The Jade Pendant
Qian Renxue —no, at this moment it was Xue Qinghe —waved her hand, her voice returning to Xue Qinghe's gentle tone:
"Uncle She, there are some things I need to take care of when I get back."
He paused, then continued:
"I'll trouble you to continue keeping an eye on Heaven Dou from now on."
Although the Snake Lance Douluo was full of doubts, he still nodded respectfully:
"Yes."
Xue Qinghe did not offer any further explanation.
He changed into a clean robe and strode out of the palace.
Snake Lance Douluo watched his retreating figure, he felt that something was amiss, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Xue Qinghe hurried along the streets of Heaven Dou City.
His mind was filled with too many questions, too many things he wanted to confirm, and he couldn't wait to see that person.
The figure holding his corpse in that dream.
The person who said, "Let's start over, and never meet again."
The person who left divine power to protect him deep within his consciousness.
Fu Shiyan.
Who exactly are you?
What exactly happened between us?
These questions churned in his mind, leaving him no peace.
He walked faster and faster, until he almost ran through the familiar alley.
Then, he saw the small courtyard.
And then there was the figure that just happened to walk out of the courtyard.
Fu Shiyan.
Xue Qinghe's heart skipped a beat, and he involuntarily stopped in his tracks.
He stood there at the alley entrance, staring blankly at the person, his mind completely blank.
Fu Shiyan had obviously seen him too.
His eyes flickered slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across them, before he regained his composure.
He stepped forward, nodded slightly to Xue Qinghe, and asked:
"Your Highness? What brings you here at this hour?"
The voice was as calm as ever, yet it was like a thunderclap, waking Xue Qinghe from his daze.
Her face flushed red instantly.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her mind blank and couldn't remember anything.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Fu Shiyan took another step closer and asked with concern:
"Your Highness? Are you alright?"
Xue Qinghe then realized what was happening and instinctively reached out to push him away.
The moment her hand touched Fu Shiyan's chest, she recoiled as if burned.
Then, her face turned even redder.
"N-no, it's nothing! I... I... oh right!"
He spoke incoherently, his mind racing, and finally managed to squeeze out a sentence:
"I've come this time to give His Excellency Tianqing... uh, to bring some gifts!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself.
A gift? He came in such a hurry, where would he have prepared any gift?!
Fu Shiyan looked at him, a strange glint in her eyes, but her expression remained one of concern.
"Your Highness is too kind. However..."
He looked Xue Qinghe up and down, and asked with some doubt:
"Why is Your Highness's face so red? Are you feeling unwell?"
Xue Qinghe waved his hands frantically:
"No, no, no! No! Uh... I was just too rushed here, and I'm tired from the journey! Yes, tired!"
Upon hearing this, Fu Shiyan's lips twitched slightly.
Tired?
You're a Soul Master, it's only a few steps from the palace to here, how come you're this exhausted?
But his expression remained one of concern as he nodded.
"I see. Your Highness, please take care of your health."
Xue Qinghe nodded haphazardly, frantically rummaging through his clothes, trying to find something that could serve as a "gift".
After searching for a while, he actually found one.
It was a bracelet, with a golden exterior, beautiful openwork patterns, and an exquisite and gorgeous design.
This is no ordinary ornament, but a Storage Soul Tool, one of the gifts his grandfather gave him.
Without thinking twice, he shoved the bracelet into Fu Shiyan's arms.
The moment their hands touched, Xue Qinghe felt a jolt of electricity coursing through his body from his fingertips. He shuddered violently, instinctively pulling his hand back, his face flushed red to his ears.
Fu Shiyan looked at the bracelet in her arms, then at Xue Qinghe, whose face was flushed, and a barely perceptible smile flashed in her eyes.
But he still asked with concern:
"Your Highness, you..."
"No, no, it's nothing!"
Xue Qinghe interrupted him, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her voice:
"Um... Is Your His Excellency Tianqing heading out?"
Fu Shiyan nodded and replied:
"Yes. The infrastructure of the Beichen Academy is basically completed, and I intend to take another look."
Xue Qinghe said "Oh," and for a moment didn't know what to say.
The atmosphere gradually became somewhat awkward.
Fu Shiyan seemed to have noticed this as well.
He coughed lightly, took something from his robes, and handed it to Xue Qinghe:
"Over the years, Your Highness has given me many gifts. This is something I've carried with me since childhood, and I'm returning the favor today."
It was a jade pendant.
It is warm and smooth to the touch, with a soft color, and is engraved with intricate patterns, faintly revealing a faint fluctuation of Soul Power.
Xue Qinghe, however, was stunned.
As he looked at the jade pendant, an indescribable sense of familiarity welled up in his heart.
Yet at the same time, there was a strange sense of unfamiliarity.
These two conflicting feelings intertwined, leaving him feeling completely disoriented.
Just then--
A flood of memories rushed into my mind without warning.
In a daze, she seemed to hear her own voice:
"Your jade pendant looks quite unique."
Immediately following was Fu Shiyan's voice, gentle and doting in reply:
"This is a family heirloom of mine, capable of withstanding an attack from a Titled Douluo- level being. Do you like it? If you do, it's yours."
Then, the memory gradually became clearer.
She found herself standing in an unfamiliar place, facing Fu Shiyan was just as young but smiled with unparalleled gentleness.
She saw herself accept the jade pendant, her eyes filled with joy, yet tinged with a touch of shyness, and asked:
"Really?"
She saw Fu Shiyan nod, his gaze so tender it seemed to overflow with tears.
She watched as she carefully tucked the jade pendant into her bosom, a happy smile spreading across her face.
The memories are becoming clearer and more real.
As her memories gradually became clearer, Qian Renxue stood there, trembling all over.
Those memories are real!
Those images are real!
She and Fu Shiyan truly had a past life together.
In that lifetime, they had gazed at each other with such intimacy and tenderness.
Thinking of this, her eyes gradually reddened.
She abruptly turned her back, not daring to let Fu Shiyan see her expression.
His voice trembled so much he could barely speak:
"I... I'm sorry, Mr. Fu. I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I'll have to... I'll take my leave now!"
After saying that, she practically fled out of the alley.
Fu Shiyan stood there, watching the hastily departing figure, motionless for Jiujiu.
He looked down at the jade pendant in his hand, then looked up at the alley entrance, a smile appearing on his face.
--
Outside the alley, Qian Renxue stumbled and ran a long way until she could no longer see the small courtyard, at which point she finally stopped.
She leaned against a wall, gasping for breath, tears streaming down her face.
Those memories, those scenes, that tenderness...
It's true.
It's all true.
She covered her face and cried silently.