Qianran didn't linger too long with Meng Hongchen. While the area wasn't particularly crowded, people occasionally passed by, making it difficult for him to truly let loose. After indulging in some final kisses on her face and chest and squeezing her delicate feet and legs a few more times, he finally released her.
"Why are you so much heavier if you haven't gained any fat?" Meng Hongchen asked, tracing her fingers over Qianran's defined abs in puzzlement. When he'd pressed her down, the sheer weight had been overwhelming.
Previously, Qianran had only weighed about 120 pounds, which was manageable.
Had he grown stronger? But "stronger" didn't seem to fully capture it.
"You'll need to start exercising more," Qianran said, pinching her cheek affectionately.
"I understand," Meng Hongchen replied earnestly, her mind turning to the issue. She recalled how Ke Ke and Ju Zi often engaged in various physical training routines, even though they all received the same wealth of soul tool knowledge from Qianran. Wasn't this the perfect time to focus on crafting some soul tools for practice?
Now, it all made sense.
In just a few minutes under Qianran's weight, her legs had already begun to ache. With her legs resting on his shoulders and his 200-plus-pound frame pressing down on her, her body had been bent nearly in half.
Though Meng Hongchen's flexibility was excellent—typical for someone of her cultivation level—it was clear why Ke Ke and Ju Zi were taking physical training more seriously.
If this was just a "rehearsal," Meng Hongchen worried about how she'd handle the "real performance."
"This brat."
Ye Xishui's expression darkened as she watched from afar, her emotions simmering with a mixture of shock and annoyance.
So, this was how young people behaved nowadays? Or was it just Qianran, that little rascal, who loved to tease and torment girls?
She had thought her worldview was broad enough after so many years, but what she witnessed now made her question everything.
She'd originally intended to meet Qianran to discuss his remarkable performance in the sparring matches, where he had effortlessly crushed a slew of Mingde Hall geniuses. Yet every time she sought him out, she stumbled upon scenes that left her utterly speechless.
And now, she saw Ming Hongchen's granddaughter, Meng Hongchen, sneaking off to share an intimate moment with him in the shadows.
Does this brat have no restraint? Ye Xishui thought. And he has a foot fetish too?!
Her mind drifted back to her youth. Back then, Long Xiaoyao and Mu En were the undisputed top talents of the continent. Even the infamous Zhongli Laogui, the Evil Soul Master who had upended her life, never behaved like Qianran.
The men she had encountered—whether Long Xiaoyao, Mu En, or even Zhongli Laogui—had all been hopeless romantics. Even the most manipulative among them had pursued her with a single-minded passion.
But this young man… Qianran was an entirely different breed.
Ye Xishui couldn't fathom it. How could so many outstanding young women give their hearts—and their most precious gifts—to someone like him? It was infuriating!
If not for the fact that she had benefited from Qianran's pills, she might have taken it upon herself to teach this playboy a lesson.
"What does Senior Ye Xishui need from me?"
After parting ways with Meng Hongchen, Qianran called out into the empty air, sensing Ye Xishui's presence.
If not for her unmistakable aura, he might have continued his "conversation" with Meng Hongchen. Their passionate interaction had left him feeling… unresolved.
But Qianran knew better than to act recklessly in Ye Xishui's presence.
Ye Xishui wasn't just the Queen of Evil Soul Masters; she was also an unpredictable and volatile individual. Qianran suspected she might kill someone on a whim if her mood soured.
She had a well-earned reputation for causing misery to those close to her. Long Xiaoyao, Mu En, and even Zhongli Laogui had all suffered because of her.
The previous leader of the Holy Spirit Cult had fallen into a trap she'd orchestrated. Long Xiaoyao? Tricked to death. As for Mu En… well, his prized disciple Yan Shaozhe was secretly the offspring of Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao, a fact Mu En had unknowingly "overseen" for years.
Qianran had no doubt that Ye Xishui had intentionally gotten herself captured by the Sea God Pavilion to lure Zhongli Laogui into a reckless rescue attempt. As for Long Xiaoyao, his downfall was a direct result of Ye Xishui's schemes.
She was truly terrifying.
Qianran admired her beauty and power—she was like the "Douluo Continent version of Yan Ying"—but he wouldn't dare underestimate her.
This woman was on another level, capable of making three Ultimate Douluos lose everything over her, without ever allowing any of them to gain the upper hand.
"What are you thinking? Do you have a problem with me?"
Ye Xishui suddenly appeared before Qianran, her massive black cloak billowing around her as she regarded him with an icy gaze.
"Of course not, how could I?" Qianran quickly shook his head, adopting a posture of absolute deference.
He wouldn't dream of provoking her.
Most high-level Soul Masters, especially those at Titled Douluo or higher, had stable emotions and approached matters logically. Qianran could usually analyze and manipulate such individuals with confidence.
But Ye Xishui… was entirely different. She defied logic. Women, in general, could be unpredictable, but Ye Xishui took this to an extreme. Trying to treat her as an ordinary person was asking for trouble.
Her accomplishments were so extraordinary that even Qianran, who scoffed at superstition, couldn't help but wonder if she really was cursed to bring misfortune to those around her.
"Hmm?" Ye Xishui narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him intently. She had only asked a casual question, yet Qianran's reaction gave her pause. Was he harboring some hidden resentment toward her?
Does he think I'm too harsh? Too evil? Or is it something else?
Ye Xishui felt a flicker of irritation. This brat dared to put on one face in front of her and another behind her back?
But as she observed his flattering demeanor, she couldn't help but feel amused. For all his bravado in other settings—whether dominating Mingde Hall or facing down other opponents—here he was, obedient and cautious before her.
If Qianran dared to cross her, she could ensure he never left Mingdu alive.
"I'm here to ask for two more pills," Ye Xishui said bluntly. "Your pills are effective. I want two for Xiaoyao. The resources in his storage ring are the accumulation of decades—more than enough to pay for several of these pills."
Her tone was cold, but her words carried an undercurrent of frustration. Ye Xishui wasn't a greedy person, but knowing that Long Xiaoyao had handed over such a vast trove of resources for just two pills irked her.
The pills were valuable, yes, but were they really worth such a steep price?
(End of Chapter)