Equality

An itch tickled his nose, and Lin Feng could not help sneezing.

When he opened his bleary eyes, Qian Renxue was smiling serenely, holding a strand of her black hair between two fingers and brushing it across Lin Feng's nose.

He looked outside. The sky was beginning to pale at the horizon, and the morning mist had yet to fully disperse.

He pinched Qian Renxue's delicate nose.

"You can rest a little longer. Stop making trouble."

"Oh."

Lin Feng shifted his left arm slightly.

"Um, Xiao Xue, my arm is a little stiff."

Qian Renxue was startled. She propped herself up and let Lin Feng pull his arm back.

She asked weakly:

"Is it all right?"

The Innate Treasure Pearl, neglected at the side all night, floated into the air, scattering specks of light.

"It's fine now."

Lin Feng blinked.

Qian Renxue's words caught in her throat. Slightly annoyed, she placed Lin Feng's left arm back beneath her neck.

She said fiercely:

"You were pressing on my hair, and I didn't say anything. As punishment, you're not allowed to move it away without permission ever again."

"Very well. As you wish, my lady."

"Hmph, hmph."

Listening to each other's heartbeats and feeling each other's breaths, time passed.

After breakfast and his usual training, Lin Feng began the day's cultivation.

Flames churned in his palm. Under the scorching heat, even the air seemed faintly distorted.

With a push of his palm, a Fire Domain was already suspended high in the air.

As his thoughts shifted, Lin Feng controlled the Soul Skill, making subtle alterations.

A portion of flame separated from the Field and transformed toward the shape of chains.

The chains gradually solidified. As compressed energy, they were undoubtedly more powerful than a simple Fire Domain.

Once they took shape, Lin Feng frowned.

"This won't do. It consumes too much Spiritual Power."

Ling Yuan Jie asked curiously from the side:

"Oh? Then how many chains like that can you form now, Xiao Feng?"

"Ten, perhaps. That's too few, and once I'm mentally exhausted, they become rather difficult to control."

Ling Yuan Jie froze, then snapped irritably:

"Whenever you say something like that, I want to give you a proper beating.

Do you really not know how outstanding you are, accidentally letting this side of yourself show, or are you deliberately showing off?"

"Deliberately."

The corners of Lin Feng's lips curled upward as he looked at Ling Yuan Jie teasingly.

"You..."

Ling Yuan Jie rolled her eyes at Lin Feng. Sometimes, she truly had no idea what Xiao Feng was thinking.

Most of the time, Lin Feng was steady and composed, carrying the shrewdness of someone in control of the bigger picture.

Yet at certain times, like now, he would reveal his frivolous and easygoing side.

Ling Yuan Jie smiled inwardly. Perhaps that was exactly what she liked about Lin Feng.

"Ling Yuan Jie, didn't you say last time that you had something to ask me? What was it?"

Feeling out the exact state of his Second Soul Vein, Lin Feng spoke up.

Ling Yuan Jie was taken aback. What was it again?

Oh, right—the Martial Soul issue in Wanqing's family.

She silently apologized to Ye Wanqing.

After returning last time, she had only briefly mentioned it before Xiao Xue laid everything bare.

These past few days, she had been immersed in the joy of finally being able to act openly, and had completely forgotten about Wanqing's family.

"Xiao Feng, do you know of the Nine Heart Begonia?"

Lin Feng nodded.

"Of course. It is the strongest single-target Healing Type Martial Soul in the Spirit Master World.

No matter how many soul rings are added, it only has one Soul Skill, but its effect is exceptionally formidable.

Bringing the dead back to life and regrowing flesh on bare bones is no exaggeration."

Ling Yuan Jie gave a slight nod.

"That's right. Ye Zixin, who treated you when you condensed your First Soul Vein, is actually from a branch of the Nine Heart Begonia Family."

Lin Feng was somewhat puzzled.

"Wasn't it said that only one inheritor of the Nine Heart Begonia could exist in the world? How can there be a family and branches?"

Ling Yuan Jie smiled.

"As the strongest Healing Type Martial Soul in the Spirit Master World, how could it possibly lack a foundation?

Powerhouses with grievous injuries and nobles seeking treatment all have to request aid from them.

The ordinary Begonia Flower Martial Soul is their family's Martial Soul. It is not particularly powerful, but it is still an excellent Support Type Martial Soul."

Lin Feng came to a realization.

"So you brought them up because you want me to do something?"

Ling Yuan Jie pressed her lips together.

"The older sister of a friend of mine is the current inheritor of the Nine Heart Begonia. Because her daughter is about to awaken her Martial Soul...

She may soon die because of the Martial Soul's problem, so I was wondering whether you could help."

"Of course, Xiao Feng, you don't need to focus all your attention on this matter. If you have no ideas and it drains your mind, it would not be worth it.

After all, it is a problem that has remained unsolved for a Thousand Years. Don't dwell on it. I'm only mentioning it."

Lin Feng paused. Seeing Ling Yuan Jie look so vulnerable and humble, his heart ached.

He stepped in front of her, pulled her into his arms, and gently patted her back.

"Ling Yuan Jie, you don't need to be like this. Given our relationship, if you want to ask me to do something, why would you need to worry about so much?"

Ling Yuan Jie was caught off guard by Lin Feng's sudden initiative. Her body trembled slightly, and her soft hands had nowhere to go as she asked in a trembling voice:

"What relationship do we have?"

"I like you, Ling Yuan Jie."

Ling Yuan Jie immediately raised her head, her eyes filled with delight.

Lin Feng spoke softly.

"The feelings between two people should be mutual. We are equals.

You do not need to put yourself in a weaker position, nor should you constantly think only for my sake and forget your own place.

When you encounter difficulties, you should tell me. There is no need for reservations."

Ling Yuan Jie's wildly racing heartbeat gradually calmed. She buried her head against Lin Feng's chest, while her slender hands settled around his waist.

"Mm, I understand. The same goes for you. I am willing to give as well."

After a moment, Ling Yuan Jie raised a finger and traced circles over Lin Feng's chest.

"By the way, why did you say it outright today? Aren't you afraid Xiao Xue will get angry?"

Lin Feng coughed awkwardly.

"Actually, I was awake when you two were talking that day."

Ling Yuan Jie shot Lin Feng a reproachful look.

"I knew you had plenty on your mind. If Xiao Xue hadn't made her declaration beforehand, I'm afraid you would have made me wait much longer."

Lin Feng shook his head.

Actually, that had been what he intended. He had planned to pretend he knew nothing of their conversation and wait for Ling Yuan Jie to offer him certain benefits because she wanted him to admit it himself.

But seeing Ling Yuan Jie like this today, he could no longer entertain such thoughts. It was better to make things clear sooner.

"So, Xiao Xue is still in the dark? She doesn't know that you already know that we know you like me?"

Lin Feng was left a little dizzy by her wording.

"Probably."

A trace of mischief flashed through Ling Yuan Jie's eyes as she whispered something into his ear.

Lin Feng's expression turned conflicted, though he was somewhat tempted.

"Wouldn't that... be inappropriate?"

Ling Yuan Jie looked at him teasingly.

"You really don't want to?"

"All right, I do want to, a little."

Ling Yuan Jie slipped out of Lin Feng's embrace.

"Then it's settled. I'll go to Xiao Xue first."

"Mm. As for the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul issue, I will do my best to study it.

But don't tell that friend of yours yet. If I cannot solve it, it may instead affect your relationship."

Ling Yuan Jie narrowed her eyes in a smile.

"All right."