Jiang Chen's training was a mix of pain and pleasure. In the mornings, he would face Hu Liena's ever-changing seductive techniques.
In the afternoons, he would conduct actual combat training with Qian Renxue.
Time passed in a flash, and three days went by. Hu Liena silently packed her personal belongings and walked out of the Papal Palace with Jiang Chen.
At the foot of the mountain, Hu Liena reluctantly said goodbye to Jiang Chen. Bibi Dong did not come to see her off.
"Little Chen, the content of each training session at the concentration camp is different. The only piece of advice your senior sister can give you is still the same: never trust anyone easily, and always stay vigilant."
"I know, Senior Sister, you've said that sentence eight hundred times already," Jiang Chen said helplessly.
"You must come back alive. Senior Sister will be waiting for you at the Spirit Hall Academy."
Jiang Chen hurriedly pushed Hu Liena onto the carriage.
"Go quickly. I still need to go back and cultivate. Don't worry, I'll definitely live well."
The carriage started moving, and Hu Liena gradually disappeared into the distance.
The Spirit Hall Academy was also located within Spirit City, but after entering the academy, one was rarely allowed to leave except during holidays.
Watching the carriage leave, Jiang Chen realized that he actually felt some reluctance toward this exceptional senior sister.
It had taken Hu Liena three years to leave the concentration camp back then. Perhaps by the time he came out of there, several years would have passed as well.
Returning to the now-empty room, the girl who had tormented him for several days was no longer there, and his heart suddenly felt somewhat hollow.
He shook his head, forcing himself not to think about Hu Liena's departure, then left the room and headed toward Qian Renxue's side.
Over these three days, his battles with Qian Renxue had escalated from initial pursuit games to proper combat.
He had already grasped the profound mystery of the Three Thousand Thunderbolt, and his speed was now on a completely different level. With the amplification from his first soul skill, Qian Renxue openly stated that Jiang Chen's current speed could already be considered top-tier even among Great Soul Masters in their twenties.
In their fights, Qian Renxue had initially suppressed her strength to the Soul Master level, only to be thoroughly beaten down by Jiang Chen.
After that incident, she never dared to underestimate him again. She adjusted her strength to the Great Soul Master level, using her vast soul power and two soul skills to finally suppress Jiang Chen.
Yet deep in her heart, she remained shocked. Her own talent was extremely monstrous, not only in cultivation speed but also in combat power, making her one of the absolute best at her level.
However, even with the Great Soul Master's strength, she could only manage to suppress Jiang Chen. She discovered that no matter how she attacked, it was very difficult to inflict any real damage on him.
Still, her goal was not to injure Jiang Chen but to help him gain more actual combat experience. Being able to press him down in battle was already sufficient.
Before this, Jiang Chen's combat experience had been extremely limited; he had only fought Tang San twice.
Although he had cultivated the Lightning Fist, only by personally experiencing real combat could he truly unleash its power, turning all that knowledge into his own strength.
Under Qian Renxue's astonished gaze, he grew stronger with every battle, speed, power, reaction ability, and combat awareness all improving comprehensively.
Unknowingly, Qian Renxue increased her soul power output, approaching the level of a Soul Elder.
Only when Jiang Chen's soul power was completely exhausted did the two finally stop.
"Little Chen, you're truly amazing," Qian Renxue said in the pavilion, wiping away the large beads of sweat on her forehead with a face full of admiration.
At this moment, her clothes had been soaked through with sweat. The originally very tight light-colored training outfit could no longer conceal her budding figure.
Some very distinct outlines were clearly displayed in front of Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen's face turned red, and his gaze shifted away somewhat evasively.
"Thank you, Sister Xue'er, for accompanying me in practice these past few days. I feel like my current strength is already several times stronger than before."
Qian Renxue moved closer and reached out to pinch Jiang Chen's cheek.
"You little guy really are a monster. When I was at the Soul Master level back then, my combat power couldn't even compare to yours. By the time you approach level 20, you might even be able to fight a Soul Elder."
Looking at Qian Renxue so close, smelling the fragrance her body emitted under the high temperature, Jiang Chen's head felt a little dizzy.
"Sister is leaving tomorrow," Qian Renxue suddenly said with a sense of loss.
Jiang Chen did not ask where Qian Renxue was going. He guessed that she was heading to the Heaven Dou Empire to carry out her mission of infiltration and seizing power.
"Then when will you come back?" Even though Jiang Chen knew the plot, he still couldn't help asking.
Qian Renxue shook her head. "That can't be determined. It might be a few years, or it might be more than ten years."
"Then what if I miss you?" Jiang Chen couldn't help blurting out.
Qian Renxue fell silent. She also felt reluctant to part with this adorable little brother, but that mission was something she had to carry out.
After a long while, she finally said, "When you become strong enough, ask your teacher. If she allows you to come find me, then we can meet again."
Jiang Chen nodded vigorously. "I will definitely become strong very quickly."
Qian Renxue smiled and hugged Jiang Chen. "No matter what, you will always be my little brother."
Jiang Chen buried himself in Qian Renxue's soft embrace. In this final moment, he did not pull away.
"You said yesterday that there was still one more story—about Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. Finish telling this story to your sister."
Jiang Chen nodded and slowly began recounting this love story that had moved countless people to tears.
...
"In the end, the graves of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai split open, and two colorful butterflies flew out. Their true love moved the heavens, and from then on they transformed into two butterflies, forever together, never to be separated again."
A smile appeared on Qian Renxue's peerlessly beautiful face, but tears kept streaming down nonstop.
Jiang Chen felt helpless; his tissues had already been completely used up by Qian Renxue, but from the latter part of the story onward, her tears had never stopped.
This kind of deeply moving love story truly had immense destructive power against young girls. Women were emotional creatures, and even the usually strong Qian Renxue had a soft side.
Jiang Chen's story undoubtedly gave her visions of the future, and she fantasized that one day she too could live happily ever after with the person she loved, just like the protagonists in those stories.
"Little Chen, do you think your sister will meet someone she likes in the future?"
Jiang Chen nodded forcefully. "Definitely. Sister, you will surely live happily with the person you love in the future."
Qian Renxue gently stroked Jiang Chen's hair. "Little Chen, thank you. You've given me such joyful times. Your sister will never forget you, nor will she ever forget your stories."
"Mm, Xue'er, I won't forget you either."
"What time are you leaving tomorrow? I'll come see you off."
Qian Renxue shook her head. "You don't need to come see me off. This trip is a confidential operation; no one else can know about it."
"Alright." Jiang Chen left Qian Renxue's embrace, his gaze carefully scanning every inch of her, as if trying to engrave her appearance forever in his mind.
Qian Renxue looked at Jiang Chen with doting eyes, hoping she could forever remember what he looked like.