Harvest

"Extremely dense poisonous miasma?"

Qian Renxue let out a cold laugh, her gaze raking harshly over Gu Qing's sleeve.

"From what I can see, you were doing more than just surviving in that poisonous miasma. You even had a beauty for company and were having a grand old time!"

Qian Renxue finally couldn't hold back any longer and brought up that pungent scent of powder.

"Dugu Yan's scent has rubbed off on your clothes. What else could you possibly say to defend yourself?"

Her rapid-fire questioning sounded especially grating in the somewhat empty room.

The more Qian Renxue spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. All the fear and wild imaginings that had tormented her throughout the night erupted in that moment.

Qian Renxue had even begun picturing Gu Qing and Dugu Yan nestled together beside a hot spring.

That jealous streak unique to a woman in the throes of love made Qian Renxue lose all her usual calm and good sense.

Gu Qing listened quietly to Qian Renxue's accusations, not a ripple of emotion showing on his face.

He slowly rose from his chair, passed Qian Renxue, and went straight to the round table where the Immortal Herb lay.

On the tabletop, the medicinal herb radiating an unusual glow rested quietly.

Until then, Qian Renxue's attention had been entirely on Gu Qing. She hadn't noticed the herb at all.

Gu Qing extended his slender fingers and carefully lifted the herb from the table.

As he cradled it in his palm, an exceptionally pure aura of light instantly spread through the room.

"I spent the entire night in Sunset Forest. I even forced my way into the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well."

Gu Qing turned around and slowly held out the herb in his hand to Qian Renxue.

"I did all that just to bring this back to you in perfect condition."

Qian Renxue followed Gu Qing's fingers with her gaze, letting it fall upon the oddly shaped herb.

It was a strange plant of brilliant gold, its petals at the top resembling the outstretched wings of a Six-Winged Angel.

Threads of sacred radiance flowed across every petal, illuminating the somewhat dim room until it was as bright as day.

Light elements, pure to the extreme, poured ceaselessly from within the herb.

The moment they touched the air, they became tiny golden stars, swirling and dancing above Gu Qing's palm.

The instant Qian Renxue recognized the herb, she froze as if struck by lightning.

The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul within her was stirred violently by the aura of light, reacting beyond her control.

This yearning from the depths of her Martial Soul was something Qian Renxue had never experienced in her more than twenty years of life.

She could even feel her Soul Power, which had been stagnant, showing the faintest signs of loosening the moment it touched the golden radiance.

"This... this is..."

Qian Renxue's eyes widened, and even her breathing grew hurried.

She had once read about this peerless Immortal Herb in the most secret and ancient texts in Spirit Hall.

It was said that this supreme treasure could only be nurtured where ultimate light converged with an immense wellspring of energy.

Qian Renxue had always believed that such a thing existed only in hazy legends, and could never appear in the world of the living.

The predecessors of Spirit Hall had searched the towering mountains of the entire Douluo Continent, yet had never found a single mention of this Immortal Herb.

And yet now, this peerless treasure from the ancient texts had appeared right before Qian Renxue's eyes, real as could be.

"Bright Heaven Grass."

Gu Qing's even voice sounded by Qian Renxue's ear, supplying the name she hadn't managed to say.

At the confirmation, Qian Renxue's pupils abruptly contracted.

She stared fixedly at the golden Immortal Herb in Gu Qing's palm, her eyes flashing with utter shock.

"It really is Bright Heaven Grass?"

Qian Renxue's voice trembled with undisguised emotion, her gaze unable to leave the brilliant golden petals.

It was as if liquid sunlight flowed through every vein in the herb's leaves.

Its sacred, warm aura not only drove away the chill from Qian Renxue sitting in the room all night, but also soothed all the anxiety in her heart.

Gu Qing held the Bright Heaven Grass a little closer. Its golden glow fell across his somewhat tired face.

"This thing has a miraculous, transformative effect on Soul Masters with light attributes. It can purify your Martial Soul and even bring about a qualitative leap in your Soul Power."

Seeing Qian Renxue's shock, Gu Qing patiently explained the Immortal Herb's effects.

"The area around the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well is covered in deadly poisonous miasma set by Dugu Bo. Inside, extreme ice and fire forces converge."

"Finding an Immortal Herb perfectly suited to your attributes in that kind of place wasn't easy."

Gu Qing's tone was utterly casual, as if he were describing something trivial.

But his words stirred a tempest in Qian Renxue's heart.

Qian Renxue knew very well what kind of place the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was.

It was a forbidden land where even Titled Douluo dared not tread lightly.

The Core Circle of Sunset Forest teemed with poisonous creatures, and Poison Douluo had deliberately laid his own traps there.

Ordinary Soul Masters couldn't hope to break in and search for Immortal Herbs. Even getting close to the edge of the poisonous miasma would turn them into a puddle of pus in an instant.

Gu Qing had risked his life and spent the entire night in that perilous place.

Only now did Qian Renxue notice the tiny tears at the hem of Gu Qing's clothes.

The edge of his otherwise neat robe was clearly marked by the slashes of some sharp plant.

There was even a faint scratch on the back of Gu Qing's hand. It had already healed, but traces of a weak poison still lingered.

And all of this had been for the sake of finding Qian Renxue an Immortal Herb that could increase her strength.

The hint of morning dew and scent of powder on Gu Qing's sleeve flashed through Qian Renxue's mind.

Those were no traces of a night spent in tender intimacy with Dugu Yan.

In such a perilous place, Gu Qing had needed to detoxify Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan. Close contact was unavoidable.

It was only natural for a healer to pick up some of a patient's scent while using needles to draw out poison.

And after doing all that, Gu Qing hadn't even rested for a moment. He had immediately brought this rare treasure back to the Crown Prince Mansion.

The resentment that had been building in Qian Renxue's chest was like a ball pricked with a needle. It deflated completely in an instant.

In its place came a wave of fierce self-reproach.

Qian Renxue bit her lower lip hard. Her overwhelming guilt made her afraid to meet Gu Qing's eyes.

Her hands gripped the hem of her clothes so tightly that her nails nearly dug into her flesh.

"You... you went to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well just to get this Immortal Herb for me?"

Qian Renxue lowered her head, her voice as faint as the buzz of a mosquito.

"Of course."

Gu Qing's reply came as he calmly watched the top of Qian Renxue's head.

"Without someone like you, with an ultimate light Martial Soul, the Bright Heaven Grass would be wasted in anyone else's hands."

Gu Qing admitted the purpose of his trip without the slightest evasion, as open and honest as could be.

His words crashed into the softest part of Qian Renxue's heart like a heavy hammer.

Qian Renxue felt her cheeks burn, and a sourness rose in her eyes.

What had I just done?

Gu Qing had spent all night laboring outside, risking his life to bring back this peerless Immortal Herb.

And Qian Renxue had sat in this room, letting her imagination run wild, even using the cruelest words to question Gu Qing's character.

Based on nothing more than a trace of powder scent on his clothes, she had accused him of being involved with another woman.

Remembering her hysterical interrogation, Qian Renxue wanted to find a crack in the floor and crawl into it.

The dignified Young Master of Spirit Hall and Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire had just thrown a tantrum like some shrew from the streets.

Qian Renxue felt she had been utterly unreasonable.

The gulf between her behavior and the truth, along with her guilt, shattered her defenses in an instant.

Qian Renxue could even feel tears welling in her eyes.

But the pride she had as the Young Master of Spirit Hall forced her to hold back the tears threatening to spill.

"I'm... sorry."

After a long struggle, Qian Renxue finally forced those three words through her teeth.

Her voice was very soft, choked with a noticeable sob.

Seeing how flustered and almost pitiful Qian Renxue looked, Gu Qing's lips curved into a faint smile.

He gently set the Bright Heaven Grass on the table, then stepped closer to Qian Renxue.

Feeling Gu Qing approach, Qian Renxue instinctively took half a step back.

But the solid wooden table was right behind her. She had nowhere else to go.

Gu Qing's tall frame blocked the morning light streaming in through the window, casting Qian Renxue entirely in shadow.

The distance between them shrank to nothing, close enough for them to hear each other's breathing.

Qian Renxue's heart pounded like a drum. She clutched the hem of her clothes and didn't dare look up.

The masculine scent of a mature man clinging to Gu Qing, mingled with the lingering sacred fragrance of the Bright Heaven Grass, enveloped Qian Renxue completely.

"So the Young Master of Spirit Hall can actually apologize to someone of her own accord?"

Gu Qing looked down at Qian Renxue, his tone tinged with unmistakable teasing.

His gaze swept over Qian Renxue's crimson earlobes, growing ever more amused.

Hearing Gu Qing's teasing tone, Qian Renxue's face grew several degrees hotter.

She even felt as if she might catch fire in the scorching atmosphere.

"I... I was only addressing what happened. My attitude was bad just now. I shouldn't have suspected you without reason."

Qian Renxue stammered out her defense, struggling to preserve what little pride she had left.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling with extreme nervousness.

"Was your attitude the only problem?"

Gu Qing wasn't about to let Qian Renxue off so easily. He stepped half a pace closer again.

The oppressive distance made Qian Renxue's breath catch.

Gu Qing reached out his right hand and gently lifted Qian Renxue's small chin between his slender fingers.

The coolness of his fingertips touched Qian Renxue's burning skin, sending a fine shiver through her.

Gu Qing applied the slightest pressure, forcing Qian Renxue to raise her head and meet his eyes.

Her beautiful eyes were full of panic and confusion, with a trace of moisture still lingering from her guilt.

She looked utterly different from the Qian Renxue who had been so aggressively interrogating him moments ago.

Gu Qing dipped his head slightly, his hot breath brushing right across Qian Renxue's sensitive nose.

"You waited here all night, not even daring to close your eyes."

Gu Qing drew out his words, his gaze fixed on Qian Renxue's eyes as they kept darting away.

"The moment you saw me, you flew into a rage and made a fuss about the scent of powder on my clothes."

The corner of Gu Qing's mouth curled with amusement, his voice dropping low.

"Qian Renxue, were you jealous?"

Qian Renxue smacked Gu Qing's hand away from her chin, the burning heat in her cheeks spreading all the way down her slender neck.

"Don't flatter yourself. As the Young Master of Spirit Hall, how could I possibly be jealous of you?"

Though Qian Renxue said that, her eyes were darting about so nervously that they had already betrayed what was in her heart.

Gu Qing showed no sign of anger at having his hand slapped away. Instead, he stepped back a couple of paces, deliberately restoring some distance between them.

Watching Qian Renxue stubbornly deny the truth, Gu Qing merely chuckled. He didn't press the subject any further.

He turned away, shifting his gaze back to the Immortal Herb shining with golden radiance.

"Absorb this Immortal Herb at once. The Bright Heaven Grass has been away from the soil for too long. Its medicinal properties will gradually fade with time."

Holding out the strangely shaped herb to Qian Renxue, Gu Qing pointed to the increasingly dense golden specks of light around them, bringing the conversation back on track.

Hearing his serious reminder, Qian Renxue immediately took two deep breaths, forcing her scattered thoughts to settle.

Carefully taking the Bright Heaven Grass from Gu Qing, its petals like angel wings, Qian Renxue felt as if she were holding a ball of warm sunlight in her palm.

"Absorb it here in this room. I'll keep watch. I won't let anyone come in and disturb you."

As he spoke, Gu Qing walked over to the broad armchair in the corner and sat down, settling into a pose that suggested he was prepared to keep watch for a long time.

His confident words instantly filled Qian Renxue with a deep sense of security.

Without hesitation, Qian Renxue went to the spacious bed, took off her shoes, and sat cross-legged on the soft bedding.

She brought the Bright Heaven Grass to her lips, parted them, and gently bit down on one brilliant golden petal, which radiated a sacred aura.