"What don't you understand?" Han Xing asked, puzzled.
"I said you don't understand how important a Martial Soul Fusion Skill is." Qian Renxue shook her head.
"Do you think a Martial Soul Fusion Skill is just a powerful Soul Skill shared by two people?"
"More or less." Han Xing didn't argue.
"Having a Martial Soul Fusion Skill makes two people closer. What else is there?"
"That's why you're still too young." Qian Renxue chuckled. "You'll understand when you're older."
"Someone who can be completely sure that the other person is on their side, and trust them completely—that's something countless people dream of."
At her words, Han Xing nodded thoughtfully.
"So that's why you were able to accept me so quickly?" Han Xing asked.
"That's only one reason." Qian Renxue smiled.
"The other reason is your talent. You have Twin Martial Souls, Innate Full Soul Power, and two top-tier Martial Souls."
"This may sound a little practical, but we didn't know each other before. I can't very well say I fell for you at first sight, can I?"
As she spoke, Qian Renxue couldn't help leaning close to Han Xing's ear and whispering.
"Though I'd quite like to say that, just to see how you'd react."
Without waiting for Han Xing to answer, she giggled and stepped away from him.
Han Xing looked up and saw Qian Renxue standing not far away, smiling at him.
Clearly, she rather enjoyed teasing her young future "husband."
"You accepted it pretty quickly yourself." Han Xing chuckled.
"What else would I do?" Qian Renxue asked in return.
"Did you think I could find anyone more suitable than you?"
"Certainly not." Han Xing answered confidently.
"There's no one now, and there never will be."
"Then that settles it." Qian Renxue walked over to Han Xing, hesitated, then took his hand of her own accord.
"It's a rare chance to be back in my original appearance. Come on, keep me company while I wander around today."
Han Xing followed behind Qian Renxue, watching as she sometimes acted like a willful little girl and sometimes like a caring older sister.
He couldn't help reflecting that when Qian Renxue kept her wits about her, she was far too clever.
They'd only just met, yet somehow they were already having such a good time together.
And whenever Han Xing encountered something he liked or disliked, she always seemed to notice immediately and respond accordingly.
As expected of someone who could become the perfect crown prince in everyone's eyes.
Even now that she had set aside her disguise, she had kept all the habits she'd acquired during her years living as Xue Qinghe.
"What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"
Noticing Han Xing's expression, Qian Renxue asked him.
"Nothing. Looking at you just reminded me of a few things." Han Xing shook his head with a smile, casting off the weight on his mind.
"Come to think of it, before I came to Heaven Dou City, Senior Qian Daoliu asked me to pass along a message to you."
"Grandpa asked you to pass on a message? What was it?" Qian Renxue asked, puzzled.
"He said, 'If you're homesick, come back to Spirit City. Some things aren't important.'" Han Xing spoke gently.
At his words, Qian Renxue fell silent.
After a long while, she finally raised her head again.
"I am a little homesick, but I've already spent so much time on this."
Qian Renxue shook her head. "If I give up halfway now, won't all the effort I've put in over the years have been for nothing?"
"But when you go back and see Grandpa, please give him my regards."
"Of course. I'll be sure to pass that along." Han Xing nodded.
"Enough of that. The Auction House is just ahead. I'll take you in for a look." Qian Renxue returned to her earlier manner.
"And this is my token. It wouldn't be wise to reveal my current identity here. Once you get back, Senior Guang Ling will tell you."
"If you miss me in the future, you can come find me with my token."
Qian Renxue handed Han Xing the token that represented her status as crown prince.
"Whoever sees this token is as good as seeing me. It represents my highest authority."
"Throughout the entire Heaven Dou Empire, only two other people have one besides you."
Qian Renxue didn't say who the other two were, but Han Xing could more or less guess.
They were probably the two Titled Douluo at Qian Renxue's side, Snake Lance and Pufferfish.
Han Xing couldn't think of anyone else whom Qian Renxue would trust so much.
As they talked, the two arrived at the Heaven Dou Auction House.
Entering the Auction House required proof of funds, but that was obviously no problem for Han Xing or Qian Renxue.
Neither of them would be short of Gold Soul Coins.
Qian Renxue had two identities: the young mistress of Spirit Hall and the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. How could she possibly be short of money?
Han Xing didn't have as many identities, but he was at least Bibi Dong's disciple.
She hadn't given him any special privileges, but he certainly wasn't short of Gold Soul Coins.
After entering the Auction House without a hitch, Han Xing and Qian Renxue followed a maid's directions to a small private box and took their seats.
"You can go."
Qian Renxue waved the maid away, then began explaining things to Han Xing.
"The Heaven Dou Auction House has many ties to the royal family, and it holds auctions around the clock."
"Because of that, particularly precious items often go up for auction. Even rare treasures like Soul Bones sometimes appear."
"Soul Bones..." Han Xing murmured.
"Do you want a Soul Bone?" Qian Renxue asked, glancing up at him.
"If we were at home, I might be able to find a way to get one for you."
"But at an auction, it all comes down to luck."
"Although Soul Bones are precious..." Qian Renxue's expression grew serious.
"I have to remind you: don't see a Soul Bone and rush to absorb it right away."
"With your talent, absorbing a Soul Bone under ten thousand years old would be a complete waste of your potential."
"Don't worry. I'm not that ignorant." Han Xing rolled his eyes.
"I'm just curious about Soul Bones. After all, I don't have one yet."
"There's no need to rush when it comes to Soul Bones," Qian Renxue said.
"You're her disciple, after all. Once you graduate, she'll help you get a Soul Bone, one way or another."
"If you perform well, then knowing her, she might even help you get more than one."
The "her" Qian Renxue spoke of was obviously Bibi Dong.
Their strained mother-and-son relationship meant that even now, Qian Renxue couldn't bring herself to call Bibi Dong "Mother."
While they were talking, one of the items below was sold, and a new item was brought onto the stage.
"Up for auction now is an extremely rare piece of Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber, which is of great benefit to men."
"The starting bid is ten thousand Gold Soul Coins. Each bid must be at least one thousand Gold Soul Coins higher."
At the auctioneer's words, Han Xing's attention was drawn to the item.
Whale Rubber? If he remembered right, it could strengthen the body.
According to Electrolux, it was tempered over a flame.
"What are you looking at? Don't tell me you're thinking of buying it?"
Noticing where Han Xing was looking, Qian Renxue's eyes widened, and a blush spread across her cheeks.
"Let me make this clear: I'm not doing that sort of thing with you right now."