Two days later, as Ye Lingling followed Ling Yu out of the library, she plucked up her courage and tugged at the hem of his clothes.
"What is it?" Ling Yu paused and slowly turned back, a gentle smile on his lips as his gaze settled softly on Ye Lingling.
"I'd like to ask you a favor." Ye Lingling lightly bit her lip.
"I'm about to break through to rank thirty. Could you come Soul Hunting with me? Your second Soul Skill is very important to me. In return, I can let you read all the secret collections the Ye Family has accumulated over the years. Gold coin cards work too. Name your price. Would that be all right?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Ling Yu's eyes. He turned to face her and said, "I remember that the unusual thing about the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul is that, no matter what Soul Ring it absorbs, it always gains an area-wide Light of Healing, with only the degree differing. Is that right?"
"That's right, but I don't intend to resign myself to fate. I want to break through that restriction. That's also why I've kept coming to the library to research Martial Souls."
"What do you plan to do?" Ling Yu raised his brows slightly, his curiosity stirred.
"Our Ye Family has tried different approaches before. Some stacked nothing but poison-attribute Soul Rings, while others tried all kinds of plant-type Soul Rings. There were plenty who mixed and matched at will, too, but none of them broke through those shackles in the end. Their ranks weren't even very high. I suspect conflicting Soul Rings were the problem."
"So I want to try following my Martial Soul Origin and specifically hunt Soul Beasts with special attributes such as life, healing, purification, and detoxification that our family records show we've never hunted before. Even if it only gives the Nine Heart Begonia one new attribute, it would be worth it. But unusual Soul Beasts also tend to be difficult to judge the age of."
"And your second Soul Skill happens to solve that problem."
The faint loneliness that usually lingered in Ye Lingling's eyes had long since faded, leaving only determination. Though she was the gentlest kind of healing-type Soul Master, she radiated a tenacity that would never bow its head.
"All right." Moved by the determination in her eyes, Ling Yu nodded.
Ye Lingling smiled softly. Though her veil covered most of her face, it could not hide the gentle smile spreading from her eyes.
"Then what should I give you in return?"
"Your book collection. There are plenty of things I want to know, too." Although Ling Yu had considered asking for nothing, he felt that such a response would be inappropriate, so he chose the books, which interested him somewhat.
"Mm. Let me know whenever you want to read them, and I'll take you back to our family compound. I've already spoken to my family, and they all agreed."
"All right."
The two parted there. Ling Yu stood where he was, watching her walk off to find Dugu Yan. The corners of his mouth curved upward without his realizing it, and even his gaze softened a little.
Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace-
"Qinghe, a letter has arrived from the Seven Heart Begonia Family. Take a look." Xue Ye handed the letter to Xue Qinghe, who stood in attendance beside him.
"The Seven Heart Begonia Family... her family..." Something stirred in Xue Qinghe's heart. Then he recalled Su Yao's report, and a trace of gloom flashed through his eyes as he took the letter and began reading.
"The Seven Heart Begonia is rather similar to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile. Neither can advance beyond Soul Saint. The difference is that it produced a mutated Martial Soul, the Nine Heart Begonia. Although its bearers can attain a title, very few have managed it, and the Nine Heart Begonia also has restrictions on its inheritance."
"Since theirs is a healing Martial Soul, quite a few people owe them a debt of gratitude, so their family wields considerable influence as well. This letter concerns their young mistress-Ye Lingling. They hope to make an exchange with us for one use of the Heaven Dou Secret Medicine."
"Qinghe, what do you think?" Xue Ye glanced at Xue Qinghe in some surprise. Ordinarily, he would already have begun offering his opinion. Why had he remained silent for so long today?
"Your son is slow-witted. I leave everything to your judgment, Father."
Xue Ye frowned slightly. Seeing that he seemed distracted, he spoke more sternly. "Qinghe, as crown prince, there are many matters you cannot avoid. You must be able to shoulder these trials."
"Your son believes..."
"That would be acceptable..."
Xue Qinghe pressed his lips together slightly, seemingly struggling to weigh the matter. After a moment of silence, he finally nodded slowly in agreement.
"Mm." Xue Ye nodded in satisfaction.
"I'll leave it to you, then."
Several days later, Ye Lingling entered the palace with her family's guards as arranged, ready to take the secret medicine.
Xue Qinghe stood silently before her, watching as Ye Lingling gently lifted her veil and slowly took the secret medicine. She then sat cross-legged and closed her eyes to refine its medicinal power.
Once she entered meditation, Xue Qinghe's expression grew complicated. Indescribable emotions churned within him, and for a long while, he did not move.
After a long time, Ye Lingling slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Xue Qinghe, who had been staring at her all along.
Yet, for some reason, she felt a cold, heavy pressure wash over her. Even though he had not said a word, she could clearly sense that he was furious at that moment.
Fortunately, Xue Qinghe immediately recovered. He turned away and said in a flat voice, "Farewell, inheritor of the Nine Heart Begonia."
Ye Lingling was utterly bewildered, but she remained courteous. "My thanks to His Majesty and Your Highness the Crown Prince for your generous gift."
Xue Qinghe waved for her to leave.
A month later, Ling Yu broke through to rank twenty-six. Although he had been researching Soul Tools all along, he had never neglected his daily cultivation. In particular, the eighty-thousand-year whale brain meant he did not have to worry about the mental depletion caused by researching Soul Tools every day.
Half a month later, Ye Lingling successfully broke through to rank thirty. Filled with joy, she came to find Ling Yu to confirm when they would set out to hunt for her third Soul Ring.
At first, Ling Yu was happy about her breakthrough. Yet just as a smile reached his lips, an inexplicable anxiety over gain and loss welled up inside him-rank thirty meant that after she obtained her Soul Ring, she would be promoted to a Heaven Dou Grade student.
"Senior Su Yao, has Sister Xue been very busy lately?"
Their agreed departure date was drawing near. Throughout this period, Xue Qinghe had not visited the Soul Tool research room, and even when Ling Yu went to visit him, he had declined, citing his heavy government workload.
Su Yao nodded, but a complicated look flashed through her eyes.
Looking at the boy before her, she sighed inwardly, but still did not tell him what she knew.
"I see..." Ling Yu sighed, thinking that Qian Renxue still could not let go of what had happened before and therefore remained unwilling to see him.
After packing his things, he headed to the gates of Heaven Dou City to meet the others.
Outside the city, three figures stood quietly.
Ye Lingling was as cool and quiet as ever, her plain sleeves fluttering gently in the wind. A white veil covered her face, and a hint of tenderness rested in her eyes and brows.
Beside her, Dugu Yan was dazzling and bold, her practical outfit lending her a spirited sharpness.
Standing next to them was an unfamiliar woman whose demeanor was gentle without seeming weak.
Dugu Yan was the first to spot Ling Yu. Her eyes immediately lit up, and she called, "You're the last one here. You're cooking tonight."
"Who sets up a cooking fire on a Soul Hunting trip?" Ling Yu complained helplessly.
"There aren't any particularly powerful Soul Beasts in Sunset Forest, so what's there to be afraid of? With Aunt Lan and Senior Su Yao here, even if we attract any Soul Beasts, they'll only be asking for trouble." Dugu Yan gave a little snort.