Day five.
Qin Yao crouched beside the stream, washing his hands. The traces of the Amethyst Armor had already faded. Yesterday, he had fought a Shadow Leopard that was sixty-eight thousand years old. It was incredibly fast, and during the battle, it had left a shallow wound on his forearm. It was nothing serious, though.
Qian Renxue sat on a rock across the stream, her feet dangling above the water, her long golden hair falling loosely down her back.
She was still wearing the same combat outfit as before, but the expression on her face was much softer than it had been five days ago.
"We should head back," Qian Renxue said.
Qin Yao shook the water off his hands. "Is the stand-in about to give out?"
"It can hold on for a few more days, but if we put it off any longer, there'll be trouble." Qian Renxue nodded lightly.
Qin Yao gave a quiet "Mm."
He had gained quite a bit over the past five days.
Fighting more than a dozen Soul Beasts over fifty thousand years old had given him a clear understanding of his own strength. Without using his domain or the Amethyst Seal, he could hold his own against Soul Beasts between fifty and sixty thousand years old.
Those over sixty-five thousand years old were more difficult, but if he activated his domain and used his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, he could still defeat them.
In terms of human Soul Masters, his pure combat strength was probably about equal to a Soul Saint's.
A fifty-first-level Soul King with the fighting strength of a Soul Saint.
Qin Yao was fairly satisfied with that result.
But it still wasn't enough. Not nearly enough!
He needed to become even stronger!
Qin Yao came back to himself and turned to offer Qian Renxue his hand.
"Let's go."
Qian Renxue looked at his hand, walked over, and took it.
Her palm was much warmer than it had been five days ago.
Five days spent together from morning to night—fighting, getting hurt, keeping watch for each other, eating together. Those little everyday moments had done far more than any sweet words could.
Qin Yao realized that Qian Renxue was actually easy to get along with.
There was a stubborn streak in her; once she made up her mind, she wouldn't change it easily.
But around him, she was willing to let down her guard and occasionally show a little temper.
For instance, yesterday he'd glanced at the Shadow Leopard a couple of times and remarked that its fur looked nice. Qian Renxue had gone cold and ignored him. It took three attempts to get her to explain that she was annoyed he was covered in dirt yet still thinking about the fur of some beast.
At the time, Qin Yao had been at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
But he knew perfectly well that this little temper was exactly what showed she had come to regard him as someone truly close to her.
In the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, she didn't even have the right to lose her temper.
Qin Xiong emerged from the woods, followed by Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo.
"Heading back to Heaven Dou City?" Qin Xiong asked.
"Mm." Qin Yao nodded. "Grandpa, take Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo ahead. Xue'er and I will fly back."
Qin Xiong glared at him. "You sure know how to give people orders. Fine, I won't get in the way of you and Xue'er having some time alone."
At that, Qian Renxue lowered her head, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
Qin Yao spread his Amethyst Bone Wings and turned to Qian Renxue. "Xue'er, ready?"
Qian Renxue summoned her Six-Winged Angel, golden wings unfurling behind her.
The two of them rose into the sky, one after the other, and flew toward Heaven Dou City.
The wind rushed past their ears. Qin Yao suddenly sped up until he was at Qian Renxue's side, then grabbed her hand.
Qian Renxue tried to pull free, but when she couldn't, she stopped resisting.
The currents high above were icy, but her hand was warm.
Just then, Qian Renxue turned her head.
"Xiao Yao."
"Mm?"
"Will you come visit me often from now on?"
The wind roared, and Qian Renxue's voice was quiet to begin with. The air currents broke it up, so it reached him in snatches.
But Qin Yao heard every word clearly. The corners of his mouth almost lifted, but he forced them back down.
"Xue'er, what did you say?"
Qian Renxue turned toward him, her long golden hair blown across half her face.
She tucked it behind her ear and leaned a little closer.
"I said, will you come visit me often from now on?"
Her voice was a little louder this time, but she still kept it low, as if she were afraid the wind might hear.
Qin Yao kept pretending. "Xue'er, the wind's too loud. I couldn't hear you. Say it again?"
Qian Renxue froze for a moment.
She looked at Qin Yao's profile. His lips were pressed tightly together, but he was clearly holding back a laugh.
"You're doing that on purpose."
Qin Yao said nothing. He only turned his head to look at her, his expression on the verge of breaking.
Qian Renxue's face turned scarlet in an instant, the blush burning from her ears all the way down her neck.
She was the noble young lady of Spirit Hall, the inheritor of the Angel God's legacy. She had spent more than a decade undercover in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, outwitting those old foxes without ever losing. And now this brat was making a fool of her.
"Qin Yao!"
Qian Renxue dismissed her Six-Winged Angel and dropped straight out of the sky.
Qin Yao was startled and instinctively dove after her to catch her.
Qian Renxue had clearly counted on him coming to the rescue. The moment he got close, she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him.
"That's what you get for teasing me!"
Qin Yao wrapped one arm around her waist and supported the crook of her knees with the other, his bone wings beating with all their might to keep them steady. They swayed twice in the air, nearly tumbling down together.
"Xue'er, could you stop messing around? If we fall, we might not die, but we'll be half-dead."
"Good. You'd deserve it."
Qian Renxue clung to his neck without letting go, her face buried in the crook of his shoulder, her ears red enough to drip blood.
Qin Yao steadied himself, then simply gathered her securely in his arms.
To him, Qian Renxue weighed about as much as a sack of rice. Carrying her while flying was easy; he'd only been teasing her with that earlier stunt.
"I heard you," Qin Yao said softly, his mouth close to her ear.
"I heard you the first time."
Qian Renxue's body stiffened.
"I'll come visit you often from now on."
Qin Yao adjusted his hold so she could lean more comfortably against him.
"I won't let you be lonely anymore, Xue'er."
Qian Renxue didn't answer. Her face remained buried against him, but the heat in her cheeks showed no sign of fading.
After a long while, Qin Yao felt her fingers clutch the fabric over his shoulder, then slowly loosen.
Qian Renxue's muffled voice sounded.
"You promised. You're not allowed to go back on your word."
"I won't."
The wind swept past them as Qin Yao carried Qian Renxue onward toward Heaven Dou City.
Qian Renxue never let go, nor did she summon her Martial Soul again. She simply curled up in his arms.
She could have flown on her own, but she didn't want to.
For the more than ten years she had spent in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, she had always been alone.
Every decision, every act of endurance, every scheme—she had borne them all by herself.
Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo were by her side because her grandfather had sent them to protect her. She had no doubts about their loyalty, but in the end, they were only her subordinates.
She had never had anyone she could rely on.
Since leaving Spirit Hall at the age of nine, these five days had been the easiest she'd had.
The two of them flew high above the ground for a long time.
In the distance, Qin Xiong followed with Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo, flying among the higher clouds. The combined senses of three Titled Douluo could cover several li in every direction, ensuring that nothing went wrong.
Snake Lance Douluo glanced at Qin Xiong, opened his mouth, then shut it again.
Qin Xiong shot him a look. "If you have something to say, say it."
"Fourth Worship, the Holy Son and the Young Master... aren't they moving a little too fast? It's only been a few days."
Qin Xiong snorted. "My grandson's popular. So what if things are moving fast? Got a problem with that?"
Snake Lance Douluo didn't dare respond.
Porcupinefish Douluo flew on the other side and muttered, "Fourth Worship, at this rate, when will First Worship get to hold a great-grandchild?"
Qin Xiong kicked at him, but Porcupinefish Douluo nimbly dodged.
"Get lost!"
Before you continue