282. Confess

After the two carriages entered the gates of Heaven Dou City, they parted ways.

Qian Renxue left Xue Qinghe behind.

Following Qian Renjue's instructions, Salas, adhering to the principle of keeping a low profile, finally shed the role of the coachman and returned to his dignified status as a Bishop.

He ordered the other subordinates to escort Qian Renjue to the Heaven Treasure Restaurant, a joint venture between the royal family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

Ling Yuan stepped out of the carriage first. After checking for a moment, she lifted the heavy curtain and invited Qian Renjue to step out.

“Your Highness.”

“Hm, I’m coming.”

Qian Renjue exited the carriage, wiping a faintly damp bite mark on his jaw, wearing Qian Renxue’s [Life Ring]. He didn’t linger outside for long.

With Ling Yuan by his side, Qian Renjue headed toward the room they had agreed on earlier.

“Jue, I’ve reserved the room next door as well,” Qian Renxue’s voice rang directly in Qian Renjue’s ear.

“Alright.”

Qian Renjue nodded. He handed the Life Ring to Ling Yuan and instructed, “Sister Ling, please wait with my sister in the next room for a while. Once things are settled, we’ll return to Spirit City.”

“Yes, Ling Yuan understands.”

Ling Yuan Douluo nodded respectfully.

She led Qian Renxue into the next room while Qian Renjue continued forward.

With the spatial jump ability granted by the Evil God’s Hook, returning to Spirit City no longer required something as slow as a carriage.

“Ah Yin, help me out,” Qian Renjue called out.

“Yes, Master~” came a soft and respectful voice. From the front of his chest, the Blue Silver Emperor’s tendrils reached out and gently brushed across his face, smoothing out the bite marks.

Click!

As soon as Qian Renjue opened the door, he sensed two familiar presences inside.

“Jue (Your Highness)!”

Hearing the voices, Qian Renjue focused his gaze and saw two graceful young women standing up from the sofa.

Ye Lingling, elegant and composed, wore her blue shoulder-length hair, a light yellow veil covering her face. Her eyes, the same color as her hair, seemed to speak of the longing in her heart, gazing intently at her beloved. She was full of vitality, her figure already mature for her age, soft and well-proportioned.

Dugu Yan’s light green eyes were filled with joy. Her curvaceous figure swayed slightly with her movements, as if a ripe fruit about to fall from the branch.

The purple dress she wore accentuated her seductive aura, like a rose with thorns. In front of Ye Lingling, of course, she wouldn’t dare to address Qian Renjue as "Master."

“Lingling, Yanyan, why did you arrive so early?”

Qian Renjue showed a hint of surprise as he shut the door behind him and walked inside.

Dugu Yan, linking her arm with Ye Lingling’s, smiled and said, “It’s because Lingling missed you so much, Your Highness.” Despite her words, Dugu Yan’s eyes also revealed undisguised affection.

“Hm,” Ye Lingling nodded, her eyes turning red at the corners.

Her soft lips moved, and she whispered gently, “Actually, Yanyan missed you too.”

“Ah.”

Dugu Yan was slightly startled, and her face quickly turned a shade of pink, as she lowered her head in acknowledgment.

“?”

Qian Renjue looked at Ye Lingling in mild confusion, trying to smile naturally.

“Haha, is that so? I’ve missed both of you too,” Qian Renjue said with a slightly awkward expression, feeling that his words seemed a bit inappropriate.

Ye Lingling, however, didn’t react much, simply nodding in acknowledgment.

Qian Renjue sat down opposite them.

“Lingling, you both don’t need to stand. Hurry, sit down.”

“Huh? Oh, alright.”

Dugu Yan felt both embarrassed and ashamed. Even though she knew Ye Lingling wasn’t the type to judge, she still felt as if she had been labeled a third wheel.

“Your Highness, I… I’ll pour you some tea.”

“Hm, thank you.”

Qian Renjue quickly regained his composure, smiling as he thanked her.

Since Dugu Yan was present, Ye Lingling didn’t feel comfortable sitting beside Qian Renjue. Instead, she elegantly removed the veil from her face, revealing a small, delicate, rosy complexion.

“Your Highness, here.”

Dugu Yan offered the warm tea with both hands. Her fingers briefly brushed against Qian Renjue’s, causing her to become shy and flustered. Whether due to her own embarrassment or Ye Lingling’s presence, she wasn’t sure.

Qian Renjue smiled helplessly, took the tea, and sipped it slowly. He then gazed at her soft, lovely face and said with a smile, “I called you two here today because I have a gift for you.”

As he spoke, Qian Renjue waved his hand, and two long boxes appeared on the table.

“Gifts?”

Ye Lingling, still wearing her red hairpin, looked curiously at the boxes.

“I get one too?” Dugu Yan asked uncertainly, pointing at herself.

Qian Renjue chuckled, “Why else would I ask you to come?”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

Even before seeing the gift, Dugu Yan was overjoyed.

“No need to be so formal. These are things I don’t need, but they suit you two.”

Qian Renjue couldn’t help but laugh, pushing two boxes toward Dugu Yan.

“Yanyan, this box contains a ten-thousand-year-old right arm bone, a gift for you.”

“A ten-thousand-year soul bone?!”

Dugu Yan cried out in shock, staring at the box in disbelief. She repeatedly waved her hands, saying, “Your Highness, this is too valuable. I can’t accept it.”

“No matter how valuable it is, it’s of no use to me sitting here, right?” Qian Renjue smiled.

The soul bone inside had been a gift to Qian Renjue from several elders, taken from a twenty-thousand-year-old Death Spirit Viper, making it especially suited for Dugu Yan.

Ye Lingling was equally astonished at Qian Renjue’s generosity. A ten-thousand-year soul bone was something even Titled Douluo would fight over, and the Ye family, despite its long-standing prosperity, had never possessed one.

“Yanyan, just accept it. We’re all like family, aren’t we?” Ye Lingling gently persuaded, earning a look of approval from Qian Renjue.

“That’s right, Yanyan. I’ve told you before, we’re like family, no need to draw such lines. Since I’ve given it, I don’t plan to take it back.”

“Hoo~”

Dugu Yan took a deep breath and looked up, solemnly promising, “Your Highness, I swear, Dugu Yan will forever be loyal to you and willing to do anything!”

As she spoke, Dugu Yan’s face flushed red, embarrassed by her own greed, still thinking about sharing a bed with him—taking both the gift and more.

“Really?”

Qian Renjue teased, causing Dugu Yan to freeze for a moment before quickly regaining her composure.

“Of course, it’s true!”

“Then Yanyan, take the soul bone and wait in the next room for now.”

With that, Qian Renjue turned his attention to Ye Lingling. It was time to come clean about Ning Rongrong.

“Huh?”

Dugu Yan wondered if she had misheard, and Ye Lingling’s gaze also turned curious.

“You heard correctly. I have some things I need to discuss with Lingling alone,” Qian Renjue smiled, pushing the box toward her.

“Hm, Yanyan understands.”

Realizing what was happening, Dugu Yan nodded. Whether it was true or not, she should give them some space.

“Your Highness, call me if you need anything.”

Dugu Yan, holding the box, bowed respectfully and then exited the room.