Hu Liena's Gift, Ling Yuan Douluo

"Qin Yu!"

After Bibi Dong disappeared, Hu Liena arrived. She hurried up to Qin Yu, her face full of concern. "You're leaving Spirit Hall?"

"Yes." Qin Yu nodded and smiled. "I'm going to travel the continent and gain some experience. I wanted to come tell you."

"I..."

Hu Liena was about to say she would go with him when Bibi Dong's voice sounded in her ear. "Stay in Spirit Hall and focus on your training."

With Bibi Dong having spoken, Hu Liena could not disobey.

Hu Liena pressed her lips together. "Qin Yu, when will you come back?"

"We'll see. I'll come back when it's time."

Qin Yu smiled.

"Oh." Hu Liena's eyes were full of reluctance. She wanted to ask him to stay, but she could think of no reason to.

Seeing her expression, Qin Yu could not resist teasing her. "Looks like I'm charming enough to make you miss me, Senior."

"Yes."

Hu Liena nodded and looked at him earnestly.

Qin Yu was a little surprised. He chuckled. "Then don't forget me. Otherwise, I won't have a gift for you when I come back."

"All right. I'll look forward to it."

Hu Liena broke into a smile, then changed tack and complained, "Qin Yu, after all this time, you still call me 'Senior.' Can't you call me something else?"

"What's wrong with Senior?" Qin Yu smiled.

"How about... you call me Na'er?" Hu Liena's cheeks reddened as she waited expectantly.

"I don't like that one. I have something more special, just for you."

"What is it?"

Hu Liena grew even more eager.

"Little Fox." Qin Yu gave her a wicked grin.

"You!" Flustered and indignant, Hu Liena glared at him. "No. I only want you to call me Na'er. Nothing else."

"Little Fox."

"Qin Yu!"

"Little Fox." He stuck to the same two words, finding them easier to say each time.

Hu Liena was angry, embarrassed, and helpless all at once.

Fine. Little Fox it is. At least it means we're closer. She accepted the nickname with a quiet mutter.

"Well, I should go. Take care." Qin Yu smiled and prepared to leave.

"Wait!"

"What el—"

Before Qin Yu could finish, Hu Liena rushed toward him in a waft of fragrance, fell into his arms, and gave him a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth.

Then she pulled away just as quickly.

Watching from the shadows, Bibi Dong, Qian Daoliu, and Golden Crocodile Douluo each raised an eyebrow, their thoughts their own.

"Since you're bringing me a gift, I thought I'd give you one too." A faint blush colored Hu Liena's face. As soon as she finished speaking, she ran off.

Qin Yu watched her flee in silence for a long while. Finally, he shook his head and smiled. "Maybe one day I'll call you Nana..."

Murmuring to himself, Qin Yu left as well.

North of Spirit City lay the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire, where Qin Yu planned to travel and build his strength.

Holy Soul Village, the Upper Three Sects, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and even Qian Renxue, who had already claimed a place in his heart, were all in the Heaven Dou Empire.

I can leave the Blue Silver Emperor and the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone in Holy Soul Village for now. First, I'll go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and use the immortal herbs to break through to level forty.

On the road to Sunset Forest, Qin Yu considered the order in which he should seize those opportunities.

Holy Soul Village held precious treasures, but a certain Haozi was always watching it from the shadows. Going there now would be extremely dangerous.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was a safer bet. There was only one level-ninety-one Poison Douluo there.

Qin Yu could not deal with Poison Douluo himself, but the person following him in secret could.

"Elder Ling Yuan, come out," Qin Yu said calmly.

At his words, a figure stepped out of the shadows.

She had neatly cropped hair and keen eyes. Her bearing was bold and commanding.

She was one of Spirit Hall's elders, a level-ninety-four assault-type Titled Douluo known as Ling Yuan Douluo.

Ling Yuan Douluo's loyalty to Spirit Hall was beyond doubt. Otherwise, Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo would never have trusted her to guard Qin Yu.

Ling Yuan Douluo approached Qin Yu and bowed. "Your Highness."

Qin Yu looked at her and smiled. "Elder Ling Yuan has always remained neutral, favoring neither the Worship Hall nor the Papal Hall."

"So I'm curious. Why did you volunteer to protect me in secret?"

"It is my duty to keep you safe, Your Highness," Ling Yuan Douluo said.

"I believe that. But it doesn't seem to be the real reason." Qin Yu watched her quietly. "Would you mind telling me, Elder Ling Yuan?"

Surprise flickered in Ling Yuan Douluo's eyes.

No wonder so many elders and worshipers of Spirit Hall, and even the Pope, say Qin Yu is far more perceptive than others his age.

"Can you tell me?"

Qin Yu asked again.

Ling Yuan Douluo considered it for a moment, then smiled. "Why don't you guess, Your Highness?"

"The Worship Hall and Papal Hall have been fighting openly and covertly for years. Both sides want to win you over, but you don't want to get caught up in their struggle. So you came out here for a breather."

Qin Yu spoke evenly.

"You really are remarkably perceptive, Your Highness." Ling Yuan Douluo looked even more surprised, and a trace of admiration entered her smile.

She was loyal to Spirit Hall. Deep down, she did not want to see its internal conflict worsen, much less side with either faction.

But both halls had been trying to win her over in secret. Keeping up appearances with them every day was exhausting.

So she had taken the assignment to protect Qin Yu in secret as a chance to get away for a while.

"Would you be interested in joining me, Elder Ling Yuan?"

Qin Yu asked as they walked.

"Well..." Ling Yuan Douluo gave a rueful smile and shook her head. "Please don't put me in a difficult position, Your Highness. I truly don't want to get involved in the conflict between the two halls. I only want to help Spirit Hall grow."

"I don't think you understood what I meant."

Qin Yu stopped and turned to face her. "I'm not asking you to join the Worship Hall. I'm asking you to follow me, and only me."

"Hm?"

Ling Yuan Douluo froze. Whatever came to mind made her cheeks warm, and her expression turned peculiar.

Qin Yu was certainly impressive, but she had no desire to pursue someone so much younger than herself.

"You've got the wrong idea, Elder Ling Yuan."

Qin Yu saw what she was thinking and cut in. "I feel the same way you do. I don't want Spirit Hall's internal conflict to keep getting worse."

"But I would handle it differently."

"You chose to avoid it. I want to resolve it."

At that, Ling Yuan Douluo realized she had misunderstood him. Qin Yu had meant nothing of the sort.

"I thought..." Ling Yuan Douluo blushed, thoroughly embarrassed.

She composed herself quickly, though, and soon returned to normal.

"You don't understand, Your Highness." Ling Yuan Douluo shook her head and sighed. "The conflict between the Worship Hall and the Papal Hall is complicated. It can't be resolved."