Qian Renxue Invites Lan to Be Crown Princess?! Blood Connection!

"What's going on?"

The guard's reprimand rang out.

Ma Hongjun's expression turned incredibly ugly in an instant.

He glared at the tearful twins.

But seeing the city guards approaching, he had no choice but to forcibly suppress the lecherous fire in his heart.

Getting into a conflict with the guards in Heaven Dou City was just asking for trouble.

"Damn it, consider yourselves lucky!"

Ma Hongjun cursed under his breath, stomped his foot hard, turned around, pushed through the crowd, and strode away without looking back.

Meanwhile, at Skywater Academy.

The Skywater Lake, with its rippling emerald waves at the center of the academy, looked like a giant sapphire inlaid upon the greenery.

By the lakeside, under a weeping willow.

Lan leaned lazily against the thick trunk, flipping through a heavy book titled Complete Guide to Essential Knowledge for Soul Masters.

The summer breeze brushed across the lake, carrying a hint of moisture, yet it could not dispel the sweltering heat in the air.

For Lan, who grew up in the Far North, this was a rather novel experience.

He calculated silently in his heart.

Accustomed to the frozen plains stretching for ten thousand miles, he found the midsummer of Heaven Dou City unexpectedly difficult to endure.

It was about time.

The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament was being held right here in Heaven Dou City.

Just as he prepared to close the book, a crisp and pleasant call came from not far away.

"Lan!"

Lan looked up to see Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er walking toward him together.

Shui Bing'er was as cold and aloof as ever, dressed in a pale blue long dress, her waist-length blue hair swaying gently with her steps.

Shui Yue'er was much more lively; she took a few quick steps, like a cheerful little bird, and reached Lan first.

"Captain, are you slacking off and reading again?"

Shui Yue'er blinked playfully and sat down beside Lan without ceremony.

Lan put away the book and smiled faintly.

"Not slacking, just feeling a bit hot."

He took a thin booklet from his Soul Tool and handed it over.

"This is for you."

Shui Bing'er approached and curiously took the booklet, seeing three archaic characters written on the cover—Clear Heart Technique.

"This is?"

"A technique for calming the mind."

Lan explained.

"It's not of much use to me anymore."

"But it should be helpful to you. It can make the heart as still as stagnant water, without a ripple. I suspect it will most likely increase the speed and stability of your Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

Hearing "Martial Soul Fusion Skill," Shui Bing'er's eyes lit up instantly.

Her beautiful blue eyes were now fixed intently on the booklet in her hands, her slender fingers gently turning the first page as if touching a peerless treasure.

She sat very close to Lan, a faint fragrance lingering at the tip of Lan's nose, and with her movements, a stray lock of blue hair even brushed lightly against Lan's arm.

"Captain, you are really too good to us!"

Shui Yue'er, however, didn't pay much attention to the technique; her large eyes were filled entirely with Lan's figure.

As if performing a magic trick, she produced a bottle of iced water from behind her back, fine beads of condensation clinging to the bottle.

"Here, Captain, just chilled!"

She handed it over eagerly.

Lan did not refuse; he took it, unscrewed the cap, and took a large gulp.

The icy liquid slid down his throat, effectively dispelling much of the summer heat.

"Many thanks."

He set the water bottle aside and spoke again.

"You can have the other members of the Skywater Team practice this technique as well."

"If you coordinate well, you might even be able to develop a six-in-one fusion skill."

"Captain."

Shui Yue'er suddenly spoke up, correcting him with a mischievous grin.

"It should be a Seven-in-One Fusion Skill."

Lan was slightly taken aback.

Seven-in-One?

He looked into Shui Yue'er's eyes, which were sparkling with cunning, and understood in an instant.

This little girl had counted him in as well.

He smiled helplessly and stood up.

"I'm leaving first; you all continue your cultivation."

With that, Lan's figure flickered a few times and vanished at the end of the lakeside path.

Shui Yue'er remained where she was, watching the direction in which Lan had departed, a triumphant, smug smile spreading across her face.

Her gaze slowly drifted downward, landing on the bottle of water Lan had just drunk from.

Indirect kiss, achieved!

Shui Yue'er felt her cheeks burning, and her heart skipped a few beats, thumping wildly.

She carefully cradled the bottle, as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.

With a face flushed with excitement, she took a deep breath, ready to taste the flavor of the "Captain" for herself.

A hand suddenly tapped her lightly on the shoulder.

"Little sister, what are you giggling about?"

Shui Bing'er's cool, clear voice rang out beside her ear.

"Ah!"

Shui Yue'er was startled, and her hand trembled.

"Clatter!"

The bottle that carried her maidenly dreams hit the ground squarely, and the clear liquid quickly seeped into the grass, vanishing without a trace.

Silence.

A deathly silence.

The next second.

"My water—!!!"

A miserable shriek shattered the tranquility of Skywater Lake.

After leaving Skywater Academy, Lan did not linger for a moment.

Skywater Academy was built on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, not far from the majestic Imperial City.

His goal was clear.

Heaven Dou Imperial City.

It was indeed bustling here.

The long, bluestone-paved streets were incredibly wide, spacious enough for eight carriages to travel side by side. On both sides of the street, shops stood in rows, and the banners of restaurants and teahouses fluttered in the wind.

The cries of vendors, the rhythmic rumble of carriage wheels over stone slabs, and the chatter of pedestrians merged into a clamorous torrent, forming a sharp contrast to the absolute silence of the Far North.

Lan walked at a steady pace, his gaze sweeping calmly over the prosperity before him.

His destination was the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, the residence of Xue Qinghe.

Just as he reached the gate of the Eastern Palace, a gentle voice rang out.

"Captain Lan."

Lan followed the sound and saw Xue Qinghe standing on the steps at the entrance, dressed in moon-white finery and smiling as if he had been waiting for a long time.

He was tall and slender, his temperament refined and elegant, and the smile on his face was like a spring breeze, making it impossible not to feel a sense of goodwill toward him.

"You are very punctual."

Xue Qinghe walked down the steps and came to a stop in front of Lan.

Lan nodded slightly.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince."

His voice was as cold and detached as ever, devoid of any superfluous pleasantries.

"There is no need for such formalities."

Xue Qinghe waved his hand, his posture approachable.

"I watched your performance in the tournament; it was truly spectacular. With a captain like you leading the Skywater Team, I imagine the championship is well within your grasp."

Lan did not reply, merely watching him in silence.

Xue Qinghe seemed accustomed to his silence, feeling not the slightest bit awkward; instead, his smile deepened.

"Let's go. I shall take you for a stroll around the city."

He walked naturally by Lan's side, beginning to introduce the local customs and traditions of Heaven Dou City, speaking eloquently on everything from historical monuments to popular anecdotes.

Lan mostly just listened, only occasionally offering an "mm" in response.

The two of them, one speaking and one listening, one active and one still, formed a strange sense of harmony.

As they walked, a rich, fragrant aroma suddenly wafted from a restaurant nearby, enough to make anyone's mouth water.

Xue Qinghe paused, turned his head to look at Lan, and smiled.

"Captain Lan must be hungry as well."

"I have reserved a table at this 'Heavenly Fragrance Tower'; let us eat and chat."

With that, he led Lan into the restaurant.

On the second floor, in a private room.

The dishes were brought out in a steady stream.

Lan ate quietly, his movements elegant yet swift; he was clearly hungry.

Xue Qinghe poured himself a cup of wine but did not drink, instead holding the cup and watching Lan across from him with great interest.

"Come to think of it, Captain Lan, you truly speak very little."

He spoke in a soft voice.

Lan raised his eyes to glance at him, offered no reply, and picked up a piece of spirit beast meat to place in his mouth.

Xue Qinghe did not mind; he suddenly leaned his upper body forward, drawing closer, and lowered his voice.

"However..."

A faint scent of ambergris drifted to the tip of Lan's nose as he drew near.

"When I am by your side, I actually feel quite at ease."

He gazed into Lan's eyes, those gentle orbs now carrying a hint of playfulness.

"If you were a woman, I might just make you my Crown Princess."