Chapter 28

With a slight flush coloring her cheeks, Qian Renxue realized that she had mistakenly identified Cai Wen as her grandfather. Swiftly regaining her composure, she extricated herself from his embrace, maintaining her dignity.

"I'm all right," she responded, her voice an intriguing blend of gratitude and irritation. "Thank you," she added, her words barely above a whisper.

Cai Wen offered a gentle smile. "You're welcome. I was happy to assist." His thoughts raced, 'Naturally, I would catch you, even though I'm certain your grandfather would have done the same. If I hadn't acted, any positive impression I've made on him might have been lost. Who knows how he might have reacted?'

From above, Qian Daoliu observed the pair. Prior to Qian Renxue exhausting her spirit power, he had watched his granddaughter attempt to outpace Cai Wen, choosing not to intervene as he was curious about the young man's limits.

Cai Wen had exceeded his expectations. Firstly, he matched his granddaughter's speed in flight, remarkable given that she could compete with a speed system spirit master. Secondly, his control over his spirit power was astounding. Thanks to his exceptional command, Cai Wen was able to use his first spirit ring to maintain flight with minimal energy consumption, unless he chose to accelerate, as he did just then.

As Qian Daoliu watched his granddaughter nearing exhaustion and on the verge of losing her ability to fly, he prepared to catch her. However, he saw Cai Wen spring into action.

Cai Wen conjured an explosive burst of flames in his hand, which propelled him forward at a rapid pace. He was attempting to catch up to the plummeting Qian Renxue. He sped past her, then ceased the flame in his right hand to intercept her fall. He positioned himself such that Qian Renxue's posterior landed on his stomach, while his right hand supported her waist.

Simultaneously, he extended his left hand downwards, releasing a controlled flame that acted as a brake to their freefall. This allowed them to slow down until Qian Renxue managed to regain enough strength to remain airborne independently, at which point they separated.

Qian Daoliu watched this spectacle with appreciation. Although he could have easily caught his falling granddaughter himself, he decided to allow the young man to intervene, hoping it would reduce Qian Renxue's animosity towards him.

He contemplated, 'To mend the connection between Xuer and her mother, perhaps it would be wise to start with her disciple before moving on to the teacher, Qian Renxue's mother. With her student's assistance, it should be easier to bridge the gap. Furthermore, it would be beneficial for Xuer to have a friend of her own age.'

After watching the pair, who had previously been at odds due to his granddaughter but were now at least capable of conversation, Qian Daoliu and Chrysanthemums Douluo began to descend towards the ground.

Qian Renxue shot a glance at her grandfather, who had landed nearby, observing their interaction with an amused smile. She felt a spark of annoyance at his amusement, though she refrained from expressing it openly.

"We should take a short break," Qian Daoliu suggested, dissipating the lingering tension. "We've been airborne for a substantial period, and it appears that you, Xuer, could use some rest."

Reluctantly, Qian Renxue nodded, all the while avoiding Cai Wen's gaze. She landed with poise, her wings evaporating upon touch down. Cai Wen emulated her, landing beside her.

Chrysanthemums Douluo, who had been observing the exchange in silence, also touched down nearby. He wore a faint smile, impressed by Cai Wen's capability to match their flight speed despite the significant level gap.

As they all took a moment to recover their spiritual power and catch their breath, Qian Daoliu approached Cai Wen, his eyes filled with intrigue.

"Cai Wen, I extend my gratitude for your assistance in catching Xuer," Qian Daoliu said in his soothing tone.

Cai Wen shook his head modestly, "I don't believe I've earned such thanks, Grandpa Qian. I'm aware that even if I hadn't managed to apprehend Miss Renxue, you would have done so in an instant," he responded, fully aware that his contribution was not essentially required.

Their conversation flowed naturally, and Cai Wen found himself comfortably acquainted with Qian Daoliu, one of the current most powerful individuals on the planet.

"However, I believe I must excuse myself momentarily, there's something I feel compelled to investigate," he announced, his attention drawn to a distant point.

"Should I undertake the investigation, Grand Worship?" Chrysanthemums offered respectfully.

"No, please remain here and watch over the two of them. I assure you I won't be long. I shall return shortly and we can continue our journey," Qian Daoliu replied, exchanging a few words with Qian Renxue before vanishing with a speed so remarkable that the direction he took was indiscernible.

As Qian Daoliu disappeared into the distance, Chrysanthemums Douluo began securing the perimeter. He also took this opportunity to explore the local flora, while still vigilantly keeping an eye on the duo.

An awkward silence descended upon Qian Renxue and Cai Wen who were left alone. Qian Renxue, normally poised and assertive, found herself grappling with unfamiliar feelings of embarrassment. A blush remained on her cheeks from the moment of the capture, and she continued to avoid direct eye contact with Cai Wen.

"Um," she began, her voice barely audible as she averted her gaze. "Thank you, Cai Wen," she repeated, uncertain if her gratitude had been heard earlier.

The silence deepened as Cai Wen was caught off guard by her unexpected appreciation. He observed her intently, noticing the slight blush creeping up her neck. It was both surprising and endearing to see the usually unyielding Qian Renxue display such vulnerability.

He thought to himself, 'Why do I always compare people I meet to characters in light novel or the animation when they barely represent their true selves? Most of those characters are still young and haven't experienced the real world, of course they would act differently.'

He echoed her soft tone, "You don't need to thank me, Miss Renxue. I don't feel I contributed much. Even if I hadn't caught you, Grandpa Qian and Chrysanthemums Douluo were present." Which is technically true

His intention was to lighten the atmosphere, but his words seemed to heighten her embarrassment. She began to fidget, gently toying with the hem of her robe.

"Still, I... I appreciate it," she finally managed to articulate, her voice steadier than before.

It was a modest gesture, yet held significant weight for her. For the first time, Qian Renxue had conveyed her gratitude to someone outside of the Elder Palace, and more importantly, to a peer.