Looking at the familiar face before her, now even more sharply defined after six years had passed, Qian Renxue's pupils trembled slightly. Ripples she could barely suppress spread through those clear eyes hidden beneath her disguise. Almost as if she couldn't believe it, she tentatively called out in a soft voice:
"X... Xiao Han?"
Gu Han gazed at her, his eyes filled with longing and warmth that wouldn't fade. He nodded firmly and flashed a radiant smile. "Sister Xue, it's me. I'm back."
The moment they recognized each other, the steady, dignified expression of the crown prince "Xue Qinghe" vanished from Qian Renxue's face, replaced by overwhelming joy and an excitement she could hardly express.
She stepped forward, paying no mind to her usual composure, and grabbed Gu Han by the wrist. Her voice was urgent. "Quick, come inside with me!"
She practically dragged Gu Han into the inner chamber of her sleeping quarters, then swiftly dismissed the attendants.
The moment the inner chamber door closed, the Soul Power around Qian Renxue stirred faintly, and the disguise of "Xue Qinghe" slowly faded.
Her tall frame visibly shrank. Her handsome features softened, reshaping themselves into a peerlessly beautiful face, flawless and captivating.
Her golden hair fell like a waterfall, and her eyes were clearer than the sky itself. Compared to six years ago, she had gained a touch more maturity and grace, along with a quiet radiance. She was breathtaking.
Seeing Qian Renxue reveal her true appearance before him, Gu Han was captivated all over again. His gaze rested fixedly on her face, as if he could never get enough of looking at her.
Qian Renxue found his unblinking stare both amusing and a little embarrassing. She waved a small hand before his eyes, then burst into a giggle.
"Hey, snap out of it! You looked at me just like that the first time you saw my face as a child. Six years have passed, and you're still such a silly boy?"
Only then did Gu Han come back to his senses. The tips of his ears reddened, and he touched his nose sheepishly. "Because Sister Xue is even prettier than before."
Her heart warmed at his words, but Qian Renxue still deliberately put on a stern expression and raised an eyebrow.
"What a silver tongue. Have you been led astray out there? Hurry up and tell your sister where you've been wandering for the past six years. How have you been?"
They sat on the soft couch by the window, and Qian Renxue personally poured Gu Han a cup of hot tea.
Gu Han then recounted everything that had happened since he left Spirit Hall.
When he mentioned meeting Xiao Wu at Nuoding Academy and studying and living together with her, his voice unconsciously softened, and his face turned faintly red.
Qian Renxue was far too clever not to understand what was going on when she saw his expression.
She blinked and deliberately drew out her words, teasing him.
"Ohhh, Xiao Wu? Just from her name, she sounds like a cute girl. Anyone who can make our Spirit Hall Saint Son blush just by mentioning her must be... your little girlfriend, right?"
"No! Sister Xue, don't make things up!" Gu Han immediately denied it as if she'd hit the nail on the head, but the blush on his face only deepened, and his eyes began to dart about.
Seeing that, Qian Renxue laughed even harder, wearing an expression that said, "I know, I know." She patted Gu Han on the shoulder and pretended to be serious.
"Fine, fine. Maybe she's not your girlfriend yet, but who knows what the future holds? When will you bring her back for your sister to meet? I can help you make sure she's right for you."
Gu Han could only shake his head helplessly, torn between laughter and tears.
After Gu Han and Qian Renxue had spent a long time catching up, he finally remembered why he'd come and took two things out of his Soul Tool.
One was like the Peace Talismans he'd given Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong: a talisman he'd carved himself. But on the back of this one, he'd carved the character "Xue."
The other was a strangely shaped bone that shimmered with golden light and contained an aura of radiance.
It was the Soul Bone he'd received as a system reward earlier. Its attributes happened to perfectly match Qian Renxue's Angel Martial Soul.
"Sister Xue, I made this Peace Talisman myself. I hope you'll always be safe and well."
"I gave one to Teacher and Grandfather too, but yours is different from theirs."
Gu Han handed her the Peace Talisman first, his voice bright with happiness.
Then he picked up the Soul Bone and explained, "I came across this Soul Bone by chance. I thought its attributes would suit you."
Qian Renxue accepted the simple-looking Peace Talisman first. Her fingertips brushed gently over the carved lines, and as she felt the thought behind it, her eyes grew slightly warm.
Compared to the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, which was clearly precious at a glance, this little Peace Talisman stirred a warmer current in her heart. She treasured it deeply.
She clasped the Peace Talisman tightly in her hand and gave Gu Han a bright, warm smile.
"Xiao Han, thank you. I like it very much—more than anything." Only then did she look at the Soul Bone. Though surprise showed in her eyes, she was even more moved by the thought he'd put into it. "This Soul Bone is far too precious..."
"Nothing is more important than making you happy, Sister Xue." Gu Han cut her off. "It only has value if you can use it."
Looking at how earnest he was, Qian Renxue's heart melted. She stopped refusing and happily accepted both gifts.
Of course, she knew that compared to a Soul Bone, the most precious treasure in the world was her younger brother's heart, which kept her in his thoughts wherever he went.
In a shadowy corner of the sleeping quarters, two figures lay hidden, almost indistinguishable from the darkness. They were Snake Lance Douluo and Pufferfish Douluo, assigned to protect Qian Renxue.
Watching the siblings reunite in the room, their affection for each other plain to see, Pufferfish Douluo's rough face broke into a simple, honest smile. He murmured to his companion:
"Snake Lance, look at the young master and the little young master. They really are close. After all these years, it seems they're even closer than before."
Snake Lance Douluo remained as stern as ever, but his eyes softened slightly as he nodded.
"Mm. The young master is truly happy that the little young master is back."
The two of them had guarded Qian Renxue for many years, so they knew how much loneliness and pressure she bore beneath her disguise.
Gu Han's return had let her set aside that heavy mask and become the girl who could truly laugh and play again.
Inside the room, Qian Renxue carefully tucked the Peace Talisman away against her body, then put the Soul Bone aside for the time being, intending to absorb it later.
She looked at Gu Han and suddenly smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"By the way, Xiao Han, you gave your sister such wonderful gifts, so I've prepared a special return gift for you too. But I can't tell you what it is yet. You'll find out when the time comes."
There was a mysterious note in Qian Renxue's voice, and Gu Han couldn't help but grow curious. He was already trying to guess what the gift might be.
"A doll, a handkerchief, or something else?"
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