Qian Renxue's Plan

Hearing the undisguised hatred in her tone, Luo Can could not help asking:

"Mm, for now, I'll call you 'Qian Renxue.' What do you plan to do when facing another version of yourself?"

"Hehe..."

Qian Renxue let out a soft laugh, thick with mockery.

"That idiot completely denied my existence during the God Trial. She cannot even face her truest desires and darkness. Since that is the case—"

She tilted her head, a trace of cruelty in her violet-gold eyes.

"I can only 'devour' her and create a more complete 'me.'"

"I see." Luo Can nodded, then asked, "When do you plan to act?"

"That 'me' probably has not yet begun carrying out the plan to infiltrate Tiandou." Qian Renxue showed a thoughtful expression. "Judging by the timeline, there should be about three years left. When she prepares to replace Xue Qinghe, that will be the best time for me to strike."

As she spoke, her gaze turned to Luo Can, her eyes carrying a hint of amusement.

"What do you think? Will you lend me a hand?"

Luo Can barely hesitated.

"Sure."

He paused, then continued asking:

"What about after you devour her? What do you plan to do?"

"Destroy the Heaven Dou Empire," Qian Renxue said calmly. "Since that woman's plan is to unify the continent, I'll lend her a hand."

Hearing that, Luo Can gave the woman before him a serious look.

Moonlight spilled over her silver-white hair. Her violet-gold pupils were deep as an abyss, and the faint, ambiguous curve on her lips gave her a dangerous yet alluring charm.

"If one day," Luo Can said slowly, "I become enemies with that woman, what will you do?"

Qian Renxue shrugged, her tone casual.

"As long as you don't kill her, do whatever you want."

After saying that, a complicated emotion flashed through her eyes.

Luo Can nodded and asked no more.

He put away his fishing rod, walked beneath the Dragon Blood Tree, sat down cross-legged, and began meditating.

Qian Renxue found a patch of clean, soft grass and lay down without a care. She closed her eyes and felt this body.

The rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, the slight chill of wind brushing over her skin, even the fullness of Soul Power flowing through her body.

Everything was so real.

She no longer had to remain trapped deep within that idiot's consciousness, watching her make foolish choices again and again, allowing so-called "light" and "justice" to bind her hands and feet time after time.

Having a body... feels so good.

She sighed inwardly. Before she knew it, she had completely relaxed and fallen into a deep sleep.

The next day, the sun rose.

A burst of lively chatter shattered the morning's tranquility.

"Senior Sister Lingling! Let me see your first Spirit Ring!"

"Oh my god! It really is a thousand-year Spirit Ring?!"

"Senior Sister, you're amazing! A thousand-year first Spirit Ring—who would believe that if you told them?"

"Ah, what a pity... If I had met Master earlier, my first Spirit Ring definitely would not have been a hundred-year one..."

Luo Can slowly opened his eyes and saw Dugu Yan surrounding Ye Lingling, her little face full of envy and admiration. Although Ye Lingling tried to keep a straight face, she could not hide the pride in her eyes.

On the grass nearby, Qian Renxue also sat up.

She stretched lazily and elegantly. Her curvaceous figure appeared even more enticing in the morning light. Walking over to Luo Can, she slightly raised her chin and gestured toward the two girls.

"These two little ones... who are they?"

"My disciples." Luo Can rose to his feet and patted his robe. "Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan."

He walked over to the two girls.

They immediately stopped talking and bowed respectfully.

"Good morning, Master!"

"Mm."

Luo Can nodded, his gaze landing on Ye Lingling. "Starting today, you can begin practicing the third form of the Tiger King Mountain-Crushing Fist."

"Yes, Master!"

Ye Lingling's eyes lit up.

At this point, the two girls finally noticed Qian Renxue behind Luo Can.

Dugu Yan blinked her large eyes and curiously studied this breathtakingly beautiful older sister. Unable to hold herself back, she quietly asked:

"Master... who is she?"

Ye Lingling also looked over curiously.

Just as Luo Can was about to introduce her, Qian Renxue spoke first. "My name is Qian Renxue. As for my relationship with your Master..."

She deliberately paused, a teasing smile curling her lips. "Mm—let's call us 'close friends.'"

Close friends.

Luo Can's mouth twitched, but he did not refute her.

The two girls and their "older sister" briefly got acquainted. Qian Renxue was clearly quite interested in the two young disciples, especially after learning that Ye Lingling's first Spirit Ring was a thousand-year one. A trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.

She chuckled. "It seems you're quite a competent master."

In the kitchen, Luo Can bustled around the stove.

Qian Renxue leaned against the kitchen doorway with her arms crossed, her eyes following Luo Can's movements.

She watched him skillfully prepare medicinal herbs, control the heat, and adjust the proportions, as though he had done it thousands upon thousands of times.

"You dote on those two girls," she suddenly said.

Without turning around, Luo Can continued handling the medicinal herbs in his hands.

"Mm. I have many ideas I want to realize through them, so there are many things I need to prepare personally."

He paused. "For example, these Medicinal Meals—they can strengthen the foundation, replenish vitality, reinforce the body, and nourish the meridians. That way, their potential can be developed to the greatest extent."

Qian Renxue nodded and said nothing more.

Yet her gaze remained fixed on Luo Can, with a trace of envy hidden deep in her eyes.

After a while, she abruptly changed the subject.

"You took Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan as disciples. Then what is your relationship with the Nine-Heart Begonia Ye Clan and Dugu Bo?"

"I solved their Martial Soul Curse and the backlash from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison," Luo Can said lightly. "For now, they are my people."

Qian Renxue's eyes brightened slightly.

"Then..." She moved closer to Luo Can, lowering her voice. "Can you call Dugu Bo here?"

Luo Can finally raised his head and looked at her. "What do you want?"

Qian Renxue grinned.

"Beat him up."

Luo Can: "..."

He remembered.

In the original story, it was Dugu Bo who discovered that Xue Ye had been poisoned. He brought Tang San into the imperial palace, which completely exposed Qian Renxue's plan to infiltrate Tiandou.

So to this Dark Qian Renxue, Dugu Bo was definitely someone who deserved "special attention."

"Just don't kill him," Luo Can finally said.

"Don't worry." Qian Renxue's eyes curved with her smile. "I know my limits. I'll just use 'sparring' as an excuse to have some 'fun' with him."

Luo Can shook his head and said no more.

Half an hour later, breakfast was ready.

Luo Can packed the two girls' meals for the day into separate containers and covered them with insulating lids. Only then did he take off his apron and look at Qian Renxue, who was still leaning by the door.

"I'm leaving The Valley for a while. What about you?"

"Me?" Qian Renxue stretched, revealing her slender waist. "I'll stay here! It'll be a good chance to get familiar with the place."

Luo Can nodded and said nothing else.

He walked out of the kitchen, spread his Golden Dragon Wings, and shot into the sky. In the blink of an eye, he vanished into the clouds.

Qian Renxue watched him leave. Only after he had completely disappeared from sight did she withdraw her gaze.

She turned and walked back into the kitchen.

Her eyes fell upon the meal containers on the stove, each covered with a lid.

She hesitated for roughly three seconds.

Then she reached out and lifted one of the lids.

An enticing fragrance rushed toward her.

It was a plate of braised pork belly, bright red and glossy with rich sauce. The meat had been stewed until tender, its lean and fatty layers perfectly balanced, its surface glistening with tempting oil.

Qian Renxue picked up a pair of chopsticks, lifted a piece, and placed it in her mouth.

The soft, tender meat melted across her tongue. The savory-sweet sauce, mixed with a faint medicinal fragrance, instantly filled her entire mouth.

Her eyes lit up.

"This flavor..."

She picked up another piece and savored it carefully. Surprise flashed through her eyes.

"It's even better than the food made by the imperial chefs in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace..."

As Xue Qinghe, who had once infiltrated the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace for many years, what delicacies had she not tasted? Yet this seemingly ordinary plate of braised pork belly had achieved a nearly perfect balance in flavor, heat, and medicinal properties.

She licked the corner of her lips, delight flashing through her eyes.

Then—

She sat down.

She picked up a bowl, served herself rice, and began taking dishes.

Her movements remained elegant, but she was not slow in the slightest. Every bite was carefully chewed, yet the dishes on the table visibly dwindled away.

Braised pork belly, Steamed Fish, Medicinal Chicken Soup...

Half an hour later.

When Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan finished their morning training, their stomachs rumbling with hunger, and happily ran into the kitchen to eat breakfast—

The two girls stared at the empty plates, then at Qian Renxue, stunned for a long while.

Then their little mouths puckered, and their eyes instantly turned red.

"O-our food..."

"The Medicinal Meals Master specially made..."

Qian Renxue looked at the two girls, who were on the verge of tears, blinked, and wore an innocent expression.

"Mm... sorry. I accidentally ate it all."

She paused before adding:

"But it really did taste good. Your Master's cooking is excellent."

Ye Lingling & Dugu Yan: "..."

At that moment, the same thought rose in both girls' hearts.

This pretty older sister is a bad person!

Meanwhile, Luo Can had already arrived at the medicinal herb shop, completely unaware that the three carefully prepared meals he had made for his two young disciples had all gone into a certain Dark Angel's stomach.