First Meeting with Qian Renxue, Are You Really Lin Jiang?

At this moment, Snake Lance Douluo also walked over, glanced at Lin Jiang, and shook his head: "So it's just a brat; it seems he isn't the one who played those black pieces."

Lin Jiang's heart skipped a beat.

Played the black pieces?

His gaze flickered, and he quietly activated his Appraisal Eye—

[Porcupinefish Douluo · Chi Xue, Level 92 Title Douluo]

[Snake Lance Douluo · She Long, Level 92 Title Douluo]

Lin Jiang's eyes lit up.

As expected!

Two Title Douluo acting as guards—the "Young Master" they were protecting could only be—

Qian Renxue!

The person playing chess with him from afar was indeed Qian Renxue!

Lin Jiang cleared his throat, stood up, and put on a serious expression.

"Ahem."

"I am the one who played those black pieces."

Chi Xue was stunned.

Then, he looked Lin Jiang up and down, his mouth twitching.

"What kind of joke is this?"

"A greenhorn like you, barely ten years old, can play chess that well?"

He was full of disbelief.

A rustic village boy, capable of playing against the Young Master for two years and fighting to a standstill?

What a joke!

Lin Jiang ignored him and walked straight toward the stone pavilion.

She Long reached out a hand, blocking his path.

"Kid, don't make us use force."

Lin Jiang stopped in his tracks and looked up at him: "I really am the person who plays the black pieces here every day."

Chi Xue waved his hand impatiently: "Get lost!"

A mere brat, worthy of playing against the Young Master?

Inside the stone pavilion, Qian Renxue heard the commotion outside.

She raised her head, her gaze piercing through the light and shadows outside the pavilion, landing on the back of the figure being blocked.

She Long and Chi Xue were standing in front of a youth.

The youth was dressed plainly, but his face was exceptionally handsome.

With sword-like brows and starry eyes, a straight nose bridge, and features as exquisite as if they had been carved.

Even in coarse clothing, he could not hide the unique temperament he possessed.

Qian Renxue's heart skipped a beat.

Could it be...

Subconsciously, she activated her Appraisal Eye.

[Character: Lin Jiang]

[Martial Soul: Golden Dragon King]

Qian Renxue's pupils constricted sharply.

Lin Jiang!

It really was Lin Jiang!

Martial Soul Golden Dragon King!

Exactly the same as in the Divine Oracle!

She stood up abruptly and walked quickly toward the outside.

Chi Xue was still trying to drive him away.

"Don't be ungrateful!"

Catching a glimpse of Xue Qinghe walking toward them, he became even more aggressive.

"Get lost! Don't dirty the eyes of our Young Master!"

He reached out, grabbed Lin Jiang by the collar, and prepared to throw him out—

"Stop!"

Qian Renxue's voice rang out, carrying a hint of urgency.

Chi Xue stiffened, nearly throwing out his back.

He turned his head, looking at Xue Qinghe in disbelief.

The Young Master... was actually telling him to stop for the sake of this brat?

She Long was also stunned.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in the other's eyes.

Chi Xue sheepishly set Lin Jiang down.

Lin Jiang landed on the ground and brushed the dust off his clothes, unhurried.

Then, he raised his head.

Looking past Chi Xue and She Long, he gazed at the "young nobleman" who had stepped out from the stone pavilion.

Their eyes met.

Both were momentarily dazed.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled, swaying shadows on the open ground between them.

Lin Jiang was the first to recover.

He looked at the "young nobleman" before him, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

"Are you the one who plays the white stones here every day?"

His voice was not loud, yet it was perfectly clear.

Xue Qinghe stared at his face, her heart drumming like a war drum.

That face was even better-looking than she had imagined.

She took a deep breath, steadying her voice.

"...I am."

It was only one word, yet it nearly cracked.

Beside them, She Long and Chi Xue watched, dumbfounded.

The Young Master's voice... why was it trembling?

She Long couldn't help but speak up: "Young... er, Nobleman, can this brat really play a match against you that ends in a stalemate?"

His face was full of disbelief.

A mountain boy with a bamboo basket on his back and mud on his shoes, playing chess with the Young Master for two years?

Xue Qinghe didn't even turn her head.

"All of you, withdraw."

Her voice was indifferent, yet brooked no argument.

She Long and Chi Xue exchanged a glance.

Both saw the shock in each other's eyes.

The Young Master was actually sending them away for the sake of a boy she had never met before?

"Understood."

The two replied in unison, turned, and retreated.

One stood guard at the eastern path, the other at the western path, their backs turned to the stone pavilion.

Only two people remained in front of the pavilion.

Xue Qinghe looked at Lin Jiang, her gaze complex.

She wanted to confirm one thing.

"Do you..." she paused, "know who I am?"

Lin Jiang tilted his head, looking at her.

Then, he smiled.

"Of course."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of candy.

Dried Tangerine Peel Candy.

The candy wrapper shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

He held the candy out toward Xue Qinghe.

"Little Angel, have some candy."

Xue Qinghe's pupils constricted sharply.

Those three words struck her heart like a bolt of thunder.

Little Angel.

Only one person had ever called her that.

Only that little boy from her childhood.

She looked at the candy, and her eyes instantly turned red.

Tears welled up in her eyes, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Could it be...

Was it truly a Divine Oracle?

Did the Divine Oracle send Lin Jiang to save her?

She took the candy, her fingers trembling slightly.

"Lin Jiang..." Her voice was very soft, as if she were afraid of shattering something.

Lin Jiang looked at her, his smile gentle.

"Xue'er."

As those two words fell, Xue Qinghe—no, Qian Renxue—could no longer hold back.

A flash of light swept past.

The face belonging to "Xue Qinghe" dissipated.

Long, golden hair cascaded down, shimmering with a sacred luster under the sunlight.

Her skin was fairer than snow, her features were as beautiful as a painting, and her golden eyes were brimming with tears and starlight.

Qian Renxue had returned to her original appearance.

She stood in the sunlight, clutching the Dried Tangerine Peel Candy in her hand, looking at the young man before her.

The wind passed through the stone pavilion, blowing her golden hair and the hem of his clothes.

For a moment, they looked at each other in silence.

Qian Renxue gazed at the handsome young man before her, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Although Lin Jiang was actually younger than her, he was already a head taller, and standing before her, he did not appear immature in the slightest.

Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and features as fine as a painting.

She had not expected that she would truly find Lin Jiang ahead of schedule.

The Divine Oracle had not lied to her.

But... what should she do now?

She gripped the Dried Tangerine Peel Candy, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the candy wrapper, her heart beating as fast as a drum.

Lin Jiang was the first to speak.

"Xue'er, I have finally found you."

His voice was gentle and carried a smile, as if he were stating something that was only natural.

Qian Renxue lowered her head: "Mm..."

Her voice was as small as a mosquito's.

Lin Jiang looked at her appearance, and the corners of his mouth could not help but curl up.

"You don't need to come here anymore from now on," he said. "I will come to find you if I have anything to discuss."

Qian Renxue nodded and took a token from her bosom, handing it over.

It was a golden token, with the character "East" engraved on the front and the Swan Emblem of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family on the back.

"This is the token for my East Palace." She raised her eyes and looked at him earnestly. "With this token, you can enter and leave the East Palace as you please."

Lin Jiang took the token, weighed it in his hand, and tucked it away.

Then, he said with a serious expression: "Xue'er, your top priority right now is not handling political affairs."

Qian Renxue was startled.

"It is cultivation," Lin Jiang said, looking at her. "You must catch up on what you have missed over these years. Only then can you remain in an invincible position."

Qian Renxue's heart stirred.

Indeed.

In the Divine Oracle, it was precisely because she had neglected her cultivation while undercover that she only reached the rank of Soul Saint at twenty-nine, ultimately losing to Tang San.

In this life, she could not repeat the same mistakes.

She raised her head, her gaze much more determined.