The little girl was crying so hard that her words came out in broken fragments, and she only managed to finish with great difficulty.
Chen Qianqiu froze. He had never expected Qian Renxue to react so strongly just because he had been busy for a few days.
It seemed this little girl, not even ten years old, needed far more reassurance than he had imagined. Bibi Dong had really done some damage.
Qian Renxue had regarded him as her closest companion, only to suddenly discover that he no longer needed her so much. Following her habitual train of thought, the little blonde had begun doubting herself again.
"Silly girl."
Chen Qianqiu sighed.
"Who said you were useless? Who said you had no worth?"
"But..."
Qian Renxue raised her head and looked at Chen Qianqiu through tear-filled eyes.
"Listen."
Chen Qianqiu racked his brains and began dishing out chicken soup for the soul:
"People don't deserve love just because they have value. You don't need to be useful for me to care about you."
"Do you understand?"
Qian Renxue froze, her eyes filled with emotion.
"Xiao Hei, you're so good to me."
Qian Renxue flung herself onto Chen Qianqiu's back and hugged his neck tightly, finally stopping her tears.
Chen Qianqiu let out a long sigh of relief. He had finally soothed her. He declared that only someone with a family background like Qian Renxue's qualified to discuss their family of origin with him.
But Qian Renxue still seemed a little down, a trace of melancholy lingering on her small face.
"What's wrong? What else are you thinking about?"
Chen Qianqiu asked curiously.
Qian Renxue said quietly:
"Xiao Hei, if I disappeared, would you miss me?"
"Huh? Why would you say that?"
"Grandpa said he's mapped out a new future for me, and now he wants to give me special training. I'll probably have to go back to Spirit City very soon, but you're so happy here now. I don't think I can selfishly take you away."
"Xiao Hei, I don't think I'll be able to see you for a long time!"
By the end, the little girl's voice had sunk so low that it was almost inaudible.
Chen Qianqiu gently brushed her cheek with his wing.
"Silly girl, it's not as if we'll never see each other again. Think about it. Isn't getting stronger a good thing?"
"But I want to stay with Xiao Hei and play."
The little blonde wrung her hands, a little embarrassed. Only naughty children were so fond of playing.
"We'll have plenty of chances later. Besides, once you're stronger, you'll be able to protect me, won't you? You promised me that before."
"Of course, Xiao Hei. I keep my promises."
Chen Qianqiu patiently guided her. He had anticipated this day long ago. His path of growth was completely different from Qian Renxue's, and spending some time apart to grow on their own would benefit them both.
"By the way, Xiao Xue, I happen to have some ideas I'd like you to pass on to your grandpa and the others."
Qian Renxue blinked and looked at Chen Qianqiu curiously.
"First, do this and this, then that and that, and finally this and that. Done."
Chen Qianqiu laid out all his ideas for developing the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul in one go.
The success of Qian Renxue's First Soul Ring had given him tremendous confidence. More importantly, Chen Qianqiu had discovered that the elemental power of Soul Rings really could have a positive influence on the Angel Martial Soul.
For example, after she absorbed the Heartflame White Deer, the lower-left wing of Qian Renxue's Angel Martial Soul had clearly taken on the properties of flame.
Could they build on this and try attaching different elements to the other wings as well, such as metal, wood, water, fire, and earth from the five elements? Would these elements eventually react with one another and bring about a transformation in the Angel Martial Soul, turning it into the legendary Creation Angel that held the five elements in its hands?
"Of course, all of that is just empty talk, fighting battles on paper. Whether it can actually be done is something your grandpa and the other elders will have to judge."
"After all, I haven't put any of these theories into practice. They might not work at all, so just take them as suggestions."
Chen Qianqiu added that last remark. He was no Yu Xiaogang, feeling good about himself all day and spouting crap after copying a few things.
Practice was the sole criterion for testing truth. Whether it worked or not would still require a great deal of research.
"I've remembered it all, Xiao Hei. I'll tell Grandpa."
Qian Renxue listened very carefully, her little face full of concentration.
Although she did not quite understand some of it yet, she tried hard to commit every word Chen Qianqiu said to memory.
"All right, then I can rest easy. Xiao Xue, take good care of yourself while you're at Spirit Hall. I'll go back every so often. Remember to keep yourself nice and plump."
Before Chen Qianqiu had finished speaking, he felt Qian Renxue's breathing settle into an even rhythm in his embrace.
The little girl had fallen asleep on top of him without realizing it.
Perhaps crying had worn her out.
Chen Qianqiu did not move, quietly letting Qian Renxue lean against him.
The sun sank in the west, its golden afterglow spilling over the girl and the dragon in a warm, tranquil scene.
But Chen Qianqiu's heart was anything but tranquil.
He raised his head and gazed into the distance. Counting the days, it should have been about time for Ah Yin to give birth to Tang San.
The demon child was coming into the world!
And this was the ultimate demon child, a God King returned through rebirth.
Originally, Chen Qianqiu's greatest advantage had been his knowledge of the plot, allowing him to make arrangements in advance.
But now that advantage would cease to exist.
Because the reborn Tang San also knew what would happen in the future, and knew it even more clearly than he did.
He knew where opportunities and treasures lay, and how to increase his strength quickly.
Even more frighteningly, he also carried a God King's combat experience and a Super Divine Artifact.
I have to gain the ability to protect myself before the tide arrives.
Chen Qianqiu silently swore to himself, then suddenly felt something wet on top of his head. Only then did he discover that the little blonde was sleeping so soundly that she had unwittingly started drooling.
"What a shame I don't have a camera. Otherwise, I'd take eight or ten pictures and show them to her when she grows up."
Early the next morning, someone from Spirit Hall came to pick Qian Renxue up.
Before leaving, the little blonde bit her lip tightly, her eyes red. Only with great difficulty did she hold back her tears.
She did not want Xiao Hei to worry. She had to be strong, so she absolutely could not cry.
"Goodbye, Xiao Hei. Remember to eat, okay? If you're hungry, you have to come find me. You must come and play with me."
Qian Renxue tilted up her little face and spoke first, reminding him over and over. Chen Qianqiu nodded in response to each reminder. Now that she was about to leave, he too was a little reluctant to part with this little crybaby. A dragon was no grass or tree; how could he be without feeling?
After seeing Qian Renxue's carriage off, Chen Qianqiu stood there for a long time before turning to go back.
Another half month passed.
The Four Great Clans' daily output reached its peak and stabilized there. Each performed its own duties, like a complete, orderly machine, continuously supplying Chen Qianqiu with energy.
Lor Diarra maneuvered among them, following Chen Qianqiu's instructions to stir up their relationships from time to time. As a result, they no longer hated Spirit Hall quite so much, but instead frequently clashed with the brother clans they had once been inseparable from.
This was precisely the state of affairs Chen Qianqiu wanted. With no hidden dangers within or without, his strength continued to grow steadily.