Xu Jiujiu walked on the forest path back to Star Luo City, her steps brisk, and there was a slight smile on her lips that she had not even noticed.
The scene on the river bank just now was replayed in my mind - the jumping bonfire, the tempting aroma, and the young man named Lin Ciyan.
"What an interesting person." She whispered to herself, her blond hair shimmering in the sunlight passing through the forest leaves.
As Star Luo Empire's most beloved little princess, Xu Jiujiu has seen too many different kinds of people.
The aristocratic children may be flattering or pretend to be noble; the young talents may be eager to show off or be reserved and clumsy.
The way they looked at her always had some purpose - maybe it was power, maybe it was wealth, maybe it was the aura that belonged to a royal princess.
But Lin Ciyan is different.
His eyes were very clean. They were not innocent and innocent, but showed a transparent indifference.
He looked at her as if he were an ordinary traveler who met by chance.
There was no deliberate flattery, no cautious testing, or even the common awe of royal status.
He just shared food naturally and talked casually, as if she was not Star Luo Princess, but just a girl named Xu Jiujiu who happened to be passing by.
"And... the aura on his body is very comfortable." Xu Jiujiu raised his hand, feeling the warmth that seemed to remain on his fingertips.
It was not the warmth of body temperature, but a deeper sense of peace that seemed to penetrate into the soul.
She recalled the inexplicable peace of mind she felt when she took the skewers.
Think of the feeling of relaxing your whole body when drinking hot soup; think of the relaxation of unconsciously letting go of your defenses when talking.
"Is it some kind of special Martial Soul talent?" Xu Jiujiu thought thoughtfully. She has read a lot and knows that there are some rare Martial Souls on the mainland who have the ability to influence the emotions of others.
But those were often accompanied by obvious mental fluctuations or Soul Skill releases, but she could not feel any deliberate traces on Lin Ciyan.
It was more like a part of his life essence, as natural and warm as the sun.
"Lin Ciyan..." She repeated the name softly, a trace of curiosity flashed in her blue eyes, "What kind of person are you?"
At the same time, Nebula Douluo Man Yi, hidden not far behind her, keenly captured the subtle emotional changes of Her Royal Highness.
There was a hint of complexity in Titled Douluo's eyes.
She could understand why the princess was attracted.
That boy is indeed special - not only his talent, but also his transcendent temperament.
In Man Yi's long life, he has seen countless geniuses, but there are very few people like Lin Ciyan who seem to understand life at such a young age.
"I hope... it's not a disguise." Man Yi secretly warned.
The status of the royal family means that most of the people around the princess wear masks.
But she also had to admit that if that was a disguise, then this young man's castle was too deep.
It was so deep that even she could barely see the flaws.
On the bank of the river, Lin Ciyan put away the tableware and sat beside the gradually extinguishing bonfire, thinking about the encounter just now.
"Xu Jiujiu...Star Luo Empire's little princess, the strange woman in the original novel who is too sane to be like Douluo." He picked up a stone and threw it into the stream, watching the ripples swing around.
In the original work, Xu Jiujiu left a deep impression on him.
Unlike those female characters on the Douluo Continent who are always obsessed with love, this princess always maintains an astonishing sobriety.
She is smart, rational, and takes the overall situation into consideration. She puts national interests above personal emotions. She is able to cope with royal struggles and stand up when the empire is in danger.
"Speaking of which, among the Douluo Continent's female characters, I can count on one hand the number of female characters who can always keep a clear mind like her." Lin Ciyan chuckled.
"This is probably the saying that 'things are rare and valuable'."
He admired Xu Jiujiu not only for her talent and intelligence, but also for her appearance honestly.
The slender figure outlined in the pale golden dress, the elegant demeanor that naturally shows when walking, the facial features as delicate as a porcelain doll, and those clear blue eyes that seem to be able to see into people's hearts... are all masterpieces of God.
"Good looks, an above-average IQ, a noble status, and no love brain - this configuration is at the ceiling level wherever it is placed." Lin Ciyan commented objectively, "It's a pity that I was born in a cursed place like Douluo Continent."
He remembered the ending of Xu Jiujiu in the original work - for the sake of the national interest, he finally married a noble, a political marriage.
There is no vigorous love, only calm and rational choices.
"At least it's much better than those who risk life and death for love and risk everything." Lin Ciyan shrugged.
"But this is all the plot of the original work. Now in this world... who knows how it will develop?"
He stood up, patted the grass clippings on his clothes, and looked in the direction of Star Luo City.
The top priority is Gold of Life.
"Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife should be at Starlight Auction House now. After many failed auctions, the price won't be too high." Lin Ciyan calculated.
"With Starlight VIP Card given by Xu Jiujiu, it will be much easier to inquire about information and participate in the auction."
He felt Xiyao still sleeping in Sea of Consciousness, and anticipation surged in his heart.
The huge vitality and spiritual power contained in Gold of Life will be of immeasurable benefit to his cultivation, recovery of Xiyao, and future evolution of Martial Soul.
"As long as I get it and fuse it successfully, my strength will at least be improved by a big level." Lin Ciyan's eyes flashed.
"At that time, we will be more sure of getting the powerful fourth Soul Ring."
Seventy thousand year Soul Ring, even with his current physical fitness, he is not 100% able to successfully absorb it.
But with the blessing of Gold of Life, the success rate will be greatly improved.
He gathered his mood and prepared to leave for the city. But after taking a few steps, he suddenly remembered something and paused slightly.
"Speaking of which... at this point in time, Huo Yuhao should still be suffering in the White Tiger Duke Mansion."
Lin Ciyan looked in the other direction of Star Luo City.
According to the original timeline, Huo Yuhao is now about ten years old, and he and his mother Huo Yun'er are struggling to survive at the bottom of the White Tiger Duke Mansion, and are being bullied.
The scene seemed to appear in front of his eyes - the thin blue-haired boy was protecting his mother, facing the punches and kicks of the servants, his eyes full of unwillingness and despair.
"The protagonist of the original work..." Lin Ciyan sighed softly, with a trace of complexity flashing in his eyes.
Does he sympathize with what happened to Huo Yuhao? Sympathy.
That child has never had a good life since he was born. His mother was bullied, he was insulted, his father disowned him, and his life was worse than that of the lowest servant.
That kind of life is suffocating just thinking about it.
But will Lin Ciyan help him?
No.
He shook his head slowly and continued walking towards Star Luo City.
"Even if I go to the White Tiger Duke Mansion now and rescue Huo Yuhao and his mother, what will happen next?" Lin Ciyan analyzed calmly.
"Give them a sum of money and let them fly away?"
"Will Huo Yun'er be willing to leave? She loves Dai Hao so much that she is willing to endure all humiliation just to occasionally look at him from a distance. That kind of feeling is almost obsession."
"Even if we take her away by force, she will be depressed and eventually go back."
"And Huo Yuhao... at his age, his desire for his father and his yearning for recognition cannot be wiped away by simple redemption."
Lin Ciyan can see it clearly.
The tragedy of Huo Yuhao in the original work is rooted in the White Tiger Duke Mansion's distorted system, Dai Hao's indecision, and Huo Yun'er's infatuation without regret.
These deep-seated problems cannot be solved by him as an outsider.
"What's more, after saving Huo Yuhao, will his mother be safe?" Lin Ciyan thought of the ending of Huo Yun'er in the original work - he became ill from overwork and died in depression, and was not recognized by Dai Hao until his death.
"As long as Huo Yun'er still loves Dai Hao, and as long as she remains in the shadow of the White Tiger Duke Mansion, her ending will not change. And I cannot protect them forever."
He stopped and finally looked back in the direction of the White Tiger Duke Mansion.
"I'm sorry, Huo Yuhao." Lin Ciyan said softly, "After all, you have to walk your own path."
"The most I can do is not to become your enemy."
This is not indifference, but sobriety.
After living in this world for so many years, Lin Ciyan has already understood a truth: not all tragedies can be saved, and not all sufferings are worthy of intervention.
Sometimes, premature intervention can disrupt the trajectory of destiny and cause even more unpredictable consequences.
Huo Yuhao has his own way to go.
"And I..." Lin Ciyan turned around and looked at Star Luo City firmly, "I have my own way to go."
He took a step forward and never looked back.
Everyone has their own destiny, their own struggles, and their own choices.
All he can do is follow his own path and protect the people he cares about.
As for Huo Yuhao...
"I hope you can leave that place soon and start your own story." Lin Ciyan thought silently in his heart.
The setting sun stretched his shadow very long.
The young man walked towards the majestic giant city alone, with calm steps and clear eyes.
He didn't know what kind of waves his trip to Star Luo City would cause, whether he could successfully acquire Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife, or what kind of challenges he would encounter in the future.
But he knows one thing - no matter what lies ahead, he will go forward lazily but firmly in his own way.
After all, he is a person who ties Slacker System.
The worse it is, the stronger it becomes.
He was prepared to spend the rest of his life verifying this truth.