Lin Feng looked somewhat puzzled as he glanced at Qian Renxue, who was lying on top of him.
The carriage jolted slightly, and the evening breeze from outside the window gently brushed against Qian Renxue's hair.
Ling Yuan leaned on Lin Feng's shoulder, dozing off.
Qian Renxue's eyelashes fluttered, and her delicate hand unconsciously rubbed Lin Feng's stomach.
She murmured softly:
"Xiao Feng, I can't believe I've become so corrupted, using your name to lure Hu Liena."
Her small, fragrant tongue lightly licked Lin Feng's ear, leaving a moist sensation.
Lin Feng shook his head slightly and smiled:
"Hu Liena is three years younger than us. How can you be so sure she likes me? And why did you tell her not to disappoint me?"
Qian Renxue pouted, her slender fingers pulling at the corner of Lin Feng's mouth:
"Don't act like you don't know. The way that girl looks at you is obvious, especially with her martial soul. It exudes a certain charm from time to time. Really.
Oh, and Yanyan too. Although she seems to idolize us, who knows what's really going on in her heart?
I heard from Sister Ling Yuan that that Ye Zixin, the romance novel queen, keeps giving Yanyan new books to read. She's probably turned into a little devil by now."
Lin Feng shrugged:
"Well, what can I do? Your man is just that charming."
Ling Yuan, leaning on Lin Feng's shoulder, couldn't help but laugh. She wrapped her arms around Lin Feng's neck and looked at him with her almond-shaped eyes:
"Lin Xiaofeng, are you feeling proud of yourself?"
Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow:
"Lin Xiaofeng, are you getting a bit carried away?"
"Haha, stop!"
Qian Renxue pursed her lips and began tickling Lin Feng's waist. Suddenly, she pinched him with her thumb and forefinger.
"Ouch—"
Lin Feng immediately put on a pained expression.
"Still pretending?!"
Qian Renxue snorted coldly, though her eyes were filled with amusement.
She rolled her eyes at Lin Feng:
"Xiao Feng, more and more people like you. It's starting to annoy me..."
Ling Yuan blinked at Qian Renxue.
Qian Renxue huffed:
"Sister Ling Yuan is different. We've been together for so long."
Lin Feng coughed lightly:
"Well, when you agreed back then, we had only been together for two years."
Qian Renxue glared at him and gave him a light knock on the head:
"And you're bringing that up now? Back then, the way you looked at Sister Ling Yuan had already changed. You clearly liked her but didn't say anything, waiting for me to refuse so both of you could be heartbroken?
Who do you think I am? I'm your childhood sweetheart. There's nothing I can't see through."
Lin Feng chuckled and pulled Qian Renxue closer:
"Is this the dignity of the main wife?"
Qian Renxue leaned into him:
"This is the only time. Honestly, I still feel a bit uncomfortable. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't share."
Her delicate fingers lightly traced Lin Feng's chin:
"Lin Xiaofeng, there won't be a next time. Sister Ling Yuan is my gift to you~ Haha."
By the end, she couldn't help but laugh at herself.
Ling Yuan remained silent, simply resting her head on Lin Feng's shoulder.
What Qian Renxue thought didn't matter. As long as she was by Lin Feng's side, that was enough.
Qian Renxue's breathing steadied:
"Xiao Feng, where are we going this time?"
"Without Elder Ju following us, we can go wherever we want. I think the Snow City we visited last time in the north is a good choice. Let's make that our next stop."
Qian Renxue twirled a strand of her hair and lightly brushed it against Lin Feng's nose.
Lin Feng grabbed her restless hand and said:
"That's fine, but we can't stay too long. I might have some things to take care of."
Qian Renxue tilted her head:
"What things?"
Lin Feng pondered for a moment:
"We haven't been to the border yet. It's time to go take a look. Maybe we'll encounter something interesting."
"Alright, I'd like to see how people live there too. I've heard that the closer you get to the border, the more revered soul masters are, and the more troublemakers there are. I wonder if that's true.
Hmph, if I see anyone from our Spirit Hall bullying the weak, I'll definitely teach them a lesson."
Lin Feng felt a sense of relief. It seemed that over the past two years, Qian Renxue's concern for the common people had reached a new level.
This was what Lin Feng wanted to see.
If she had remained in the palace, surrounded by nobles, even if she had maintained her principles, it would have been difficult for her not to adopt the demeanor of the aristocracy.
Like in the original story, where she was aloof and looked down on the world, doing as she pleased without regard for others.
Even when facing her rival, Tang San, she had spared him multiple times, a testament to her disdain for the world.
But now, although she was still cold and proud, she had developed a genuine concern for the people. This was a good thing.
Lin Feng gently brushed her forehead:
"Xue'er, sometimes I think you'd make a great empress."
Qian Renxue frowned:
"Being an empress? No thanks. Dealing with all those tedious matters every day sounds awful.
And having to interact with those nobles? Remember our time in Heaven Dou City?
You barely saw me smile back then.
If I hadn't confided in Grandpa and had him send a replacement, I don't know how much longer I would have had to stay there.
Don't bring this up again, like Grandpa does. I'm perfectly content being free and spending my days with you.
Let the Pope handle all those tedious matters."
Qian Renxue opened her mouth, but the word "Mom" never came out.
"Alright, as you wish."
Lin Feng smiled and shook his head slowly:
"Our next stop should be the Sunset Forest. Grandpa Dugu has given us special permission to visit and even take some herbs."
Ling Yuan, hearing this, was surprised:
"When did he approach you? But the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well... I've never been there. Can I go this time?"
Lin Feng nodded:
"He handed me over a dozen bottles of antidote pills. It seems we're free to come and go as we please.
And according to him, he hasn't been to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in a long time. Before, he needed to go there to suppress the toxins in his martial soul, but now he doesn't need to at all.
It seems like he's handing the place over to me to manage.
He's been having too much fun getting beaten up in the Elder Hall."
"Pfft."
Qian Renxue shook her head:
"Yanyan's grandfather is really something. Though his temperament isn't bad."
Ling Yuan pondered:
"Xiao Feng, did you take all the immortal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well back then?"
Lin Feng shook his head:
"Immortal herbs are precious, but their value depends on their age. There are many herbs there that I don't recognize, and they're not recorded in Elder Ju's herb manual. Back then, I only took a few that I knew.
To be honest, there are probably still some unknown immortal herbs there."