Goodbye

Qian Ningshuang took a deep breath after leaving the Lake of Life, then slowly let it out.

Now that she looked at the Lake of Life again, it truly felt refreshing and pleasant. However, those two Spirit Beasts over there were the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python from the original work, weren't they?

Looking at the monkey several stories tall by the lake and the Spirit Beast with a bull's head and a python's body, Qian Ningshuang thought to herself.

"They're just two Spirit Beasts guarding the gate. Is something wrong, Shuang'er?"

Gu Yuena watched Qian Ningshuang examine the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python and asked curiously.

"Nothing. I just didn't see them when we came in earlier. Let's go find my companions first."

Shaking her head, Qian Ningshuang brushed it off. Now that Gu Yuena had even left the Star Dou Forest, the original work was only useful as a reference.

"I never knew my grandfather could be so cold-hearted! For some incomprehensible plan, you threw your own granddaughter into the hands of a beast."

"I'm telling you! If anything happens to Shuang'er, Qian Renxue and you will be enemies for life! Don't expect me to call you Grandfather again!"

When Qian Ningshuang and Gu Yuena found Qian Renxue's group, this was the scene they saw.

Qian Renxue, her eyes red, was bombarding an awkward-looking Qian Daoliu. Walter wore a bitter smile, while Pullman and Tian Yao stood nearby, trembling.

"Big Sister!"

Qian Ningshuang had no choice but to step forward and call out. She was deeply moved that Qian Renxue cared so much about her, but that was still their grandfather. Wasn't it a little inappropriate to scold him like that?

"Shuang'er!" Upon hearing Qian Ningshuang's voice, Qian Renxue turned around in delight.

Then, at a speed even Qian Ningshuang could not see clearly, she rushed before her and scooped her into her arms.

"You won't look pretty if you cry yourself into a little tabby cat. Besides, aren't I fine?"

Seeing Qian Renxue holding her as tears streamed down her face, Qian Ningshuang could only wipe away her tears while comforting her.

"As long as you're safe. As long as you're safe."

Still looking like a rain-soaked pear blossom, Qian Ningshuang helplessly cupped Qian Renxue's cheeks.

Then, their faces gently touched.

Qian Renxue suddenly stopped crying, her pupils widening.

Qian Ningshuang stared at the bewildered face held between her hands.

"Big Sister, I hate crying, so don't cry anymore, okay?"

Qian Renxue suddenly smiled through her tears, then gently pressed her forehead against Qian Ningshuang's.

"Since my little sister says so, it would be hard to justify crying any longer."

Their eyes met, and then both pairs curved into crescents.

After a long while, Qian Ningshuang suddenly broke free from Qian Renxue's embrace and covered her face with both hands.

Oh my god! This is so embarrassing. What did I just do? How did I do something like that in a moment of impulsiveness?!

Qian Renxue made no comment on Qian Ningshuang pulling away. She merely returned to her usual calm demeanor and smiled at her younger sister.

Though that little tabby-cat face was rather amusing.

"Shuang'er, is everything all right?"

Seeing that the two sisters had finished sorting things out, Qian Daoliu stepped forward and asked.

Beside him, Bishop Pullman and Tian Yao let out sighs of relief, their hearts still pounding. Walter also looked as though the commotion had finally ended.

Sure enough, the one who could keep Qian Renxue in line in Spirit Hall was neither Qian Daoliu nor Bibi Dong, but Qian Ningshuang!

"Everything is fine, Grandfather."

Qian Ningshuang gave Qian Daoliu a sweet smile. She held no resentment toward Qian Daoliu's so-called plan. From the conversation between Qian Chongling and Gu Yuena beneath the Lake of Life, she had roughly guessed it and could understand.

"And this is?" Qian Daoliu looked toward Gu Yuena, who stood to one side.

Gu Yuena, meanwhile, wore an expression of fascinated wonder. Feelings like this remained just as memorable for a dragon no matter how many times she witnessed them.

"Her name is Gu Yuena. Her identity is the Silver Dragon King, Lord of Spirit Beasts."

Pullman drew in a sharp breath. Lord of Spirit Beasts—it certainly did not sound simple.

"Hello, everyone."

Gu Yuena greeted them generously. She seemed quite easy to get along with, everyone present thought.

"And while we're at it, from now on, I'll be following Shuang'er. I'll have to trouble Spirit Hall to look after me."

"So there's no need to treat me as the Lord of Spirit Beasts. Just treat me as an ordinary little girl."

The ancestor had only said to form an alliance; she had never said anything about luring her into Spirit Hall! Qian Daoliu was stunned inwardly.

"If Your Excellency is willing to honor Spirit Hall with your presence, this old man would naturally be delighted."

Though he was shocked inside, the proper courtesies still had to be observed.

"Now that everyone knows each other, Sister Gu Yuena, could you do me a favor?"

Ignoring everyone's shock, Qian Ningshuang directly made a request of Gu Yuena.

"Go ahead."

"My friend needs a relatively difficult-to-find Spirit Beast. Can Sister Gu Yuena help?"

Qian Ningshuang pointed at Tian Yao. With the Lord of Spirit Beasts right here, there was no need to go through the trouble of searching. This was the sort of treatment countless transmigrator predecessors had enjoyed, so she had to experience it for herself.

"That isn't difficult. What kind of Spirit Beast? About how many years?"

Gu Yuena did not look troubled at all. There were so many Spirit Beasts in the Star Dou Forest that she could not be bothered to count them. Other than those one hundred thousand years old, whose numbers she would keep track of, she had no reason to care about the weaker ones.

"A Golden Scaled Crocodile Turtle of around eight hundred years."

Tian Yao stepped forward and spoke. Qian Ningshuang had already helped her this much, so why should she still be shy?

"Di Tian! Did you hear that? Go catch one!"

Gu Yuena used Di Tian, the all-purpose tool dragon.

Watching Di Tian vanish into the distance, Qian Ningshuang curiously asked Gu Yuena, "I thought Sister Gu Yuena would find it difficult. Is this really all right?"

"Why would it be difficult?" Gu Yuena looked at Qian Ningshuang with curiosity instead.

"Aren't you all Spirit Beasts? Sister Gu Yuena is even the Lord of Spirit Beasts. I thought you might feel troubled or sad."

Hearing this, Gu Yuena complained.

"Did you misunderstand something, Shuang'er? Although you humans call us Spirit Beasts, as though we're all one race, none of us has ever cared about that internally."

"There are so many groups among Spirit Beasts that even I can't remember them all. How could we possibly live in harmony? For example, do you think a Soft Bone Charm Rabbit could live peacefully with carnivorous Spirit Beasts like a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear? When they meet, it is only a matter of eating or being eaten. How could they coexist peacefully?"

"Every day, hundreds if not thousands of Spirit Beasts disappear in the Star Dou Forest because of Spirit Beast slaughter. There is no need to care about one or two of them."

While the two spoke, Di Tian had already tossed a Golden Scaled Crocodile Turtle onto the ground.

"Sister Tian Yao, do it. Once you've absorbed it, we'll return to Spirit City." Even Gu Yuena, the Lord of Spirit Beasts, did not care, so why should this group of humans be sentimental about it?

"Got it." Tian Yao drove a blade directly into the Golden Scaled Crocodile Turtle's head, then sat cross-legged to absorb the Spirit Ring.

Watching Tian Yao absorb the Spirit Ring, Gu Yuena seemed to recall something. She turned to Qian Ningshuang and said, "Once you return to Spirit Hall, let Mr. Qian Chongling and me teach you how to restrain the life energy of your Martial Soul. Otherwise, every time you release it, you'll cause a huge commotion."

"Okay." Qian Ningshuang readily agreed.

By evening, Tian Yao had finally finished absorbing the Spirit Ring and gained a defensive skill that increased defense by one hundred percent.