Greenwood Town (revised)

Over the next few days, while Qian Renyue quietly recuperated, Hu Liena came to see her several times, but Guang Ling turned her away each time on the grounds that Qian Renyue needed rest.

Hu Liena had also heard about what happened between Bibi Dong and Qian Renyue from Yue Guan and Gui Mei. In her heart, her teacher was a noble, upright person who would never bully the weak with her strength.

That meant everything had happened because of her, and Hu Liena felt deeply guilty.

She repeatedly visited for two reasons: first, to honor her wager with Qian Renyue, and second, to explain that Bibi Dong was not the sort of person Qian Renyue believed her to be.

Qian Renyue did nothing to stop Guang Ling. She wanted to see just how much patience Hu Liena had for being turned away again and again.

A few days later, Guang Ling went out on business, leaving Qian Renyue alone in Guang Ling Hall. She set a lounge chair in the courtyard. The sunshine was lovely, making it the perfect time to bask in the sun. Along the way, she could also look forward to seeing whether anyone would visit Guang Ling Hall today.

Bathed in sunlight, Qian Renyue felt as though some kind of power was flowing into her body. She raised her hand and looked at the Flame Mark on her palm. Under the sunlight, it grew redder and redder, glittering as though it were absorbing the rays shining down on it.

A magical treasure with sun power?

That was the only explanation Qian Renyue could think of.

"Qian Renyue."

Before long, Miss Fox's conflicted voice rang out. Qian Renyue blinked and lowered her hand, turning to look at Hu Liena with some surprise. "What brings you here?"

She asked despite already knowing the answer.

"I came to honor our wager."

After only a short time apart, Tang Yue had transformed into Qian Renyue. Her status as Spirit Hall's second young lady was far beyond what a mere Saintess like Hu Liena could compare to. Hu Liena looked at her with a complicated expression, her lips parting slightly, yet she had no idea how to voice the words she had prepared long ago.

Qian Renyue looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Saintess, are you..."

"I'm sorry!" Hu Liena blurted out, cutting Qian Renyue off. She bowed deeply, making her sincerity plain.

"..."

Qian Renyue had not expected Hu Liena to be so genuine. She studied Miss Fox thoughtfully, her thoughts unreadable.

Then Hu Liena quickly straightened. She looked as though she wanted to say something but could not, her face troubled. Qian Renyue's steady gaze made her uncomfortable. Her eyes wandered left and right, up and down, anywhere but toward Qian Renyue's eyes. "It wasn't that my skills were inferior. I just underestimated you."

"I admit you're strong," she said. "But if we really fought in the Soul Fighting Arena, you might not beat me."

Miss Fox pressed her lips together, her expression rather strange. She seemed to want to admit that she was less skilled, yet her cultivation was an entire tier above Qian Renyue's. If she admitted that she was inferior, would she have even a scrap of dignity left?

As the Saintess, whatever else happened, she still had to salvage that much dignity. "Qian Renyue, your strength makes you outstanding among your peers-no, even among people our age. Teacher was right. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Underestimating an enemy is a soldier's greatest taboo. The one I truly lost to was myself."

"Yes, your teacher was right about that." Qian Renyue nodded in agreement. She had indeed won their duel easily because she had anticipated Hu Liena underestimating her. But even if they fought in the Soul Fighting Arena, or fought at full strength, Hu Liena still would not be able to beat her.

Still, seeing the determination on Hu Liena's face, Qian Renyue did not want to damage her confidence. She looked away and continued reclining in her chair, absorbing the sunlight. "Since you've honored our wager, Saintess, please see yourself out. I need to rest."

"..."

Qian Renyue had dismissed her, and Hu Liena had no intention of lingering. But she still had things left unsaid. Frowning slightly, she fell silent for a long time before finally choosing to take the hint and return to Saintess Hall.

As Hu Liena left, Qian Renyue glanced back at her, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. Surely Miss Fox now understood that there was always someone stronger out there.

Only after this contest with Qian Renyue did Hu Liena realize that she was still just a frog at the bottom of a well. Within Spirit Hall, not only was Qian Renxue, who possessed the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, stronger than her, but even a ten-year-old with a Lotus Martial Soul surpassed her.

If her guess was correct, Qian Renyue might very well surpass Qian Renxue. Her talent might even exceed that of everyone in Spirit Hall!

A shimmering light appeared in Hu Liena's eyes. For some reason, she seemed to have become a little interested in Qian Renyue...

Over the past few days, Qian Renyue had been gathering sunlight in Guang Ling Hall's courtyard. She discovered that as long as the flame in her palm absorbed sunlight, her body would not burn up at night. That meant she no longer had to sleep beside Guang Ling every day. After all, men and women were different, and she was not actually only ten.

As for Guang Ling, after being told he no longer needed to sleep beside her, he suffered several nights of insomnia. He had finally grown accustomed to having someone else sleeping next to him, and now look-just as he got used to it, he had to get unused to it. It was quite the ordeal for an old man like him.

After recuperating in Guang Ling Hall for quite some time, Qian Renyue prepared to leave for Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Qian Renxue had already arranged everything at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. All Qian Renyue needed to do was arrive.

Some time earlier, Qian Renxue had heard Guang Ling speak at length about Qian Renyue in the imperial palace. She had quickly become interested in this girl named Yue whom Qian Daoliu had acknowledged as his own granddaughter.

For that reason, she had sped up the arrangements, hoping to meet Qian Renyue sooner.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was some distance from Spirit Hall. Guang Ling had originally wanted to accompany Qian Renyue, but Qian Daoliu thought he stood out far too much, so he ordered Ling Yuan Douluo, the only person available in the Elder Hall, to escort Qian Renyue and protect her at close quarters.

Having a woman provide close protection for another woman was, after all, a little better than having a man do it.

At least they would surely find plenty to talk about.

That was what Qian Daoliu thought.

"..."

Guang Ling disagreed. He scorned Qian Daoliu and watched Qian Renyue's carriage leave with great reluctance. If Qian Daoliu had not been there, he would have sneaked aboard to escort her.

The journey to Heaven Dou City was long and tedious. Qian Renyue yawned countless times inside the carriage, falling asleep and waking, then waking and falling asleep again. Even after several rounds, they still had not reached their destination.

She looked rather irritable, and even the atmosphere inside the carriage began to grow tense.

Seeing this, Ling Yuan Douluo recalled the things Light Feather Douluo had secretly pressed upon her before their departure. She opened the Soul Tool at her waist and took out everything Guang Ling had forced on her. "Second young lady, the Fifth Enshrined asked me to give you these when you got bored. Is there anything you'd like to use now... or eat?"

She laid everything out on the wooden table inside the carriage. Ling Yuan Douluo was about to unwrap them, but the moment she lifted the covering cloth, a fragrant, spicy aroma filled the carriage.

It was easy to tell that these were the Soft Bone Rabbit heads Guang Ling had asked Qian Daoliu to hunt for. Who knew how many he had killed? Ling Yuan opened one bag after another, her expression stiffening.

This...

There were at least a hundred rabbit heads.

When they reached Heaven Dou City, anyone who did not know better might think they had come specifically to sell Spicy Rabbit Head.

Though Ling Yuan Douluo grumbled inwardly, she kept her expression composed. After opening everything, she found there seemed to be nothing but rabbit heads. She instinctively glanced at Qian Renyue, whose expression was equally stiff. Presumably, they were thinking the same thing.

"Second young lady... do you really like eating rabbit heads?" Ling Yuan Douluo posed the soul-searching question. No matter how much she liked them, surely there was no need to buy them wholesale? Were rabbit heads supposed to be all three meals for the entire journey?

"..."

Honestly, Qian Renyue thought it was a bit ridiculous. Looking at the tightly packed rabbit heads on the table suddenly gave her trypophobia.

She really had to thank Guang Ling for this.

Looking away, she shook her head and waved her hand. Suddenly, she was no longer hungry. "Put them away. I can't bear to look at that many rabbit heads."

"Oh." Ling Yuan Douluo answered and put every last rabbit head back into her Soul Tool. "Is there anything you'd like to eat, second young lady? We'll be passing through a town shortly. We can take a break there."

Qian Renyue, who had lost all will to live after seeing the rabbit heads, immediately lit up upon hearing they would pass through a town with other things to eat. She looked at Ling Yuan Douluo. "Do they have roasted corn?"

"Roasted... corn?" Ling Yuan Douluo turned it over in her mind countless times before enlightenment struck. "You must mean fire-roasted corn kernels, second young lady?"

Fire-roasted corn kernels?

What a strange name.

Though she thought it sounded terribly rustic, Qian Renyue decided to do as the locals did for the sake of eating what she wanted. "Yes, that's right."

She nodded, her taste buds already recalling the flavors of roasted corn and roasted sweet potatoes.

"All right. We'll eat at a restaurant shortly."

"..."

Several hours later, the carriage reached Greenwood Town without incident.

Greenwood Town lay in the southern part of the Heaven Dou Empire, relatively close to Suotuo City and extremely near Shrek Academy's current location.

"Big Sister Ling Yuan, which way do we go? Where's the restaurant?" Qian Renyue gave none of that much thought. Roasted corn was all she could think about or see. After eagerly jumping out of the carriage, she immediately asked Ling Yuan Douluo where the restaurant was.

Ling Yuan Douluo pointed out the direction and explained the route. In the blink of an eye, Qian Renyue had vanished.

Looking at the drifting clouds left in the air before her, Ling Yuan Douluo sighed softly. After paying the carriage's parking fee, she walked leisurely toward the restaurant.

The streets buzzed with voices and festive cheer.

Today was Greenwood Town's Torch Festival. Everyone in town wore similar masks as they came and went in an endless stream: young men and women, loving couples, and stooped elderly folk.

All sorts of masked people walked past Qian Renyue. Having never seen such a scene before, the young girl was immediately captivated.

She changed course and curiously ran over to a mask vendor's stall. "How much is this mask?"

"Ten Copper Soul Coins!" the vendor answered with a smile, looking Qian Renyue up and down from behind his mask. "This must be your first time in Greenwood Town, miss. You probably don't know that today is our town's Torch Festival, do you?"

"Torch Festival? What's that?" Qian Renyue paused in choosing a mask and looked up at the vendor.

The vendor chuckled and explained, "The Torch Festival is a festival for finding your destined partner. Miss, once you buy a mask and put it on, you can wander around town wherever you like. If you and someone else are drawn to each other, that means that person is your destined partner."

"Oh? Is it that magical?" Qian Renyue had never believed in legends about destiny. Amused, she picked up a Demon Mask and tried it against her face. Finding that it fit, she tossed the vendor a Gold Soul Coin. "Keep the change. Give me another one exactly like this."

It was the first time the vendor had ever seen someone toss out a Gold Soul Coin to buy a mask. His eyes lit up, and he grinned from ear to ear. After feeling the coin and confirming it was genuine, he immediately found an identical mask and handed it over. "Certainly! Here you are, miss!"

"Thank you."

Qian Renyue took the mask and prepared to look for Ling Yuan.

She put on her mask, eager to see whether it really was that magical.

Just then, however, sounds of fighting and arguing suddenly came from nearby.

Driven by a spectator's curiosity, Qian Renyue had no choice but to abandon Ling Yuan for another few minutes. She could find her after enjoying the drama here.

The already packed street became even more crowded after the fighting and arguing broke out. Some ordinary townsfolk wanted no part of it and hurriedly pulled their children or spouses away. By the time Qian Renyue reached the spectators, there were not many people left.

"Do you think I give a damn about your woman? So what if I slept with her? She was just some woman who threw herself at me. If she weren't somewhat pretty, I wouldn't even have bothered! Do you really think I take anyone who comes along?!"

The moment she squeezed into the crowd, Qian Renyue heard those worldview-shattering words. And the voice sounded faintly familiar.

She frowned slightly and squeezed farther in.

Two men were facing off inside the crowd. One had been knocked to the ground, his face bruised and swollen. The other stood over him, arrogant and disdainful.

This was...

"Dai Mubai, don't push me too far!"

The man on the ground roared in fury, pointing at the young man's nose as he cursed, "You think being a Soul Master makes you so great? You bastard! You're worse than an animal!"

"Pfft-"

No one could tell what expression the young man called Dai Mubai wore beneath his mask. Before the crowd or the man could react, he kicked the man in the chest. The man violently spat out blood, and only then did the surrounding spectators panic, pushing through the crowd as they scattered.

"Murder! Murder! Run!"

"..."

In mere moments, the bustling street was suddenly deserted. Qian Renyue was the only spectator left.

Qian Renyue looked at Dai Mubai. Even through his mask, she could still sense his ill intentions.

What a lustful tiger.

Qian Renyue had never liked Dai Mubai. He and Ma Hongjun frequently visited brothels, and the body's original owner had once caught them red-handed. Had she not been so weak back then, she would never have let them threaten her into not daring to say a word.

Flames burned in her palm. Perfect-she had yet to test the power of this new magical treasure. Today, she would settle old scores and new ones together, using Dai Mubai as her guinea pig!

After recuperating in Spirit Hall for several months, Qian Renyue's bearing had changed. She radiated nobility. Though she was not tall, her perfect proportions made her legs look long, and her slender waist was especially striking. Dai Mubai had seen many women. Although the girl before him did not have a figure as fine as Zhu Zhuqing's, her bearing was captivating. Surely a face of peerless beauty lay beneath that mask.

Today, Qian Renyue wore a mid-length dress embroidered with exquisite phoenix flowers, with several white jade pendants adorning her sash. On her feet were blue crystal shoes with three-inch stiletto heels, and an openwork hair ornament edged in gold wire crowned her head. She looked poised and graceful, elegant and enchanting.

That single glance was enough to captivate Dai Mubai.

With such innate nobility, could she be a noble young lady?

Dai Mubai was accustomed to running wild outside. Normally, he sought out either twins or other women who caught his eye. Noble young ladies were the one kind he had never pursued.

Looking at the breathtaking girl before him, he could not help swallowing, already planning how to get his hands on her.

"Well..."

He eagerly stepped forward to strike up a conversation, but before he could get the words out, Qian Renyue's fist silently landed on his mask.

"Crackle-"

The mask suddenly burst into flames and shattered!

Startled, Dai Mubai hurriedly shook the fragments off his face and leaped backward to a safe distance.

He frowned in displeasure. "You're a Soul Master too?"

"Do you need to ask? Are you blind?" Qian Renyue had no intention of speaking politely to Dai Mubai. Two blazing flames rose from her palms, shaped like lotuses. Their eerie blue color looked rather sinister to him.

"Tch. In that case, I won't hold back!"

Dai Mubai released his soul power. He was also a Soul Elder, already at rank thirty-nine. His Evil-Eyed White Tiger Martial Soul was a beast martial soul, so releasing his soul power also brought certain beastlike changes to his body. His physique looked even more muscular!

Three Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet: yellow, yellow, purple!

"Today, I'll make you sneak attacker get a proper taste of my strength!"

"Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"

Dai Mubai unleashed a powerful attack right from the start. He wanted to end this quickly!

Qian Renyue focused and leaped into a flip, her agile body perfectly evading the milky-white sphere of light. Holding the Blue Lotus Flame, she locked her gaze on Dai Mubai and charged straight at him!

"Stop!"

"First Soul Skill! Blue Silver Entanglement!"

In an instant, a dense mass of Blue Silver Grass sprouted beneath Qian Renyue's feet and wrapped around her ankles. She glanced down, but before she could cut it apart, the grass dragged her toward the ground!

"Scrape-"

The Blue Flame in Qian Renyue's hand braced against the ground. Flame collided with the paved stone surface, leaving a long scorched streak!

"Tang San!"

Qian Renyue gritted her teeth. The moment she stopped, she burned away the Blue Silver Grass binding her with the flames in her hands. Dai Mubai's attack followed immediately. "Second Soul Skill, Dancing Butterflies!"

Three Soul Rings appeared! Butterfly wings sprouted from her back, and Qian Renyue flew into the air, narrowly evading Dai Mubai's powerful attack!

Her beautiful butterfly wings fluttered in the air. Looking at her Soul Rings, Dai Mubai could not help exclaiming in surprise, "Her third ring... ten thousand years?!"

"Boss Dai! Are you all right?"

A familiar voice reached her, and Qian Renyue turned toward its owner.

It was the brother who had abandoned the body's original owner. Her hypocritical brother. A brother who could not even recognize the younger sister he had lived with for ten years!

Qian Renyue smiled mockingly. Tang San seemed to sense something. He first checked on Dai Mubai, and after seeing that he was unharmed, activated his Purple Demon Eye and stared straight at Qian Renyue!

Little Yue?!

His body jolted, and the hand that had just controlled the Blue Silver Grass trembled slightly!

The Purple Demon Eye could see through masks. With a single glance, he recognized his younger sister-Tang Yue!

"Little Yue!"

Delight and guilt intertwined. Tang San's eyes shifted, even growing a little moist!

Dai Mubai froze upon hearing him. This was Tang Yue?

No way.

Facing Tang San's delighted gaze, Qian Renyue spoke coldly. "Do I know you? Don't pretend we're close!"

Do I know you...

That single sentence felt like a sharp weapon piercing Tang San's heart, making it tremble with pain.

"First Soul Skill, Thousand Absolute Ice Prisms!"

Removing the trailing portion of her butterfly wings, Qian Renyue fused it with her first Soul Skill, and an ordinary blue ice bow appeared in her hand!

She descended from the air. Seeing this, Tang San wanted to reach out and catch her, but Qian Renyue drew her bowstring. A huge blue magic circle appeared behind her, covered in frost, its intricate patterns shimmering with pale pink light. Three ice arrows slowly materialized on her bow. Tang San inwardly cursed. His Purple Demon Eye had already revealed what she intended. He retreated to Dai Mubai's side and said something indiscernible. Three arrows tore through the air, flames clinging to their icy-blue tips. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass could not block them at all. Just then, several rays of colored light appeared on the two men. Qian Renyue landed steadily on the ground. "Bang-"