Farewell

Facing Qian Renxue's expectant gaze, Su Yu spread his hands. "No hope. Just wait to die."

Seeing Su Yu's punchable expression, Qian Renxue's fists instantly clenched.

"You talked for so long, and in the end, you don't have a solution either?"

Su Yu rolled his eyes. "I'm an eight-year-old kid. What solution could I possibly have?"

Qian Renxue gritted her teeth. "Then what was the point of saying so much?"

Su Yu glanced at Qian Renxue and complained, "You have to identify a problem before you can solve it."

"I helped you identify the problem. Solving it, of course, is up to you."

"Good luck. I believe in you."

Qian Renxue's political talent was far from ideal.

Despite handling government affairs for years as the crown prince, she was still stumped by problems like this.

Xue Qinghe's talent for acting was exceptional.

In just three months, he had completely replaced Qian Renxue, allowing her to return to Spirit City without worry.

By this point, Su Yu had spent three years with Qian Renxue at the Crown Prince's Residence.

And now, on the third anniversary of their acquaintance, they were about to part ways.

Crown Prince's Residence, secret chamber.

Soul Masters on Douluo Continent had always matured early.

Thanks to the accelerated growth brought by two soul rings, nine-year-old Su Yu had grown to around 1.7 meters tall.

As long as one ignored his still-childish face, no one would doubt him if he claimed to be an adult.

By now, his bronze-colored hair had grown long and was pinned up with a hairpin.

Dressed in black, he sat there, his golden eyes reflecting a holy figure.

Within the secret chamber, Qian Renxue had already removed her disguise.

Her golden court gown tightly wrapped every curve, leaving not a trace of skin exposed.

Her long hair hung loosely down, tucked behind her ears to reveal those slightly narrow phoenix eyes.

The two sat facing each other, with all manner of delicacies spread across the table between them.

Yet with their separation imminent, neither had any appetite to pick up their chopsticks.

Qian Renxue spoke first, breaking the silence.

"Today, Xue Ye brought up your engagement to Xue Ke again."

Su Yu's expression stiffened. Clearly, he had not expected Qian Renxue to begin with that topic.

The playful, adorable image of the silver-haired girl surfaced in his mind, and he smiled. "Come to think of it, I don't know when it started, but Sister Xue seemed to deliberately keep Xue Ke and me from meeting."

Qian Renxue chuckled. "That's right. You two were probably inseparable for only a month before I cruelly tore you apart."

Qian Renxue raised her brows and teased, "I think you should thank me. If she hadn't had time to cling to you, how would you have had time to cling to someone else?"

Su Yu's mouth twitched. "When did I ever cling to Aornia?"

"When did I mention Aornia?"

Su Yu's old face reddened. He then coughed lightly and said nothing more.

Qian Renxue gave a soft snort. "Do you still remember my grandfather?"

Su Yu nodded. "I remember. Three months ago, the old man came to Heaven Dou City."

"That was also the day you decided to give up the undercover plan and go back to cultivate properly."

Qian Renxue said, "That's right. That should have been the first time you met my grandfather."

Su Yu caught the hidden meaning in her words and asked, "Could it be that it wasn't the first time the old man had met me?"

Qian Renxue took a light sip of wine from her cup. "It was the second time."

"The first time he saw you was the night you first went to the library."

"You were already sound asleep then, so Grandfather and I didn't wake you."

Su Yu raised his brows, recalling the scene from back then.

At the time, in order to find a suitable soul beast for Aornia, he had brought Xue Ke up the mountain in the Royal Academy's advanced district and spent the entire day in the library.

On the way back, he had even run into Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.

Su Yu suddenly understood. "So that's why Xue Ke rarely came to the Crown Prince's Residence not long after that day..."

At the time, he had been busy immersing himself in the library and had not paid much attention to it.

By the time he realized what was happening, a long time had already passed.

"I remember Sister Xue's explanation was that she needed to go to Moonlight Pavilion for noble etiquette training, so she had less free time at her disposal."

"And to conceal my talent, the marriage alliance also had to be delayed."

"After all, the empire had no reason to go out of its way to win over someone with Innate Soul Power Rank Nine..."

Qian Renxue nodded with a smile. "That's right. I came up with that excuse myself, and in the end, I convinced Xue Ye."

"Except now, he's bringing up the old matter again..."

Ignoring the latter half of her words, Su Yu asked with great interest, "After the old man met me back then, Sister Xue immediately found an excuse to send Xue Ke away and postpone the marriage alliance."

"Was it merely a coincidence? Or..."

"Or what?"

Qian Renxue looked at Su Yu, her eyes carrying a hint of provocation.

"Tsk, the old man really has a good eye!"

But seeing Su Yu's shamelessness, Qian Renxue put away her smile.

"Su Yu..."

Seeing Qian Renxue's smile vanish as she prepared to speak, Su Yu immediately raised his hand and interrupted her before she could say anything.

Su Yu's smile also disappeared as he said solemnly, "Sister Xue, before you ask me, let me ask you a question first."

Qian Renxue set down her wine cup and said seriously, "Shouldn't we make some preparations first? For example, forbid verbal deception."

Su Yu shook his head, speaking with complete seriousness. "There's no need. After three years together, we have at least that much trust."

"It's simple. If a genius with Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls wanted to pledge allegiance to you, but the price was sacrificing either Senior Snake Lance or Senior Pufferfish, which would you choose?"

Qian Renxue slowly closed her eyes, her voice devoid of emotion. "Are you asking whether, in the future, I would abandon you for a more outstanding genius?"

Qian Renxue opened her eyes and stared intently at Su Yu. "You should have more confidence in yourself, and more faith in me."

No one will ever surpass you.

And I will never abandon you.

"I see..."

Su Yu lowered his head slightly, preventing Qian Renxue from seeing his expression.

Su Yu closed his eyes, and two identical yet opposing figures took shape in his mind.

One would not hesitate to sacrifice one of his own elders in order to recruit an unparalleled genius.

The other had six wings on her back and a sword in hand, yet still shielded him behind her when facing an eight-hundred-thousand-year-old Black Dragon.

After a moment, Su Yu raised his head. "I believe you, and I believe in myself."

To the current me, this place is no longer a fascinating yet false story, but an incomparably real life.

Rather than the you described by others, I would rather believe in the you I have seen with my own eyes.

"I understand... Sister Xue, it's your turn to ask."

Qian Renxue froze for a moment before smiling faintly. "There's no need. I understand as well."