On the other side, Xiao Yan put the spear into the Black Dragon and returned to the Spirit Hall courtyard with Zhu Zhuqing.
However, as soon as the two stepped into the courtyard, Xiao Yan was shocked to find that Qian Renxue had come to their courtyard again.
Congratulations on your championship!
Qian Renxue sat in the courtyard, several teacups on the stone table. She raised one cup to Qian Renxue Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing in a mock toast, and said with a smile:
"In the beginning, I only sent you to Spirit City to get you out of that quagmire of Heaven Dou City. I never expected that in less than two years, you would have become genius champions who are famous throughout the continent."
A faint smile appeared on Qian Renxue's face.
"I must thank Your Highness for your guidance."
Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing walked up to Qian Renxue, both of them showing smiles.
Regardless of why Qian Renxue saved them in the first place, so far, they have not received any malice from Qian Renxue.
On the contrary, Qian Renxue helped them many times and even provided them with precious Soul Bone.
Now that you've won the championship, what are your plans?
Qian Renxue wasn't one to keep things mysterious. In their few interactions, she had already figured out Xiao Yan's thoughts, so she asked him directly.
Upon hearing Qian Renxue's words, a strange light flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. He was just worried about not having a suitable excuse to leave Spirit City, and he was just waiting to see if Qian Renxue could give him a suitable reason.
"What, Your Highness has made plans for us?"
Xiao Yan's tone was slightly teasing, as if he were joking.
"I wouldn't dare make arrangements for you."
Qian Renxue her eyes at the two of them, rested her chin on her slender right hand, and lazily said:
"However, in the past two years, both the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire have developed rapidly, and the people of both empires are also getting restless. The Heaven Dou Empire is still doing alright, but the Star Luo Empire is quite unruly now. Therefore, I hope you can go to the Star Luo Empire and help me."
As Qian Renxue spoke, she sat up straight, looking directly at Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing, her pretty face full of seriousness:
"You two are now the champion prodigies of the Spirit Hall. Staying in Spirit City would certainly provide you with countless resources. Going to the Star Luo Empire is a long and arduous journey, fraught with danger. What do you think?"
"Your Highness, is this a mission or... a friend's request?"
Qian Renxue was taken aback, a strange look appearing in her eyes. "Is there a difference?"
Of course.
A bright smile bloomed on Xiao Yan's face as he spoke to Qian Renxue:
"If this is Your Highness's mission, we will go too. After all, you saved our lives back then. As long as it doesn't cross Zhu Zhuqing bottom line, no matter how difficult it is, we will complete the mission."
"Friend..."
A complex expression appeared on Qian Renxue's face. Under the gaze of Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing, she slowly stood up, her entire demeanor seemingly becoming ethereal.
Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a glance. Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head, a look of confusion in her eyes.
I've never had any friends since I was a child.
With her back to Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing, Qian Renxue's tone turned much colder as she spoke:
"My mother disliked me from the moment I was born; perhaps in her eyes, I was the embodiment of her hatred."
Qian Renxue's tone became serene, as if it contained boundless emotions. Xiao Yan, who was most sensitive to emotions, sensed complex emotions, hatred, resentment, jealousy, and so on from Qian Renxue.
"From a young age, she left me with the wet nurse in the palace, and no matter what I did, it seemed I could never gain her approval."
"When I was six years old, I awakened my Innate Full Soul Power and the God Level Martial Soul, the Six-Winged Angel."
The entire Spirit Hall regarded me as their pride, but when she looked at me, her eyes still held a faint dislike and aloofness, as if no matter what I did, I could never please her.
"Because of my status, none of my peers dared to get close to me, and I, in turn, disdained their respect."
"I became the youngest Soul Master, the youngest Soul Elder, and the most talented Soul Ancestor in the Spirit Hall."
But I found that no matter how my cultivation level changed, I seemed unable to gain her attention.
Xiao Yan hadn't expected Qian Renxue to suddenly say these things, but just by listening to Qian Renxue description, Xiao Yan could already imagine how she had spent Qian Renxue childhood.
She only cares about gaining her mother's approval; nothing else, such as friendship or affection, is of any interest to her. No wonder she always has such an aloof and detached demeanor.
"Later, I discovered that my mother was always paying attention to the movements of the two great empires, so I had an idea: I would present her with a complete empire, and that way, she would surely praise me, right?"
Upon hearing Qian Renxue's words, Xiao Yan suddenly understood why Qian Renxue was impersonating Xue Qinghe, the eldest prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Xiao Yan originally thought this was a plan by the Spirit Hall, but he never expected that it was actually a crazy plan devised by Qian Renxue, or rather, a girl who longed for her mother's approval.
"Until I left Spirit City, I never heard my mother praise me once. Later, I heard that she had taken on a disciple, who seemed to be her pride."
Qian Renxue's tone remained calm, but Xiao Yan could sense the intense jealousy and resentment emanating from Qian Renxue.
" Xiao Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, I saved you back then only because of your past identities and the talents you displayed; it was just a casual act."
You can take this as me seeking repayment for a favor, if you will.
Qian Renxue raised her head, her snow-white face filled with complex emotions. She tilted her head slightly and met Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing's gaze.
"The concept of 'friends' is something I've never experienced before, but I find myself feeling quite at ease around you all."
Qian Renxue sighed softly and continued:
"If this is what you call friends, then it's not bad."
Qian Renxue watched Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing, suppressing her emotions with her Soul Power.
She didn't know why she suddenly started talking about her past in front of Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing, but once she opened her mouth, she really wanted someone to listen after suppressing it for so many years.
Qian Renxue had no idea that Xiao Yan's Second Martial Soul, the Soul Division, was extremely sensitive to changes in emotions. Similarly, it could inadvertently affect the surrounding Soul Master, a fact that even Xiao Yan himself had not noticed.
Zhu Zhuqing's evolved Serene Moon Love Shadow Cat Martial Soul is the same; all her strength is tied to "emotion." Coupled with her own unique state of mind, she is unintentionally influenced.
"Hehe, I never expected Your Highness to have this side to you."
Xiao Yan, feigning nonchalance, cracked a cruel joke:
"What a coincidence! The three of us—one was tricked by the teacher, one was ambushed by my sister, and one is disliked by my mother—no wonder we ended up together."
Xiao Yan was speaking when he was struck by Zhu Zhuqing's deadly attack on his waist. He couldn't help but gasp for breath before managing to finish his sentence.
"Your Highness, please don't be offended. That's just Xiao Yan's personality."
Zhu Zhuqing spoke softly, giving Xiao Yan a reproachful look, and then addressed Qian Renxue.
Qian Renxue looked at Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes. Is this friendship? Perhaps, it's not bad...
"Your Highness, rest assured, we are determined to go to the Star Luo Empire. Besides, this is a favor between friends."
Xiao Yan dodged Zhu Zhuqing's hand that reached for his waist and winked at Qian Renxue.
"OK."
Qian Renxue had never revealed her emotions in front of others before. Now that she had recovered, she felt quite uncomfortable being stared at by the two of them, so she fled as if she were escaping.
"You can rest for a while, and then I will give you intelligence on the Star Luo Empire."