Qian Renxue: Lan, You Are Mine! Bloodline Tremors!

Xue Qinghe's tone carried a hint of irresistible intimacy as he pulled Lan toward the Crown Prince's Mansion.

"This Palace still has many matters to discuss with Brother Lan."

Being pulled like this, Lan did not break free.

A strange, warm current flowed quietly from where their hands met into the depths of Lan's heart.

This feeling was very unfamiliar.

It did not belong to ice, nor did it belong to soul power.

It was a... palpitation that seemed to originate from the depths of his bloodline, making him feel an inexplicable sense of closeness and peace.

Xue Qinghe pulled him along, walking in front with a light, brisk gait.

He did not look back, yet his heart rate inexplicably quickened by a few beats.

The youth's hand was cooler than he had imagined, yet very steady, with thin calluses on the palms and knuckles left by years of gripping a blade.

Under the glow of the night lights in Heaven Dou City, his profile was sharp and distinct, like a work of art carved from ice and snow.

Those eyes were as calm as a cold pool in the dead of night, yet they inadvertently revealed a clarity that matched his age.

So good-looking.

Xue Qinghe, or rather Qian Renxue, whispered softly in her heart.

This feeling was quite marvelous.

There was no disgust, no calculation, only an impulse from the bottom of her heart to draw near, to be close.

It was as if he were naturally meant to be hers...

As this thought emerged, Qian Renxue's heart skipped a beat.

She tightened her grip on Lan's hand unconsciously.

Just then, a timid voice came from behind.

Purple Scorpion Girl lifted her skirt and trotted to catch up, her eyes full of reliance.

"Master, wait for me."

The Crown Prince's Mansion arrived.

Xue Qinghe let go of his hand, the smile on his face not diminishing in the slightest.

"From now on, treat this place as your own home."

Over the next few days, Xue Qinghe's enthusiasm reached an almost meticulous level.

The best guest rooms, the rarest delicacies, and even a top-tier Soul Gathering Array in the meditation room were all prepared.

He often came to find Lan to discuss strange tales of the soul master world or the customs of the Heaven Dou Empire, his words amiable and familiar, as if the two were old friends who had known each other for years.

Yet, Lan always felt something was wrong.

Beneath that enthusiasm, there seemed to be something hidden that he could not see through.

The palpitation between their bloodlines was real, but this excessive concern felt like it was separated by a thin veil—hazy and deliberate.

On this day, Lan decided to leave the city.

No matter how good the Crown Prince's Mansion was, it was not a place to stay for long.

Cultivation could not be neglected for a single day.

He knew that in places he could not see, that woman was also growing stronger at a terrifying speed.

He had to be faster.

Outside Heaven Dou City, there was a lake as clear as a mirror.

In the emerald-green water, a few elegant white swans paddled leisurely across the surface, leaving ripples in their wake.

Purple Scorpion Girl lifted her skirt, following closely behind Lan.

She looked at Lan's profile, speaking softly with a hint of worry.

"Master, you must be careful of that Brother Xue Qinghe."

"I think he has ulterior motives toward you."

Lan's gaze remained fixed on the lake, offering no reply.

He walked to the water's edge, took off his outer robe, and was left in a black martial suit designed for ease of movement.

Then, he stepped into the water.

The icy lake water submerged his ankles, his knees, his waist...

That familiar, cold chill enveloped his body, invigorating his spirit.

The Shadow Abyss Shark martial soul within him let out a joyful hum the moment it touched the water, and the speed at which his soul power circulated increased by a fraction.

On the shore, the Scorpion Girl watched Lan in the water, a trace of longing in her eyes.

Her father had been a fisherman, spending his entire life in the company of water.

From a young age, she had also felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to the water.

"Master..."

Scorpion Girl's voice carried a hint of hesitation and anticipation.

"Can... can I join you too?"

Lan turned his head to glance at her.

"Come in."

He responded indifferently.

"Thank you, Master!"

Upon hearing this, a radiant glow of joy instantly bloomed on Scorpion Girl's face.

Mimicking Lan, she carefully dipped her feet into the water, as if afraid to disturb the tranquility.

The black dress she had changed into at the auction house clung tightly to her body the moment it touched the water.

The flow of water beneath the fabric clearly outlined the young girl's budding, graceful curves, a mix of innocence and heart-stopping allure.

Soaked black hair clung to her snow-white neck and cheeks, and water droplets slid down her delicate jawline, dripping into the water to create small, rippling circles.

She paddled clumsily, like a kitten that didn't quite know how to swim, trying hard to get closer to Lan.

Suddenly, she lost her balance and her foot slipped.

"Ah!"

Scorpion Girl cried out, unable to stop herself from lunging forward.

Splash!

A large spray of clear lake water was kicked up by her, drenching Lan's face completely.

Lan: "..."

He wiped his face, staring expressionlessly at the girl flailing in the water.

"I'm sorry, Master! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"

Scorpion Girl panicked, her small face flushing bright red as she waved her hands in apology, becoming more flustered and choking on several mouthfuls of water.

"Cough, cough..."

"It is fine."

Lan's voice remained cold and detached, revealing neither anger nor joy.

"Calm your heart. Feel the water flow, do not fight against it."

That simple sentence instantly quieted Scorpion Girl.

She closed her eyes and, following Lan's guidance, tried her best to sense the water elements surrounding her body.

A moment later, she opened her eyes in pleasant surprise.

"Master! I can feel it! It feels so comfortable!"

She tried moving her body in the water; although still awkward, she was no longer as panicked as before.

"Thank you, Master!"

The girl swam to Lan's side, her bright, sparkling eyes filled with adoration and gratitude as she looked at him.

"Master not only saved me but is also teaching me how to cultivate... Xie'er... Xie'er has no way to repay you."

Lan watched the girl struggling to adapt in the water, and a rare, faint trace of warmth flickered in his calm eyes.

Meanwhile.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

In a quiet corner of the academy, the lotus pond was serene.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling sat side by side on the bluestone by the pond, their skirts spread out like two blooming flowers.

The pond was planted with lotus roots, with large, jade-green lotus leaves interspersed with a few pink lotus buds waiting to bloom.

A few koi fish swam leisurely beneath the leaves, stirring the clear water.

A warm summer breeze blew past, rippling the pond and lifting a few strands of hair from Dugu Yan's temples.

Yet, her delicate face was filled with a rage that felt completely out of place with the scenery.

"That damned Lan!"

Dugu Yan gritted her silver teeth, her voice filled with resentment.

"He is simply a despicable, shameless, and vulgar bastard!"

She was truly about to explode with anger.

The mere thought of the match made her want to grab that guy named Lan and soak him in her snake venom for three days and three nights.

That bastard actually slashed his blade right at her chest!

She simply could not swallow this insult.

Even now, that spot seemed to ache faintly, and what was worse, it was accompanied by waves of lingering, tingling numbness.

It was too humiliating!