Gift

Qian Renxue let go of his hand and haughtily turned her head away.

"From now on, you are not allowed to tell anyone that you won against me."

"Did you hear me?"

Lin Qiu nodded hurriedly, smoothing out his hair as he spoke:

"I didn't win, I didn't win."

"It was Big Sister who was going easy on me."

Only then did Qian Renxue hum in satisfaction.

"At least you know your place."

She glanced up at the sky.

The luster in her eyes suddenly dimmed a fraction.

That high-spirited mood she had held just moments ago receded like the tide.

In its place was a faint trace of sorrow.

But quickly, she masked this emotion away.

"Alright, I'm leaving."

"Go play by yourself."

Having said that.

Qian Renxue did not linger any longer, turning and walking toward the courtyard exit.

Her back appeared somewhat hurried.

As if she were afraid of Lin Qiu noticing something amiss.

Two days later.

Outside Martial Soul City, on a secluded official road.

A black carriage sat quietly.

The carriage bore no markings and looked entirely ordinary.

Yet, pulling it were two Dragon Scale Horses possessing the bloodline of spirit beasts.

Two old men in black robes stood beside the carriage like withered trees, their auras completely restrained, as if they did not exist at all.

They were none other than the elders of Martial Soul Hall, Snake Lance Douluo and Pufferfish Douluo.

Qian Renxue stood before the carriage.

She had already shed her female attire, donning a set of men's brocade robes.

Her long hair was tied up with a crown, and her face had undergone a special disguise.

At this moment, she looked just like a handsome young nobleman.

She looked back at the towering Martial Soul City in the distance.

Her gaze pierced through layers of palaces, seemingly wanting to see clearly in the direction of a certain side hall.

There.

Was the person she cared about most.

And also... the person she cared about just a little bit.

This departure meant infiltrating the Heaven Dou Empire.

It would be an undercover life lasting several years, perhaps even over a decade.

No family, no friends.

Every day, she would have to live behind a mask, playing someone else.

Thinking of this.

A thick sense of bitterness and loneliness welled up in Qian Renxue's heart.

"Young Master."

Snake Lance Douluo spoke in a low voice.

"It is getting late; it is time to depart."

Qian Renxue took a deep breath.

She forcibly held back the moisture in her eyes.

"Let's go."

"I have nothing left to be attached to."

She turned around, her voice returning to its cold, hard edge.

"That woman doesn't care about me anyway."

"As for that little brat..."

Qian Renxue's mind conjured up the image of Lin Qiu's punchable, smiling face.

"Hmph."

"I wouldn't miss him at all."

"With no one to fight me for things and no one to make me angry, I couldn't be happier."

In the shadows.

Snake Lance and Pufferfish, the two Titled Douluo, exchanged a glance and sighed inwardly.

The Young Mistress is still just a child, after all.

To have to shoulder such a heavy mission at such a young age.

Leaving the home she grew up in to go to a completely unfamiliar place.

Anyone would be sad in her position.

The two dared not offer much comfort, so they could only silently pull back the carriage curtain.

Qian Renxue lifted her foot, preparing to board.

Suddenly.

Her movements froze.

Those disguised eyes snapped toward the woods beside the imperial road.

A small figure was strolling slowly from behind a tree.

He was wearing a simple white training suit.

A foxtail grass stalk dangled from his mouth.

With his hands behind his head, he looked completely relaxed and carefree.

Lin Qiu.

Qian Renxue was stunned.

She never expected to see Lin Qiu here.

How could he have known she was leaving today?

And on this secret route that only the Elders knew about?

"You..."

Qian Renxue opened her mouth, her cold, rigid disguise collapsing in an instant.

She hurried over and glared at Lin Qiu.

"What are you doing here?"

"Who told you to run out like this?"

"What if you... what if you get snatched away by someone?"

Although her tone was fierce.

The surprise in her eyes could not be hidden.

Lin Qiu spat out the foxtail grass.

He looked at her with a grin.

"I heard Big Sister was going on a long journey."

"I came to see you off."

"Otherwise, it would be so pitiful for Big Sister to head out all alone."

Qian Renxue blushed.

She turned her head away, acting haughty.

"Who... who is all alone?"

"I have two Elders accompanying me."

"Besides, I am going to do great things, not to play."

"I don't need you to see me off."

Although she said that, her toes scuffed lightly against the ground; it was clear she didn't actually intend to drive Lin Qiu away.

The voice in her heart whispered:

I suppose this little brat still has a bit of a conscience.

Lin Qiu didn't call her bluff.

He walked up to Qian Renxue and looked earnestly at her current disguise.

"Sister, this outfit of yours..."

"It's actually quite dashing."

"But, you look even better in a dress."

Qian Renxue's heart tightened.

This was her greatest secret.

From this day forward, she would have to live as a man.

"In the future... I'm afraid there won't be many chances to wear a dress again."

Qian Renxue sighed.

Her voice carried a trace of loneliness that she could not hide.

"The place I am going is very far away."

"Perhaps I won't be able to return for a very, very long time."

"Everything familiar will drift away from me."

She looked at Lin Qiu, her gaze somewhat dazed.

"Perhaps by the time I return, you won't even recognize me anymore."

By that time.

You will already be the most favored son of Bibi Dong, the Holy Son of Martial Soul Hall.

And I.

Will be nothing more than a usurper with blood-stained hands.

We will drift further and further apart.

Until we become strangers.

Thinking of this, Qian Renxue felt a sharp, stinging pain in her heart, as if pricked by a needle.

Lin Qiu looked at the little girl before him, who was pretending to be strong.

He shook his head.

His tone was exceptionally firm.

"That won't happen."

"No matter where you go, or what you become."

"I will recognize you."

"And besides..."

Lin Qiu paused, a brilliant smile spreading across his face.

"I will come to see you."

"No matter where you are, whether it's Heaven Dou City or the Imperial Palace."

"I will find you."

Qian Renxue was stunned.

Then, she gave a bitter laugh.

"Do you know how far away Heaven Dou City is?"

"Do you know how heavily guarded a place like the Imperial Palace is?"

"On what grounds would you come to see me?"

"Just because of that Martial Soul of yours that hasn't even awakened yet?"

Lin Qiu did not refute her.

He simply reached into his robes and fumbled for a moment.

Then, he pulled something out.

He held it out in front of Qian Renxue.

"This is for you."

Qian Renxue instinctively looked down.

There, resting in Lin Qiu's small, fair hand, lay a feather.

A colorful feather.

It was only the length of a palm, with five different colors flowing across its surface.

It looked dazzling and eye-catching.

But that was all it was.

There was no fluctuation of soul power, nor any special aura emanating from it.

It looked just like an ordinary, dyed bird feather.

Or perhaps a cheap trinket one could pick up at a roadside stall for a few copper soul coins.

"What is this?"

Qian Renxue asked, looking somewhat puzzled.

Lin Qiu offered a mysterious smile.

"An amulet."

"This is a treasure I went to great lengths to acquire."

"Keep it with you, and it will protect you should you ever encounter danger in the future."