Love God's Curse Was Everywhere

"Mm, I'll remember."

Qian Renxue nodded woodenly. She clearly had not recovered from the tragedy Qian Zong had described.

Recalling Qian Zong's account of the battle at Jialing Pass, where Tang San had reconciled with her and spared everyone in Spirit Hall, confusion rose in her eyes again.

"Zong'er, didn't Tang San make peace with me? Why did he later hunt down Spirit Hall?"

Qian Zong fell silent once more.

"Zong'er." Qian Renxue took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. She placed both hands on his shoulders, looked into his eyes, and said each word with solemn care. "Now that I know about the tragedy to come, I won't trust Tang San again. So I want you to be honest with me. Don't lie to me, all right?"

Qian Renxue studied Qian Zong, and he studied her in turn.

Seeing the stubborn resolve in her eyes, Qian Zong sighed softly.

"Have you ever considered two questions?

"If a noble, powerful, beautiful, and extraordinarily gifted woman fell from her divine pedestal and lost everything she relied on, what would become of her?

"Do you think the empire's nobles and the continent's ambitious schemers would leave her alone?

"If a power that had flourished for ten thousand years declined, do you think the empire's rulers and other factions would pass up the chance to plunder its resources? Would they spare its disciples and descendants?"

Qian Renxue froze. As the implications struck her, she felt as though lightning had hit her, leaving her mind blank.

The hands resting on Qian Zong's shoulders went limp.

"It seems you already know the answer."

After ten years as crown prince, Qian Renxue knew the empire's nobles all too well. They were filthy, greedy, corrupt, and vile.

If that day came, she would meet a terrible end.

Qian Zong raised his hands and gently took the two small hands on his shoulders, guiding them down in front of him, her left resting over her right.

He held her right palm from below with his left hand and laid his right over the back of her left. Then he spoke with quiet sincerity.

"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, I won't let that happen.

"From now on, Zong'er will protect you."

The warmth against her palms pulled Qian Renxue back from her daze. Light gradually returned to her eyes.

Looking at Qian Zong's handsome face so close to hers, she grew resolute and nodded gently.

"Mm. I believe you."

My grandson had the makings of a god.

She withdrew her hands. "Zong'er, I have to go. Rest and recover. If you need anything, ask your grandfather."

"Going back to the Heaven Dou Empire to keep working as a spy?"

Qian Renxue froze again, but remembering who Qian Zong was, she let it go.

This boy really knows everything.

"Zong'er, just how much do you know?"

Her feelings toward him had changed. No longer guarded, Qian Renxue treated him as one of her own and spoke whatever came to mind.

"The journals you left were very detailed. I know what you're like, your little secrets, and everything that happened to you."

Qian Renxue had indeed left journals, but after ten thousand years, the writing had long since faded.

That hardly mattered to Qian Zong. Her journals were not the source of his knowledge.

"Such as?"

Qian Zong grinned mischievously. "Such as how much you dislike Bibi Dong, even though you sincerely want her approval. That's why you chose to become a spy in the Heaven Dou Empire."

"Nonsense! Why would I—"

Qian Renxue's expression turned stern, and she almost denied it on instinct. But when she saw Qian Zong's knowing smile, she swallowed the words at the last moment. A blush swiftly spread across her face.

"You mustn't tell anyone else."

With Qian Zong, she no longer argued. She accepted what she felt.

After all, he came from the future. He had already seen straight through her. Denial was pointless.

"Don't worry. This will be our secret."

Qian Zong held up his right pinkie.

Qian Renxue looked puzzled. "What are you doing?"

Qian Zong took her left hand, hooked his pinkie around hers, and recited:

"Pinky promise, seal it tight. For a hundred years, we won't change our minds."

He paused, putting on just the right look of confusion.

"Why aren't you saying it with me? Do you want me to tell Bibi Dong your secret?"

"You wouldn't dare!" Qian Renxue's heart beat faster, and her cheeks grew redder. Though she looked displeased, she murmured along with him. "Pinky promise, seal it tight. For a hundred years, we won't change our minds."

"Childish!"

As soon as they finished, Qian Renxue snatched back her hand and put on a stern expression again.

But the curve of her lips had already betrayed her.

She's so easy to coax. Once she places her feelings in me, I hope she won't make any foolish choices about where she stands. Qian Zong did not call her out. He simply played along.

The greatest unsolved mystery of the Douluo Continent was love.

Geniuses loved weaklings, devoted to them until death;

Geniuses loved Soul Beasts, giving them their hearts and souls;

Geniuses delighted in chasing after someone who would never love them back, so besotted they lost themselves in it;

In short, if you were a genius, love meant ruling out the sensible choice first, then the respectable one.

Even gods could not escape that rule. They had to fall in love.

One or two cases could be exceptions, but when everyone was like that, Qian Zong genuinely feared the Douluo Continent was under some Love God's Curse.

He was not even a god; he simply knew a great deal. To be safe, he could only draw all their love onto himself.

"Zong'er, I really must go. Rest well. Once your injuries heal, I'll take you to visit the empire."

Qian Renxue had no idea what was going through his head. She had already spent too long with him and could not stay any longer.

Qian Zong nodded and saluted with clasped hands. "I respectfully see you off."

"Cheeky boy." Qian Renxue shot him a look, then rose and headed for the door.

When she opened it, she found Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile arriving to check on Qian Zong.

Qian Daoliu's expression was a little strained. He forced himself to look calm and greeted her with a chuckle.

"Xue'er, you're back. I was just about to look for you."

Qian Renxue stopped and looked at Qian Daoliu, her eyes conflicted.

He had always been the person she respected and loved most. But after learning what Qian Xunji had done to Bibi Dong, she felt sick at heart and did not know how to face him.

In truth, her thoughts had long since become a pot of boiling porridge. She had only kept them hidden in the room to maintain her dignity as Qian Zong's ancestor.

And the news Qian Zong had given her was so alarming that she had yet to fully absorb it. Her emotions had not caught up, leaving her relatively calm for now.

Sensing that something was wrong, Azure Luan Douluo approached Qian Renxue and asked gently:

"Young Mistress, how are the young master's injuries healing?"

Qian Renxue looked away and answered evenly:

"Zong'er is exceptionally gifted, and his Martial Soul is highly compatible with Angel Divine Power. After absorbing it, he can move around normally again."