The girl chuckled, shifted into a more comfortable position, and leaned languidly against the sable fur.
"Yu Tianlong, you should be eight this year. A member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the grandnephew of its patriarch, Yu Yuanzhen. Your awakening failed two years ago, turning a dragon into a worm, with innate Soul Power of level 0.1. You then publicly announced that you were severing ties with your clan and disappeared for two and a half years. Am I right?"
At this point, Yu Tianlong began guessing at her identity.
After all, anyone who knew so much about him had to be backed by a fairly prominent force in the Soul Master World.
With that thought, Yu Tianlong began seriously studying the girl's appearance.
Her skin surpassed snow, and she had a straight nose and slightly slender phoenix eyes that carried a measure of imposing sharpness.
She wore a white, one-piece dress without excessive decorative patterns, its design simple and elegant. Its standing collar sheltered her snow-white, slender neck, and her long golden hair fell casually down her back. She looked exquisitely beautiful!
In fact, once he had seen her face clearly and connected it with the three figures who had saved him earlier-two old and one young-an answer had already surfaced in Yu Tianlong's mind. On the surface, however, he still feigned puzzlement.
"If you know about me, the force behind you must be extraordinary as well. But I'm still young, and there's a lot I don't know, so I can't guess who my benefactor is. Please forgive me!"
Qian Renxue had not expected a castoff driven out by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to save face to be this adept at reading expressions.
From a simple look, he had understood that she wanted him to guess her identity. His analysis had made some sense, too, and he had ended by admitting that he was only an eight-year-old child who knew little.
He knew his limits and when to advance or retreat.
Were children these days all this formidable?
Seeing how sensible Yu Tianlong was, Qian Renxue instead grew a little playful and even revealed her identity outright.
She simply wanted to see how Yu Tianlong would react.
"My name is Qian Renxue, little one. I'm the daughter of Spirit Hall's previous Supreme Pontiff, its current young master, and also the Heaven Dou Empire's crown prince, 'Xue Qinghe.'"
"Little Brother Long, would you be willing to follow me?"
After Qian Renxue revealed her identity, Yu Tianlong appropriately displayed a trace of surprise and bewilderment, while a hint of helplessness flashed through his eyes.
She was forcing his hand!
But as for Qian Renxue's subsequent invitation to follow her...
To be honest, Yu Tianlong was unwilling.
Following Qian Renxue meant that he might lose his freedom. Besides, how could following her let him improve his strength as quickly as staying in the Star Dou Great Forest?
But she had saved his life and laid out every detail of her identity. How was he supposed to play this?
For a moment, Yu Tianlong could not think of a suitable way to refuse.
And while Yu Tianlong was caught in this dilemma, Qian Renxue naturally noticed.
"Are you finding this difficult? Afraid following me will affect your progress?"
"Or are you afraid my identity will bring trouble down on you?"
At those words, a trace of helplessness and distress instantly surfaced in Yu Tianlong's eyes.
"Sister Xue, you're making this... sigh."
Seeing him like this, Qian Renxue did not mind at all. She even reached out and pinched his handsome, youthful little face, which held a hint of resolve.
"You don't think your big sister can't figure it out just because you don't say anything, do you?"
"You're an eight-year-old boy with innate Soul Power of level 0.1, and your Martial Soul is just a worm. Yet you can fight Soul Beasts in the inner reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest. Do you think I'd believe you have no secrets?"
Indeed, if she had not found Yu Tianlong rather unusual, Qian Renxue would never have stopped fleeing to save a little boy like him.
Moreover, before leaving, Qian Renxue had confirmed that the traces left by the battle there were not something an ordinary person could have made.
That level of destruction would have required at least a Soul Elder, or even a Soul Ancestor.
And an eight-year-old child could have reached a Soul Power Level like that?
Qian Renxue did not believe it, especially when that child was Yu Tianlong.
That made Qian Renxue believe it even less. She had no way of knowing how slowly someone with innate Soul Power of level 0.1 cultivated.
But she did know how quickly an ordinary person with innate Soul Power of level one cultivated.
Only after confirmation from Snake Lance and Porcupinefish Douluo did Qian Renxue learn that the child before her really had reached level thirty-four, a Soul Elder.
Moreover, his body was incredibly powerful, even comparable to that of a top-tier Soul Ancestor!
How could Qian Renxue not be astonished and curious?
She was curious about what exactly had happened to Yu Tianlong.
He had actually managed to climb out of such circumstances and reach this point in just two short years!
Even someone with innate full Soul Power could not cultivate as quickly as this child, Yu Tianlong!
After seeing the look in Qian Renxue's eyes, Yu Tianlong pondered for a long while before slowly speaking.
"Sister Xue, you're right. I am finding this a little difficult. If I follow you, my strength will improve very slowly, so please understand."
"As for your identity, I can swear to keep it secret. Can you let me go?"
Upon receiving this answer, Qian Renxue froze for a moment. It was not because of anything else, but simply because Yu Tianlong's words were far too blunt.
For a moment, she did not even know what to say.
Fortunately, the temperament she had developed over all her years undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire allowed her to recover quickly.
She looked at Yu Tianlong with the hint of a smile and parted her crimson lips.
"Little Brother Long, do you think that's possible?"
"Now that you know my secret, leaving might be a little difficult."
Yu Tianlong naturally knew how difficult this was.
Yes, Qian Renxue's identity was top secret. Now that he knew it, someone as cautious as her certainly would not let him leave so easily.
After all, this was her way of proving herself to her mother. If Tang San had not appeared later, Qian Renxue's plan would already have succeeded.
After all, she had spent more than a decade undercover.
But if he went to live in human society, improving his strength would become a problem.
Just as Yu Tianlong was thinking, an aged voice came from outside the carriage.
"Young master, Sunset Forest is just ahead. Remember to disguise yourself. Don't let outsiders see you!"
"I know!"
Upon hearing the name Sunset Forest, Yu Tianlong's eyes instantly lit up, interrupting his thoughts.
Wasn't there a Soul Beast forest ready and waiting?
And it wasn't as dangerous as the Star Dou Great Forest. As long as he could discuss it with Qian Renxue...
And get her to agree to his actions, there would be nothing wrong with following her.
As long as it didn't hinder his improvement. Besides, Sunset Forest wasn't far from the Heaven Dou Empire.
With that thought, Yu Tianlong looked straight at Qian Renxue and was just about to speak.
But he discovered that Qian Renxue had already changed her appearance.
From a woman brimming with charm, she had become a refined, easygoing blond young man whose face bore a gentle smile.
"Now you know all your big sister's secrets. There's even less chance of you leaving~"