Xiao Yu stared at the man before him in disbelief.
This man was actually Xue Qinghe? The fake crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, the granddaughter of Qian Daoliu, the Great Enshrined of Spirit Hall, and the future Angel God—Qian Renxue?!
"Th-this can't be right." Xiao Yu was stunned. How could this person be Qian Renxue?
By rights, shouldn't Qian Renxue be managing affairs in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace right now? And poisoning Xue Ye on the side, hoping to complete her mission sooner and take the Heaven Dou Empire without bloodshed?
How had she ended up here? Oh, heavens, this was too surreal.
Xiao Yu let out a long breath. The surprise in his eyes shifted to uncertainty, then settled into calm. Xue Qinghe—or rather, Qian Renxue—looked a little surprised. She hadn't expected a Soul Beast's eyes to convey so many emotions.
So she's Qian Renxue. All right. The fact that she was Qian Renxue had caught him off guard, but on reflection, it didn't seem like a big deal.
So what if she was Qian Renxue? So what if she wasn't? Either way, it wouldn't affect him much. Her appearance might even help him figure out how far the story had progressed.
He put the matter aside and gave a soft call. "Oh~"
Then he spread his magnificent wings and extended them toward Qian Renxue.
"Are you trying to tell me your name?" Qian Renxue asked as she watched.
Xiao Yu nodded. Qian Renxue clicked her tongue in wonder, then looked at the wings before her.
"Wings? Flying? Feathers?"
She tentatively tried a few words. Xiao Yu only reacted when she said "wings."
"Wings? Then I'll call you Yu from now on." Qian Renxue chose one character from the word to represent Xiao Yu. After all, "wings" was a word in its own right, and using it as a name might cause confusion.
As it happened, Yu was also part of Xiao Yu's name, so he didn't mind. He nodded.
"Oh~"
Xiao Yu folded his wings and watched Qian Renxue calmly.
Now that he knew her true identity, he felt a hint of amusement.
The young master of Spirit Hall, the future Angel God, was carefully trying to "win over" a Soul Beast with fruit, hoping to mend their relationship. The scene was quite theatrical.
"Yu..." Qian Renxue's voice held a faint note of hesitation and hope. "You... seem to have grown even stronger. Are all the Soul Beasts in this forest willing to follow you?"
"Oh~ (More or less.)" Xiao Yu nodded casually and glanced at Yu Yi.
The latter gave a short cry and lowered its head slightly, its posture even more deferential.
"Yu," she said, carefully choosing her words, her tone sincere. "Have you ever thought about leaving this forest and seeing the world outside? Heaven Dou City, the human world... perhaps there are sights worth seeing."
She had made the offer partly to gauge Yu's attitude toward humans, and partly to pave the way for a possible invitation in the future.
If she could bring him out of the forest, it would be much easier to protect him or establish closer ties.
A strange glint crossed Xiao Yu's eyes.
Leave the forest? See the human world? And receive an invitation from Qian Renxue herself?
He knew perfectly well what the outside world was like, and what Heaven Dou City meant.
With his current strength and Yu Yi and the others at his side, he could protect himself in the forest. He might even rule it.
But entering the human world, especially Heaven Dou City, would send the danger soaring. He would be dealing with beings on the Titled Douluo level.
Though he had faith in his rate of evolution and his system, rushing into human society now would be unwise.
Besides... He glanced at the two guards behind Qian Renxue, who were still on alert.
Until Qian Renxue had full control of the situation—or he had enough strength to deter others—letting too many humans see him, especially spies from Spirit Hall or other factions within the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, would only bring needless trouble.
"Oh~ (No need.)" Xiao Yu shook his head decisively. His wings stirred up a breeze as he made his refusal clear.
A trace of disappointment flickered in Qian Renxue's eyes, but understanding quickly took its place.
She understood that for a powerful Soul Beast like Yu, who had just established its territory and brought its kind under its command, leaving familiar surroundings would take tremendous courage and a compelling reason.
She had rushed things.
Still, Yu had shown no hatred or fear of the human world. He had simply chosen the safer option, which was a positive sign in itself.
"I was too forward," Qian Renxue said with an apologetic smile, regaining the composure of a crown prince. "This forest is truly a beautiful place."
"Yu, you can stay here without worry. No one will disturb you again. Xue Beng has been confined to his residence by Father. As for the two guards from yesterday..." She paused, her tone turning cold. "That matter has been taken care of. No rumors will get out."
She was reassuring Yu while also demonstrating her ability and sincerity—she could clear away trouble and offer him protection.
Xiao Yu understood. He knew Qian Renxue's methods well enough.
Xue Beng had been confined, and the guards who knew what had happened had been dealt with. It was entirely in keeping with her style.
He didn't object. He was even glad to see it.
After all, fewer problems were always better.
"Oh~ (Understood.)" Xiao Yu nodded again.
The sun sank in the west.
Xiao Yu waved a paw at Qian Renxue, then gave Yu Yi a low call.
He beat his wings hard, sending a powerful gust through the air, and shot toward Giant Tree Peak in a streak of blue-white light. In an instant, he disappeared into the dense canopy.
After saying goodbye to Xiao Yu, Qian Renxue was in high spirits. Her steps along the way were noticeably lighter.
Only the two guards remained unsettled, their voices full of lingering fear and awe. "That Soul Beast... is terrifying. Is it really just a Soul Beast?"
"I don't know." Qian Renxue shook her head, unconcerned. "Whatever it is, for now, it seems to be on our side. That's enough."
"An existence capable of commanding so many Soul Beasts would need to be eliminated if it were an enemy. But as a friend, it could be a great asset to the empire."
After a pause, Qian Renxue turned to the two guards, her expression serious. "You must not speak of what happened today. I'll report it to Father. You understand."
"Yes!" the two guards answered at once. Even without Qian Renxue's warning, they would never have spoken of it. A Soul Beast with humanlike intelligence alone was enough to attract countless eyes.
If they let this matter slip and something went wrong, they would deserve a thousand deaths.
Qian Renxue nodded. "Good. Then let's return to the palace at once."
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