Qian Renxue (Part 1)

Next day. Aiden quarters.

"Sovereign. Information you wanted on that woman is here." - Third entered the inner room.

Aiden stood at the center with a bare chest. He was about to have a bath.

Third stopped, looked all over him with a dispassionate gaze, and nodded.

"You are very well fit. Even hereditary wise your muscle structure is ideal and absolutely symmetrical. Sovereign, your body is a marvel for cultivation and combat with perfect balance. Very suitable for dual-wielding weapon styles." - she said, still gazing at him critically. There was no lust or romantic feelings inside her deep eyes at all. She stated it as a very experienced cultivator, who lived for an extremely long time.

"Pass me the information." - Aiden said calmly. He wasn't the one to get shy because someone touched his hand or saw him half-naked. In his opinion, it is just ridiculous. But he noticed one thing about the society he ended up reincarnated in. They are very reserved in terms of physical contact.

However, spirit beasts were different. Perhaps it was about their true form or other rules. They tend to be more straightforward and frank in their approach and thinking. More natural and wild. They trusted more in instincts and preferred to act on them.

So Third was not like normal women and girls out there. On one hand, she was already a mother, so she knows what man is. On the other – humanized spirit beast. It all combined in an utter lack of shyness concerning males. Aiden was sure of one thing. Even if she came ten minutes later when he already entered a bath, that woman will follow him there to give a report.

And will comment on him the same way. Perhaps adding some more... intimate details. That is because to restrain herself Third required a forbidding order.

Aiden never ordered that. Perhaps he will soon.

He sat by the table, not even bothering to dress up. Third moved to it too, hopped on the desk, and grabbed jerky.

Aiden figured her love of that snack several days ago. From then on, she will always come and grab it while staying near. Third lazily chewed on it and yawned.

"Tired?" - asked Aiden without lifting his head from the read. It was very unexpected, to say the least.

"Haven't slept for five days. Can use some nap." - she stated apathetically.

"You can use a couch out there. The blanket is there inside the bottom section." - Aiden pointed to the right. - "But remove your boots first and don't fall asleep fast. I need to ask you a couple of questions."

"Yes, Sovereign."

Third nodded and seamlessly moved to the wardrobe. Aiden looked at her and found it funny. There were as many as five blankets and she took them all out.

"You dislike dirt and I like it warm and fluffy." - she shrugged, threw off her boots that landed by the door, and plopped on the couch. Only her head and palms were out. She hugged a pouch with jerky and continued to devour it, while sliding the mask to the side of a forehead, revealing a cold, yet gorgeous face belonging to a woman in her mid-twenties.

"Whatever you say, Third. Now, tell me who was the one to find all this information." - he placed the stack of papers on the table.

"Several Shadows in the palace, a Shadow in the bakery, and a coachman of the second prince. I personally checked it and compiled into a report." - she answered, looking at Aiden.

"Is it really accurate?"

"Yes, Sovereign. I vow on my life." - she suddenly bowed deeply.

"I didn't mean it that way, Third. I trust your skills and loyalty." - he said deeply. - "Raise your head and rest."

"Yes." - same cold reply.

Aiden furrowed.

'What is going on here? How can she change like that? Qian Renxue, what happened to you?'

From the moment she arrived at the capital, everything went contrary to the plot of the novel. She killed no one to infiltrate the royal family but opted to work separately, creating her own organization on the base of Spirit Hall. Also, there were indications that she is collaborating with the Emperor himself.

Currently, the whole net of Spirit Hall forces are under her full control and there is more. She couldn't do it without help from the very top. People who can do this are counted by the fingers on one hand, but more likely candidates were only two.

Supreme Pontiff or the Supreme Elder.

Aiden glanced at the Third, who was already fast asleep and decided wake her up.

He needs to verify a couple of things himself and for that, her help will be welcomed. If he feels right about Saintess of Spirit Hall, there might be a way to collaborate, yet he needs to proceed cautiously.

A colossus is easier to destroy from within. As for Qian Renxue, she can become the sharpest and deadliest dagger to stab them in the back.

He wrote and little note for Long Qingyue, stuffed it into her arm while waking her up

"After that, you can come back and rest. Oh, he can come too if he wants." - Aiden said, dressed up, changed clothes to platinum purple color with a wave of a hand, and walked out to visit the capital.

'Looks like bath is postponed. Using Horont again.'

This report of Qian Renxue really gave him a surprise.

* * *

Half an hour later. On the streets of the capital. Qian Renxue.

Before arriving at the capital of Heaven Dou Empire she never would have imagined strolling on the street with a relaxed mood instead of cultivating, planning the conquest, or struggling for gains and resources inside the lofty noble circle.

Of course, she still does it, yet the goal and her own life changed since that day years ago.

He changed her. In some sense, it was he who is responsible for the current Qian Renxue and the previous foolish girl died. The girl who was driven by both hate and love, by the need to prove herself in front of something unattainable.

Albeit, she still felt very confused. She didn't know what was her drive to move forward now. She needed someone to show her the way, a possible ending of the game. However, Renxue was rather satisfied with her life now.

And what is more... her relationship with... mother changed drastically.

Bi Bi Dong was a complicated person. Renxue was still struggling to understand her, yet they kept in touch for several years already. Hours of secretive talks, hundreds of letters...

She still remembers a day half a year ago, when her mother smiled at her.

Genuinely smiled.

Warmly and openly.

Qian Renxue never even dared to think about such a thing before. It almost felt like a dream. But there still was ruthlessness inside Bi Bi Dong that sometimes broke out. It was cold and unsettling, like a gaze of the emotionless killer.

A little boy only five years old passed near her. He looked without blinking and tripped on even ground, mesmerized by a gorgeous face.

"He-he." - the boy stood up the next instant and laughed foolishly, causing a slight smile to adorn the fair face of a girl.

"Don't run! How many times did I tell you, you rascal!" - a female voice came from the end of a street. There a woman in her forties caught up with a boy and looked him all over. - "Look, your knees are bleeding. Chen'er, why are you so disobedient?"

"I just tlipped, mozer." - justified himself the boy. - "Sistar... zery butiful!"

"So young and already such a glib tongue, heh?" - laughed a man behind the street counter uproariously. He was selling groceries to the old madam while glancing at the events here.

Qian Renxue laughed slightly and crouched in front of a boy, stretching her hand.

"It won't hurt soon. Look, big sister here can heal you." - she said with a smile.

"Imma a man! Don hurlt at all!" - he said with a proud voice.

"Yes, yes, Chen'er amazing person. But it will be more amazing if you won't get hurt like that at all." - said Renxue and healed in a flash.

"Chen'er, what do you need to say to the young miss here?" - strictly, but kindly, said the woman.

"Sank you, big sis. Zen I glow up, I marly you!" - he declared for everyone to see.

"Way to go, young lad. Here, take an apple!" - laughed the street stall merchant.

Renxue smiled merely and waving the mother-son duo goodbye, while catching an orange from a merchant, walked away.

A boy turned around with a thoughtful expression. His mother came over and placed a hand on his head.

"You did well, Chen'er. Thank you, my boy."

"He-he, if it is to help Big Brlo, it is nothing." - he said with a tremendous sense of accomplishment. - "Big sis is good too."

A woman looked to the far off building and met eyes with a young man through the crowd. She was contemplating things from that encounter.

The man behind the glass window was thoughtful too.

Renxue passed several more houses and entered a simple abode with light steps. It was a tea house she visited often after coming to the capital. She enjoyed tranquility and coziness here. However, when she walked to her usual table in the corner, she was stunned.

There sat a young man with pitch-black hair and platinum-purple eyes.

Eyes that she can never forget in her all life. The ones she saw in reflection back then, when the mysterious crystal transferred her his memories.

"Young Miss, something wrong with my face?" - he asked with a genuine open smile.

Her heart stopped for a moment, and words stuck in her throat.