Questioning Her Heart

"Lovesick Heartbreak Red?"

Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes widened slightly as her delicate hand brushed over the white flower before her.

Lovesick Heartbreak Red immediately swayed its body, trying to avoid her touch.

But the next moment, it voluntarily bowed its head, its white petals gently brushing against Qian Renxue's palm.

Qian Renxue narrowed her eyes with a smile.

"It tickles, Xiao Feng. It can actually move by itself? But why is it called Lovesick Heartbreak Red when it's clearly a white flower?"

Lin Feng felt somewhat uneasy inside.

"Because of that trace of blood-red at its center. Legend has it that, long, long ago, there was a youth who loved flowers as much as life itself. His courtyard was filled with green lotus ponds and countless blooming flowers in every shade.

Every day, he recited poetry to the flowers and poured his heart out to them. Whenever a flower withered, he would grieve endlessly, gather its petals, bury them, and weep over them again and again.

His ultimate devotion to flowers eventually moved a Flower Fairy in the heavens.

The Fairy descended to the mortal world, taking on a mortal body, and married him.

However, their happy life did not last long. The Flower Fairy's secret descent to the mortal world and marriage to a human was eventually discovered by a God.

In his fury, the God seized the Flower Fairy and brought her back to the God Realm, leaving the two forever separated.

Consumed by grief, the youth wore a sorrowful expression every day. His pain became so unbearable that he gradually even neglected his flowers.

One day, an old man came to him and told him that the White Peony in his courtyard was the incarnation of his wife's prison.

As long as he destroyed it, the Fairy would lose her Divine Body and become a mortal, allowing her to be with him.

But his love ran too deep. How could he possibly choose that? He resumed caring for his flowers and tended to the peony with utmost devotion.

In the end, exhausted in body and spirit, he died of lovesickness and heartbreak. Before his death, he coughed up a mouthful of vital blood, which became that spot of crimson on Lovesick Heartbreak Red."

After hearing this, Qian Renxue's heart trembled, and she could not recover for a long while.

In a daze, a crystalline tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

Lin Feng pursed his lips.

"If you wish to pluck it, you must think of the one you love and, with true and sincere feelings, spit out a mouthful of vital blood. If there is even the slightest distraction in your heart, you will fail."

She stared blankly at Lovesick Heartbreak Red before her, then gazed at Lin Feng with infatuated eyes.

"So, Xiao Feng, you hope I can pluck it, right?!"

Given what the two had experienced before, this was practically an open declaration of their feelings for each other.

Lin Feng nodded solemnly. On Douluo Continent, people matured early. Though they were nearly ten years old, they already understood the feelings between men and women.

In truth, Lin Feng was not entirely confident either. After all, he was certain that he himself would not be able to pluck it.

It was true that he had feelings for Qian Renxue, but it was also true that he harbored a trace of affection for the tight-clad Older Sister Ling Yuan as well, and even...

Lin Feng sighed inwardly. Perhaps this was simply a man's inherent flaw—eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot.

With memories from his previous life, he simply could not devote himself wholeheartedly to only one person in this Douluo World.

Lin Feng did not consider himself a saint. He admitted that he was fickle in love, but he was also willing to make an effort for it.

As a transmigrator, if he still could not change some of the events from the original story, that would be far too unreasonable.

What he wanted was to give as much sincerity as possible and receive something in return.

If one were to say that was unrealistic, then they would be wrong. This was Douluo Continent, where everyone was lovesick.

Once they fell in love with someone, they would remain faithful from beginning to end.

Those knockoff Liu Ruyans, who repaid more than a decade of deep devotion with betrayal, were simply a joke.

"Pfft!"

Without hesitation, Qian Renxue spat a mouthful of vital blood onto Lovesick Heartbreak Red, instantly dyeing the flower red.

The pure white petals became stained with blood, while the bewitching yet mournful filaments gradually changed shape.

Qian Renxue closed her eyes, her mind filled entirely with Lin Feng's figure.

Scene after scene flashed through her mind, replaying every little moment they had spent together.

During the process of undergoing Lovesick Heartbreak Red's test, Qian Renxue also began questioning her own heart. What exactly were her feelings for Lin Feng?

The two had met in the library, and she had been drawn to the scholarly, striving aura around him.

Later, after they became friends, she had marveled at his comprehension and extraordinary talent for theory, seeing him as a companion who could one day stand on equal footing with her.

Later still, her mother became even more disgusted and cold toward her, while the days she could meet her father grew fewer and fewer.

At that time, Lin Feng, a companion who sincerely connected with her, was there regardless of spring, summer, autumn, or winter, regardless of time or place.

He listened to her troubles, taught her knowledge she did not know, and guided the strings of her heart.

He had entered her heart just like that, occupying such a vast place within it.

Later, Qian Xunji died, and Bibi Dong broke with her. Lin Feng became the first source of solace she thought of, and on that day, she had taken the initiative and made the first move.

The furrow between Qian Renxue's brows gradually eased, and her heart was finally at peace.

Whether she regarded Lin Feng as an opponent on equal footing, or as a companion with whom she could sincerely connect.

Or whether she saw him as the solace her heart longed for, as the one she loved most deeply and dearly, as the other half of her future.

All of it was a manifestation of love. She truly loved Lin Feng—there was no denying it!

Lovesick Heartbreak Red suddenly began to sway violently. Under Qian Renxue's delighted gaze, it slowly descended from the Black Stone into her palm.

It bounced and rejoiced, floating above her palm.

"Xiao Feng, did you see that?!" Qian Renxue wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Her purple eyes shone brilliantly, bright as stars.

"Xiao Xue, I like you too."

Lin Feng spoke softly.

"Mhm, mhm!"

Qian Renxue lowered her gaze, then rose and came to Lin Feng's side. Her tender, water-soft Lip Petals, like peeled lychee flesh, pressed against his forehead.

When they parted, their foreheads rested against each other. Qian Renxue's hands brushed over Lin Feng's cheeks as she gazed at his increasingly handsome face, a trace of intoxication flashing through her eyes.

"Xiao Feng, we have to stay together forever."

"Mhm. I won't let you leave me."

Lin Feng wrapped his arms around Qian Renxue's waist and spoke gently.

"Xiao Xue, aren't you going to consume it?"

"No. I want to keep it by my side. It is like a little spirit, able to carry my feelings of longing."

Qian Renxue looked softly at Lovesick Heartbreak Red floating beside her.

Early the next morning, Lin Feng and Chrysanthemum Douluo once again headed for Dugu Bo's residence.

The preliminary preparations for Qian Renxue's mission were nearly complete.

They had gathered sufficiently comprehensive information on Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's daily behavior.

The crown prince of Heaven Dou likely never imagined that the maids and guards around him were all from Spirit Hall.

Now, Qian Renxue only needed to master the Spirit Bone's disguise ability, assume Xue Qinghe's identity, and successfully pass a performance under the watchful eyes of several Titled Douluo.

Then she could choose an appropriate time to replace the personnel.

After silently mourning for the real Xue Qinghe for two and a half seconds, Lin Feng turned his attention to Dugu Bo before him.

Dugu Bo was completely different today. He was full of spirit and vigor.

The undisguised smile on his face, along with the two rows of white teeth he bared, made the joy in his heart abundantly clear.

"You're here, little brother?"

Dugu Bo greeted them with a cheerful smile and waved at Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Chrysanthemum Douluo nearly choked on his breath as he angrily pointed at Dugu Bo.

"You brat, I'm several years older than you!

How dare you call me little brother? I think your ass is itching for another beating!"

Dugu Bo waved him off unconcernedly. Having resolved the hidden danger in his family's martial spirit, he now faced everything with a carefree attitude.

"What's it to you? If Ghost Douluo married a wife in her twenties right now, wouldn't you still have to call her sister-in-law?"

"What kind of rotten analogy is that? You're just spouting nonsense! Besides, Old Ghost would never concern himself with this sort of romantic nonsense!"

Dugu Bo spread his hands. "Say whatever you want. Did you come here today for something?"

Lin Feng nodded slightly. "Grandpa Dugu, it's time for you to report to Spirit Hall."

"So soon?"

Dugu Bo was somewhat taken aback.

Chrysanthemum Douluo snorted. "What, were you waiting for the Great Enshrinement to come find you personally?"

"Ahem, well... I suppose sooner is better. I'll leave within the next few days, all right?"

Dugu Bo coughed, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Going earlier is for your own good. You're already close to breaking through to Titled Douluo. With our connection and the Great Enshrinement looking after you, obtaining your Ninth Soul Ring will naturally be much easier."

Dugu Bo's eyes lit up, and he nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Lin Feng and Chrysanthemum Douluo exchanged glances, amusement in their eyes.

With the operation about to begin, the fewer high-level Spirit Masters there were in Heaven Dou City, the better.

Under Dugu Yan's wistful gaze, Lin Feng and Chrysanthemum Douluo returned to their base.

"Xiao Xue, Ling Yuan Jie, I'm planning to condense my Second Soul Vein."

Lin Feng summoned the Innate Treasure Pearl, its pale-purple Soul Ring pulsing up and down.

Lovesick Heartbreak Red would be consumed, and there would be no tragedy—but not yet.