322. Longing

Seeing that Qian Renjue hadn’t heard her clearly, Ling Yuan’s face turned bright red, her head nearly buried in her chest.

She clenched her delicate fists, raised her voice, and said firmly, “Your Highness… I’m saying that Her Majesty The Pope has approved the matter between the two of us.”

“Hm? Mom approved… relationship?”

“What kind of… relationship?”

Qian Renjue, slightly dazed, looked up at Ling Yuan’s flushed face and suddenly realized what she meant.

She was talking about a romantic relationship.

He stood there, a bit stunned, mouth open in confusion and surprise. “Oh… really?”

“Yes.” Ling Yuan nodded slightly, lowering her gaze, feeling overwhelmed with shyness.

“…”

Qian Renjue awkwardly scratched his neck, feeling a bit uncomfortable as his eyes darted away from Ling Yuan.

Ling Yuan was still looking down, her face so flushed it seemed it might catch fire, her hands fidgeting anxiously.

She softly called his name. “Your Highness…”

“Ah, yes, I’m here,” Qian Renjue replied, standing straight and looking at Ling Yuan as she moved closer.

He felt himself tense up, not moving as she neared, noticing the soft affection in her gaze and her red lips leaning in toward him.

The warm and almost electrifying atmosphere was too much for him, feeling as if it could escalate at any moment.

Panicked, he raised his hands and took a step back, saying hurriedly, “Uh, Sister Ling Yuan, I… I’m feeling a bit warm, I’ll go outside for some air.”

With that, Qian Renjue turned and hurried out, leaving a blurred afterimage in his rush, as if fleeing.

Ling Yuan froze mid-action, about to kiss him, her face showing disappointment as she watched him leave in a flustered retreat.

But then, unable to help it, she smiled.

Standing straight again, she touched her burning face, whispering to herself, “It’s fine, Your Highness. Ling Yuan can wait… I can wait until you’re ready… or even guide you.”

With this thought, Ling Yuan’s face grew even hotter, imagining herself teaching Qian Renjue intimately.


---

In the courtyard, Qian Renjue barely made it outside before running into Hu Liena, who was about to start cooking.

“Senior brother, are you okay?” she asked.

“Nothing, nothing.” He took a heavy breath, then patted her on the head with a smile.

“I’m heading up the mountain for a bit. If Sister Ling Yuan comes out, ask her to help you in the kitchen.”

“Alright, thank you, Brother.”

She looked up and nuzzled his hand affectionately. Qian Renjue laughed.

“You should thank Sister Ling Yuan. Alright, I’ll be going now.”

With that, he moved past her, wanting to escape this somewhat awkward place.

As he walked away, Hu Liena’s orange hair bounced, and she waved at him, “Senior brother! Come back soon!”

“I will,” he said, not turning back, just waving a hand as he made his way up the mountain path.

Soon, he found himself climbing the mountain steps, letting the cool breeze clear his head a bit.

He settled down on a patch of grass, lying back with a helpless smile.

He had only just decided to keep his distance from the women who were becoming a bit too close, yet here was Ling Yuan bringing up… that kind of thing.

The approval of the Pope herself held a lot of weight, certainly more than anything he could say as her son.

Qian Renjue raised a hand to block the sun, watching as golden rays filtered through his fingers. “Taking responsibility for Sister Ling Yuan… that’s only fair. These are things I’ll have to face sooner or later.”

As if to console himself, he suddenly saw a golden light appear through his fingers, streaking up toward the Douluo Palace atop the mountain.

Qian Renjue quickly sat up, gazing toward the mountain peak. “Sister’s avatar?”

Before he could react, the golden light suddenly descended and circled around him, carrying a familiar, gentle voice in his mind.

“Jue, wait until I’m done in seclusion.”

“Sister!” he called, smiling warmly.

He reached out, but before he could respond, the light passed through his hand and flew back toward the peak.

“Another part complete?” he murmured, recalling that Qian Renxue had split herself into nine avatars.

Sitting there, enjoying the cool breeze, he eventually stood, stretched, and looked up at the warm sun. “I need to hurry as well.”


---

Half a month later.

In Heaven Dou City, near the main campus of Blue Tyrant Academy, beside a fifty-meter-wide lake in the surrounding forest, there was a small, scenic pavilion.

A clear stream flowed nearby, with winding paths, quaint bridges, and a lovely, serene environment. In the courtyard by the pavilion, flowers bloomed on stands, and bees and butterflies danced around. Wind chimes hung under the eaves, ringing softly.

Liu Erlong stood among the flowers, watering them even though the watering can was already empty. Her face looked tired, and her eyes seemed lifeless.

Her fiery figure was tightly bound in formal clothes, looking neat and proper.


Since seeing Qian Renjue at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan months ago, she’d been waiting day and night for him to come see her, even just briefly.

She believed that Qian Renjue wouldn’t lie to her. He had promised to come find her.

“Jue, I want to come find you…” she murmured, her pale lips barely moving, her eyes regaining a hint of life as she recalled old memories.

“Spirit Hall… her territory, her disciples…” she muttered to herself.

Liu Erlong bit her lip. Even if it was dangerous, she would go. That woman didn’t matter—what happened back then was over.


---

Meanwhile, in Heaven Dou City’s auction house, Qian Renjue was preparing to head to Blue Tyrant Academy to fulfill his promise.

Walking out with Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, he turned to them.

“Jue, where should we go next?” Ye Lingling asked, holding his arm with a slight blush visible through her veil, her blue eyes bright and full of life.

Qian Renjue glanced up at the sky. “Lingling, you and Yanyan head back to the hotel and order lunch for us. I need to step out for a while.”

“Alright.” She nodded, letting go of his arm obediently.

“Your Highness, what about these maids?” Dugu Yan gestured to a few cat-girls and bunny-girls they’d just acquired from the auction.

Qian Renjue looked back at the girls and, after a moment’s thought, said, “Bring them back to the hotel. Set them up in rooms, and later I’ll take them to Spirit Hall. They can help care for the children at the orphanage.”

“Got it,” Dugu Yan replied with a sweet nod, then let him go.