With money to spare and a face that pretty, what powerful family's young lady was she?
Wang Dong'er asked after putting away the Gold Soul Coin card.
"By the way, what's your name?"
"Just grill your fish."
After saying that, Qian Renxue closed her eyes and silently meditated to recover her Soul Power.
"Pretty icy, huh? I'll let it slide because of the Gold Soul Coins."
Wang Dong'er curled her lip. Soon, the aroma of grilled fish wafted through the air.
"Here. It's ready."
"Thank you."
Qian Renxue took the grilled fish and ate it one bite at a time.
Though it had no seasoning at all and tasted only of plain grilled fish, she still found it satisfying.
After filling her stomach, she seemed to feel much better and struck up a conversation with Wang Dong'er.
"You're pretty bold, wandering into the Star Dou Great Forest all by yourself as a Soul Grandmaster."
"This is only the outermost area. What's there to be afraid of?"
Wang Dong'er shrugged. In just a few bites, she polished off several grilled fish.
Maybe she was still growing, or perhaps Soul Masters simply had big appetites.
Even after several fish, her stomach was only a third full.
Fortunately, she had planned ahead. Just as she finished the fish in her hand, the ones grilling beside the campfire were nearly done. She ate five or six more in quick succession before finally stopping, satisfied.
Watching all this, Qian Renxue's mouth twitched. She even wondered if Wang Dong'er was a Soul Beast in human form. The girl could really put it away.
Most importantly, her table manners were dreadful. You'd never guess she was a girl.
"I still have some..." Qian Renxue held out a grilled fish to Wang Dong'er.
Wang Dong'er glanced at it and waved her hand. "No more. Eating too much can stretch your stomach."
"My name is... Tang Wutong. What's yours?"
Seeing her chance, she asked again.
There was no way she could give her real name. She had to keep a little mystery around strangers.
"Tang Wutong..." Qian Renxue thought for a moment. She knew most of the outstanding young Soul Masters of the younger generation, but this was the first time she'd heard that name.
At such a young age, her Soul Power had already reached rank twenty-nine. Could she be a prodigy from some secluded sect?
"My name is..." Qian Renxue had only just begun to speak when a fierce gale swept through the woods. A terrifying aura surged from deep within the forest.
Wang Dong'er's expression changed dramatically. She hurriedly circulated her Soul Power and was about to use Martial Soul Possession and make a run for it when a man in a black robe appeared before them as if by teleportation.
The man's sharp gaze made Wang Dong'er break into a cold sweat. It was as if he could see right through her flesh and bones, sending a chill down her spine.
This man was undoubtedly one of the strongest in the Soul Master World...
Wang Dong'er caught her breath. Even the seal on the Sea God's Divine Sense in her spiritual sea stirred at the black-clad man's arrival.
But the man soon shifted his gaze to Qian Renxue. With a thud, he dropped to one knee, his voice anxious and full of self-reproach.
"Miss, I'm so relieved that you're safe."
"Your subordinate is guilty. I failed to notice that beast in time, and as a result, you were... gravely injured. Once we return, I'll personally apologize to him!"
"Elder Pufferfish, I'm fine, aren't I? There's no need to apologize. We were just unlucky to be ambushed by a Soul Beast. It wasn't your fault. Get up."
Qian Renxue spoke.
"Thank you, miss." Pufferfish Douluo rose and bowed with utmost respect.
At last, his anxious heart settled.
If anything had happened to Qian Renxue, the Great Enshrined would never have spared him. He wouldn't have been able to forgive himself, either.
A dignified Titled Douluo, and he hadn't even noticed that beast lying in wait. I'm useless!
Elder Pufferfish...
Wang Dong'er furrowed her delicate brows. After carefully recalling the original story, she suddenly understood.
Pufferfish Douluo was a Titled Douluo elder of Spirit Hall, one of the protectors Qian Daoliu had arranged for Qian Renxue.
In other words, this golden-haired girl was the future Angel God, Qian Renxue...
Ah! If she'd known it was Qian Renxue, she should've asked for a lot more money!
Aside from that, Wang Dong'er didn't think much of it.
How to put it? She didn't dislike Qian Renxue or Spirit Hall. Without Spirit Hall and the Qian Family, Douluo Continent would have been overrun by evil Soul Masters long ago.
On a smaller scale, without Spirit Hall, Wang Dong'er wouldn't even have known how to awaken her Martial Soul. Let alone the Soul Master subsidy she could collect. Without that subsidy, she wouldn't have had enough to eat during those years in Notting City.
It was a good thing she hadn't told them everything about saving Qian Renxue.
If Qian Renxue found out that, while unconscious, she'd latched onto Wang Dong'er's foot and sucked on it...
Tsk. Even a noble young lady would be furious, let alone Qian Renxue.
Pufferfish Douluo's arrival put an end to Qian Renxue's interest in chatting with Wang Dong'er. She continued meditating to recover her Soul Power and stamina.
Pufferfish Douluo glanced at Wang Dong'er, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Thank you."
"It's nothing." Wang Dong'er smiled politely. "It was no trouble."
Even without Qian Renxue telling him, he could tell from the treated wounds on her body that Wang Dong'er had saved her life.
She had saved his life, too.
After that, he disappeared into the woods. Before long, he returned with a horse-drawn carriage.
With Pufferfish Douluo's support, Qian Renxue got to her feet. Just as she was about to leave, she turned to Wang Dong'er and asked,
"Miss Tang, where are you headed? If we're going the same way, I can give you a ride."
"Would you? Oh, I couldn't possibly impose."
Wang Dong'er's favorability toward Qian Renxue rose by one percent. She had only taken a few steps when Qian Renxue said,
"If Miss Tang feels it's too much trouble, I won't insist. Until we meet again. I hope fate brings us together."
With that, she got into the carriage. Then she poked her head out the window and gave Wang Dong'er a fake smile.
Wang Dong'er stood there, stunned. Only after the carriage vanished from sight did she come to her senses and realize she'd been teased.
Her favorability dropped by ninety-nine.
From that moment on, Qian Renxue was Wang Dong'er's enemy.
She'd gone and thrown her kindness to the dogs. If only she'd known, she wouldn't have stuck her nose in.
The next morning.
A carriage slowly pulled up outside the gates of Heaven Dou City.
Wang Dong'er, dressed with care, climbed down from the carriage. After paying the fare, she followed the crowd into Heaven Dou City.
Now she wore plain clothes and a cloak, with a hood over her head and a mask covering her face.
There was no helping it.
The nobles of Douluo Continent were no good. Eight out of ten were the most spoiled brats around, and Heaven Dou City was the imperial capital, full of young noblemen.
If she went into the city without disguising herself, she'd definitely attract attention.
If she went in dressed as a man... Wang Dong'er no longer wanted to leave her image in the dreams of the girl in her arms. Ahem! Just kidding.
More importantly... what if she ran into some old pervert?