After leaving the Worship Hall, Lu Yuan did not see Qian Renxue again for several days.
She truly did not return to the East Training Area either.
Half a year passed. Lu Yuan had gone from level eleven to level fourteen, while Qian Renxue had already turned nine. The time first shown by the Eye of Destiny was drawing closer bit by bit.
That afternoon, Lu Yuan had just returned from the North Combat Zone. His right arm was still sore from the final spar when he spotted a familiar figure standing outside the training grounds from afar.
She was not wearing her training light armor today, only a simple white-and-gold robe. Her long golden hair was tied behind her head, and no one was accompanying her.
Lu Yuan walked over.
"Weren't you not coming here anymore?"
"Today is an exception."
Qian Renxue glanced at his right hand.
"You still owe me that match."
Lu Yuan rolled his shoulder.
"I just finished two matches this afternoon."
"Can you still hold a spear?"
"Yes."
"Then finish it."
She had already turned and headed into the training grounds.
Yan Tuo clearly knew in advance. The area in the middle had been cleared, and even the usual wooden targets had been moved aside. When he saw the two enter, he merely told them not to hit too hard before retreating beyond the grounds.
Hu Liena had been practicing footwork on the other side. When she saw Qian Renxue return, she looked over here a few more times. Zhou Qi tried to come closer, but Yan Tuo sent him back with a single, "Practice yours."
Lu Yuan summoned the Piercing Spear.
"I'm not exactly in great condition today."
Golden light rose behind Qian Renxue, and the phantom of the Six-Winged Angel unfolded with it. Two Yellow Spirit Rings circled at her side.
"Then should I go easy on you?"
Lu Yuan raised his spear tip.
"Forget it."
"I didn't think I needed to, either."
The moment she finished speaking, she charged forward.
When they had truly fought for the first time half a year ago, once Qian Renxue pressed into close range, Lu Yuan had found it difficult to spread his spear out again.
Now, faced with the same situation, he already knew how to deal with it.
The instant Qian Renxue cut inside his spear's range, Lu Yuan withdrew it half a foot ahead of time and swept the spear's butt sideways. She raised a hand to block it, and Lu Yuan used the impact to retreat to the side. The spear tip quickly swung back around.
After several exchanges, Qian Renxue's First Spirit Ring lit up beneath her feet.
Golden light gathered in her right hand as one palm strike forced the Piercing Spear aside head-on. Lu Yuan did not take it directly, instead diverting the force traveling through the spear shaft to the side. His footing swayed when he landed, but he quickly steadied himself.
Qian Renxue did not pursue immediately.
"Level fourteen really is different."
"I can just hold out better than before."
"Before, you would have already stopped after that palm."
Lu Yuan raised his spear again.
"Then keep going."
He still lost this match in the end.
The second time Qian Renxue closed in, Lu Yuan used Piercing Edge to open the distance again. But the numb soreness accumulated in his right arm throughout the day slowed him by half a beat. Before his spear could turn back, her hand was already hovering before his shoulder.
Yan Tuo called for them to stop.
Lu Yuan put away the Piercing Spear and flexed his wrist.
"Still couldn't beat you."
Qian Renxue dispersed her Martial Soul as well.
"You're only level fourteen."
"I know."
"Then why do you still look dissatisfied?"
"I've been losing for half a year. I have to think about when I can win at least once."
Qian Renxue smiled.
"Then take your time thinking."
She turned and walked to the edge of the grounds, picked up the Water Pouch that had been placed on a wooden rack beforehand, and took several drinks. Yet she did not leave right away.
Lu Yuan followed her over and sat down.
"Wasn't it only for a little while?"
"I can sit a little longer."
People were still training on the other side of the grounds, and the wooden posts occasionally gave off dull thuds as they were struck. Their side had grown quiet instead.
After a while, Qian Renxue spoke first.
"The date has been set."
Lu Yuan turned his head.
"When?"
"Seven days from now."
Although he had known it would not be long, hearing the exact time still made him pause.
"So soon?"
"It was supposed to be a few days later, but then it was moved up."
"Why?"
"There was some change over there."
Qian Renxue did not elaborate, and Lu Yuan did not press her.
"You haven't come to train these past few days because you've been preparing?"
"Yes."
"What have you been learning?"
Qian Renxue leaned against the wooden rack behind her and thought for a moment.
"Maps, names, relationships, and a lot of rules."
"That sounds more troublesome than training."
"It was always more troublesome than training."
She had a great deal to memorize every day lately. Some names came attached to a long chain of relationships—how she was supposed to address certain people when she met them, what she could say, and what she could not say. None of it could be mistaken.
Halfway through speaking, Qian Renxue frowned.
"Some people obviously don't get along, but they still have to pretend to be close when they meet. And some people's names differ by only one character, yet their identities are completely different."
"Have you mixed them up before?"
"I mixed up two yesterday."
Lu Yuan was a little surprised.
"You make mistakes too?"
Qian Renxue glanced at him.
"It's not as if I can read something once and never forget any of it."
Lu Yuan could not hold back a laugh.
Qian Renxue lifted her foot and lightly bumped the edge of his shoe.
"Is that funny?"
"No."
Lu Yuan suppressed his smile.
Hearing this, he became even more certain that this was no ordinary trip for experience.
"How long will you be gone?"
This was the second time he had asked.
The last time, Qian Daoliu had only said that it was not something that could be finished in a few months.
Qian Renxue lowered her head and turned the Water Pouch in her hands.
"I don't know."
"You don't know either?"
"I only know I won't be back anytime soon."
Her tone was calm, as though she had already accepted it.
Just then, an extremely faint layer of gray light swept across Lu Yuan's vision again.
The familiar lines of text above Qian Renxue's head wavered gently.
[Qian Renxue] [Nine years old: Leaving Spirit City] [Heaven Dou Empire] [Identity: Xue Qinghe] [Fate Node: Latent] [Latent period: Twenty years]
Lu Yuan's gaze froze.
Twenty years.
She would leave at nine, and twenty years later, she would already be twenty-nine.
He had known it would take a long time, but he had not expected it to last this long.
Qian Renxue found his stare somewhat strange.
"What is it?"
Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze.
"What if you really can't come back for many years?"
"Then it'll be many years."
"You're not worried?"
Qian Renxue fell silent for a while.
"Would worrying help?"
Lu Yuan had no answer.
She tightened the Water Pouch and said softly, "Since I'm going, I should first do what needs to be done properly. As for when I can return, there's no use thinking about it now."
Lu Yuan looked at her for a moment and did not ask further.
Yan Tuo's voice came from the edge of the grounds, urging everyone to put away their things. Qian Renxue stood as well.
"I should go."
Lu Yuan rose with her.
"Which side of the city will you leave from in seven days?"
"North Gate."
"What time?"
"The hour of the Dragon."
Qian Renxue glanced at him.
"You're coming?"
"My morning training is nearby anyway."
"Instructor Yan probably won't be happy if he hears that."
"Then I'll train after seeing you off."
The corners of Qian Renxue's lips curved slightly.
"Do as you like."
She turned and walked out. After taking a few steps, she stopped again.
"Lu Yuan."
"Yeah?"
"I won that match."
Lu Yuan looked at her.
"I know."
"I was afraid you'd deny it in a few days."
"We'll fight again next time."
Qian Renxue did not reply. She only raised a hand before continuing toward the exit of the training grounds.
Lu Yuan remained where he was, watching her back disappear beyond the doorway.
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