Sparring and Qian Renxue's Gift

"Hm?"

Qin Yu turned around. Seeing the slight awkwardness on Qian Renxue's face and the faint disappointment in her eyes, he began to understand.

Her mother had never cared for her, and she had gone undercover at nine. Six or seven years had passed since then.

In all her years, Qian Renxue probably hadn't had a single friend.

Qin Yu considered it for a moment, then smiled faintly. "Sure, but it'll cost you."

"You're charging me? Are you obsessed with money?"

Qian Renxue stared at him in disbelief. "You're the Holy Son of Spirit Hall. How could you be short of money?"

"I never said I wanted Gold Soul Coins."

"Then what do you want?"

"You."

Qin Yu smiled.

"???" Qian Renxue looked so baffled she nearly summoned her Six-Winged Angel martial soul to give him another thorough beating.

Fortunately, Qin Yu explained in time. "I happen to need a sparring partner. Spar with me, and we'll call it payment."

"Fine. Just don't cry." Qian Renxue relaxed. A smile touched her lips, and a flicker of delight crossed her eyes.

"Heh."

Qin Yu chuckled and turned to leave.

Watching his retreating back, Qian Renxue muttered, "Spar with me, will you? I'll make sure you regret it."

She even shook a fist in the direction he had gone.

Perhaps she hadn't noticed it herself, but in that one short day, Qin Yu had come to hold a special place in her heart.

Even the way she looked at him was changing, carrying a hint of something she couldn't quite name.

For the next half month, Qin Yu kept to the same routine: he was either at the Library Pavilion or the Worship Hall.

At the Library Pavilion, he saw Bibi Dong more and more often.

And the way His Holiness the Pope looked at him seemed different. It always left him with a strange feeling he couldn't explain.

Fortunately, Qin Yu had nearly finished reading all the ancient books there.

Once he was done, he could spend more time cultivating and would no longer need to visit the Library Pavilion.

Aside from his visits there, Qin Yu spent most of his time cultivating at the Worship Hall and sparring with Qian Renxue to build up his combat experience.

As time went on, they grew closer and closer. They were already far beyond friends, edging toward something else.

Clang!

In the courtyard, the silver Fang Tian Halberd struck a golden longsword with a muffled clang.

A halberd leaned toward a blunt weapon, while a sword relied on its edge.

In both destructive power and versatility, the former surpassed the latter.

After sparring with Qian Renxue time and again, Qin Yu's halberd technique had grown more disciplined. Every move now flowed into the next.

Clang, clang, clang!

After another exchange, the two separated by several meters.

"Qin Yu, how's the Fang Tian Halberd? Does it suit you?" Qian Renxue smiled, a trace of tenderness hidden in her eyes.

"Yeah. It feels good in my hands."

Qin Yu nodded with a smile.

"I'm glad. Otherwise, that piece of Heavenly Meteoric Iron would've gone to waste." Qian Renxue's smile widened. She was sincerely happy for him.

"...Thank you."

Qin Yu thanked her, a complicated look flashing through his eyes.

He could tell the Fang Tian Halberd had cost a fortune. Its main material was Heavenly Meteoric Iron, reinforced with Deep Sea Silver.

Its materials made it capable, to a degree, of standing up to a Soul Saint.

Even an ordinary Soul Douluo would have to put in some effort to destroy or break it.

Qian Renxue had given him something so precious. He couldn't help feeling moved.

"It's not easy getting those two words out of you," Qian Renxue teased.

"I really mean it. I like it."

Qin Yu looked utterly serious, without a trace of a joke.

Qian Renxue froze for a moment. Then her lips curved into a small smile. "I'm glad you like the Fang Tian Halberd."

"I owe you one. I'll repay you someday."

Qin Yu let his fighting spirit subside. He had no intention of continuing their match.

"Hmph."

Qian Renxue gave a huff and put away her sword. "I gave it to you, so it's yours. Who asked you to repay me? ...You're acting like we're strangers."

She said the last few words very softly.

But Qin Yu still heard them.

"..."

Qin Yu slipped the Fang Tian Halberd into his Storage Ring. After a moment's thought, he asked, "You're heading back to the Heaven Dou Empire soon, aren't you?"

Qian Renxue's heart trembled, and a powerful reluctance to leave welled up in her.

She had truly been happy these past two weeks.

Qin Yu might have had a smart mouth, but he had brought her a kind of happiness she had never known before. It felt special.

If her undercover mission hadn't been so important, she would have stayed longer.

Spending every day with Qin Yu, trading barbs now and then, drinking tea, and sparring together—it had felt wonderful.

"Hoo..."

Qian Renxue took a deep breath and pushed down the unfamiliar feeling in her heart. She nodded lightly. "Yes. I'm leaving shortly."

"Be careful out there."

"That's... all?"

"What?"

"Just those few words? Nothing else you want to say?" Qian Renxue gazed at him, a note of reproach in her voice.

"Something else?"

Qin Yu thought it over, then smiled. "Don't slack off on your cultivation. If I overtake you, you'll be the one getting beaten up."

"You..." Qian Renxue didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She walked up to him and said helplessly, "I gave you a Fang Tian Halberd, and you're still hung up on that?"

"Hey, those are two separate things."

"I'm grateful you gave me the Fang Tian Halberd, and I'll definitely return the favor someday. But I also remember you beating me up. I'll be sure to return that 'favor' too."

Qin Yu sounded perfectly serious.

"Qin Yu, why don't you just drop dead!" Qian Renxue was furious.

Seeing her like that, Qin Yu laughed softly. His gaze gradually gentled. "Take care of yourself. I'll come visit you in the Heaven Dou Empire."

"...You said it."

Qian Renxue's anger vanished, replaced by a gentle smile. "If you don't show up, you're dead!"

"I'll be there."

Qin Yu nodded.

Qian Renxue nodded back and was about to leave, but she stopped. Then she did something Qin Yu never expected.

Soft warmth pressed against him, carrying a delicate, feminine fragrance.

Qian Renxue had hugged him!

"Hm?"

Qin Yu looked down at Qian Renxue in his arms, surprised.

Before his surprise could fade, her voice sounded beside his ear. "We're friends, and we're about to part ways. Let me hug you."

Qin Yu could hear the shyness in her voice and feel the slight tremor in her body.

Qian Renxue... was nervous.

"Okay."

Qin Yu answered softly and wrapped his arms around her.

They held each other for a while before slowly parting.

"I'm leaving. Remember to think of me... beating you up." Qian Renxue's eyes flickered. In the end, she couldn't bring herself to say what she had meant to.

She turned to leave.

But Qin Yu caught her by the wrist.

"Hm?"

Qian Renxue paused and looked back at him in confusion. "Qin Yu, what is it? Is there something else?"