Call Me Xue'er"Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
Qian Renxue asked softly.
She deliberately revealed her true identity, which allowed the two to escape the Storm City patrols. She had never shown her true appearance to anyone else, but she was very confident in her looks. Therefore, she was somewhat puzzled to see Dai Yao remain silent.
Moreover, after she deliberately exposed her true appearance, her previous act of deliberately hiding her injuries and having Dai Yao take care of her was also exposed.
Dai Yao stared at Qian Renxue and said calmly:
"So what do you want me to ask you?"
Qian Renxue was slightly taken aback, remained silent for a moment, and then asked:
"Aren't you curious about my real appearance, and why I'm hiding my injuries?"
After pondering the meaning behind Qian Renxue's question, Dai Yao gradually understood her thoughts.
Having watched the anime, Dai Yao already knew Qian Renxue's true appearance. Now, for her to reveal her true face to him so voluntarily, address him so intimately, and make such intimate gestures, it was clear that Qian Renxue had accepted him.
In the original novel, Qian Renxue believed that Tang San was doomed to die, and she only revealed her true face so that Tang San, her rival, could die without regrets.
By deliberately concealing her injuries, Dai Yao was able to guess some of Qian Renxue's thoughts.
However, Dai Yao only needed to be aware of this. With Qian Renxue's proud personality, she would never allow herself to show a vulnerable side. Therefore, if Dai Yao were to expose Qian Renxue's thoughts, their relationship might be severed immediately.
But what do all this have to do with him?
The reason he saved Qian Renxue was to make Qian Daoliu owe him a favor, to prevent the soul beast clan's conspiracy from succeeding, and to avoid being isolated and helpless in the Spirit Hall. Now, his relationship with Bibi Dong has reached a freezing point, and if his relationship with Qian Daoliu also deteriorates, then he will be in a desperate situation in the Spirit Hall.
His gaze flickered slightly as he shifted from Qian Renxue to the endless river surrounding the small boat, and said softly:
"Whether it's a man or a woman, what does it have to do with me?"
A gentle breeze blew across the river, causing the small boat to sway gently in the wind.
Qian Renxue's headscarf slowly slipped down, her long golden hair fluttering in the wind. She stared blankly at Dai Yao, and after a long while, a faint smile appeared on her face.
If Dai Yao changes his attitude because of her appearance, she will look down on him instead.
"Dai Yao, is it because of my mistaken opinion of you back in the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace that you are so cold to me now? If so, I apologize to you. Firstly, for my mistaken opinion of you back then, and secondly, because you saved me."
Qian Renxue laughed.
Dai Yao glanced at Qian Renxue and had to admit that, although she was no longer adorned with luxurious decorations, Qian Renxue possessed a simple and natural pure beauty. Coupled with her innate nobility and sacred aura, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
After regaining her true appearance, Qian Renxue's inner vulnerability was temporarily concealed, and she reverted to her former arrogance. The 'Qian Renxue' who waited for his care on her sickbed had vanished. Understanding this, after a moment, Dai Yao said in a deep voice:
"Although I haven't forgotten what happened back then, I won't hold any grudge against you because of it. I think you know better than anyone why I treated you this way. I'm neither your subordinate nor your enemy, so who are you trying to impress with your superior attitude?"
A thunderbolt flashed through Qian Renxue's mind, her head buzzing. She had never thought about this question before. From childhood to adulthood, she had always treated others with an arrogant attitude, and those people took it for granted.
Indeed, Qian Renxue has the right to be superior to her subordinates and subjects; her god-level martial spirit and terrifying talent are all things she relies on to look down on others. However, she doesn't know how to treat her friends.
Because she had never had any friends.
Seeing Qian Renxue's stunned expression, Dai Yao sighed softly:
"It seems you haven't realized this problem yourself, but it's not your fault. Alright, now let's get out of this troublesome place and into the sea as soon as possible. We'll only be truly safe once we're in the sea. Your injuries haven't fully healed yet, so rest and recharge your energy."
Watching Dai Yao struggle to row, Qian Renxue fell into a deep silence. She pulled her headscarf back up, returned to the bed, leaned against the wooden pillar, and gazed at the endless river. Her pupils slowly lost focus…
······
Three days later.
Finally reaching the estuary, the view suddenly opened up before us. The faintly visible land on both sides completely disappeared, and what lay before us was a vast expanse of blue ocean. On the land to our right, countless sails were billowing, heading into the deep sea, and the shouts of sailors constantly filled our ears.
Upon reaching the estuary, Dai Yao finally felt relieved.
"We've finally entered the ocean, and we're completely safe now."
At this moment, Qian Renxue also came to the bow of the boat. Looking at the lively scene of fishermen going out to sea, a look of amazement flashed across her eyes.
Dai Yao turned around and said to Qian Renxue:
"I'll go to this coastal city first, find the Spirit Hall's branch here, and tell them we're still safe. You stay here and don't move around. I'll be back soon, and I'll also buy some supplies and fruits for our voyage, like oranges."
Qian Renxue glanced at Dai Yao and nodded.
Immediately, he furled the sails, rowed to shore, tied the mooring ropes, and, wearing a straw hat, entered the bustling city.
Seeing Dai Yao leave, Qian Renxue returned to the wooden boat and pulled up the curtain.
Just then, a pitch-black shadow suddenly darted out, transforming into Dark Thousand Blades Snow, and lay alluringly on the wooden bed where Thousand Blades Snow had been resting.
Dark Qianrenxue glanced at the bowl and chopsticks with some leftover food, then looked at Qianrenxue dressed as a fisherman, and said with a charming smile:
"Tsk tsk, unbelievable. Is this still the arrogant guardian of the angel god? Have you forgotten our mission to conquer Dai Yao?"
Qian Renxue sat on the wooden box, looking through the gap in the curtain at the bustling city streets, and said calmly:
"Of course I haven't forgotten."
Dark Thousand Blades Snow seemed to have heard a joke, and chuckled:
"Then how come I see someone who is already capable of moving around deliberately feigning illness and having others take care of her? Could it be that you didn't conquer others, but were conquered by them instead?"
Qian Renxue turned around, staring intently into Hei An Qian Renxue's eyes, a chill rising in her gaze. However, the charming smile on Hei An Qian Renxue's face did not disappear at all.
Qian Renxue said coldly:
"You know perfectly well what I'm thinking. If you dare say such things again, I will absolutely not let you off the hook."
Hei An Qian Renxue rolled over and came to Qian Renxue's side, leaning close to her delicate face, and said softly and charmingly:
"That's more like it. In this world, only I am here with you. Does Dai Yao even understand what we've been through? Yet he dares to spout such nonsense? It was the two of us before, it is now, and it will always be."
A smile echoed in the cabin as the beautiful figure beside Qian Renxue slowly disappeared from sight.
The instant the Dark Thousand Blades Snow disappeared, Dai Yao returned to the wooden boat.
He opened the curtain and addressed Qianrenxue inside the cabin:
"Alright, the work is done, time to go."
Immediately, Dai Yao untied the ropes, used the oars to push the boat away from the shore, then raised the sails and sailed south.
After doing all this, Dai Yao tossed an orange to Qian Renxue and laughed:
"Have some fruit."
Qian Renxue examined the orange in her hand, a sense of malice creeping in. However, she didn't dwell on it, peeled it, and tasted it. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but this ordinary orange actually tasted quite good. After all, she was used to eating the finest delicacies; how could she find this orange delicious?
The words of Hei An Qian Ren Xue were still lingering in her mind. She glanced at Dai Yao, who was still packing, and asked:
"You went to the Spirit Hall branch. What is the current situation on the continent?"
Dai Yao replied, "After the battle at the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Emperor Xue Ye officially abdicated in favor of Princess Xue Ke and appointed Tang San as the Blue Hao King and regent of the empire. However, because Tang San was eager to capture us, he did not take control of the empire in time. Although Tang San's side is nominally the legitimate successor of the empire, Xue Ke has not yet ascended the throne."
"Moreover, because Heaven Dou City was in such chaos at the time, some of the Crown Prince's faction firmly believed that Tang San and the Clear Sky Sect had usurped power and secretly resisted Tang San's forces. However, because of your disappearance, their resistance was ultimately futile."
In fact, Dai Yao's trip to the Spirit Hall branch was not only to convey the message that they were still alive and doing well, but also to find out the situation of the Green Lotus Sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
To Dai Yao's relief, taking advantage of the chaos in Heaven Dou City, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Green Lotus School successfully left Heaven Dou City and moved westward to Han Hai City. Of course, it was also because Dai Yao and Qian Renxue had already left Heaven Dou City that Tang San lowered his guard against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Green Lotus School, allowing them to leave.
After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School now has two Title Douluos, plus Ning Fengzhi's assistance, which is comparable to four Title Douluos. Moreover, the Green Lotus School also has Poison Douluo and Yang Wudi, the patriarch of the Breaking Clan, making a total of six Title Douluo-level combatants, which poses a great threat to Tang San.
Their Clear Sky Sect currently only has five Title Douluo-level fighters at their disposal, and their Seventh Elder is injured, having lost an arm. The remaining Title Douluos are busy helping to capture the Asura Emperor and Qian Renxue, so they simply don't have the energy to manage the two sects.
Therefore, letting the two sects leave Heaven Dou City was a helpless move by Tang San.
"In addition, when you launched the Heaven Dou Palace Coup, the Papal Palace also took action, directly erasing the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex sect from the continent. Of the three upper sects, the Clear Sky Sect was born, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect went into seclusion, and the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex disappeared from the world. There are not many soul master forces opposing the Spirit Hall on the entire continent."
Upon hearing this news, Qian Renxue was slightly taken aback. Then, the coldness in her eyes intensified and even threatened to seep out.
Although the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan was far from Tiandou City and located by a river, the Papal Palace had sent a number of powerful figures to the Tiandou Empire. However, when they saw her in danger, they refused to come to her rescue and instead went to exterminate the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan.
"In that woman's eyes, compared to her grand ambitions, I am nothing at all."
Qian Renxue thought to herself with a cold smile.
Seeing Qian Renxue's reaction, Dai Yao felt a chill run down his spine. He too was in the Heaven Dou Empire, and after the failed palace coup, he, too, bore the brunt of the Empire's wrath. Bibi Dong not only failed to save Qian Renxue, but she also failed to come to his aid.
Taking a light breath, Dai Yao continued:
"After you disappeared, all six of the other elders of the Hall of Worship, except for the Grand Elder, appeared at Jialing Pass, forcing the Heavenly Dou Empire to hand you over. The situation is on the verge of exploding. If you don't go back soon, the Hall of Worship may have to go to war with the Heavenly Dou Empire."
Upon hearing this, the deathly stillness in Qian Renxue's eyes lessened somewhat, and she said in a deep voice:
"In that case, let's head back as soon as possible."
Dai Yao nodded.
Dai Yao, following the established procedure, led Qian Renxue southward in a small boat. Ever since hearing the news of the destruction of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex, Qian Renxue had become withdrawn, remaining silent and gazing at the sea.
Dai Yao would prepare meals for Qian Renxue every day, serving her food and placing it next to her.
Dai Yao knew why Qian Renxue was heartbroken. Since it was just the two of them on the ship, he had to take care of her. For several days, Qian Renxue remained the same, refusing to eat or drink, only staring out the window.
Whenever the food got cold, Dai Yao would take the food from beside Qian Renxue and eat it himself. Back in the Cold Palace, he would treasure even a single steamed bun. Although he was now grown up and his living conditions had improved a lot, those days of hunger were still deeply etched in his mind.
Therefore, he would not waste the food.
As the days passed, Qian Renxue sat by the window like a stone statue, her face visibly turning pale. Dai Yao could only sigh; the one who tied the knot must untie it. Qian Renxue's inner turmoil could only be resolved by herself. On this day, in his spare time, Dai Yao caught a few fish and made a fish soup.
So today, a bowl of fish was placed next to Qian Renxue.
However, Qian Renxue remained indifferent to the food beside her, just as always. After the food cooled down, Dai Yao took it from Qian Renxue as usual. Just as he was about to eat, Qian Renxue finally turned her head slowly, like an old machine making a creaking sound.
Qian Renxue's face was deathly pale. She looked at Dai Yao with a somewhat silent expression, and her voice was hoarse as she asked:
"The food is all cold, why bother eating it?"
Dai Yao laughed and said, "I'm different from you. Unlike you, who grew up in luxury, I grew up in the cold palace. Food wasn't something I could get easily. Even though conditions are better now, I still can't forget those difficult times."
"Even though it's cold, I can't waste it."
Qian Renxue stared blankly at Dai Yao's face, then glanced at the bowl of fish soup. As if remembering something, she bit her lip and asked:
"If I remember correctly, your mother passed away when you were young, and your father was like a stranger to you. Do you hate them?"
Dai Yao paused, thought carefully, and slowly replied:
"I don't hate my mother, but I can't say I hate my father. To me, he's just a stranger."
Upon hearing Dai Yao's answer, Qian Renxue was somewhat incredulous and screamed hysterically:
"Why don't you hate her? Why don't you hate her?! If she hadn't brought you into this world, how could you have gone through all that pain?!"
Dai Yao smiled softly, the faces of his parents from his past life slowly appearing in his mind. His nominal mother, whom he had only met once, also came to mind. He smiled and said:
"Why should I hate her? Even though she left me a long time ago, I believe she loved me."
Back then, in that woman's arms, Dai Yao clearly saw the loving expression on her face. He firmly believed that if that woman were still alive, she would do everything in her power to protect him from the storms of life.
Qian Renxue was startled; she was stunned by Dai Yao's answer.
Why was Dai Yao so certain that his nominal mother loved him? Yet his nominal mother treated him like an enemy.
His father died early, and Dai Yao's mother also died early; his mother treated him like a stranger, and Dai Yao's father treated him like a stranger as well.
She looked at Dai Yao, a hint of shared sorrow appearing in her eyes, and said deeply:
"No, you and I are the same. From now on, you will call me Xue'er..."
Under Dai Yao's stunned gaze, Qian Renxue took the bowl from his hand and began to eat. At first, she ate in small bites, but gradually she began to eat in large mouthfuls without regard for her image, as if this bowl of fish and meat were her enemy. Finally, Qian Renxue's emotions finally broke down, and she burst into tears... (End of this chapter)