To Heaven Dou City, the Crown Prince's Residence

"Of course I mean how sorry I feel for you after you took the Immortal Herbs," Qin Yu said with a smile.

Ling Yuan could not tell whether she should be happy or upset to hear that.

"Anyway, back to the point." Qin Yu interrupted her thoughts. "Tell me what you remember so I don't have to explain everything."

"I remember bringing Your Highness to Star Dou Forest to obtain your Fourth Soul Ring. Just as we were about to enter the Mixed Zone, I was hit by a spiritual attack and passed out..."

After thinking back, Ling Yuan hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, what exactly happened? How did you..."

She wanted to ask how Qin Yu had escaped unharmed, but the question did not feel appropriate.

Qin Yu understood what she meant. Rather than getting angry, he thought carefully, as though sorting through his memories.

Ling Yuan watched him quietly without making a sound.

A long while passed.

At last, Qin Yu explained, "It was an extremely powerful spiritual-type Soul Beast, at least a hundred thousand years old."

"It must have been hunting. Its spiritual shockwave swept across several miles. We weren't prepared, and many Soul Beasts were knocked unconscious too, including some over ten thousand years old."

"I avoided the worst of it thanks to a protective measure the Worship Hall gave me, so I didn't pass out."

"That gave me an opportunity. I killed an unconscious Ten-Thousand-Year Dragon Soul Beast, one around sixty thousand years old."

"My Dragon bloodline was stronger than its, so absorbing the Fourth Soul Ring wasn't too difficult. I managed it before you and the other Soul Beasts woke up... It was a rather risky move."

"After that, I took you away. You woke up just now."

"A spiritual-type Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!" Ling Yuan's pupils contracted in shock.

Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were rare enough, and spiritual types were rarer still. She had never expected to encounter one with Qin Yu.

Fortunately, they had only been caught in the attack's reach, not become its prey. Otherwise, they would certainly have died.

"But..."

Once the shock faded, Ling Yuan felt a flicker of doubt. Something seemed off. It all sounded a little too coincidental.

More importantly, would someone with Qin Yu's temperament really risk absorbing a Soul Ring under those circumstances?

"Ling Yuan."

Qin Yu suddenly called her name.

"Huh? Your Highness?" Ling Yuan came back to herself and looked at him in confusion. "What is it?"

"We're both alive. That's the best outcome we could have hoped for." Qin Yu patted her shoulder, wearing a smile she could not quite read.

Then he turned and walked away.

Ling Yuan hesitated for a moment before hurrying after him. She stopped thinking about it. Clearly, she had understood what he meant.

Just as Qin Yu had said, they were alive. That was the best outcome.

Was there any need to dig into the rest?

Besides, Qin Yu had saved her life. That fact would not change.

Thank you, Your Highness, Ling Yuan thought. Something stirred in her eyes as she watched Qin Yu.

Ahead of her, Qin Yu's expression remained composed, his gaze calm.

He had never expected Ling Yuan to believe his story, riddled with holes as it was. He had merely given them both an explanation to accept.

Whether she believed him or suspected the truth did not matter.

Her life was in his hands. He could kill her with a single thought, so he had no reason to worry about what might come of this.

"Your Highness, where are we going now?" Ling Yuan asked as she walked beside him.

"Heaven Dou City."

"To see Miss Qian?"

"No. To beat her up."

"Uh." Ling Yuan froze. She had not expected that answer at all.

Still, she did not dare pry into matters between the Holy Son and the Worship Hall's young lady. She would be better off following quietly.

The two left Star Dou Forest. After spending a day resting in a nearby city, they continued toward Heaven Dou City.

Along the way, Qin Yu took the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew. As his Spiritual Power grew, he also recovered the missing stretch of his memory.

Everything was as Gu Yuena had told him.

Heaven Dou City.

As the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, it was second only to Spirit City in prosperity, and in some respects, it surpassed even Spirit City.

It was unlike Star Luo City, where strength came first and pleasure was kept in moderation.

Heaven Dou City was more decadent. Its nobles chased pleasure and lived in lavish excess, and that excess had helped make the city so prosperous.

At the heart of the city stood a lofty complex of palaces: the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. Its splendor far outshone the surrounding buildings.

Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace lay the Crown Prince's Residence.

In its study, a scholarly-looking young man sat with an elegant quill in hand, reviewing documents.

As his performance improved, Xue Ye began entrusting him with more affairs of state.

Ostensibly, Xue Ye was testing his abilities. In truth, he was gradually handing over power and grooming him to become the next emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Little did he know that this "son" was no longer Xue Qinghe. Someone else had taken his place.

That person was Qian Renxue.

"Phew."

Qian Renxue let out a long breath, set down the last document, and rubbed her temples. "More and more state business, and less and less time to rest."

In principle, more work was a good thing. It gave her more chances to prove herself and secure her position as crown prince.

But she had to handle those affairs well without falling behind in her cultivation.

So she sacrificed her rest, stealing a rare moment to relax and think about her Little Yu.

"It's been over four years. I wonder how Little Yu is doing now?" Resting her chin on her hand, Qian Renxue pictured Qin Yu again.

Even after four years, she had not forgotten him. She could still see that slightly childish face clearly.

Whenever she remembered him speaking so confidently with that face, like a little adult, she could not help but smile.

"He must be a grown boy by now, much more mature than he was four years ago..." Qian Renxue murmured, her smile deepening.

For four years, thinking of Qin Yu had been her happiest, most relaxing moments.

"It's been so long. Why hasn't Little Yu come to Heaven Dou City to see me? Didn't they say he'd already left Spirit Hall?"

"Has some other vixen got her claws into him?"

"Hu Liena... Hmph!"

The thought of Hu Liena making a move while she was away made Qian Renxue furious. She wanted to return to Spirit Hall and give her a beating.

Hu Liena had already taken something from her. Was she going to take Qin Yu too?

This time, Qian Renxue would never allow it!

"Hum..."

The surrounding Soul Power suddenly stirred, and a voice sounded beside Qian Renxue's ear. "My lady, Ling Yuan Douluo has sent a letter."

"Little Yu!"

Qian Renxue sprang to her feet, delight lighting up her face.

She had already received a letter from the Worship Hall telling her that Ling Yuan Douluo was protecting Qin Yu as he traveled the continent.

Ling Yuan Douluo did not report directly to her, so if she had suddenly sent a letter through Snake Lance Douluo, it was most likely at Qin Yu's request.

Snake Lance Douluo then emerged and respectfully presented the letter.