If I Could Start Over, I Would Choose My Master's Wife

"And I know the complete walkthrough for Slaughter City. Getting you the Divine Slaughter's Domain would be a piece of cake."

Cheng Ran's voice was full of confidence. He pondered for a moment, then added, "But before we go to Slaughter City, let's snag a Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone first. It'll be a huge help there. Heh heh heh..."

Qian Renxue's inner monologue: There it is again, there it is again-the Evil God's familiar laugh.

Whenever the Evil God laughed, Tang San suffered.

Qian Renxue asked, "A Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone? What's that?"

Cheng Ran explained, "Tang Hao, one of your father's killers, has a wife named Ah Yin. She was a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor who took human form.

"Back then, when Spirit Hall was hunting Tang Hao, Ah Yin sacrificed herself to save Tang Hao and his son.

"The key point is that after Ah Yin sacrificed herself, her original body didn't completely perish.

"Ah Yin's original Blue Silver Grass body and the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone are in a cave."

Qian Renxue nodded in realization. "As expected of the Evil God. All-powerful and all-knowing."

Cheng Ran said, "There's another problem. That cave is in a valley near Holy Soul Village. And Tang Hao lives in Holy Soul Village.

"To be safe, we need a helper to create a diversion. I think your grandfather would be the best choice."

Qian Renxue said, "My grandfather?"

Cheng Ran said, "Xiao Xue, your grandfather may not say it, but he's never forgotten that old score.

"Tang Hao severely wounded your father, Qian Xunji, with his Clear Sky Hammer first. Only after Qian Xunji returned to Spirit Hall badly injured did your mother, Bibi Dong, take advantage of his weakened state.

"You'd be giving him the perfect excuse to collect some interest on that debt and vent the anger he's bottled up for over a decade. Once he hears about it, he'll definitely be secretly delighted."

Qian Renxue thought it over. The plan was bold, but logically feasible.

Suddenly, something occurred to her. "Evil God, I can't absorb the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone, though. I still have to absorb the Angel Soul Bones later. Wouldn't that mean chopping off my leg...?"

Cheng Ran said calmly, "As the Evil God, I've already thought that through for you."

Cheng Ran's secondary profession was a max-level Alchemist.

Douluo OL had a hidden alchemy recipe called "Bone-Separation Powder," which required medicinal ingredients with both extreme cold and extreme heat properties as catalysts.

The scraps of octagonal mysterious ice grass and infernal delicate apricot happened to be enough to make it. After it was taken, its medicinal power would temporarily soften the connection between a Soul Bone and the body, allowing the Soul Bone to detach automatically without harming the limb.

In the game, this potion was for big-spending players to swap equipment. If they had absorbed a low-tier Soul Bone and wanted a higher-tier one, they didn't need to chop off a leg. They only needed to take the potion.

"A veteran player having to chop off hands and feet just to change equipment? That's something only NPCs do. I'll brew a potion when the time comes. Drink it, and it'll automatically flush out that extra bone growth. Satisfaction guaranteed."

Qian Renxue sighed in relief at his words. "That's good, then."

The next day.

Qian Renxue arrived at the Worship Hall and found that Qian Daoliu was still in seclusion. Bored out of her mind, she thought of Azure Luan Douluo, and a mischievous idea sprouted in her mind.

She wanted to test Azure Luan Douluo with last night's question.

She certainly wouldn't admit that she had scored full marks for once and wanted to show off to everyone, only to find no one around.

"Hehe, oh no. The Evil God has corrupted me."

At that moment, Azure Luan Douluo was fishing on the mountain behind the Worship Hall.

Qian Renxue flew down beside him and repeated last night's question word for word.

After hearing it, Azure Luan Douluo fell silent for a moment. The first thing he said was something Qian Renxue had never expected.

"Young Master, let this old man confirm one detail first. That expert's wife, the beautiful married woman, had been married to him for years without having children. She raised the boy as her own son, tended to his every need, and cared for him in every possible way. Correct?"

Qian Renxue froze. "Third Offering! Is that the point?"

Azure Luan Douluo didn't even look up. "Young Master, you don't understand. The most important person in this story isn't that boy. It's his master's wife."

Qian Renxue said, "...How is she important?"

Azure Luan Douluo put down his fishing rod and said evenly, "In youth, we fail to appreciate mature women and mistakenly treasure young girls instead. If I were reborn, I would choose my master's wife."

Qian Renxue asked, "What do you mean?"

Azure Luan Douluo said, "When I was young, I pursued young girls too. Innocent, carefree, and inexperienced in the world. Winning them over gave me a sense of accomplishment.

"But later, I realized that young girls' feelings were too simple. If she liked you, she liked you. If she didn't, she didn't. You couldn't budge her."

"But a mature woman is different. A mature woman has experienced the bitterness of love. She knows what's good and what's bad. She's been let down before, so she treasures sincerity more.

"She's been hurt, so she's more easily moved. You don't need sweet talk. You only need to quietly appear by her side when she's at her most vulnerable."

Azure Luan Douluo held up two fingers. "Men only like two kinds of women. One is a young girl with a mature woman's air. The other is a mature woman with a young girl's air-someone who has weathered life's storms but still retains her innocence.

"The former makes you want to protect her. The latter gives you a sense of belonging."

Qian Renxue's expression darkened. "Third Offering, what does this have to do with the question?"

Azure Luan Douluo spoke as though it were only natural. "Young Master, of course it's relevant. I've already given my answer. If I could start over, I would choose my master's wife."

Qian Renxue had no reply.

She had guessed the beginning, but not the ending.

Deep within the Worship Hall.

Qian Renxue stood before the door of the chamber where Qian Daoliu was in seclusion and knocked.

"Grandpa, Xue'er has something important to discuss with you."

The door opened soundlessly.

Qian Daoliu sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his white beard hanging over his chest, his aura as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea.

The pressure of a Level 99 Limit Douluo exuded authority without anger. Even sitting there quietly, he gave one the illusion of facing heaven and earth.

"Xue'er, what is it?"

Qian Renxue entered the chamber and knelt before Qian Daoliu, settling back on her heels. "Grandpa, I've discovered someone's whereabouts."

"Who?"

"Tang Hao."

Qian Daoliu's gaze shifted slightly.

That name was like a pebble dropped into a still lake, sending ripples spreading in an instant.

"Where is he?"

"Holy Soul Village. A remote little village. He's been living in seclusion there for six years, making a living as a blacksmith."

Qian Daoliu fell silent.

The chamber was so quiet that the faint sound of the candle flame burning could be heard.

Qian Renxue continued, "Grandpa, I know you've never forgotten what happened to Father. After learning the truth, I've found it just as hard to let go."

Qian Daoliu's hand tightened slightly.

"Tang Hao severely wounded Father with his Clear Sky Hammer first. Father returned to Spirit Hall badly injured, and only then was he... only then did what followed happen. Grandpa, you hate Bibi Dong, but the debt Tang Hao owes has gone unsettled for over a decade."

Qian Daoliu closed his eyes.

After a long while, he spoke in a low voice. "Xue'er, what do you want me to do?"

"It's not that I want you to do anything, Grandpa. I want to ask you for a favor."

Qian Renxue raised her head and looked Qian Daoliu openly in the eyes.

"There's a valley in the mountains behind Holy Soul Village. After Tang Hao's wife, Ah Yin, sacrificed herself, she left behind her original hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor body. I want to take it."

Qian Daoliu frowned. "The original body of a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor?"

"Yes. The original body of a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor contains an enormous amount of life energy. It's a top-grade alchemical ingredient that can be used to refine supreme-grade pills, such as pills that greatly extend one's lifespan. But Tang Hao is in Holy Soul Village, and I'm not strong enough. If I encounter him head-on, I'm afraid I won't be a match for him."

Qian Renxue lowered her head, her eyes shining. "So, Grandpa, I'd like to ask you to come out of seclusion. You only need to keep Tang Hao occupied while I enter the valley and dig up the Blue Silver Emperor. I'll withdraw as soon as I have it. The whole thing won't take longer than an incense stick to burn."