and most secret sword in my hand."

"Until the day I no longer need to disguise myself and truly take control of this empire."

This was a bargain, an exile, and an utterly brutal trial.

Lin Jin looked at his Younger Sister sleeping peacefully on the bed, then felt the tremor from the demonic armor on his right arm, as though it thirsted for battle.

He had no way back, nor did he want one.

He needed to grow. He needed to become stronger. He needed to avenge his Parents.

The only thing he could not stop worrying about was his Younger Sister, but here with Qian Renxue, she would be able to grow up healthy and safe.

Lin Jin took a deep breath, without the slightest hesitation.

"Lin Jin understands." His voice was low, his gaze unwavering. "I will not disappoint Your Highness."

Qian Renxue gave a slight nod, seemingly rather satisfied with Lin Jin's decisiveness.