Qian Renxue

Three days later, dawn had yet to break. The morning mist, like a veil of crumpled white gauze, drifted over Spirit City's black tiles and high walls, wrapping the entire city in a hazy, crisp chill.

You had changed into a neat, close-fitting black outfit without a trace of unnecessary ornamentation, with only a plain cloth sash at your waist and your long hair casually tied behind your head. You were like a short sword sheathed in ebony, its edge entirely concealed, yet radiating a poised sharpness from deep within.

Chrysanthemum Douluo was already waiting in the courtyard.

He was not wearing his usual ostentatious gilded chrysanthemum robe, but a moon-white gown with a half-open autumn chrysanthemum embroidered in silver thread at the cuff, beneath a loose, dark gray cloak. His hair crown was plain, and he seemed less flamboyant than usual, more restrained and composed.

You followed Chrysanthemum Douluo out of Spirit City and headed east, crossing broad stretches of rolling hills.

Dew on the tips of wild grasses soaked the tops of your boots. A few early birds called from the distant woods, their clear, crisp notes cutting through the silence of the thin mist.

About an hour later, you stopped before an open valley.

The ground here was level, the wild grass knee-high. As the morning breeze swept through, it stirred wave upon wave of blue-green.

Most striking of all was the Blue Silver Grass blanketing the valley, stretching from beneath your feet to the horizon, shimmering with a faint blue glow in the dim morning light like a sleeping blue ocean.

Standing in the center of the valley, you drew a deep breath.

The air was filled with the distinctive, crisp scent of growing plants. The countless blades of Blue Silver Grass beneath your feet resonated faintly with the Martial Soul within you, making the circulation of Soul Power through your meridians smoother and even sending tiny ripples across your Sea of Consciousness.

"This is the place."

Chrysanthemum Douluo surveyed the surroundings, his pale golden eyes lingering on your face for a moment before settling on the boundless sea of Blue Silver Grass.

He stood with his hands behind his back, the hem of his moon-white robe billowing gently in the morning breeze, though his brow creased slightly. "This place is certainly secluded. With Blue Silver Grass everywhere, it counts as half your home ground."

He paused briefly, then raised a hand to point at the sky above the valley, changing tack. "But-it's far too open. There's no cover overhead."

"Her Highness's Angel Martial Soul excels at suppression from above and diving attacks. Once she takes to the air and uses that advantage, your Blue Silver Grass will be a whip too short to reach her. You'll have no choice but to take her blows."

You smiled, your expression unruffled, and merely turned slightly, raising a hand to direct his attention toward the eastern side of the valley. Your tone was composed. "Senior, why not take a look over there?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo looked in the direction you indicated.

On the eastern side of the valley, a dense forest stood right beside its mouth. Ancient trees towered into the sky, their branches twisting and interlocking, their layered crowns blotting out the sun. Vines hung from above and intertwined into nets, like natural curtains that concealed everything within the forest.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's gaze lingered at the edge of the dense forest for a moment, then a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes.

A meaningful smile curved his lips, and he lightly tapped his chin with his little finger. "Make a feint in the east and strike in the west, luring the enemy into the forest. So that's it."

You nodded noncommittally. "Merely a few petty tricks unfit for the grand stage."

"If I set the battlefield directly in the forest, my intentions would be far too obvious and only make her suspicious. Only by laying out the field like this and catching her off guard can I gain a few openings to exploit."

"I wouldn't put it that way." Chrysanthemum Douluo shook his head, genuine admiration rising in his eyes. "Make the empty seem full and the full seem empty-that is true battlefield wisdom. You nearly fooled even me."

He paced a couple of steps with his hands behind his back, the toes of his boots brushing the leaves of the Blue Silver Grass with soft rustles. "I find myself admiring you more and more. Her Highness may be proud, but she cherishes talent above all. Had you met earlier, you might truly have become good friends."

"It isn't too late now." You smiled, your tone gentle. "We may yet become good friends in the future."

Only upon hearing those words did Chrysanthemum Douluo's anxious heart finally settle.

He had worried that you still harbored resentment over what had happened years ago. Seeing your open expression now, without the slightest lingering grievance, the concern in his eyes finally vanished completely.

After a pause, your smile faded and your expression grew serious. "Senior, please conceal your presence and remain hidden. Unless necessary, there's no need to show yourself."

Chrysanthemum Douluo raised an eyebrow. "What, afraid I'll get in your way?"

"I'm afraid Her Highness might grow suspicious," you said frankly. "If the young mistress sees you here, she may well think you and I have conspired together, which would make your future position in the hall difficult. By staying hidden, you can preserve your bond with the young mistress while watching over my safety-the best of both worlds."

Chrysanthemum Douluo looked steadily at you for a moment, then chuckled. "You've certainly thought everything through on my behalf."

He gave your shoulder a firm pat, with some of an elder's concern for a junior. "Very well. I'll do as you say."

"Be careful. If things become impossible, concede immediately. Don't try to be a hero."

As his words fell, his figure flickered and became a streak of pale golden light that vanished into a patch of flowers at the edge of the valley. His presence disappeared completely in an instant, as though he had never been there.

The morning dew gradually dried, and the sun slowly climbed higher. The Blue Silver Grass in the valley grew ever more vivid beneath the sunlight, shimmering with tiny flecks of gold.

You stood alone in the center of the sea of Blue Silver Grass, your eyes closed in concentration. A sprig of Blue Silver Grass quietly appeared in your palm, pale golden patterns flowing faintly across its leaves. It answered the sea of grass beneath your feet from afar, producing a subtle resonance.

Then, at a certain moment, an unusual ripple suddenly stirred in your Sea of Consciousness.

You lifted your eyes to look.

A pale golden halo suddenly spread across the horizon, and a streak of golden light shot toward you from the direction of Spirit City.

At first, it was only a tiny point of light on the horizon; in the blink of an eye, it had drawn close. Its radiance was brilliant and sacred, dispersing the morning mist wherever it passed, as though even the sky had been plated with a thin layer of golden splendor.

The streak of light stopped abruptly above the valley. Its golden radiance slowly receded like a tide, revealing a slender, noble figure.

She wore a gilded gown, its hem embroidered with an intricate Six-Winged Angel emblem that gleamed in the sunlight.

Her long, brilliant golden hair cascaded like a waterfall, its ends lifting gently in the wind, as though flowing sunlight had taken solid form.

Her skin was fairer than snow, her features exquisite to the point of near perfection. Her eyes and brows bore an innate nobility and majesty, as though a goddess from the highest heavens were looking down upon the mortal world, making others afraid to meet her gaze.

Most dazzling of all were the two pairs of pure white wings behind her. They beat slowly, scattering golden feathers of light, each seemingly formed from pure holy radiance, sacred and solemn, admitting no desecration.

It was none other than Qian Renxue.