If It Really Comes Down to It, I'll Bring Some People and Help You Myself! How About It?
Lin Xia's words, "With Sister Xue'er here, how could I be tired?" carried the intimacy and dependence unique to young men, like a warm breeze that dispelled the last trace of complexity in Qian Renxue's eyes caused by Lin Xia's exaggerated strength.
She smiled, a bright and pure smile, like the first melting of snow, shedding all the pride and reserve of the Angel Young Master, leaving only complete joy and relaxation in front of her closest person.
She reached out, instinctively wanting to ruffle Lin Xia's hair, but found that five years had passed, and the boy she once looked down at was now standing shoulder to shoulder with her, even slightly taller.
The affectionate gesture paused in mid-air, then naturally changed to gently brushing away non-existent dust from his shoulder.
However, this smile was fleeting, like a flower blooming only briefly before fading away.
A faint, lingering shadow once again enveloped her exquisite face.
Long, silver eyelashes drooped, concealing the reluctance, worry, and a hint of unwillingness surging within her Viola eyes.
"Xiao Xia..."
Qian Renxue's voice softened, carrying a barely Frisk sigh, as if even the bright sunlight had dimmed slightly.
"I..."
She paused, as if needing to muster the courage to say what she was about to say.
"I'm going back to the Heaven Dou Empire soon."
The warm smile on Lin Xia's face suddenly froze.
He knew, of course, what this meant—it meant that Qian Renxue would continue to Role Play the gentle and refined Crown Prince Xue Qinghe; it meant that she would return to the cold palace filled with lies, scheming, and endless loneliness; it meant that their time together as siblings would be interrupted once again.
"... after all."
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, forcing her tone to sound more firm and befitting her status as "young master".
"My business isn't finished yet. There are still many arrangements to be made on the Heaven Dou side, Xue Ye's body... the movement of the Xue Beng... all of these require my personal supervision."
She seemed to be persuading Lin Xia, but more like she was persuading herself, emphasizing the necessity of the mission.
Looking at her forced calm, and seeing the unconcealed weariness and reluctance deep in her eyes, Lin Xia could no longer suppress the irritation in her heart.
He sighed heavily, his brow furrowed with the directness and impatience typical of a young man.
"No offense, Sister Xue'er!"
Lin Xia's voice rose a few decibels, carrying obvious doubt and confusion.
"Your plan to seize the country is progressing far too slowly! All these years! How much effort have you wasted on that 'Xue Qinghe' shell? Was it worth it?"
He crossed his arms, his gaze fixed intently on Qian Renxue, then sweeping over the silent Qian Daoliu beside him, his words ringing out like a machine gun.
"If all else fails, we'll just conquer them by force! Look at the strength of our Spirit Hall now! Over the years, in the Star Dou Forest, thanks to the guidance of Senior Bi Ji and the others, and the Venusaur for the aura of Soul Beast, we've acquired mountains of high-quality Spirit Bone!"
"In the last five years alone, thanks to these Spirit Bones and the resources accumulated by the Spirit Hall, four new Titled Douluo have risen to prominence! Add to that Grandpa, Teacher, and several others who serve Grandpa..."
Lin Xia spread her hands, pointing to the faintly visible Worship Hall in the distance, her eyes flashing with sharp glint and powerful confidence.
"What power on the mainland can rival us? Heaven Dou? Star Luo Empire? Or that Sea God Island hidden overseas? Before absolute power, all Nasty Plot are nothing but paper fortresses! If we want to, we can launch a massive army and seize the core of the Heaven Dou Empire with thunderous force. Who would dare to disobey? Why should we let you tread on thin ice there alone, wasting your youth?"
Every word he spoke was like a heavy hammer blow to Qian Renxue's heart.
Rationally, she knew better than anyone that Lin Xia was right.
The Spirit Hall's current resources far exceed the combined resources of the two great empires.
She could clearly feel the surging Soul Power fluctuations of those newly Titled Douluo even at the edge of the plaza.
Military conquest is indeed the fastest, most direct, and seemingly the "easy" way.
But... I'm not willing to accept this!
A strong sense of bitterness and resentment welled up in her heart, almost making it impossible for her to maintain her composure.
Over the years, she has wasted the best years of her life behind that false mask, carefully managing the persona of "Xue Qinghe," winning over ministers, eliminating dissidents, and cautiously balancing the various forces.
For countless days and nights, she endured unbearable torment and loneliness, all for that ultimate goal—to seize power in the Heaven Dou Empire without bloodshed, laying the most solid foundation for the future unification of the continent by the Spirit Hall.
After investing so much and enduring so much, with success seemingly just a step away, are they now going to abandon all their carefully laid plans and simply crush everything with brute force?
This completely contradicted her long-held ideals of "perfect control" and "subduing the enemy without fighting"! It felt like meticulously sculpting a work of art for over a decade, only to be told it would be easier to smash it open and extract the core with a hammer. She couldn't accept it!
"I... I know."
Qian Renxue's voice Frisk slightly. She turned her head slightly to avoid Lin Xia's overly bright and direct gaze, as well as Qian Daoliu's heart-wrenching eyes.
The sunlight outlined her straight nose and tightly pursed lips, and the stubbornness that belonged to the Angel Young Master once again resurfaced.
"But... we've worked so hard for so long, and it seemed... it seemed like we might be able to..."
Her voice lowered, filled with deep grievance and resentment.
"Suddenly resorting to force to tear off the mask of civility... what about all my past ten years...? A futile joke? Moreover, while a direct assault may be quick, the subsequent integration and winning over the hearts and minds will likely be much more difficult..."
The last sentence seems to be trying to find a reasonable justification for his persistence.
Looking at Qian Renxue's conflicted, aggrieved, and stubborn appearance, and seeing the almost obsessive reluctance in her eyes for the "perfect plan," Lin Xia's impatience and irritation caused by her sudden increase in strength were instantly replaced by a strong sense of pity.
He knew her pride all too well, and he understood all too well the heavy price she had paid in that cold palace.
He knew that no matter how many grand principles he spoke or how much of a power imbalance he presented, he could not truly soothe the resentment in her heart.
Because it was not just a rational judgment, but also a culmination of her more than ten years of hard work and youth.
"Well..."
Lin Xia let out a long, helpless sigh, his shoulders slumped slightly, and his imposing sharpness vanished instantly, transforming him back into the gentle boy who would show Limber in front of his sister.
He scratched his head, as if making up his mind, and said in a tone that was almost compromising yet indulgent:
"Alright, alright, Sister Xue'er, I understand your resentment."
He stepped forward and looked directly into Qian Renxue's eyes, which were now raised again, filled with surprise and a hint of expectation.
"Since you can't let go of the situation that's been going on for over a decade, and you think a direct attack is too forceful... then how about this?"
Lin Xia spread her hands, a "I really can't do anything with you" smile on her face, but her eyes were unusually serious.
"If all else fails, I'll personally bring some people to help you! How about that?"