early morning.
Heaven Dou City.
The backyard of the Crown Prince's residence.
The door opened.
Qian Renxue came out.
There was neither Xue Qinghe's face nor the prince's fine clothes.
He wore a clean and sharp platinum-gold outfit, his blond hair was tied up, and he only had a long sword hanging at his waist.
Lin Yuan leaned against the courtyard wall and glanced at her a few times.
"Finally, you've decided to remove that face?"
Qian Renxue walked up to him.
"How?"
"Is Xue Qinghe not pretty?"
"What's so interesting about a man?"
Qian Renxue's lips curled into a slight smile.
"You didn't say that when you used to go to the Crown Prince's residence every day."
Lin Yuan reached out and took her hand.
I came here to find you.
"He's not Xue Qinghe."
Qian Renxue looked down at their clasped hands.
They couldn't break free.
Instead, they tightened their five fingers.
Let's go.
There are no horse-drawn carriages today.
There are no Royal Knights.
As for whether there is anyone in the shadows.
Neither of them asked.
Some people are indeed worried.
Then let them go.
As long as they don't pop up and get in the way, it's fine.
The two walked out of the Crown Prince's residence hand in hand.
After the great chaos, the streets of Heaven Dou City have returned to their former prosperity.
Hall of Relief is gone.
The mutated plants have also been cleared away.
The morning market has just opened.
The streets were filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares.
But Lin Yuan had only been there for a short time.
Then someone recognized him.
"Young Master Lin?"
A middle-aged man who was moving vegetable baskets stopped what he was doing.
I took a closer look.
"It really is Young Master Lin!"
That shout...
Many people in the vicinity turned to look.
Where?
That's the one!
"The one that shot that monster a few days ago!"
"I've seen him before! It's him!"
Lin Yuan paused.
Qian Renxue turned her head to the side.
A smile had already appeared in his eyes.
"Young Master Lin."
Lin Yuan remained expressionless.
Laugh if you want to.
Qian Renxue held back for two breaths.
I still laughed out loud.
Before the two could continue walking...
The owner of the steamed buns had already run out carrying a large bag of things.
"Young Master Lin!"
"Take it!"
Lin Yuan glanced at it.
"How much?"
"What money!"
The boss forced the paper package into his hand.
My wife and child were in the south of the city that day!
"If you hadn't killed that monster..."
His eyes reddened slightly as he spoke.
Finally, he only patted Lin Yuan's arm.
"Hot."
"Eat on the way."
Lin Yuan did not refuse again.
Thanks.
"We should be thanking you!"
The boss waved his hand.
More people gathered around.
"Young Master Lin, this is dried meat that my family makes ourselves."
"Give me some fruit!"
Someone finally noticed that the two had been holding hands the whole time.
An older woman's eyes lit up.
"Young Master Lin."
"Who is this girl to you?"
Lin Yuan hadn't spoken yet.
Qian Renxue had already taken half a step closer to him.
"I'm his girlfriend."
It was decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Lin Yuan turned his head to look at her.
Qian Renxue raised her chin.
"How?"
Did I misspoke?
"No."
Lin Yuan gripped her hand tightly.
That's exactly it.
The woman immediately smiled.
"A perfect match!"
"What a beautiful girl!"
"Young Master Lin has excellent taste!"
Qian Renxue had been looking calm all along.
Hearing the last sentence.
She could clearly not suppress the urge to smile.
Until I left that street.
She was still smiling.
Lin Yuan looked at her.
"So happy?"
"Certainly."
"Is he complimenting your beauty?"
"No."
Qian Renxue, with her hands behind her back, took two steps backward.
Her golden hair swayed gently in the morning light.
"I'm praising your good taste."
Lin Yuan nodded.
That's true.
Qian Renxue stopped in her tracks.
I looked at him for two seconds.
Lin Yuan.
"Um?"
When did you become so eloquent?
"Just telling the truth."
Qian Renxue reached out and took his hand again.
"Then say a few more words."
"Dream on."
"..."
Her smile vanished instantly.
She pinched Lin Yuan's palm hard with her fingers.
Qian Renxue gradually relaxed.
She glanced at the street stalls every now and then.
Take a break now and then.
But I didn't want to buy everything like before.
It's just something new.
She had lived in Heaven Dou City for many years.
But I've never actually walked that path.
Every time I went out in the past...
She was Xue Qinghe.
They were checking whether the roads were tidy.
How tight is the city's defense?
Are the people at peace?
There are always people around me.
Even a single wrong word can leave a flaw.
But today.
She doesn't need to worry about anyone's opinion.
There's no need to calculate whether a sentence should be said or not.
If you see something you like, take a second look.
If you don't like it, just leave.
Someone recognized Lin Yuan.
She stood there listening to others praise their boyfriends.
This feeling--
Surprisingly good.
I was passing by a candy stall.
Qian Renxue.
Lin Yuan looked at her.
"Want some?"
I'd like to try it.
"Purchase."
Lin Yuan took out his money.
Qian Renxue took a string of hawthorns coated in sugar.
I took a bite.
His brows furrowed immediately.
"Acid."
Lin Yuan smiled.
"Then you're still eating?"
Qian Renxue directly held the rest to his mouth.
You eat.
"The one you bit."
"Dislike?"
Lin Yuan lowered his head and took one.
"Without."
Qian Renxue was finally satisfied.
The two shared a string of candied hawthorns along the way.
We arrived at the south gate.
Many people left the city today.
The queue was quite long.
Qian Renxue glanced at it.
I naturally ended up standing at the very back.
Lin Yuan was somewhat surprised.
"Your Highness, aren't you using the special passage?"
Qian Renxue didn't turn her head.
There is no Crown Prince today.
She shook their clasped hands.
"Only your girlfriend."
Lin Yuan chuckled.
"OK."
"That row, I'll go."
The line moved forward little by little.
When it was their turn...
The gatekeeper was just about to conduct a routine check.
I looked up and saw Lin Yuan.
I was stunned for a moment.
"Young Master Lin?"
Lin Yuan: "..."
Qian Renxue laughed out loud.
The soldiers clearly recognized him as well.
Their attitude immediately became much more serious.
Are you heading out of the city?
"Um."
Should we notify the city guards to prepare a carriage?
"Need not."
Lin Yuan pointed to the side.
"Let's go out for a walk."
The soldier glanced at Qian Renxue.
Look again at the hands the two are holding.
I understood instantly.
"Clear."
"Please take care, both of you."
Qian Renxue suppressed a laugh as she left the city gate.
I had only taken a dozen or so steps.
She finally couldn't hold back anymore.
"Young Master Lin."
"Are you still yelling?"
"Hero Lin?"
"..."
"The savior of Heaven Dou City?"
Lin Yuan turned and left.
Qian Renxue smiled and chased after her.
"Wait for me."
The two walked a distance apart.
Qian Renxue suddenly stopped.
Turn around.
The walls of Heaven Dou City still stand tall.
The city where she had lived for many years was right behind her.
She looked at it for a long time.
Lin Yuan did not urge him.
A moment later.
Qian Renxue withdrew her gaze.
I used to think...
"I'll be staying here for a long time."
"Every day I wake up to Xue Qinghe."
"Sometimes I even think about it."
"What will it feel like when I no longer have to pretend?"
Lin Yuan looked at her.
"Now you know?"
"Knew."
Qian Renxue turned around.
Sunlight fell on her face.
The smile was very gentle.
"It's quite comfortable."
She suddenly opened her arms.
I took a deep breath of the air outside the city.
Then he turned to look at Lin Yuan.
Where to go next?
Lin Yuan shook his head.
"Have no idea."
"You really don't have a plan?"
"No."
Qian Renxue showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever.
On the contrary, their eyes became even brighter.
That's even better.
She pulled Lin Yuan forward.
"We'll see where we end up."
Stop when you see something fun.
What if you encounter someone who doesn't know their place?
Qian Renxue turned back.
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Knock him down."
Lin Yuan nodded.
"That's more like you."
"What's the meaning?"
"Nothing."
Lin Yuan.
"Um?"
Are you saying I'm mean again?
"No."
What did you mean by pausing for a moment?
The two voices gradually faded into the distance along the official road.
There is no crown prince.
There is no Holy Son.
There were no major imperial matters that required their attention at this moment.
There were only two young Soul Master holding hands.
For the first time, she truly left the city that had imprisoned Qian Renxue for so many years.
The road ahead is long.
But this time...
She no longer needs to play anyone.