A Man and a Fox, Neither Quite Normal

Qin Zhaoer suddenly stopped mid-sentence, her eyes darting around as she looked at him suspiciously.

"Wait! Did you secretly tamper with the technique? Like, restricting its mastery to only you?"

Qin Wangchuan did not argue, but simply sat down beside her naturally.

"Although the Spirit Power Furnace was Modified Battle Intent Furnace, its essence is different."

"The Battle Intent Furnace floats outside the body, while the Spirit Power Furnace and the Sword Intent Furnace are both submerged within the body."

"First, imagine yourself as a giant furnace, a furnace that can never be filled." Qin Wangchuan said, beginning his demonstration, Golden Dao Patterns appearing on his body. "Gathering Spiritual Energy, Devouring the Four Seas..."

Qin Zhaoer stared intently at his demonstration, even unconsciously softening her breathing.

While the two were talking, the White Fox sitting below seemingly casually shifted its body.

Once the angle was right, it quickly lowered its head and rubbed its furry head against Qin Wangchuan's side. Its narrowed fox eyes were full of triumphant satisfaction, and its snow-white, fluffy tail swayed gently behind it.

'Ah~ Lord Wangchuan ~'

Qin Zhaoer was exceptionally intelligent and quickly grasped the essentials after receiving guidance from Qin Wangchuan.

Pale golden lines began to appear on her fair skin, moving slowly as if they were alive.

"It's done!" Qin Zhaoer gazed joyfully at the Golden Patterns flowing across her arm, tried clenching her fist, her eyes gleaming with excitement, "I feel... I can take on ten of them now!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a series of sharp, stinging sensations suddenly spread throughout his body.

The girl's delicate face paled, and she curled up slightly.

She unconsciously bit her lower lip, her eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings as she slowly half-closed her eyes.

"It hurts!"

A warm hand landed on her arm just in time, Pure Spirit Energy slowly flowed in, relieving the stinging sensation slightly.

Qin Wangchuan's voice rang in my ears. "It will hurt the first time you use it; the book should mention that."

He gently traced the still-warm Golden Patterns on her arm with his fingertips, his tone calm. "As you activate levels one through Third Gear, the pain will intensify with each level. However—"

Spiritual Power flowed through his palm, soothing the last trace of stinging pain.

"You'll get used to it soon."

"This problem was unavoidable, which also proves that there's room for improvement in the Spirit Power Furnace..."

As Qin Wangchuan spoke, he fell into deep thought and naturally took her wrist.

The boy lowered his eyes, his gaze lingering intently on the Golden Patterns that ran along the girl's arm, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the warm lines.

Qin Zhaoer momentarily forgot the pain and did not pull her hand away.

She gazed quietly at his profile so close to hers, noticing the dappled shadows cast by his long eyelashes in the morning light, his serious expression a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.

A gentle breeze brushed against the stray hairs on his forehead, carrying a faint, cool fragrance.

The girl suddenly realized that her Ninth Brother today...

It's exceptionally captivating.

Just as she was engrossed in her research, the previously quiet White Fox quietly snuggled closer to Qin Wangchuan, its fluffy head almost resting on his lap, its tail wagging happily.

Qin Wangchuan was pulled back to his senses by the White Fox's movements.

"Let's leave it at that for now." He calmly lowered Qin Zhaoer's delicate hand. "If you're interested, you can follow up on the subsequent improvements to this technique."

Qin Zhaoer watched him withdraw his hand, lowered her eyes, and her thick eyelashes cast a light shadow on her fair cheeks, making it impossible to see her emotions.

A moment of silence fell between them.

Just as Qin Wangchuan was about to ask her a question.

"That's right!"

Suddenly, Qin Zhaoer seemed to remember something important, and when she raised her eyes again, a perfectly timed look of confusion filled her eyes.

She gently raised her hand and took out a talisman from her wide sleeve.

The edges of the Talisman Paper were slightly frayed, indicating that it had been rubbed repeatedly.

"And this..." She handed the talisman to Qin Wangchuan, her tone carrying just the right amount of distress, the last syllable drawn out softly, like a feather brushing against the heart, "Your Soldier Puppet Technique, I've pondered it over and over for a long time, but I still can't quite grasp the essence. Although it can move, it always feels like something's missing..."

Just then, her personal maid approached with tea and snacks.

Upon hearing this, the maid paused, nearly losing her composure.

This morning she saw His Highness drill Soldier Puppet in the His Highness. The twelve Talisman Soldiers were arrayed like clouds, their movements perfectly synchronized, clearly demonstrating their consummate skill.

But looking at Dao Child now, he appears to be a beginner, with genuine confusion between his brows.

Just as Qin Wangchuan lowered his head to examine the Talisman Paper, Qin Zhaoer suddenly looked up at the maid.

His gaze was as cold as ice, carrying an undisguised, chilling Killing Intent.

Her usually affectionate peach blossom eyes now revealed a sharp edge, like a blade drawn from its sheath, piercing straight to the heart.

The maid trembled and immediately lowered her head, holding her breath—she knew all too well that this master was not as kind as the other Young Master.

If I were to expose this now, I would definitely not see the sun rise tomorrow.

"The talisman is drawn correctly," Qin Wangchuan's voice broke the momentary silence, "Perhaps the Manipulation Method is still insufficient. Summon one out to take a look."

Qin Zhaoer flicked her hand, and the Talisman Paper she threw landed and transformed into a basic Soldier Puppet.

"Look, just like that, he walks with a wobbly, unsteady gait..."

Qin Zhaoer pointed with one finger and leaned closer, her black hair cascading down like a waterfall, a few strands of hair inadvertently brushing against his wrist.

She gazed intently at his pensive profile, a triumphant smile playing on her lips where no one was watching.

Qin Wangchuan gradually noticed something amiss during the guidance process.

Qin Zhaoer asked the question seemingly clueless, but inadvertently revealed her unique insights at certain key points.

It was clearly an insight I gained after thoroughly understanding and mastering the material.

But after thinking about it, he didn't expose her, and instead let her continue this tacit performance.

After the lesson concluded, Qin Wangchuan gazed at the drifting clouds on the horizon and suddenly asked softly, "If I were to die one day, what would you do?"

Qin Zhaoer was swinging her fair feet, the Silver Bell on her wrists making a soft, tinkling sound.

With her movement, the hem of her skirt slipped slightly, revealing a section of her fair, alabaster-white skin.

"What else can I do?" Her eyes sparkled, and suddenly a bright, almost excessively radiant smile bloomed on her lips. "Naturally, I'll make sure you have all the glory and prestige!"

Amidst her Silver Bell laughter, she suddenly leaned closer, the fragrance of her hair wafting towards you, her eyes revealing an undisguised playfulness.

"I will set up an altar at the highest point of the Longevity Heaven, invite a group of bald monks to chant scriptures, and summon Myriad Races to pay homage. Your coffin must be carved from Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade and placed at the highest point of the altar..."

Qin Zhaoer became more and more excited as she spoke, gesturing with her slender fingers in the air. "And we also need to invite those guys you hate the most... Oh, and they have to wear their brightest clothes, making your funeral even more grand than the Heavenly Emperor's birthday celebration..."

Qin Wangchuan gazed at her radiant profile and suddenly chuckled softly.

He forgot that the person in front of him wasn't his Eldest Brother, and couldn't answer every question.

I'll probably never get the truth out of her in this lifetime.