Trying to Be a Qualified Older Brother

At noon, Qian Renhan, covered in sweat, came to the dining table. Qian Xunji and Qian Renxue were already seated, with three soft cushions beneath Qian Renxue's bottom. Although Qian Xunji was busy with affairs all day and had little time to spend with Qian Renxue, he still made time to eat with his family. Otherwise, his image in Qian Renxue's heart would not have been so towering.

The large table was filled with all kinds of delicious dishes, a spread of delicacies from land and sea. Even the least valuable dishes were made from hundred-year soul beast meat, though those hundred-year soul beasts were also rare breeds known for their tender meat.

"Brother!"

The moment Qian Renxue saw Qian Renhan arrive, she ran over, pulled him into the chair beside hers, and asked, "Brother, why are you sweating so much?"

"Xiaoxue, Xiaohan went to practice swordsmanship." Qian Xunji rubbed Qian Renxue's head. He had already received word from Qian Daoliu and gave Qian Renhan a somewhat surprised look. He had never been able to understand this child's thoughts. He did not grow close to anyone, yet today, for the first time ever, he had allowed Qian Renxue to go to him to learn how to handle affairs. Then he had gone off to practice swordsmanship by himself. At this age, Qian Xunji had still been learning to read. If not for that head of golden hair and that face bearing several similarities to his own, he would have suspected that this child was some old monster in disguise.

Qian Renxue blinked her big eyes. "Swordsmanship? Brother went to practice swordsmanship? Then can Brother take Xiaoxue too?"

Qian Renhan shook his head. "No. You need to reach a certain age before you can practice swordsmanship. Xiaoxue is still too young."

Qian Renxue retorted, "How am I young? Brother is clearly the same age as me! If I'm young, then Brother is too."

"Brother isn't like you. At the very least, Brother doesn't spend all day thinking about playing, and he doesn't cling to me all day like you do." Qian Renhan tapped Qian Renxue on the forehead.

Qian Renxue hesitated before asking, "Then if I stop clinging to Brother, can Brother take me to practice swordsmanship?"

At that moment, Qian Xunji came to her rescue. "Alright, alright. Xiaoxue, you really aren't suited to practicing swordsmanship yet. When you're older, Daddy will take you, okay?"

"Then Daddy has to keep his word."

Qian Renxue still listened to Qian Xunji.

"I wonder when Mom will come back?"

Qian Renxue suddenly said this while shoveling down her food, her heart full of anticipation. Grandpa and Father both loved her, and her brother was no longer as cold as before. Only her mother remained.

Qian Xunji's heart skipped a beat. He had told Qian Renxue that Bibi Dong had gone to a faraway place—the City of Slaughter. Heaven knew what Bibi Dong, whose heart had already been filled with resentment and killing intent, would become after passing through that human purgatory. Still, he believed that Bibi Dong's love for the two children could wash away everything. So he replied, "Mom went to train in a secret realm to gain greater strength. When Mom comes back, Daddy will tell Xiaoxue."

Qian Renxue asked again, "Did she go train so she could protect Xiaoxue?"

The smile on Qian Xunji's lips froze, but he still forced himself to say, "Yes."

Qian Renhan remained silent in the face of Qian Xunji's well-intentioned lie and merely kept eating. He had no comment on what Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong had done. If he remembered correctly, Bibi Dong would spend two years passing through the City of Slaughter, then another year dealing with her killing intent. They would meet again in two years.

Since Bibi Dong had given birth to him, he could only pretend not to see what she had done. He did not care that she had borne him but not raised him, nor that she had even placed her hatred on him. As long as she did not come after him, he was fine with them never having anything to do with each other for the rest of their lives. She could live her life, and he could live his. But if she tried to harm Spirit Hall or the Qian Clan, then she could not blame him for drawing his sword.

"Brother, Brother, did you hear that? Mom went to train so she could protect us!" Qian Renxue leaned close again, pulling Qian Renhan out of his thoughts.

Looking at Qian Renxue's innocent smile, Qian Renhan frowned slightly. He might not care, but Qian Renxue apparently could not. Even in the original story, no matter how stubborn Qian Renxue's words were or how cruelly Bibi Dong treated her, she still yearned for Bibi Dong's love until the very end. Since he was her older brother, he would make the smile on Qian Renxue's face last a little longer.

After lunch, Qian Xunji immediately went off to handle affairs again. Qian Renhan did not let Qian Renxue follow him this time. One morning of studying was enough. Qian Renxue was only one year old, and her ability to understand was limited.

Ten minutes later, Qian Renhan brought Qian Renxue to the small square in front of the Papal Palace, the place where the semifinals and finals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament had been held in the original story.

At that moment, a well-made, semi-elliptical wooden box lay at the top of the stairs.

Qian Renhan said, "Xiaoxue, Brother is taking you to do something fun after lunch. Once we're done, you have to obediently take your afternoon nap, understand?"

Hearing that he would play with her, Qian Renxue said happily, "Isn't Brother taking an afternoon nap?"

"Don't push your luck, or Brother will treat you like he used to." Qian Renhan frowned slightly.

"Alright, Brother." Qian Renxue lowered her head dejectedly, though she was still extremely happy inside.

"Brother, what are we playing?"

Qian Renhan kicked the wooden box and smiled. "Sit on it, and you'll find out."

After Qian Renxue sat down, Qian Renhan sat down too, taking the front of the wooden box. Looking at the Papal Stairs, which rose hundreds of meters high and contained several thousand steps, a mischievous smile appeared on his lips. "Xiaoxue, hold on tight. Get ready."

Qian Renxue guessed what was about to happen. Her eyes widened as she shouted, "No! I don't want to play this, Brother!"

"Here we go." Qian Renhan stepped forward, and the wooden box shot off, sliding down Papal Mountain like a slide. The frequency and volume of the wood striking the stairs grew louder and louder. For a time, Papal Mountain was filled with the sound of wood clattering and Qian Renxue's screams.