Douluo Continent: The Ten Kings of Hell, I am the Emperor of the Underworld

Chapter 18 Qian Renxue Wants to Hold My Hand
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is not far from Heaven Dou City. Let me see the shortest route to Star Luo City from here."

After leaving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Qiuyang's first goal was Star Luo City.

Looking at the map, the shortest route to Xingluo City involves crossing the Xingdou Great Forest.

"Let's forget about it. At worst, we can just take a longer route."

Although his current strength is quite good, Ning Qiuyang is not so reckless as to traverse the Star Dou Great Forest.

On the third day of their journey, while crossing the Tianling Mountains, Ning Qiuyang suddenly heard a woman's cries for help coming from the forest.

This immediately reminded him of the experience taught by Dugu Bo: in the middle of nowhere, where would a woman come from, and why would she call for help just as he was passing by?

Even without Dugu Bo's instruction, anyone who has read Journey to the West knows that in this situation, the most likely creatures to emerge are female demons.

Ning Qiuyang seemed not to hear the cries for help and continued on his way.

After Ning Qiuyang disappeared, a stunningly beautiful woman appeared.

A smile appeared on Qian Renxue's lips.

"So cautious for such a young age."

After hearing no more cries for help, Ning Qiuyang quickened his pace and soon left the mountain range.

As the mountain path came to an end and a wide road appeared ahead, Ning Qiuyang breathed a slight sigh of relief.

But just then, he saw a woman in a palace dress sitting with her legs bent on a stone by the roadside ahead.

Oh no, this is coming for me.

Ning Qiuyang didn't think it was such a coincidence that he could just randomly run into such a beautiful woman on the street.

Since you can't avoid it, let me see what your purpose is.

Ning Qiuyang considered himself handsome and dashing, but given his age, surely no one would covet his good looks.

As Ning Qiuyang passed by the woman, she spoke up as expected.

"Little brother, we're going the same way, why don't we travel together?"

Are you not even going to put on an act anymore? Do you even know where I'm going? Just say it's on my way.

"Great! It's good to have someone to travel with. What's your name, sister?"

Ning Qiuyang couldn't discern the woman's origins from her attire; aside from her stunning appearance, she possessed nothing that suggested her status.

Qian Renxue stretched out a hand towards Ning Qiuyang from the large rock.

"Come on, sister, my legs are a little numb from sitting for so long."

"no problem."

Ning Qiuyang also extended his hand, but he remained vigilant to prevent the woman from suddenly launching an attack.

But after their hands touched, Ning Qiuyang felt that her hands were very soft and warm, but nothing else happened.

With a slight push, Qian Renxue gracefully stood up from the rock.

"My sister's name is Qianqian, so you can call me Sister Qianqian."

"Qianqian?"

Upon hearing the word "thousand," Ning Qiuyang immediately thought of Qian Renxue.

By the way, such a beautiful woman with such a noble and elegant temperament, who else could it be but Qian Renxue?

Why is Qian Renxue here?
I've only met Qian Renxue once. Could it be that just because of that one meeting, she gave up her mission of impersonating Xue Qinghe and came specifically to find me?
Unsure of Qian Renxue's purpose, Ning Qiuyang decided to wait and see.

"Let's go, little brother."

Qian Renxue was not afraid that Ning Qiuyang would notice something was wrong with her, and she didn't even let go of Ning Qiuyang's hand.

Ning Qiuyang wanted to break free, but then he received an email and couldn't bear to leave.

Holding hands with Qian Renxue, Ning Qiuyang felt as if his hands were being warmed by the sun, which was very comfortable.

"Sister Qianqian, where are you going?"

"Hmm?" Qian Renxue seemed to be lost in thought, and after a moment of hesitation, she said, "Wherever you go, I will go."

Is it clinging to me?
Unbeknownst to Ning Qiuyang, Qian Renxue was sensing the changes in her soul power. The traces of dark energy within her body were visibly increasing after she and Ning Qiuyang came into close contact, especially after their hands were clasped.

Although she did not release her martial soul, she knew that the blackness on her martial soul wings was spreading.

The dark energy was icy cold, unlike the warm and scorching light energy that Qian Renxue had always possessed.

This coolness wasn't chilling at all; on the contrary, it made Qian Renxue feel very comfortable. It didn't conflict with her blazing light energy at all; the two complemented each other perfectly.

"Sister Qianqian, it's getting dark. Shouldn't we find a place to rest?"

Qian Renxue looked around and realized that, without her noticing, the sun had almost completely set, leaving only a last ray of afterglow.

Qian Renxue was focused on the growth of dark energy, ignoring the passage of time.

She realized she was still holding Ning Qiuyang's hand, and a rare blush appeared on her face. She let go of Ning Qiuyang's hand, feeling slightly awkward.

After putting it down, Qian Renxue felt a little empty.

"Where have we come from?"

Ning Qiuyang was very puzzled by Qian Renxue's behavior.

They came all this way to find me, but instead of taking any action, they held my hand and walked with me the whole way. It was really baffling.

Although the place where the two were located was not in the middle of nowhere, it was still quite a distance from the next city.

"Let's make do and find a place to camp nearby tonight."

This is not the Soul Beast Forest, so there's no need to worry about attacks from Soul Beasts. Both of them are Soul Masters, so they are naturally not afraid of ordinary wild beasts.

After the last rays of sunlight disappeared, the two were sitting on the trunk of a large tree.

"Would you like something to eat?" Ning Qiuyang asked.

The two sat side by side, and although it was their first meeting, they were as close as if they had known each other for a long time.

“Okay,” Qian Renxue replied.

She hurriedly chased after them, and indeed, she hadn't brought any food.

In the dense canopy of trees, the two ate the bread and beef that Ning Qiuyang had prepared in his storage soul tool.

Although she was eating simple food, Qian Renxue's dining manners were very elegant, as if she were sitting in a magnificent hall enjoying a fine meal.

After finishing their meal, the two continued to rest side by side, supporting each other.

Suddenly, Ning Qiuyang asked from the darkness, "Sister Qianqian, what's your reason for wanting to travel with me?"

After Ning Qiuyang's voice fell, it was a long while before Qian Renxue slowly spoke:
"Brother Qiuyang, I have no ill intentions towards you. As for the reason, you will know in the future."

Whether there was malice or not, Ning Qiuyang, whose martial soul was the Ten Kings of Hell Tower, could still sense it. Throughout the journey, Qian Renxue had not shown the slightest malice towards him.

The next day, just as dawn broke, Qian Renxue lazily opened her eyes.

I haven't slept this soundly in a long time.

Qian Renxue had been infiltrating the Heavenly Dou Empire's palace since childhood, constantly worried about revealing her secrets, and even had to be on edge while sleeping.

Unexpectedly, instead of being able to sleep in the luxurious palace, I had the best sleep I've had in years in this remote place.

"Autumn Sun?"

Qian Renxue looked at the clothes draped over her body and glanced around, but she couldn't see Ning Qiuyang anywhere.

"Did they leave? That little rascal, he's got a lot of tricks up his sleeve."

Qian Renxue glanced at the direction she and Ning Qiuyang had gone yesterday, then looked back at the road they had come from, and sighed softly.

"It's time to go back."

She is, after all, Xue Qinghe, and cannot leave for too long.

"Brother Qiuyang, I look forward to our next meeting."

After Qian Renxue left, Ning Qiuyang deactivated his Underworld Borrowing Soul Skill and pondered for a long time, looking in the direction Qian Renxue had left.

(End of this chapter)