Qian Renxue ran with increasing stability and speed, the breeze gradually dispersing the scent of blood.
She wanted to share this joy with Ye Tian, who had come up with the idea.
Soon.
Qian Renxue returned to the sandpile near the orphanage. Before even getting close, she cheered like a bird heralding spring.
"Wonderful! Wonderful! Mother does care about me!"
"Huh?!"
Stepping onto the loose sand, Qian Renxue looked around but saw no one.
"Where is he?"
"Gurgle~"
A short but loud rumble of hunger came from behind the sandbank to the side.
Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes lit up slightly.
She immediately circled around the small sandpile and crouched happily beside Ye Tian.
"Thank you!"
"Mother really does love Xue'er after all."
Just saying it made Qian Renxue's eyes curve into crescents.
"Is that so~"
Ye Tian covered his stomach and responded lightly, lazily lifting his eyelids... The moment he opened his eyes, his expression changed dramatically!
"Holy crap! What happened?!"
Ye Tian let out an astonished exclamation.
His hunger vanished instantly, his spirits lifted, as if he had seen the King of Hell himself. He scrambled to sit up in panic, staring fearfully at the still-bleeding wound on Qian Renxue's forehead.
"How did you get like this?!"
"Just followed your method."
Qian Renxue propped up her smiling face with both hands, already oblivious to everything around her.
Hearing her response,
Ye Tian's heart nearly stopped. He hurriedly explained: "Miss, you misunderstood! I told you to buy a blood pack and act! I didn't tell you to self-harm... Don't drag me into this!"
Qian Renxue furrowed her delicate brows, pouting slightly with her pink lips as she said softly: "Don't you think... proving something like this shouldn't involve deception?"
"I—"
Ye Tian was immediately rendered speechless.
After all, this matter was very serious for the current Qian Renxue—it couldn't tolerate even a hint of falsehood.
Since it had already happened, Ye Tian stopped dwelling on it.
Studying her blood-stained childish face, he leaned in slightly and asked gently with concern:
"Then... are you okay?"
"I'm fine, it just still hurts a bit—"
Qian Renxue shook her head briskly, then somewhat painfully raised her hands to cradle her head. Looking at Ye Tian strangely, she said:
"Why are you more nervous than my mother?"
"..."
Ye Tian rolled his eyes in despair.
As the treasure of the entire Spirit Hall, this unlucky child really had no self-awareness.
"As long as you're fine—"
Ye Tian lost his strength and helplessly lay back down.
He hoped he would be fine too.
Pfft—!
Ye Tian's movement caused the sand sculpture he had just built beside him to collapse.
Qian Renxue was drawn by the noise.
Looking at the 'Gundam' Ye Tian had destroyed, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"What's that?"
"My grave."
Ye Tian answered with complete despair.
"..."
Qian Renxue's purple eyes fixed on Ye Tian, blinking repeatedly.
Ye Tian's reaction was far too abnormal.
Could it be...
This Shark Sculpture friend knew her identity?
"Do you know me?"
"..."
Ye Tian froze, then calmly nodded.
"Yeah, I've seen you... right here."
As he spoke,
Ye Tian looked at Qian Renxue with accusation.
"Also, I suspect you're the one who destroyed all the sand sculptures I built."
"..."
Embarrassment gradually spread across Qian Renxue's face.
"I... I didn't mean to, and it wasn't entirely my fault. Mostly it's because your structure wasn't stable enough."
Qian Renxue's voice grew increasingly faint.
She did often come here to watch the children play amidst the chaos.
But who could blame her? Her identity was absolutely confidential!
The friends who could play with her were extremely limited, practically nonexistent!
Most of the time,
she could only wait until the excitement died down and play alone on this sand pile for a while.
Qian Renxue's eyes dimmed.
Ye Tian closed his mouth. He hadn't really meant to scold her anyway.
Those sand sculptures he made were just for playing with those three potential prospects and building relationships.
Soon,
Qian Renxue collected herself.
After all, she had long grown accustomed to lonely days.
Qian Renxue lifted her gaze and asked Ye Tian:
"Shark Sculpture friend..."
"Why were you so scared when you saw me get hurt?"
"..."
Ye Tian's eyebrow twitched, but he maintained his composure as he responded:
"Of course I was afraid your family would come cause trouble for me after finding out I encouraged you to run into the wall."
"Haha..."
Qian Renxue couldn't help but laugh.
"Don't worry about that! No one will know. This was all my own idea!"
"Thank you so much!"
Ye Tian glared at Qian Renxue with clear annoyance.
Blood and tears blurred together on her face, but the bloodstains on her white dress still made Ye Tian's heart ache.
Ye Tian propped himself up again
and asked: "Are you really sure you're not hurt anywhere?"
"Really!"
Qian Renxue looked completely certain.
She was stubborn, not stupid.
Qian Renxue clearly knew she was only two Spirit Rings away from becoming a Great Soul Master.
This was just minor superficial injuries.
Afraid Ye Tian wouldn't believe her, Qian Renxue pointed at her forehead and said: "I'm really strong. I gathered Soul Power at my forehead beforehand. Pretty smart, right?"
As she spoke,
Qian Renxue, who was already in good spirits, became even more pleased with herself.
The Martial Soul she awakened was super powerful!
"Is that so?"
Ye Tian looked at Qian Renxue with skepticism.
It wasn't that he doubted her strength, but rather that he doubted her judgment.
What sane person would run headfirst into a wall?
Soul Masters shouldn't be exceptions to this either.
What a family of lunatics!
"Huh? Hey! Don't look at me like that!"
Qian Renxue shouted angrily.
Ye Tian's gaze carried a hint of concern typically reserved for special populations.
It made Qian Renxue extremely uncomfortable being looked at that way.
"My name isn't 'Hey'!"
"My name is Ye Tian. Don't call me Sand Sculpture anymore!"
Ye Tian's eyes shone brightly, his face serious. He didn't want to be insulted for the third time.
"Ye Tian?"
Qian Renxue repeated in surprise.
Then she nodded, extending her small hand toward Ye Tian with a charming smile:
"I'll remember that, Ye Tian. My name is..."
"Xiao Xue."
After hesitating for a moment, Qian Renxue still didn't reveal her real name.
"Now... can we be considered friends?"
"Of course."
Ye Tian nodded, quickly sitting up and reaching out to shake the jade-like hand. Given that he was risking his head for this, wouldn't it be too much of a loss if he didn't secure this friendship?
"Great! I have another friend now!"
Qian Renxue beamed with joy, tightly clutching Ye Tian's hand.
"I'm happy too..."
Qian Renxue's attitude made Ye Tian feel relieved, a smile appearing on his face.
"Ye Tian, how about I treat you to something?"
Qian Renxue suggested.
Ye Tian shook his head, "That won't be necessary. You should hurry home instead. It wouldn't be good if scars formed and you became ugly."
"Ah? I don't want to become ugly!" Qian Renxue immediately grew anxious, covering the wound on her forehead as she complained, "Ye Tian, why didn't you remind me earlier?"
Ye Tian chuckled softly, "It's fine, there's still time."
"Hmph! Then I'll be going now."
Qian Renxue let out a delicate snort, stood up while covering her forehead, and ran out.
She needed to hurry back.
Otherwise, her grandfather and the others would surely come looking for her.
"Tsk, I forgot to remind her about the Whale Jelly. Oh well, there will be plenty of opportunities."
Ye Tian shook his head and rubbed his stomach.
Just as he stood up, a gust of cold wind made him shiver all over. Without time to brush off the sand on his clothes, without a second thought, Ye Tian immediately sprinted toward the orphanage.
That cold wind carried a familiar scent—
The killing intent from Bi Bi Dong!
"Damn it! So it was this kid playing the role of a mediocre advisor here."
Bi Bi Dong stood at a distant corner.
Her face full of anger, she coldly stared at Ye Tian's rapidly disappearing figure.
At this moment.
Ye Tian, this disciple who hadn't even officially begun training, had already started to evoke some disgust in Bi Bi Dong.
"Hmph! I hope you'll behave yourself, otherwise..."
Bi Bi Dong snorted coldly, glanced in the direction Qian Renxue had left, then turned and walked away. For some reason, however, her heart felt slightly lighter.
Just moments ago, she had actually forgotten that child possessed Innate Level Twenty Soul Power.