Yu Tianming nodded and picked up the wine jug from the table, pouring himself a drink.
It was a traditional fruit wine of the Heaven Dou Empire, not distilled or purified. The liquid shimmered a faint green, carrying a subtle fragrance of grass and trees. Yu Tianming knew little of wine, only that it tasted fresh and sweet. He drank one cup after another, enjoying it quietly.
Before long, the plain wooden door to the room was pushed open again, and a woman in a long palace gown slowly entered.
She was tall, with a noble bearing, a cold and aloof beauty that radiated untouchable dignity. Her skin was fairer than snow. Under her high-bridged nose, her phoenix eyes appeared delicate and deep, giving off an air of unreachability, yet her beauty was so dazzling it could easily cause anyone to fall for her.
Yu Tianming narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly drank the wine in his hand.
The woman before him appeared to be around twenty years old but already possessed the cultivation of a Soul Emperor. Moreover, she carried a faint divine aura. On the entire Douluo Continent, only Qian Renxue matched such a description.
Yu Tianming didn't know why Qian Renxue, who had been hiding within the Heaven Dou Empire for years, would suddenly reveal her true self in front of him. He stayed calm and pretended to be curious.
"Who are you, miss? Where did Brother Xue go?"
Qian Renxue's face held a triumphant smile. She didn't respond immediately but gracefully sat down across from Yu Tianming, poured herself a cup of wine, and lifted it.
"Yu Tianming, I didn't expect you to enjoy my wine so much. In less than half a stick of incense's time, you've already drunk half a jug," she said, gazing at him with amusement. "There's a neurotoxin in the wine. Even a Titled Douluo would become paralyzed and unable to use spirit power after one cup. Now tell me, how much strength do you think you have left?"
Yu Tianming's expression turned grim. His fingers trembled, and the jade cup slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor. "There's poison in the wine? What are you after? Where did you take Brother Xue?"
Qian Renxue casually brushed back her golden hair as her Soul Emperor aura surged forth. She calmly finished her wine and said teasingly, "Brother Xue? Aren't I your Brother Xue?"
As her voice fell, her features gradually blurred and transformed into Xue Qinghe.
"Hahaha. I took the antidote earlier, just to relax your guard. I planned to drink with you for a while, but you trusted me so much." Before Yu Tianming could examine her closely, she returned to her true form as Qian Renxue.
Yu Tianming grew increasingly suspicious. 'Is it because of the alliance between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Did that make her cautious? Is she revealing herself to imprison me or to eliminate Spirit Hall's enemies?'
He didn't let on and kept his tone full of anger. "Where's the real Brother Xue? When did you replace him?"
"When?" Qian Renxue propped her chin on her snow-white fingers and reminisced. "About ten years ago. I met you shortly after I replaced Xue Qinghe. I even remember giving you a tour of the imperial palace. Or should I say… your Brother Xue has always been me—Qian Renxue."
The candlelight flickered on her face, outlining the soft yet resolute contours of her features.
Spirit Hall was the strongest force on the continent, far above the two empires and all the sects. Qian Renxue, as its heir, grew up in a highly complicated household. It forged her into someone both incredibly tenacious and extremely fragile.
After a pause, she continued, "I've been undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire for over a decade. We've known each other since childhood. Back then, Rongrong was just a clueless little girl playing in Sword Ancestor's arms. Who would've thought that ten years later, you two would end up together. You really are a playboy, little brother."
Yu Tianming's expression darkened. "So you've known all along about me and Rongrong. That means you weren't just admiring the scenery—you were waiting for me. Rongrong and I flew directly to Heaven Dou City. Unless you had spies in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, you wouldn't have known."
"Smart as always, little brother. I hadn't planned to act against you, but you insisted on pursuing Rongrong, leaving me no choice."
Yu Tianming sighed deeply and asked his final question, "Qian Renxue, are you from the Angel Clan of Spirit Hall? We've known each other for so many years. Why would you kidnap me now? Is it just because of the alliance between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Is that what threatens Spirit Hall's plan?"
Qian Renxue stood and slowly walked behind Yu Tianming. She leaned in, her slender fingers resting gently on his shoulder, her head close to his ear as she whispered, "I didn't capture you because of Spirit Hall's plan… I did it because only you are worthy of me. I like you, and I can't let you go around charming others anymore."
In the corner of his eye, Yu Tianming saw her cheeks flushed slightly, her icy beauty now tinged with a seductive softness.
Feeling her breath near his ear and the tickle of her hair on his neck, Yu Tianming sighed again.
By right, a person's martial soul greatly affects their character. Just like Gu Rong, whose Bone Dragon Martial Soul made him large and frail in flesh. Or Gui Mei, whose ghostly Martial Soul made him sinister and elusive. A martial soul's nature deeply influences both appearance and personality.
The Angel Martial Soul is righteous and sacred. Its inheritors should resemble Qian Daoliu: handsome, noble, and principled. Rare were those like Qian Xunji, who locked his disciple away and committed vile acts with Bibi Dong.
As the successor of the Angel God, Qian Renxue should've been nobler and more virtuous than anyone else. Yet her environment had perhaps twisted her nature. In the original story, she fell for Tang San after just a few encounters. Now, after years of intermittent contact, she had fallen hard for Yu Tianming, who surpassed Tang San in every way.
Seeing the dazed longing in her eyes, Yu Tianming thought, 'We may have grown up together, but this… this is the path of a Secret Room Douluo. Aren't you the successor of the Angel God? Aren't you supposed to be righteous? Is this the angel's dark side?'
Qian Renxue's confession left nothing hidden. If he simply went along with it, something steamy was bound to happen.
But Yu Tianming didn't respond to her advances. He asked, "Qian Renxue, if you like me, why resort to this? I'm the heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and I'm engaged to Rongrong. Kidnapping me only alerts two powerful factions. Isn't that bad for Spirit Hall's plans?"
"So what? My disguise is flawless. You always fly solo. I just need to say you left alone tonight—who would suspect me?" She pinched his cheek, her eyes growing colder. "You have so many maids and even Dugu Yan as a fiancée. Yet you seduced Ning Rongrong in just days. If I don't act now, how many more would you attract?"
Yu Tianming fell silent. This world wasn't bound to monogamy, but the number of women tied to him was indeed growing.
As if responding to his silence, Qian Renxue made a rustling sound behind him. He sensed her unfastening her palace gown and removing her clothes.
She casually tossed her garments onto the bed, then embraced Yu Tianming from behind, her breathing growing heavier.
"Love isn't about right or wrong, only winners and losers. Even if my methods are dirty, the outcome is worth it. From now on, you'll belong only to me." With that, she pressed her red lips to his cheek.
Yu Tianming sighed. He placed his firm hand between them, holding her back.
Though Qian Renxue was stunning and truly fond of him, to feign weakness just to enjoy her affections—it was beneath him. He had both charm and strength. Why resort to trickery?
Turning to face her, he looked into her misty eyes and said slowly, "Qian Renxue, you—"
Before he could finish, she interrupted him. "We're in a secret room beneath the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. No experts can find this courtyard. The walls are made of special material. You can't leave. So be good for your 'Brother Xue', and you won't suffer."
The chair was built for an ordinary person. Sitting there, the back only reached Yu Tianming's waist. Qian Renxue, now undressed, was pressed tightly against him, her soft curves pressing into his back, muddling the senses.
Her breath grew heavier. Her flushed cheeks reddened even more as she whispered in his ear.
Yu Tianming couldn't help but think: perhaps Qian Renxue's fatal flaw lay in matters of the heart. That's why she fell for Tang San so easily, even choosing to be with him during both divine trials.
Maybe it was because she lost her father early, was hated by her mother, and sent to a foreign empire as a spy from a young age. All of this shaped her into someone starved for affection. Even in her divine trials, she sought love to heal herself.
She was the heir of Spirit Hall and the chosen of the gods. Her background and talent were unrivaled. But in the end, she was just a girl craving love.
Thinking this, Yu Tianming's gaze softened.
He stood and gently held her delicate arm, meeting her dazed gaze. "Qian Renxue… liking someone doesn't require force. You're a noble angel. You should confess your feelings with dignity."
Qian Renxue, lost in her emotions, ignored his words and forgot he was supposedly poisoned. She brushed aside his hand and leapt into his embrace, inhaling deeply.
"With 20 innate soul power, I was born to inherit the Angel God. I'm so beautiful—why don't you like me? Once I become a god, I'll take you to the God Realm. We'll be eternal lovers. Isn't that good?" She laid bare her ultimate secret.
Yu Tianming let out a long sigh. His divine aura erupted from his body. It was holier than the Angel God's, more commanding than the Asura God's. Qian Renxue instantly froze in his arms.
No one in this world had truly seen a god. Even Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi had only glimpsed divine projections. So Bone Ancestor and Sword Ancestor could sense his power but wouldn't suspect the divine.
But Qian Renxue was different. As the Angel God's chosen, she understood divine power. She immediately realized the truth.
Her voice trembled. "Years ago, Grandfather sensed the Sea God's successor appear in the Angel Temple. Around the same time, you vanished. Did you go to inherit the Sea God's power?"
Yu Tianming was surprised she had guessed so much. But he'd been swept into a spatial rift and blessed by the Dragon God in Dragon Valley—he never did become the Sea God's successor.
He stroked her hair gently. "I didn't inherit the Sea God's position. I gained the legacy of another god. I've stepped into the threshold of godhood."
"So you faked being poisoned… just to let me throw myself at you?" Her eyes turned red, tears welling up.
She felt like a fool, performing for him all this time. If he hadn't acted, who knows what she might've done. Worse yet, he rejected her so directly. Her years of feelings felt like a joke.
Seeing her distress, Yu Tianming gently seated her and said warmly, "I only wanted to know if you were acting for Spirit Hall. Were you trying to prevent the union of the two clans by eliminating me?"
(End of Chapter)
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