Qian Renxue moved with graceful, light steps. Under Qian Daoliu's encouraging gaze, she walked to the center of the hall.
Facing the legendary ruler of Sea God Island, she wore just the right amount of respect on her flawless face. She gave a graceful bow, her voice clear and sweet, like pearls falling onto a jade plate:
"Qian Renxue pays her respects to Senior Bo Saixi."
Bo Saixi's warm gaze settled on her. A flawless smile appeared on her beautiful face as she raised a hand to gesture for her to rise. "There's no need for formalities, child. You've come a long way and are our guest. Please, sit."
She gestured to a seat nearby, carved from pristine white sea jade and prepared well in advance.
Watching his granddaughter behave with such poise and grace, Qian Daoliu looked on with pride.
He laughed heartily and looked at Bo Saixi, his voice carrying both a hint of smugness and a probing note. "Well, Bo Saixi? What do you think? Does my granddaughter meet with your approval?"
At his words, two faint blushes appeared on Qian Renxue's beautiful cheeks, and she lowered her eyes shyly.
Though she had absolute confidence in herself, she remained humble before a senior like Bo Saixi, who stood at the pinnacle of strength, status, and beauty.
Bo Saixi's gaze swept over Qian Renxue once more, her eyes brimming with undisguised admiration. She nodded lightly, her tone certain. "Excellent. Qian Daoliu, you have a wonderful granddaughter. Her talent is exceptional and her background distinguished. Her looks and bearing are near perfect—rarely seen in this world."
She wasn't merely being polite.
The golden-haired girl before her was peerless, whether in her breathtaking beauty, her tall and perfectly proportioned figure, or the unique aura that combined holiness, nobility, and youthful vigor.
Compared to Bo Saixi in her younger days, Qian Renxue perhaps lacked some of the charm that came with the passage of time, but she had a freshness and purity that could make anyone's heart flutter.
The last trace of doubt in Bo Saixi's heart vanished.
Matching her with that special little fellow, Li Qing, would work from every angle. One might even say they were made for each other.
Now that boy should be satisfied. Surely he wouldn't keep pestering her with those absurd remarks anymore?
Qian Daoliu was even happier to hear Bo Saixi's lavish praise. He laughed and pressed on. "Then... what about Li Qing? Shouldn't we let the two youngsters meet? We old fogies can talk among ourselves while they have a chat."
Bo Saixi smiled and nodded. "I've already sent someone to fetch him. He should be—"
Before she could finish, her gaze had already turned toward the entrance to a side hall.
A young man in a black robe was walking toward them.
He looked no older than twelve or thirteen. He was tall and handsome, with sharp brows and bright eyes, and his hair was as black as ink. Though he still seemed young, his features already held a calmness and composure well beyond his years.
He walked at an unhurried pace, with an air all his own.
It was Li Qing.
Upon entering the hall, Li Qing quickly swept his gaze across the room. His eyes paused briefly on Bo Saixi, a knowing glint passing between them that only the two of them understood, before turning to Qian Daoliu.
He approached and clasped his hands in a junior's salute. His tone was neither servile nor arrogant. "This junior, Li Qing, pays his respects to Senior Qian Daoliu."
A sharp glint flashed in Qian Daoliu's golden eyes as he carefully sized up the young man.
He had already learned from Bo Saixi and his earlier observations that Li Qing was no ordinary boy. But up close, he could sense more clearly the composure that belied his age, as well as the pure, vast Soul Power faintly emanating from within him.
His eyes in particular were clear and bright, yet seemed bottomless.
"Not bad. You're every bit as impressive as I'd heard. A hero indeed, even in his youth." Qian Daoliu nodded with a smile, sparing no praise.
Li Qing thanked him, then turned his gaze to the stunning golden-haired girl beside Qian Daoliu—Qian Renxue.
Almost at the same moment, Qian Renxue's violet eyes settled on Li Qing.
Their eyes met, and both were slightly taken aback.
Looking at the flawless beauty so close before him, Li Qing couldn't help but admire her inwardly:
Good grief, so this is Qian Renxue... No wonder she's known as a top beauty. Her looks, figure, and bearing really are something else. She truly deserves the title of the most beautiful woman on Douluo Continent.
That thought rang out clearly in Bo Saixi's mind, and a look of surprise flashed through her eyes.
This was the first time she'd heard Li Qing so bluntly praise a woman's appearance with such pure admiration.
It seemed he was quite satisfied with Qian Renxue's physical charms.
Yet almost at that same moment, Qian Renxue's body gave the faintest tremor.
Her violet eyes flew wide, her pupils contracting slightly. Disbelief and astonishment appeared on her beautiful face.
It was as if she'd heard something utterly unbelievable echo directly in her mind.
That voice... belonged to the young man before her?
But he hadn't even opened his mouth!
And he'd just called her the most beautiful woman on Douluo Continent?
He'd never even left Sea God Island, so how could he be so certain about her looks?
A chilling suspicion surfaced in her mind—could she... hear this young man's thoughts?!
The discovery sent a shock through Qian Renxue, and she nearly lost control of her expression.
She instinctively looked at Li Qing, hoping to find some clue on his face. But he was simply regarding her calmly, with a hint of admiration, and seemed no different from before.
Just then, a gentle voice filled with undeniable authority flowed into Qian Renxue's ear. It was Bo Saixi's telepathic message:
"Stay calm, child. Don't let anything show, and don't let Xiao Qing know that you can hear his thoughts."
Qian Renxue was startled again and turned sharply toward Bo Saixi, only to find her wearing a subtle, meaningful smile that was meant to reassure her.
She understood at once—she wasn't the only one who could hear Li Qing's thoughts!
Senior Bo Saixi had known for some time!
And from the look of things, Senior Bo Saixi didn't want Li Qing to find out.
Though her mind was filled with countless questions and she was utterly stunned, Qian Renxue was, after all, the Spirit Hall Saintess who had spent years undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire. She was strong-willed and quick to adapt.
She swiftly suppressed her shock and forced herself to calm down. But as she looked at Li Qing, her gaze held a deeper curiosity than before.
And during the brief moments she spent trying to steady herself, Li Qing's inner commentary began again:
She's beautiful, and there's nothing to complain about with her figure or bearing. But that brain of hers... Tsk, some of her later decisions are really hard to watch. If we actually ended up together someday, I'd better hope our kids don't inherit those moments when her intelligence goes off the rails. Otherwise, what a waste of my excellent genes.
"!!!"
The calm waters of Qian Renxue's mind, only just settled, were instantly struck by a boulder!
The blush on her beautiful face—the one that had risen from shyness and their first meeting—quickly faded. In its place came a faint flush of anger and offense, and her body trembled despite herself.
You hateful little brat!
What nonsense was he spouting?
She, Qian Renxue, was the Spirit Hall Saintess. She had spent more than ten years undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire, playing the entire upper echelon of the empire like puppets. Her schemes were peerless and her mind meticulous. When had anyone ever dared question her intelligence like this?
Hard to watch?
Inherit?
This was outrageous!
A nameless fury flared in her heart.
If not for Senior Bo Saixi's warning and her grandfather standing right beside her, she would have made this ignorant brat see what an angel's wrath looked like!
Bo Saixi, standing nearby, nearly burst out laughing when she heard Li Qing's inner remarks, especially when she saw Qian Renxue's face darken in an instant as she struggled to keep her anger in check.
She hurriedly lowered her head and pretended to straighten her sleeve, hiding the corners of her mouth as they struggled to turn upward.
Who could have imagined how entertaining it would be to watch this proud, flawless heir of the angels get so mercilessly roasted by Li Qing in his thoughts, with no way to defend herself?
At last, Bo Saixi understood just how much fun it was to hear Li Qing roast other people—especially a heaven-blessed young woman like this. No wonder he'd managed to drive her up the wall so many times before.
Before you continue