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However, in the end, Qiu'er didn't struggle.
Although the instinctive fear of "sacrifice = extinction," rooted deep within her spirit beast bloodline, caused her to tremble uncontrollably…
But…
Qiu'er merely trembled. At the same time, she tried to lift her slightly pale, lovely face. Her beautiful eyes, which seemed to hold the galaxy within them, were now like those of a startled fawn—slightly wet with tears, filled with primal fear yet stubbornly and firmly fixed on Dai Chengfeng's gaze.
At this moment, Dai Chengfeng's eyes held an unprecedented seriousness and solemnity.
No deception, no greed.
Time flowed silently in the stillness, the air feeling as if it had solidified, leaving only Qiu'er's rapid heartbeat to fill the silence.
"He is Dai Chengfeng…"
"He is the one who has sheltered me, warmed me, and taught me since I first entered the human world in my innocence. He has never harmed me."
After a long silence, Qiu'er's small, trembling voice timidly broke the quiet:
"Truly… truly? You won't… deceive me, will you?"
"No!"
Dai Chengfeng responded almost immediately after Qiu'er finished speaking, his tone resolute and unwavering. "Qiu'er, how could I possibly deceive you?!"
"I swear!"
"I will revive you, even allow you to ascend to godhood, completely shattering the 'curse' that prevents spirit beasts from becoming gods, so you can stay with me forever."
"You don't need to swear!"
Qiu'er said softly, nuzzling affectionately against Dai Chengfeng's chest. "I trust you."
As the Auspicious Beast Emperor, Qiu'er was still young by spirit beast standards—5,000 years old was considered a child in the spirit beast world. This made her somewhat naive about human affairs.
But Qiu'er trusted her instincts. She believed she could discern who treated her kindly and who harbored ill intentions toward her.
Therefore, Qiu'er was certain that Dai Chengfeng absolutely did not harbor any malicious intent toward her.
Moreover, if Dai Chengfeng truly wanted to harm her, he could have simply killed her while she was unprepared and taken her soul ring. There would be no need to propose a voluntary sacrifice.
What if she refused and became wary?
Wouldn't such a move be unnecessarily complicated?
Qiu'er didn't think Dai Chengfeng was foolish. "Dai Chengfeng is the most cunning human I've ever met."
Of course, none of these reasons were the most important.
"The most important thing is… he is Dai Chengfeng, and I choose to believe him!"
With that thought, Qiu'er took a deep breath. Miraculously, the trembling caused by her fear subsided significantly, leaving only lingering moisture shimmering in her eyes.
Now, as she looked at Dai Chengfeng, it was as if she had set down a heavy burden and made a decision that would determine her future and life or death…
Qiu'er slowly tilted her head up, gazing into Dai Chengfeng's earnest eyes, and gave a firm nod.
Her voice was soft but clear: "I… agree."
"Qiu'er!"
Although Dai Chengfeng had expected Qiu'er to agree, when she actually consented, he couldn't help but exhale deeply in relief.
A burst of ecstatic joy gleamed in his eyes.
The thought of the immense rewards that the Auspicious Beast Emperor's sacrifice would bring nearly overwhelmed him with happiness and excitement.
Almost instinctively, he tightened his arms, pulling the adorable girl in his embrace even closer, as if trying to meld her into his own body.
Then, Dai Chengfeng's kisses rained down on Qiu'er's forehead and cheeks, finally landing heavily on her soft lips, as if conveying all the gratitude, tenderness, and promises he couldn't put into words.
"Mmm… Dai, Dai Chengfeng… too… too intense…"
Qiu'er was caught off guard by Dai Chengfeng's sudden passionate kiss. The fear and solemnity she had felt earlier were washed away, leaving behind overwhelming shyness and sweet warmth.
Though she spoke those words, her small hands merely rested uncertainly against his chest without resistance, emitting muffled whimpers as she passively accepted his fervent kisses.
---
"Haa~"
This kiss lasted for a long time—so long that even Dai Chengfeng was panting heavily before finally releasing Qiu'er.
At this point, Qiu'er was completely dazed. Her cheeks burned like fire, her delicate nostrils flared rapidly, and her lips were kissed to a glossy, slightly swollen state.
Her beautiful eyes gazed hazily at Dai Chengfeng, brimming with innocent affection, attachment, and shyness…
It was complex, indescribable.
When her breathing finally calmed slightly, Qiu'er nestled into Dai Chengfeng's strong, warm embrace, burying her flushed face into the cool fabric of his chest. Her voice was muffled:
"Dai Chengfeng… you… you must revive me quickly… I don't want to remain… without a body for too long…"
"Otherwise… otherwise…"
Qiu'er's words trailed off, turning into a few vague, shy whimpers. Only her eyes, which secretly glanced up at Dai Chengfeng, carried a deep, barely noticeable longing.
"Certainly!"
Dai Chengfeng tightened his hold on Qiu'er, gently resting his chin atop her fragrant blue-pink hair. With a serious nod, he promised: "I promise you, Qiu'er."
"I vow to bring you back to life with a stronger body as quickly as possible!"
"Mmm~"
Qiu'er nodded lightly, not saying another word. She burrowed deeper into Dai Chengfeng's embrace, her small hands clutching tightly onto the front of his clothes.
The emotional and informational impact of today had been immense, compounded by her lingering drowsiness. Once the tension in her mind relaxed, boundless exhaustion and a strange sense of peace enveloped her.
Dai Chengfeng's strong arms and warm embrace were like the safest harbor.
Not long after, Qiu'er's light, rhythmic breathing resumed, and her small body fully relaxed.
In Dai Chengfeng's arms, she fell soundly asleep once more.
Dai Chengfeng lowered his head, gazing at the pure sleeping face of the girl in his arms. The excitement in his eyes gradually settled into a deep, complex glow.
"Qiu'er…"
Dai Chengfeng murmured softly, placing another gentle kiss on her forehead. Then, he silently gazed at the ceiling.
"It's about half a month until the second Soul Battle with Tang San and Shrek Academy. It's not the right time to leave."
"In that case, let's wait until the Soul Battle ends!"
"At that time, I'll take Qiu'er out of Spirit City and find a secluded place to complete the sacrifice."
"It'll also give me a chance to accompany Nana and Zhuqing in obtaining their fifth and third soul rings respectively… killing two birds with one stone."
Dai Chengfeng nodded decisively, finalizing his plan.
After all, Qiu'er's identity as the Auspicious Beast Emperor was far too special. The celestial phenomenon triggered by her sacrifice would undoubtedly be highly conspicuous.
Dai Chengfeng didn't want too many people to know about the details of this unique fifth soul ring—it would be one of his trump cards in the future.
"And… the ideas I have for Qiu'er in my heart…"
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