The Future of Spirit Hall Shouldn't Be Bought with a Woman's Suffering

"Young Master, Fourth Worship and His Highness the Holy Son have arrived," Snake Lance Douluo said quietly.

Qian Renxue stood and smoothed the folds in her skirt with both hands.

"I know. Take them to the back garden."

In the back garden of the Crown Prince's Residence, the night wind stirred the leaves with a soft rustle.

Qin Xiong brought Qin Yao in, avoiding all the patrolling guards, and landed lightly on the garden's flagstone path.

Porcupinefish Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo were waiting beside the artificial hill. As soon as they saw Qin Xiong, they immediately bowed.

"This subordinate greets Fourth Worship."

Qin Xiong waved a hand, indicating that they could rise.

Porcupinefish and Snake Lance stood up, their eyes immediately settling on Qin Yao.

His long, purplish-silver hair reached his shoulders, and his dark purple eyes held a chill that seemed to warn strangers to keep their distance.

He wore a fitted black outfit patterned with dark purple, his figure tall and straight at a full six feet three. There was no way to tell that he was only twelve years old.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Holy Son." The two bowed again.

Qin Yao gave a slight nod and said quietly,

"You've both worked hard, elders."

As soon as he finished speaking, the faint sound of footsteps came from the covered walkway.

Qin Yao turned to look.

Qian Renxue emerged from the shadows and stepped into the moonlight.

Her golden palace gown shimmered faintly in the moonlight. Her exquisite face was flawless, her skin fair as snow and her nose straight.

Qin Yao looked at her, his breath catching for a moment.

Qian Renxue was beautiful.

Even more stunning than he remembered.

Seeing this, Qin Xiong cleared his throat and slung an arm around Porcupinefish and Snake Lance.

"You two, come have a couple of drinks with this old man over there. Don't get in the way."

Porcupinefish and Snake Lance understood at once and quickly left the garden with Qin Xiong.

Only Qin Yao and Qian Renxue remained in the vast garden.

Qian Renxue stood where she was, her hands clasped in front of her. Looking at Qin Yao, who stood half a head taller than her, she didn't know how to begin.

This kid had grown far too quickly. Even she was taken aback by the pressure he gave off.

Qin Yao didn't hesitate. He walked straight toward her.

The distance between them steadily narrowed.

Five meters, three meters, one meter.

Qian Renxue instinctively wanted to step back, but the pride in her bones made her plant her feet.

Qin Yao stopped in front of her and looked down at her.

"Xue'er, it's been a long time." Qin Yao's voice was low and pleasant.

Qian Renxue lifted her chin slightly and met his gaze.

"It has. You've grown quite a bit taller, and stronger, too."

Qin Yao stepped closer.

Qian Renxue's breath hitched. They were now less than half a meter apart, and she could even feel the heat radiating from him.

"You got Great-Grandpa's letter, right?" Qin Yao got straight to the point, without beating around the bush.

A faint blush spread across Qian Renxue's face.

"I did. Grandpa, he... he's gotten a little carried away matchmaking."

Qin Yao chuckled. He raised his hand and casually tucked a loose strand of hair behind Qian Renxue's ear.

His fingertips brushed against her cool earlobe.

Qian Renxue shivered, her ears instantly turning crimson. She wanted to move away, but found she could barely make her legs move.

"I think Great-Grandpa has a good eye," Qin Yao said softly. "Xue'er, you're beautiful, and you have tremendous talent. The future of Spirit Hall is something we should shape together."

Qian Renxue's heart suddenly raced.

She instinctively stepped back half a pace, putting some distance between them.

The night wind swept through her golden hair, but it couldn't dispel the burning heat rising in her face.

"Xiao Yao, stop fooling around."

Qian Renxue took a deep breath and forced down the flustered feelings in her heart. "I... I'm a full ten years older than you!"

That ten-year age gap was the most immediate obstacle in Qian Renxue's heart.

She had been born with innate level-twenty full Soul Power, and her grandfather had called her the heir to the Angel Godhood ever since she was little. From childhood, she had carried Spirit Hall's greatest secret as she went undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire.

She was used to being in control of everything. Yet facing this purple-haired boy before her, who stood taller than she did and radiated an even more intimidating presence, she felt powerless, as if she couldn't control anything.

Seeing her evasive gaze, Qin Yao chuckled.

He didn't back down. Instead, he took another step forward, forcing Qian Renxue into a dead end beside the artificial hill.

"So what?"

Qin Yao lowered his head slightly and looked straight into Qian Renxue's face, his tone casual yet tinged with arrogant disdain for the world.

"It's only ten years. If we become gods in the future, we'll have endless lifespans. By then, that ten-year gap won't even amount to the blink of an eye."

Become gods!

Those two words crashed into Qian Renxue's heart, making her head ring.

She jerked her head up and stared at Qin Yao.

The boy's face had sharply defined features, and his pale skin shimmered faintly in the moonlight.

There wasn't the slightest hint of joking in his voice. His whole being radiated an overbearing confidence, as if what he said were only natural.

Qian Renxue's breathing grew completely ragged.

Her lifelong ambition had always been to inherit the Angel Godhood. It was a mission her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, had instilled in her since childhood.

But what about Qin Yao? He was only twelve!

A twelve-year-old boy spoke of "becoming a god" as if it were nothing, with such effortless confidence.

But Qian Renxue quickly came to her senses.

Qin Yao really did have grounds for that confidence.

She recalled the reports Porcupinefish Douluo had sent and felt the deep, restrained Soul Power within Qin Yao. A powerful sense of defeat suddenly welled up inside her.

She was ten years older than him and had been born with innate level-twenty full Soul Power. Yet she was only level fifty-eight now.

But Qin Yao?

At twelve, he was a level-fifty-one Soul King!

Not only did he have a ten-thousand-year fourth ring, but he had also awakened an Innate Domain.

Such a terrifying rate of cultivation was unheard of.

Qian Renxue silently did the math. At the monstrous rate Qin Yao was advancing, it would take no more than three years for his Soul Power to surpass hers completely.

By then, that ten-year age gap would only make her own talent look mediocre.

"You..."

Qian Renxue opened her mouth, but realized she couldn't find anything to refute him with.

Looking at her dazed expression, Qin Yao didn't keep pressing the point. Some things were better left at that; pushing too hard could have the opposite effect.

He reached out and took Qian Renxue by the wrist as naturally as could be.

Qian Renxue shivered and instinctively tried to pull free, only to find Qin Yao's grip astonishingly strong. His warm hand clamped around her wrist like an iron vice and led her toward the stone pavilion.

"You... let go of me."

Qian Renxue lowered her voice in protest, her cheeks so red they seemed ready to bleed.

"There's no one else in this garden. What are you afraid of?"

Qin Yao led her to sit on a stone bench, then sat down across from her.

He picked up the purple clay teapot from the stone table, turned over two cups, and deftly poured them each some tea. He pushed one cup toward Qian Renxue.

"Staying here alone all these years, wearing that false face every day to deal with Xue Ye—it must have been exhausting."

Qin Yao took a sip of tea, his tone suddenly becoming exceptionally gentle.

Qian Renxue's fingers stilled around her teacup.

Ripples spread across the tea, reflecting her distracted face.

Was it exhausting?

How could it not be?

Ever since she was nine, she had to imitate a man's speech and mannerisms, learn to scheme, and learn to make herself welcome on all sides at court.

She couldn't have friends or show weakness. Even when she slept, she had to keep one eye open, afraid of exposing her identity.

In Spirit Hall, apart from her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, and the other worshippers, no one cared about her.

Her nominal mother, Bibi Dong, regarded her as a thorn in her side.

She had never told anyone about all this suffering, and had nowhere to speak of it.

Yet now, this younger brother she hadn't seen in over a decade, a boy ten years her junior, had put all her heartache into words with a single sentence.

Qian Renxue lowered her head and watched the steam rising from her cup. Her voice grew hoarse.

"This is my mission. For the future of Spirit Hall, someone has to make sacrifices."

"The future of Spirit Hall shouldn't be bought with a woman's suffering." Qin Yao set his teacup down hard on the stone table, and it landed with a dull thud.