261. Keep Searching

"Speak properly when you're talking, especially while eating," Qian Renjue said, looking at the lively young girl in front of him.

He couldn't help but frown, cautious of her oily hands.

"Hmph! What are you afraid of?" the girl snorted coldly.

Annoyed, she crouched in front of Qian Renjue and took a bite of the large pig’s trotter in her hand.

Mumbling to herself, she said, "It's not like I wouldn't clean it for you."

"..." Oil splashed onto Qian Renjue's face, making him frown slightly.

"Uh, let me wipe it off for you," the girl stopped eating, immediately raising her still clean, delicate hand to wipe the oil from his face.

Smack!

Qian Renjue grabbed her warm hand, calm as he said, "No need, I can clean it myself."

"Alright then," the girl withdrew her hand, looking a bit disappointed.

She moved over to sit beside Qian Renjue, her head down as she angrily gnawed on her pig’s trotter.

Did he really have to guard himself against me like that? Can’t even touch his face!

Qian Renjue silently wiped the oil from his face, watching the sun set on the horizon.

He turned slightly to glance at the girl next to him.

Her face was delicate, her gaze firm.

Her figure and temper were fiery, with a heavy air of the martial world about her.

Over the years, traveling together in the soul master world had indeed saved them from many detours.

Qian Renjue wasn’t sure of her real age, but in this dream, Liu Erlong was only a few years older than him.

Her sharp black eyes were bright and full of life.

Noticing Qian Renjue’s gaze, Liu Erlong’s manner of eating the pig’s trotter shifted from bold to more ladylike.

A soft blush began to appear on her face, like the vibrant and fiery sunset in the distance.

Gurgle~

Qian Renjue withdrew his gaze as his stomach let out a small growl.

Feeling a bit awkward, he glanced at the fire behind him and was just about to stand up and fend for himself when a burst of playful laughter filled the air.

“Haha..."

Liu Erlong laughed so hard that her whole body shook.

Proudly, she pulled out a delicate plate, placing it in front of Qian Renjue.

It was already filled with pieces of tender, fatty meat.

"Here! I’ve prepared it for you in advance."

"Thanks."

Qian Renjue, used to this, reached out and took the plate.

Liu Erlong pouted, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her oily hands and mouth.

"So, what’s your new soul bone skill like?" she asked.

"The torso bone of a 70,000-year-old soul beast. The skill is 'Wrath of the Tyrannosaurus,' boosting strength by 300% and defense by 100%."

Qian Renjue didn’t hold back.

Liu Erlong’s eyes widened in surprise.

"That’s an amazing skill. As expected of a 70,000-year-old torso bone."

"Yeah." Qian Renjue nodded, casually eating a few pieces of meat before handing the plate back.

"I’m full, you can have the rest."

"Already?" Liu Erlong frowned, taking the plate back.

"I hope that once I give you this soul bone, you’ll eat well every day and not get too skinny."

Qian Renjue looked at her with a gentle tone.

"Ah Jue, what nonsense are you talking about?" Liu Erlong asked, puzzled.

"As long as you’re eating enough, that’s all that matters. Don’t starve yourself."

Qian Renjue didn’t offer any further explanation.

"Why do you keep telling me to eat enough? Do you like girls with some weight on them?" Liu Erlong teased.

She couldn’t understand his words and quickly dismissed them, moving closer to Qian Renjue with a smile, her breath warm and her eyes full of affection.

But Qian Renjue turned his gaze away, staying silent.

As the sun completely sank below the horizon, darkness enveloped the earth, slowly consuming Qian Renjue’s form as well.

“Hmph! How mysterious!” Liu Erlong gritted her teeth in frustration, standing up with an irritated expression.

"Why do you even care if I’m eating enough? No one cares about me anyway! I’ve followed you for so many years—"

"I never asked you to follow me," Qian Renjue interrupted before she could finish, his face growing more indistinct and his voice colder.

"You can leave whenever you want."

"Alright, alright, I won’t say anymore! Is that better?" Liu Erlong suddenly became flustered, waving her hands, eager to drop the topic.

But the figure before her began to fade away.

Liu Erlong panicked.

“Ah Jue! I was just joking! Don’t go! Don’t leave me!"

"..."

Amid her desperate pleas, the dream shattered.

"Ah Jue—!"

In the quiet bedroom, a frantic shout suddenly echoed.

On the soft bed, a mature woman, filled with elegance, opened her eyes.

She sat up abruptly, tears streaming down her face, cold sweat on her brow.

Liu Erlong glanced around the room, her gaze falling on the soul bone wrapped in clothes beside her pillow.

Her deep black eyes were filled with sorrow.

"Back to that dream again?"

Liu Erlong gently caressed the soul bone, letting her tears fall freely.

"Dean, Dean!"

A voice called out urgently from outside, cutting through the quiet forest.

Liu Erlong quickly wiped her tears away and got up, walking toward the door.

Standing beneath the ringing wind chime, she asked softly, “Yinshu, what is it?”

"Dean, there's an invitation from the Heaven Dou royal family for you to review."

The teacher named Yinshu held out her hands. A golden invitation floated in the air, supported by her soul power, and shot towards Liu Erlong.

"Alright, if there’s nothing else, you may leave," Liu Erlong said, catching the invitation.

"Understood, Dean," Yinshu bowed slightly and turned to walk down the forest path.

"An invitation from the royal family?" Liu Erlong glanced at the invitation and casually set it aside.

She wasn’t interested in such matters.

Sitting back on the bed, she leaned against the soul bone, whispering softly, "Ah Jue~"

"I’m eating well and training diligently every day. Where are you?"

"Are you deliberately avoiding me? I know I was wrong."

Whenever she thought of him, tears would flow.

She had searched everywhere they had been and even places they hadn't explored yet but found nothing.

She didn’t dare mention his name to anyone, fearing the Spirit Hall would find out.

After all, in that dream, Ah Jue had been killed by the Pope of the Spirit Hall.

Lost in her memories, her tearful eyes fell on the table.

She was momentarily dazed.

The drawing she had made was blown by the wind and landed next to the invitation.

Liu Erlong slowly stood up and walked over.

Staring at the warm smile of Qian Renjue in the drawing, sitting on a rock in his white robe, she gently touched the invitation.

"Ah Jue," Liu Erlong murmured, her eyes shining.

Maybe it was time to search in places she hadn’t been able to enter before, like the royal palace or other territories.

"Ah Jue, I will find you!"

Liu Erlong gently picked up the drawing, carefully unfolding it, gazing at the image of Qian Renjue smiling into the wind.