Lin Xiao, You're Still as Reckless as Ever

Lin Xiao gently patted Qian Renxue's back to comfort her. Black Dragon also lowered its head, watching Qian Renxue weep endlessly in Lin Xiao's arms without making a sound, quietly observing them.

"Xiao Xue, I haven't been a good brother. These past years, you must have been exhausted. When you needed me the most, I wasn't by your side," Lin Xiao said painfully as he looked at Qian Renxue crying her heart out in his arms.

She had come to the utterly unfamiliar Heaven Dou Empire to carry out the so-called Usurpation Plan. She had been a peerless genius with Innate Soul Power at level twenty, yet her Soul Power cultivation had been put on hold. At every moment, she had to remain mentally vigilant to prevent her true identity from being exposed and all her efforts from going to waste.

Even now, though she had completed more than half of the plan and become the heir apparent of the Heaven Dou Empire, perhaps only Qian Renxue herself understood the countless, immeasurable hardships and obstacles along this thorn-filled path.

After Qian Renxue had released all her emotions, she raised her head and looked at Lin Xiao. A bitter smile appeared on her face. "Brother Lin Xiao, we haven't seen each other in many years. Xiao Xue lost her composure just now. I hope Brother Lin Xiao won't laugh at Xiao Xue for it."

Lin Xiao gently shook his head and slowly reached out, carefully wiping the tear stains from Qian Renxue's stunning face. He smiled brightly. "You nearly cried yourself into a little tabby cat. After all these years, Xiao Xue, you really haven't changed at all."

"It isn't that I haven't changed. Rather, in Brother Lin Xiao's heart, no matter what Xiao Xue becomes, I will always be the Xiao Xue in Brother Lin Xiao's heart." Having fully vented her emotions, Qian Renxue was visibly much happier.

"Although Xiao Xue hasn't changed in Brother Lin Xiao's heart, Brother Lin Xiao has changed beyond recognition in Xiao Xue's heart. Especially Brother Lin Xiao's appearance—you're even more handsome now!"

"But what Xiao Xue never expected was that Brother Lin Xiao would become so fond of teasing people. When Xiao Xue failed to recognize you, you actually disguised yourself as an assassin to tease Xiao Xue. It's truly infuriating!"

Qian Renxue looked at Lin Xiao and spoke with puffed cheeks. Yet at that moment, she looked as though she were acting spoiled toward him over what had just happened.

At her words, Lin Xiao's face brimmed with smiles. He gently ruffled Qian Renxue's hair and said with a grin, "Who told Xiao Xue not to recognize me? You even took me for an assassin. Since that was the case, shouldn't I cooperate with Xiao Xue and play the role of an assassin perfectly?"

"How can it all be my fault? We haven't seen each other in years, and Brother Lin Xiao has changed so drastically. You came to Heaven Dou City without informing Xiao Xue in advance. Otherwise, how could I have made such a joke of myself?" Qian Renxue complained, her eyes full of resentment as she looked at Lin Xiao.

"Inform you in advance? By the time the Soul Masters carrying the message left Spirit City, I would probably have already arrived in Heaven Dou City before they even reached the Heaven Dou Empire." Lin Xiao smiled.

Qian Renxue pondered slightly. Lin Xiao was right. No matter how fast the Soul Masters delivering messages were, how could they possibly be faster than her Brother Lin Xiao? Her Brother Lin Xiao was a Title Douluo. If he traveled at full speed, he could reach Heaven Dou City in only a few days!

After thinking for a moment, Qian Renxue rose slightly onto her toes and pressed together the index and middle fingers of her right hand. With a soft thump, she lightly tapped Lin Xiao's forehead. "But Brother Lin Xiao, you really are still as reckless and impulsive as you were back then. You could have just come here quietly, but you insisted on defeating every last bit of strength in my residence!"

She recalled their childhood days. Back then, she had still been innocent and inexperienced, but she already knew the publicly recognized best Soul Ring configuration in the Soul Master world. Yet her brother Lin Xiao had been extraordinary. Right after awakening his Martial Soul, he had gone to Star Dou Forest to hunt for a Soul Ring, when he should have needed a hundred-year Soul Beast's Soul Ring.

Yet Lin Xiao had been so reckless and impulsive that he had directly absorbed a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast's Soul Ring without a second thought. This was no small matter. Fortunately, Lin Xiao's physique had been exceptional, and his Martial Soul was extremely special. In the end, he had successfully absorbed that ten-thousand-year Soul Beast's Soul Ring.

When she learned of it, she had been terrified, her heart practically leaping into her throat. Fortunately, her Brother Lin Xiao had not suffered any mishap and had instead survived perfectly well. From then on, she had somewhat revised her opinion of this calm and steady brother of hers.

"Them? Heh, I merely wanted to test their strength for certain reasons. The result was simply far beyond my expectations. Who would have thought that the residence of the Heaven Dou Empire's heir apparent couldn't even withstand a Title Douluo?" Lin Xiao said with a smile.

He would absolutely never admit that, at the time, his mind had been filled with thoughts of seeing Qian Renxue as soon as possible. He had not considered this at all and had simply swaggered straight in.

"Hmph~" Qian Renxue clearly did not believe him, though she did not dwell on it. She immediately raised her hand and grabbed Black Dragon, which was lying atop Lin Xiao's head, and began playing with it. "Black Dragon, Black Dragon, you've changed a lot too. You were lying on Brother Lin Xiao's head, yet it was so hard to notice you."

"Awoo~" Black Dragon did its utmost to vent its dissatisfaction, but it was utterly useless. Lin Xiao did not stop her either. In the end, Black Dragon simply gave up, its eyes vacant as it allowed Qian Renxue to toy with it. Even after all these years, it still had not escaped the Witch's control!

Qian Renxue gently played with Black Dragon in her hands, her face blooming with a sweet smile like spring flowers. Her lips parted slightly as she asked, "Brother Lin Xiao, now that you've ended your seclusion and come here, did you come to visit me?"

Lin Xiao shook his head slightly, then said, "Of course not."

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue, who had been delighted to see Lin Xiao again, instantly stiffened. She stood frozen in place, trying her hardest to suppress the intense grievance in her heart as she forced a smile onto her face. "I knew it. Every time Brother Lin Xiao ends his seclusion, it's because something very important has happened."

Seeing Qian Renxue's face full of grievance that she could not conceal, Lin Xiao felt inexplicably distressed. Then he said:

"Of course not. I came here first and foremost to visit Xiao Xue. Then I heard from Grandfather and the others that Xiao Xue's cultivation had nearly been put on hold because of the Heaven Dou Empire. So I intend to help Xiao Xue raise her Soul Power and assist Xiao Xue in completing her task in the Heaven Dou Empire. Consider it making up for what I've owed our Xiao Xue all these years."

"Before I've accomplished everything I just mentioned, I won't be leaving. So, Xiao Xue, remember to arrange a public identity for me." Watching her expression change, Lin Xiao said with satisfaction.