But on the platform, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, sheltered behind Xiong Shaoqing, could not hear the cheers from below at all.
They leaned against that broad, solid back, feeling those familiar yet terrifying fluctuations of Soul Power, their beautiful eyes filled with disbelief and shock.
Thirtieth Rank?
Big Brother's Soul Power... had broken through to Thirtieth Rank?
Xiao Wu sucked in a cold breath.
Zhu Zhuqing's pupils contracted as well.
A few days earlier on the platform, he had clearly only revealed level-twenty-three strength. Even if the Diary said he had concealed some of it, he had only been around level twenty-five two days ago.
Yet now, these dense, weighty fluctuations of Soul Power, without the slightest trace of instability, clearly belonged to the realm of a Quasi-Soul Elder. He needed only one Soul Ring to step into another world.
Such a terrifying rate of improvement, yet his foundation was so firm, without any of the instability of pulling up seedlings to hasten their growth...
Admiration and heartache intertwined in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes as she looked at Xiong Shaoqing's back.
He must have drawn on some part of his Origin Foundation as a God King in his previous life.
To better protect us on this danger-ridden continent, he was actually fighting this desperately to recover his strength.
Big Brother had been working too hard...
Xiao Wu's eyes reddened, and she reached back to clutch the hem of Xiong Shaoqing's clothes.
The two girls prayed silently in their hearts.
They hoped Big Brother could return to his peak soon. Once he possessed enough strength to look down upon the world, he would no longer have to keep his nerves taut day and night or maintain that icy manner that held everyone a thousand miles away.
His life was far too exhausting.
Meanwhile, Qian Renxue sat in the VIP seats below the platform, watching the man who had reined in his presence and was checking the two girls for injuries with a cold expression. Violent ripples spread through her golden eyes, one after another.
Thirtieth Rank.
To a supreme genius like Qian Renxue, the young master of Spirit Hall, Thirtieth Rank was truly no different from an ant on the ground.
With a flick of her fingers, she could crush a whole swath of Soul Elders.
Yet why was her heartbeat spiraling completely out of control as she looked at this man, only at Thirtieth Rank, with an exterior as cold and hard as iron?
He was clearly so weak. Any powerful expert could crush him. Yet when danger came, he had not hesitated in the slightest, using his not particularly broad back to shield the girls behind him from every flash of blade and sword.
Qian Renxue gazed at Xiong Shaoqing's stern profile, recalling his supporting hand on the pleasure boat that afternoon, his arm around her waist on the secluded valley's stone steps, and that black cloak still carrying his body warmth.
Everything that had happened today was so beautiful that it seemed like a dream from which she never wanted to wake.
Xiong Shaoqing, just how much were those Thirtieth Rank shoulders of yours carrying?
Qian Renxue murmured inwardly, a deep admiration branding itself into the depths of her soul.
After collecting their generous prize money, the three left the platform and joined Qian Renxue.
Xiong Shaoqing wore an expressionless face, but inwardly, he was already bubbling with delight, as though he had downed a cup of chilled sour plum soup in the height of summer.
Amazing. Absolutely amazing! This round of saving beauties like a hero had not only earned prize money, but also a full harvest of emotional gratification.
The looks Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were giving me were practically drawing threads, and then there was Xue'er's heartbroken, infatuated gaze from below. This Thirtieth Rank show-off act of mine had been downright flawless.
Walking along the street swept by howling cold winds, Xiong Shaoqing stopped.
He turned, his deep black eyes first glancing at Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing before his gaze seemingly happened to fall upon Qian Renxue.
Their eyes met. Xiong Shaoqing said nothing, merely summoning the Destiny Diary in silence and leaving today's final, heartfelt entry in the three women's minds:
[Tonight's Soul Fighting platform held a little more danger than usual.]
[Making an exception to reveal my Thirtieth Rank Soul Power was never my intention. But when I saw those deadly edges closing in on Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, my body's instincts ultimately outpaced reason.]
[As we left, I noticed the astonishment and hidden worry in their eyes. Those two foolish girls probably believed I had used some secret method that damaged my foundation to forcibly raise my cultivation, and were silently aching for me again.]
[In truth, though this road of cultivating anew is long and lonely, if it can buy them a peaceful corner in this troubled world, it cannot be called hardship.]
[Yet when my gaze crossed the clamorous crowd and reached Xue'er in the stands, a ripple still stirred within my heart.]
[Thirtieth Rank... in others' eyes, perhaps it counts as exceptional talent. But from the heights she and I occupied in our previous lives, it is merely a grain in the vast sea.]
[She now stands at the center of a vortex of political intrigue, with peril at every step, while my meager cultivation at present leaves me unqualified even to shoulder a fraction of her wind and snow.]
[This broken body must be remolded faster still. Once my third Soul Ring is complete, it will be time for me to truly place a piece upon this world's chessboard. I only hope that one day, I can rightfully take this heavy disguise off her shoulders.]
The writing slowly faded.
Qian Renxue stood rooted to the spot, staring dazedly at the man before her.
She desperately wanted to break through her disguise as the crown prince and tell him loudly, You are not unqualified. In my heart, your resolve to enter the game for my sake is more dependable than any backing in this world.
But she could only clench the folding fan in her hand until her fingertips turned white.
Watching her restrained, trembling gaze, Xiong Shaoqing sighed softly inwardly.
Without any warning, he suddenly reached out and, under Qian Renxue's astonished gaze, gently straightened the collar the night wind had disheveled.
"It's late, Young Master Xue." Xiong Shaoqing's voice remained cool, but beneath that icy tone lay a tenderness and dominance only Qian Renxue could understand. "Return to the inn and rest early. Tomorrow, the winds and clouds will change again."
With that, he led Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing away, turning to disappear into Suotuo City's boundless winter night.
Only Qian Renxue remained alone on the long street, feeling the lingering warmth of his fingertips at her collar and gazing spellbound at his retreating figure, unable to recover for a long time.
Chapter 55: Qian Renxue tags along
Spirit City, the Papal Palace.
"Yue Guan, Gui Mei. I must leave Spirit City for a few days. You two will handle all routine affairs within the palace in my stead for now. Unless it is a matter of utmost urgency, no one may leave Spirit City to seek me without permission."
Bibi Dong coldly delivered those words, paying no attention whatsoever to Chrysanthemum Douluo's and Ghost Douluo's astonished looks. The Six-Winged Purple Light Wings abruptly unfurled behind her, and she became a brilliant streak of purple light, tearing through the clouds at a speed that could only be called insane as she headed straight for Suotuo City in the southwest of the Heaven Dou Empire.
The biting gales high in the sky brushed against her exquisitely beautiful face.
Qian Renxue had truly disappointed me. Forgetting her mission and wallowing in romantic attachments-I must personally beat some sense into her today.
Bibi Dong repeated this high-sounding justification inwardly, trying to conceal that sour ache deep within her that even she found absurd.
Whenever she closed her eyes, the image of Xiong Shaoqing with his arm around Qian Renxue's waist filled her mind. That inexplicable wicked fire and possessiveness gnawed at her reason like venomous snakes.
He was mine... even if I did not want him, it was not that vile child's turn to enjoy him.
Elsewhere, in the boys' dormitory at Shrek Academy.
Tang San lay on his stomach on the bed. The lash wounds on his back had formed thick scabs, and his movements were largely unhindered.
"San, here. Freshly stewed bone soup. Drink it while it's hot." Dai Mubai brought over a large coarse porcelain bowl, his face full of concern.
Ma Hongjun was also beside him, helping change the dressings on Tang San's wounds.
"Thank you, Mubai. Thank you, Fatty. Thank you for taking care of me all this time." Tang San accepted the porcelain bowl with both hands, a gentle, jade-like smile of gratitude on his lips and sincerity brimming with "deep brotherly affection" in his eyes.
Yet the instant he lowered his head to drink the soup, that gratitude turned into utter revulsion.
These two beasts thought with nothing but their lower halves. The stench of cheap red-light-district cosmetics on them was truly nauseating.
Tang San swallowed the warm broth while coldly scorning them inwardly.
He, Tang San, was pure as ice and spotless as jade, guarding his chastity like precious jade. How could filth like this compare to him?
His feelings for Xiao Wu were the purest and holiest in the world.
Even if he pinned Xiao Wu beneath him hundreds and thousands of times in his dreams every day, that was only because she was the sole person he wished to possess.
His desires were noble, while these two fellows before him were merely trash ruled by animal instincts.
Tang San set down the porcelain bowl and silently counted the days.
In a few more days, it would have been a full month since he entered Shrek Academy.
Once Flender's restriction was lifted, he could rightfully request leave to visit Suotuo City.
That bastard Xiong Shaoqing, who did not know the meaning of death, actually dared lay his hands on Xiao Wu.
Once he brought Dai Mubai to corner Xiong Shaoqing at the Great Soul Arena, he would use the Eight Spider Lances to poison that scum into a puddle of pus, skinning him and tearing apart his bones.
Meanwhile, in Suotuo City.
The midday sunshine made a rare appearance through the winter clouds, spilling over streets covered in lingering snow. The weather was clear and fine.
In the rear courtyard of the Listening Snow Inn, Xiong Shaoqing had already finished his preparations.
His Soul Power had now reached Thirtieth Rank, and hunting for his third Soul Ring could not wait.
Naturally, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing followed him without leaving his side for even a step.
Just as they stepped out of the inn's main entrance, they came face-to-face with "Xue Qinghe," dressed in white and waving a folding fan.
Qian Renxue should have set out overnight for the Heaven Dou Imperial City after yesterday evening's lake outing.
After all, if the crown prince stayed away from the capital for too long, those princes eyeing the throne like hungry tigers would surely seize the opportunity to stir up trouble and find fault with her.
Today, however, she had willfully defied her reason.
She simply did not want to leave. Here in Suotuo City, so full of everyday life, here where he was, she wanted to greedily savor even one more day of warmth.
"Brother Xiong, Miss Xiao Wu, Miss Zhu, are you heading somewhere far away?" Qian Renxue feigned the pleasant surprise of a chance encounter and asked with a gentle smile.
Xiong Shaoqing stopped and coldly regarded the excessively handsome "young gentleman" before him.
His face was as still as an ancient well, but that lecherous soul within him had already begun dancing with joy.
Tsk, tsk. Xue'er actually hadn't left.
For my sake, she was even neglecting the Heaven Dou Empire's state affairs.
This was practically a real-life version of lighting the warning beacons to toy with the feudal lords. Getting the treatment of a foolish ruler felt amazing.
Though inwardly delighted, Xiong Shaoqing's face was harder than a block of winter ice.
He frowned slightly, his tone stiff. "We're going to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for Soul Rings. Young Master Xue, please step aside."
"Hunting for Soul Rings?" Qian Renxue's eyes lit up. "In all my years, I have never personally witnessed Soul Masters hunting Soul Beasts. Might Brother Xiong do me a favor and let me come along to broaden my horizons?"
Xiong Shaoqing swept his deep eyes coldly over her and refused without mercy:
"The Star Dou Great Forest isn't a back garden for young gentlemen like you to enjoy a spring outing. The Soul Beasts there don't know who you are. They won't spare you their jaws just because you were born noble."
"If we really encounter a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, I may not have the strength to spare to keep you safe. Go back and stay put."
These words were extremely blunt, even carrying a hint of a condescending reprimand.
Yet to Qian Renxue, they sounded sweeter than any honeyed words in the world.
She was the young master of Spirit Hall, possessing the supreme Angel Martial Soul. In terms of true combat strength, everyone present combined could not withstand even one of her hands.
Would she fear the Soul Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest?
Yet she adored precisely this overbearing protectiveness of Xiong Shaoqing's: "He sounds disdainful, but he's actually afraid I'll be in danger."
"You're mistaken, Brother Xiong." Not only did Qian Renxue refuse to retreat, she took a step forward instead, snapping her folding fan shut and resting it against her chest, a touch of deliberate shamelessness in her eyes.
"Though my cultivation is lacking, I have guards protecting me in secret. I absolutely won't hold you back, Brother Xiong. Besides, if danger truly arises, I believe that, given your character, you certainly wouldn't stand by and watch me die, would you?"
Looking into Qian Renxue's golden eyes, filled with cunning and anticipation, Xiong Shaoqing screamed wildly inwardly.
Damn, that's cheating! The dignified crown prince was actually acting cute with me?
Who could withstand that?
But he could not drop his God King act.
Just as Xiong Shaoqing prepared to continue this "cold-hearted push and pull," Xiao Wu stepped forward beside him and tugged at his sleeve.
"Big Brother, just let Young Master Xue come along," Xiao Wu chimed in, blinking her large eyes.
She had read the Diary and knew that this "Young Master Xue" was actually a pitiful woman burdened by heavy shackles. Going to the Star Dou Great Forest to clear her head would be good, too.
Zhu Zhuqing also nodded slightly, a rare trace of warmth in her cool voice. "We can help share the responsibility of guarding the flanks. One extra person won't be a problem."
Seeing both girls plead on her behalf, Xiong Shaoqing went with the current and gave a cold snort.
He stared deeply at Qian Renxue, his tone still icy yet carrying a reassuring steadiness. "In that case, once we enter the forest, you'll follow my orders in everything. If you dare wander off and a Soul Beast carries you away in its jaws, I won't be responsible for collecting your corpse."
"It's a deal." A breathtaking smile blossomed on Qian Renxue's lips, her eyes filled with the delight of getting her way.
Chapter 56: A sweet "burden"
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