Bathing Brother Qinghe

Hearing Qian Renxue say this, Qian Daoliu's expression instantly became quite a sight.

His entire body had begun trembling with rage.

"Y-you... how could you fall for someone else?!"

"You're already betrothed."

"How am I supposed to answer to Frost Sword Douluo after I'm gone?!"

Qian Renxue crossed her arms over her chest and turned away.

She said calmly, "Hmph, I don't care..."

"How you explain it is your problem. I've already said that I will never marry him."

Qian Daoliu shook his head helplessly and sighed.

"Xue'er, do you truly want to break off the engagement?!"

"Frost Sword's descendant is absolutely worthy of you. If you miss this chance, you'll regret it someday."

Qian Renxue made a face at Qian Daoliu and said with a grin, "Break it off, break it off, I'm breaking it off!"

"I definitely won't regret it. Whoever regrets it is a puppy."

Qian Daoliu sighed helplessly, then said slowly, "Xue'er... how about we each take a step back for now? For the next few years, you don't have to get married yet."

"You can try looking for Frost Sword's descendant near Heaven Dou Imperial City."

"Get to know him a little. Maybe you'll end up liking him."

With that, Qian Daoliu handed Qian Renxue an ice-blue sword-shaped pendant.

"This is the token Frost Sword and I exchanged back then. Keep it with you. When you encounter Frost Sword's descendant, this sword will signal you."

Qian Renxue shook her head. "No, no..."

"There really isn't room for anyone else in my heart."

After saying that, Qian Renxue extended a slender jade finger and crushed the ice-blue pendant with a single tap.

Qian Daoliu merely smiled helplessly at the sight.

With a gentle puff of breath, the little sword that had shattered moments earlier instantly returned to its original state.

Qian Renxue said indignantly, "Grandpa, why did you restore it again?!"

Qian Daoliu smiled. "I'm not capable of something like that."

"It was a method Frost Sword left behind."

Light flashed in Qian Daoliu's hand, and the marriage contract that had flown over earlier reappeared in his grasp.

"You little girl, you actually tried to destroy the marriage contract."

"If Frost Sword hadn't left a restriction on it, you really might have succeeded."

Qian Renxue stared at the marriage contract she had torn apart earlier, now appearing intact in Qian Daoliu's hand again.

She could not help but stare in astonishment.

Frost Sword truly was formidable, to possess such miraculous methods.

But no matter how formidable he was, he could not change Qian Renxue's mind.

"Senior Frost Sword, you are indeed powerful, but we have no fate between us. Xue'er has only two grandfathers in this life."

"Your grandson and I are fated to meet, but not fated to be together."

Other than Qian Daoliu, the other grandfather she meant was naturally Grandpa Wu.

In her eyes, although Wu Qingkong's grandfather was merely an ordinary old man, Grandpa Wu was still a very good person.

Thinking of Grandpa Wu, Qian Renxue's thoughts could not help drifting back ten years...

Back then, when she had first met Wu Qingkong, it was his grandfather who had brought them together.

At the time, Qian Renxue had just arrived in Heaven Dou Imperial City and had only just begun living in disguise.

Within the imperial palace, Qian Renxue spent every day beneath a disguise, cautious at every turn.

Little Qian Renxue had never dared relax, living every day in constant fear.

As time passed, Little Qian Renxue gradually adapted to palace life, but she also grew increasingly bored.

Until one day, she discovered that whenever the palace patrols changed shifts at dusk, there was a quarter-hour gap with no guards on duty.

Little Qian Renxue took advantage of that shift change to sneak out of the palace.

The royal household was governed strictly, and every outing by a prince required layer upon layer of reports. To avoid being discovered, Little Qian Renxue could only alter her appearance once more, taking on another male face before leaving the palace.

Walking along Heaven Dou Street, Little Qian Renxue was naturally delighted.

The dazzling array of shops along the street captured her attention. One moment she wandered east, the next she peeked west.

Before she knew it, Little Qian Renxue had walked outside the city.

When she finally came to her senses,

she found herself deep within a dense forest. There was no one around, and wolf howls drifted over from nearby.

Alone in that wilderness, Little Qian Renxue immediately began crying. Standing where she was, she wailed loudly, "I want to go home."

"I don't want to stay here..."

Moonlight quietly illuminated the entire forest.

From not far away came a rustling sound.

Little Qian Renxue hurriedly backed away in fright. Just as she was about to summon her martial soul, she saw a kind-faced old man walking toward her from the distance with firewood over his shoulder.

The moment the old man saw Little Qian Renxue, he said in surprise, "What a beautiful little child..."

"Whose child are you? Why are you dressed like this and running into the wilderness?!"

Little Qian Renxue raised a small hand, wiping away her tears as she answered through sobs, "Grandpa, I... I'm called Qian Qinghe... I... I got lost..."

"I can't find my home. I don't know how to get back."

Wu Changming smiled upon hearing that and reached out his large hand to comfort Little Qian Renxue. "Child, come with Grandpa..."

"Come eat something at Grandpa's place. It's getting late, and it's cold outside."

"We'll talk again tomorrow once it's light."

Little Qian Renxue nodded and let Wu Changming lead her away.

Before long, they arrived before a wooden house.

At the doorway,

a beautiful little boy, delicate as porcelain, was squatting beside a bonfire. He held a long wooden stick in his hand, turning it constantly over the flames.

As the flames danced, a rich charred aroma continuously wafted from Wu Qingkong's hands.

Little Qian Renxue's eyes immediately lit up. "Fish, this is... the smell of grilled fish..."

Wu Changming hurriedly called to the boy, "Xiaokong, bring down a grilled fish for this child to eat."

Without hesitation, Wu Qingkong immediately grabbed a grilled fish, walked up to Wu Changming, and handed it over.

"Grandpa, who is this?"

Little Qian Renxue did not have time to speak. She hurriedly grabbed the grilled fish and stuffed it into her mouth.

Seeing the way Little Qian Renxue ate,

Wu Changming smiled. "Child, you must have been starving, right?!"

"Eat slowly."

After comforting Little Qian Renxue, Wu Changming told Wu Qingkong about how he had encountered Qian Renxue.

After hearing the story, Wu Qingkong watched Little Qian Renxue wolf down the food and fetched her plenty more to eat.

Little cakes, milk tea, and so on.

Though the meal was simple, it was the happiest meal Little Qian Renxue had ever eaten.

Although Wu Qingkong had been very young at the time, he was also very sensible.

He did all kinds of housework.

After the meal, Wu Changming wanted to wash the dishes, but Wu Qingkong immediately stopped him.

"I'll do it."

After washing the dishes, Wu Changming wanted to help Little Qian Renxue make up her bed, but Wu Qingkong promptly volunteered. "I'll make up Brother Qinghe's bed."

After the bed had been made, Wu Changming looked at Little Qian Renxue's grimy face and said to her, "Child, there's hot water in the east room. Go take a bath later."

Little Wu Qingkong had just finished making the bed, and upon hearing that, he immediately volunteered.

"Grandpa, I'll do it. I'll bathe Brother Qinghe..."

The moment Wu Qingkong finished speaking, Little Qian Renxue was so frightened that she immediately covered her chest with both hands and hurriedly ran to one side.

Wu Changming directly kicked Wu Qingkong in the backside. "Now that you're done, go practice today's sword forms."

"It's not like he can't wash himself..."

After hearing Wu Changming's words, Wu Qingkong immediately took up his sword and walked out of the courtyard.

Wu Changming followed behind him as well.

In the blink of an eye, Little Qian Renxue was the only one left in the spacious courtyard.

After taking her bath,

Little Qian Renxue had barely stepped outside when she ran into Blood Thorn, who had come looking for her.

Before she had time to say goodbye, she silently left the small courtyard.

From then on, the small courtyard became Little Qian Renxue's secret base. Whenever she had time, she would run over there.

Wu Changming had always treated Little Qian Renxue like his own grandson.

He was always welcoming whenever she came, and he had even specially prepared an empty room for her so that she could stay whenever she wished.

Yet such a good man had passed away in an accident three years ago.

Thinking of Grandpa Wu, a trace of sorrow kept rising in Qian Renxue's heart.

"I'm sorry, Grandpa Wu. I deceived you for so long..."

"But I didn't do it on purpose. Once I'm done with everything, I'll definitely come see you myself."

"I think... you'll surely bless Qingkong and me, won't you..."

Seeing that Qian Renxue was unwilling to accept the little sword, Qian Daoliu sighed helplessly.

With a casual gesture, he stored the little sword in his soul tool storage space.

Within the previously dim soul tool storage space, an ice-blue glow now lit up.

A faint sigh drifted out.

"Silly child, Grandpa actually knew all along..."