The Alliance with Qian Renxue, and the Fate of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud

Qian Renxue took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

She raised her hand and used her fingers to smooth her disheveled long blonde hair.

The movements were slow, as if the mechanical motion was a way of reorganizing one's fragmented emotions.

When she looked up again, the tear stains on her face had been wiped away.

Although his eyes were still red, they had refocused and regained their usual calm and sharpness.

She no longer mentioned Bibi Dong, Qian Xunji, or the truth that shattered her worldview.

Lin Qingmo, I need to go back, but not now.

She suppressed all those emotions, burying them in a corner of her heart that she couldn't reach for the time being.

Then she changed to a completely new expression.

The expression that should be presentable Young Master of the Spirit Hall, as a negotiator, and as Qian Renxue herself.

"Let's leave my matter aside for now."

Her voice was still a little hoarse, but her tone had completely regained its composure.

"Now let's talk about your problem, Lin Qingmo."

"Every single thing you just said is enough to kill you ten times over."

"Don't you know that yourself?"

"Reveal the Spirit Hall's top secrets, reopen a wound in my heart, and tell the Spirit Hall's Young Master that her father was that kind of person."

"Aren't you afraid that in a fit of rage I'll kill you right here to silence you?"

Lin Qingmo shrugged, his expression frank.

"If you wanted to kill me, you would have done it right there in the main hall."

"With two Titled Douluo guarding outside, I can't escape."

"But not only did you not lay a hand on me, you also led me into Secret Chamber, dropped your disguise, and let me see you cry."

"Who's crying!"

Qian Renxue retorted instinctively, her voice carrying a hint of embarrassment and anger that was completely unbecoming of her status Young Master.

Lin Qingmo wisely did not continue the topic.

He just smiled and continued, "So I don't think we're necessarily on opposing sides."

"It's better to have one more friend than one more enemy; this saying may be old, but it's true."

Qian Renxue narrowed her eyes.

She sat back down in her chair, placed her hands folded on her knees, and resumed her composed demeanor.

But Lin Qingmo noticed that her fingers were still trembling slightly.

What are your stance and objectives?

"And what is the purpose of that mysterious Chat Group?"

Lin Qingmo pondered for a moment.

He had actually thought about this problem many times.

What exactly is Chat Group?

Who built it?

Why bring these people in?

He still doesn't fully understand it.

"To be honest, I'm not sure about the Chat Group either."

"I'm still figuring out how it works, why it emerged, and whether anyone is manipulating it."

"Even I only recently learned more about the true identities of the group members."

"As you can see, this group has no mandatory goals, no system tasks, no points redemption, nothing at all."

"It's just a regular chat platform."

"It just so happens that it brought together a group of people with special backgrounds."

Qian Renxue nodded thoughtfully.

No wonder Lin Qingmo had previously stipulated that people should not reveal others' identities without authorization.

He wasn't playing any political games at all.

He simply wanted the group to retain its most basic function: a place where people could chat with each other.

"As for my stance and purpose, it's actually quite simple."

Lin Qingmo leaned back, resting his hands behind his head, his posture relaxed.

"I want to become the strongest, free and unrestrained, and then live a shameless life with the person I love."

Qian Renxue's expression visibly froze for a moment.

Then her lips twitched slightly, and her eyes were filled with undisguised contempt.

That's it?

"That's it."

Qian Renxue remained silent for a full three seconds.

She looked at him with an expression that seemed to say, "Why did I just mistake you for some unfathomable master?"

"My intelligence indicates that you are extremely shrewd and cunning. It seems it's time to replace you in my intelligence department."

"Don't say that. A sophisticated attitude towards life and shrewd methods are not mutually exclusive."

Lin Qingmo lowered his hand, his expression becoming slightly more serious.

"However, I can tell you one thing clearly: there is a basis for cooperation between us."

"I don't get along with Tang San, Tang Hao, or Yu Xiaogang."

"And you should be now too."

Upon hearing the name "Yu Xiaogang," Qian Renxue's eyes suddenly turned cold.

That name was like a key, precisely turning on a switch she had just pressed.

She wasn't thinking about Yu Xiaogang himself, but Bibi Dong the fact that Yu Xiaogang had fallen in love with him.

Qian Renxue's killing intent towards Yu Xiaogang was even greater than her intent towards Tang Hao.

Tang Hao is an enemy, but Yu Xiaogang is someone who must be killed!

"You seem to know exactly how to persuade someone."

Qian Renxue raised her head, the disdain in her eyes gone, replaced by a cold scrutiny.

"We have a common enemy."

"In that case, we can certainly be friends."

Lin Qingmo raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you're not planning to kill me?"

Qian Renxue ignored his further advances.

She abruptly changed the subject and asked a question that Lin Qingmo had never expected.

"You want the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, don't you?"

Lin Qingmo's eyes lit up slightly.

The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud is the key to unlocking the Sea God Inheritance.

In the original novel, Tang San gained the favor of the Sea God through it.

He really wanted it, he wanted it very much.

Tang San was able to become the Sea God thanks to two things: first, Bo Saixi's Sacrifice, and second, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

If the latter is taken away, even with Bo Saixi's help, it will be difficult for Tang San to embark on the path to godhood again.

However, he was even more surprised that Qian Renxue would suddenly bring this up.

The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud should still be in the hands of the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family.

Although Xue Qinghe, the incarnation of Qian Renxue, was Crown Prince.

But there's no reason to use something like this to do someone a favor.

unless...

"You mentioned in the group chat before that the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud is a necessary item for obtaining the Sea God Inheritance."

"You also said that Tang San will become the Sea God in the future."

"Since Tang San is your mortal enemy, you certainly wouldn't want him to obtain this divine artifact."

Qian Renxue's tone was as calm as if she were reading a strategic analysis report.

"So, I'm going to give it to you."

Lin Qingmo was slightly taken aback.

That's the Sea God Divine Position.

Even if she herself didn't need it, the Spirit Hall could have kept it for someone more suitable.

Or simply seal it away so that no one can get their hands on it.

Just give it to him like that?

"You think things aren't that simple?"

Qian Renxue gave a soft hum.

"Looks like you're not stupid after all."

"The Spirit Hall possesses the legacy of the Angel God, so the Sea God Divine Position is dispensable to me."

"Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud remains in the Spirit Hall, it will at most gather dust in the treasury. Giving it to someone who can use it will make the most of it."

"But I have one condition."

She paused for a moment, her golden eyes looking directly into Lin Qingmo's eyes.

"You must form an alliance with me."

"This isn't just a perfunctory verbal promise, but a true covenant: you must be on my side when I need you."

Lin Qingmo remained silent for a few moments, his mind racing.

The value of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud is immeasurable; it is the key to godhood.

But what Qian Renxue wanted was a covenant.

What she wanted was not a henchman, not a subordinate, but a trustworthy ally.

Lin Qingmo suddenly realized that the blonde woman in front of him was in an extremely isolated and helpless situation after learning the whole truth.

Her grandfather had deceived her for over a decade, her mother had been wrongly hated by her for over a decade, and her father's towering image had been shattered.

She has two Titled Douluo by her side and access to the resources of the entire Spirit Hall.

But she had no one she could trust.

She chose to trust herself.

"Deal." Lin Qingmo held out one hand.

Qian Renxue looked down at his hand.

I didn't reach out to shake hands.

She simply stood up and looked down at him.

Her tear stains had dried, and her long golden hair fell to her shoulders.

Her posture straightened like a pine tree once more, and her gaze sharpened like a sword again.

But she paused before turning to walk towards the door of the Secret Chamber.

He turned his head and said something in a very soft voice.

"The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud is a national treasure, and it's currently still in the Heaven Dou Empire's treasury."

"I need a little time to get it done."

"I will hand it over to you personally when the time comes."

"Then I'll wait."

Lin Qingmo also stood up and patted off non-existent dust from his clothes.

"However, there's one more thing I'd like to remind you of."

"Have the Pufferfish and the Snake Lance investigate Yu Xiaogang. Once they find out, don't rush to take action."

"I know."

Qian Renxue's tone returned to its usual coldness.

"I'm not in a hurry. I've been infiltrating the Heaven Dou Empire for ten years; patience is the last thing I lack."

"Debts that need to be collected will be settled one at a time."

She paused for a moment, as if she had suddenly remembered something.

Then she raised her hand and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, turning her head away. The lingering blush at the base of her ear stood out against her golden hair.

"Also, don't mention those frivolous things like 'shamelessly flirting with someone you like' in front of me again. You're just blinded by lust."

Lin Qingmo blinked, resisting the urge to ask, "Why can't I mention it in front of you?"

I will keep my promise, but you'd better not have any unrealistic expectations.

"It's just an alliance, don't overthink it."