Tang San, You're Asking for Death

After spending a little more time with Qian Renxue, Yun Chen returned to his room and lit the night lamp—which was really just a candle.

"Ugh, living in this feudal society is so inconvenient."

"If only we had the technology from Douluo Three."

Done complaining, Yun Chen lay back on the bed and thought over everything he had gained that day.

I still need to get used to my domain and first Soul Skill. And I haven't even tried my External Soul Bone's Dark Gold Terrorclaw yet.

More importantly, Qian Renxue told me who she really is. Hmm... It feels like we've grown closer.

Now we're more like... more...

Yun Chen's thoughts stalled. He couldn't find the right words for it.

More like siblings, maybe... But it's different somehow. We both seem to feel this strange possessiveness toward each other.

That was the answer Yun Chen found when he faced his feelings honestly.

He hadn't asked that final question just to answer Qian Renxue in kind. He'd asked because he truly felt possessive of her.

And her answer had delighted him. Qian Renxue had agreed: he was her one and only.

Of course, she would be his one and only, too.

Qian Renxue...

Yun Chen felt a little ridiculous. He'd only known her for a few days, yet here he was, thinking about all this. As far as Qian Renxue was concerned, he was still just a child.

Maybe she had only said it to humor him.

But... what if she hadn't?

Even if there's a chance, you're in no position to think about it now. You're just a little kid. Wake up, man!

Yun Chen's mind was locked in a fierce battle with itself.

"Whatever happens, I need to get stronger. Sure, I'd love to live off a rich woman, but I can't actually be weak."

"It's fine to take it easy. It's not fine to be useless."

"I've already got a head start by being close to her. Once I'm a little older, with the bond we've built, maybe we really could..."

Yun Chen trailed off, but the look on his face made it obvious where his imagination had gone.

If he truly wanted to be with Qian Renxue, he couldn't simply depend on her. A man had to show he was strong, too.

Like a lion king. He might not fight often, but he had to be strong enough to protect his pride and the one he loved.

Ah, Tang San. There's just no way around it. I honestly don't want to go up against you, but what choice do I have? I'm Qian Renxue's Regent.

For the sake of my love—and my future as a kept man—I'm afraid you'll have to suffer, Tang San...

Tang San, I hereby declare that you're asking for death!

Yun Chen had reason to be confident. For one thing, Spirit Hall was behind him. For another, his Martial Soul and talent were absurdly powerful.

But the third reason was the most important.

Yun Chen had more or less worked out the timeline. In the original story, Qian Renxue should have been nine or ten years older than Tang San.

Qian Renxue was now fifteen, while Yun Chen was six.

They were nine years apart.

Clearly, Yun Chen and Tang San had to be the same age, or Yun Chen was slightly older.

Given where they were in the timeline, Yun Chen could seize many of the opportunities Tang San would encounter on his path to power before Tang San ever reached them.

He could even put a few obstacles in Tang San's way.

"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well... I can ask Qian Renxue about that. First I'll get an illustrated guide to Immortal Herbs, then approach Dugu Bo. There's still time."

"If that doesn't work, I'll report it to the Worship Hall and have them take control of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. I absolutely can't leave it for Tang San."

Reporting it to the Worship Hall would strengthen the enshrined elders, which would benefit Yun Chen too. After all, he belonged to the Worship Hall's faction.

It would also make it harder for Bibi Dong to get her hands on the Immortal Herbs. She was hardly easy to deal with. If she obtained them and became a god ahead of time, who knew what she might do?

What if Bibi Dong becomes a god, unites the entire continent, and then presents Yu Xiaogang as the world's greatest master of theory?

Now that would be a joke.

"Let me think... What other resources did Tang San get early on?"

Yun Chen sat up and leaned against the headboard, rubbing his fingers together without realizing it.

"There's also the Blue Silver Emperor. And that Soul Bone."

His eyes lit up. The Soul Bone Tang San's mother had left behind was an incredible prize. It was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, after all.

If he took Tang San's mother away and nurtured Ah Yin so that she retained the Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline, wouldn't that stop Tang San from advancing?

Yun Chen's eyes shone brighter. Ideas were pouring into his head, and his thoughts had never felt clearer.

"But I'll still need someone else to do the killing. I have to find a way to get Spirit Hall to hunt down Tang Hao."

"And get the Blue Silver Emperor and that Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone while they're at it."

"If possible, they should take care of Tang San too. If not, so be it."

Yun Chen wasn't sure whether the story could correct itself. By all rights, a protagonist like Tang San would be almost impossible to kill. There probably wouldn't be much chance of killing him this early.

"And then there's Xiao Wu. That rabbit is a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring waiting to happen."

"Her attributes might not suit me, but she'd still provide a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. Capturing her can't be a mistake."

That was all Yun Chen could think of for now. He would still have to work out the details carefully. These were the main characters of the original Douluo story; one careless move could leave him regretting it for the rest of his life.

Besides, Yun Chen couldn't hunt down Tang Hao or Tang San himself. At most, he could get someone else to do it.

"Ugh. If only I'd awakened a system and arrived here invincible."

"Then I wouldn't have to think so hard. I could crush everyone, marry Qian Renxue, and have it all. Why bother making plans?"

Of course, Yun Chen could only dream. His luck was bad enough that he'd crossed over without even awakening the standard system.

While Yun Chen wrestled with his thoughts, Qian Renxue was no calmer.

She gazed up at the moonlit sky alone, lost in thought.

Though "lost in thought" didn't quite capture it. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes had a hazy look, as if she were drunk.

She felt she had let herself get carried away today. She couldn't believe she'd said those things to little Chen.

That unfamiliar possessiveness and jealousy had no place in someone as rational as her.

"Qian Renxue, what were you thinking...? You'll scare little Chen."

But you've always felt something special for him, haven't you? And little Chen answered you. What's wrong with that?

He's just a child. He's so young. I'm nine years older than him.

So what if you're nine years older? You'll both become Titled Douluo someday. You might even become gods. Age doesn't matter.

And didn't you see the way little Chen looked at you? He was possessive, too. He likes you.

He's a child. What does he know about liking someone?

That's exactly why it's good. You can nurture his feelings for you as he grows up.

An angel and a devil battled in Qian Renxue's mind, but in the end, the devil clearly won.

After a moment of silence, Qian Renxue threw herself onto the bed and pulled the blanket over her face, burrowing beneath it like an ostrich hiding its head.

She was unlikely to get much sleep that night.

Why not raise him to be my husband?