The next morning.
Ying Chengfeng's house-renovation plans were in full swing.
A group of pretty girls working on a construction project made for a rather amusing sight.
Ying Chengfeng stood atop the hilt of a towering giant ice sword, contemplating the Breath-Severing Sword.
He stood there for three whole days.
The house was remodeled.
Ji Qingyi gave the people from Skywater Academy permission to leave.
But Shui Bing'er insisted on staying.
"There's no house here for you to stay in," Qian Renxue said to Shui Bing'er, displeased.
Looking at Qian Renxue's jealous expression, Shui Bing'er couldn't help finding it funny.
"What's your relationship? You don't seem like siblings."
Come to think of it, Shui Bing'er had also been curious about Qian Renxue's Martial Soul these past three days.
Qian Renxue always acted as if she were stronger than Shui Bing'er, but couldn't be bothered to compete with her.
Hearing Shui Bing'er's question, Qian Renxue was the one who froze.
She couldn't figure out what kind of relationship she and Ying Chengfeng had, either.
They were probably really, really good... friends?
Just then, Ying Chengfeng finally opened his eyes atop the giant sword.
Like a gust of wind, he appeared in front of Shui Bing'er. "Don't ask questions you shouldn't."
"Sounds like a very special relationship," Shui Bing'er said with a faint smile.
But when she saw the sharp look in Ying Chengfeng's eyes, she tactfully stepped aside.
Qian Renxue wanted to know the answer to that question, too.
Although her body was only nine years old, her consciousness had lived nine years longer.
They hadn't exactly been normal years, but even counting half of them, she could be considered fourteen in terms of mental age.
She wasn't some clueless little girl.
Over the past three years, Ji Qingyi had also taught her a few things about men and women.
Qian Renxue edged closer to Ying Chengfeng and asked in a low voice, "So, what kind of relationship are we?"
"Best in the world?" Ying Chengfeng replied with a smile.
Truthfully, Ying Chengfeng didn't know, either.
Qian Renxue had once asked him why he was so good to her.
Ying Chengfeng hadn't answered.
Back then, he had taken Qian Renxue away for nine years.
If Qian Renxue hadn't gone with him and had instead stayed at Spirit Hall, he would very likely have run into a great deal of trouble.
He was grateful that Qian Renxue had been willing to go with him.
He had also decided to help her gain a mother's love and change her fate.
But it seemed that was all.
Speaking of Qian Renxue's fate, it wasn't entirely fair to say she had brought it all upon herself.
Later on, Sea God's will had influenced her and warped her mind, making her fall for the wrong person: Tang San.
But if Qian Renxue had been steadfast, she wouldn't have fallen for such underhanded tricks.
The Nine Angelic Trials had been a farce, too.
He'd never heard of a trial that required someone to unleash their lust in order to pass.
The natural enemy of Evil Soul Masters, the sacred Angel God, no less?!
Shouldn't she have slain the heart demon, Tang San, to prove herself absolutely holy?
She passed the Angel God Trial by unleashing her lust?
And Tang San helped her pass Angel God's test, to boot?
If Angel God hadn't died and still had any awareness, she'd have grabbed her sword and cut Qian Renxue down.
It was utterly absurd!
If she hadn't been tampered with, Ying Chengfeng couldn't think of another explanation.
But he couldn't be sure whether that was what had happened.
Whatever the case, Ying Chengfeng felt that Angel Godhood was a huge pit.
Having it or not made no difference.
Angel God was dead, and someone might have even altered the rules of the divine trials.
And the most likely person to have tampered with the Angel God Trial was Sea God.
That sleazy old geezer had no shame whatsoever.
Just as shameless as Yu Xiaogang.
Rather than inherit an Angel Godhood riddled with pitfalls, she might as well become a god herself.
Godhood was just a realm beyond Titled Douluo, after all.
He just didn't know whether Qian Renxue had the potential to become a god on her own.
Ying Chengfeng studied Qian Renxue, tempted to crack open her head and take a look inside.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Qian Renxue said, sensing something familiar in his gaze.
It was a lot like the way he'd looked at that Yu Xiaogang three years ago.
The look he gave an idiot.
So, am I an idiot?
That thought popped into Qian Renxue's head.
Damn it!
Qian Renxue grabbed Ying Chengfeng's arm and bit down hard.
"Let go," Ying Chengfeng said helplessly.
"What was that look you just gave me? Tell me!" Qian Renxue demanded.
Ying Chengfeng shook his head. "You've really had it rough."
"What do you mean?" Qian Renxue hadn't understood a word.
Ying Chengfeng smiled without answering.
He only grumbled inwardly: Your family's genes are completely backward!
Qian Daoliu was abnormal, Qian Xunji was abnormal, and Bibi Dong was abnormal.
First, there was Qian Daoliu. He could've just raised Qian Renxue to become a god, but instead, he had his granddaughter infiltrate the Heaven Dou Empire.
What was the point of that?
Even if he wanted to seize Heaven Dou, he could've just impersonated Emperor Xue Ye and gotten it over with.
A God-level Torso Bone, perfect disguise, and all that just to impersonate a crown prince waiting to inherit the throne?
And then wait more than ten years.
Seriously, no normal person would come up with a plan like that.
Then there was Qian Xunji. Forget it, there wasn't much to say about him. He belonged at the same table as Yu Xiaogang.
And finally, Bibi Dong, who was just plain brainless.
She was like a prestigious university graduate who'd studied herself stupid, getting taken in by Yu Xiaogang, a man with only an elementary-school education.
With all three of them so messed up, how could Qian Renxue possibly turn out fine?
Ying Chengfeng's gaze grew even more sympathetic as he looked at Qian Renxue.
"Do you miss home?" Ying Chengfeng asked.
Qian Renxue froze, then fell into thought.
"Maybe they don't need me at home anymore." Qian Renxue didn't understand why Ying Chengfeng was asking. She grew anxious. "Do you not need me anymore, either?"
Ying Chengfeng shook his head with a faint smile and flicked her forehead. "What are you thinking?"
Then he continued, "I was wondering whether your mother would still recognize you when you're older."
"It doesn't matter," Qian Renxue said softly.
"That's true." Ying Chengfeng thought of something. "Your Martial Soul is the best proof of your identity."
"I mean, I don't really need her that much anymore," Qian Renxue said earnestly, looking at Ying Chengfeng.
Ying Chengfeng fell silent.
He couldn't help looking toward the house where Yu Feiyan lived.
At that moment, Yu Feiyan was undergoing a special form of cultivation to heighten her sensitivity.
Ying Chengfeng had been training Yu Feiyan to slap Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong in the face.
And the ultimate goal was to make Bibi Dong accept Qian Renxue.
But now Qian Renxue was saying she didn't need her anymore?
"No!" Ying Chengfeng said solemnly. "You can't just give up halfway!"
"Then what do you want me to do?" Qian Renxue looked as if she'd go along with anything he said.
Ying Chengfeng stared at her speechlessly. "You've got me all worked up and left hanging. It's miserable, you know?"
Qian Renxue lowered her head and thought for a moment before asking, "What's all worked up and left hanging?"
Ying Chengfeng noticed the strange look in her eyes. "What's going through your head?"
Qian Renxue immediately turned her head away, unable to stop herself from remembering the things Ji Qingyi had taught her.
Her whole face suddenly grew hot, as if another brain were about to grow inside her.
A love-brain.
"You're acting strange!" Ying Chengfeng said, utterly baffled by her reaction.
How had this conversation somehow awakened something incredible?!
Before you continue