Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
For a woman whose body has been claimed, her feelings for the man boil down to two extremes: love or hate. If there's no strong emotion at all, perhaps she's long since become numb to it.
Now that the conflict between Qian Ran and Xu Sanshi had dissolved, and Qian Ran was even poised to help Xu Sanshi ascend higher, Xue Lingxun couldn't bring herself to hate him anymore. That left only one other option.
"Are you tired?"
Qian Ran placed a hand on Xue Lingxun's shoulder. To her surprise, her strength returned rapidly.
"What… what is this?" Xue Lingxun asked, startled.
"This is one of the abilities of my martial soul. It has some healing properties and can restore physical energy," Qian Ran explained casually.
"Oh…" Fully restored, Xue Lingxun stood up from the ground, her gaze distant as she murmured, "What happens to me now?"
She had spent years investigating Qian Ran and knew him well. Women flocked to him—he hardly needed her. His interest in her was likely nothing more than a passing novelty.
When that novelty wore off, she expected he would lose all interest in her.
After all, her age was not on her side.
That would be for the best, she thought. She could return to the Xuanyin Sect and leave this ordeal behind.
"You'll stay," Qian Ran said with finality. "I'll take care of you."
"Huh?" Xue Lingxun froze.
"I said, you'll stay. Did you think once would be enough? If you dare leave, I'll make sure Xu Sanshi gets sent on dangerous, even suicidal missions," Qian Ran whispered in her ear.
Xue Lingxun's heart sank. Was she too naïve?
Did she really think Qian Ran was so generous?
Did she think a few hours of "service" would guarantee Xu Sanshi a lifetime of wealth and safety?
"You… despicable!" Xue Lingxun's chest heaved with fury, her trembling finger pointed at him, her teeth gritted in anger.
How could anyone be this shameless?
Using Xu Sanshi to threaten her?
Could it be that Qian Ran intended to trap her by his side forever? Even if she agreed, wouldn't the Xuanyin Sect object?
"Heh."
"Miss Xue, if you think you can escape my grasp so easily, you're dreaming."
"For the rest of your life, don't think about leaving me."
Qian Ran's hand tightened on her shoulder as he leaned in, biting down on her soft cheek, leaving a reddened mark.
Xue Lingxun was so furious she couldn't speak. How could she have believed, even for a moment, that Qian Ran might cast her aside? It was clear now—he wouldn't let her go even if he had no use for her.
She had finally seen him for what he truly was.
"To a man, there can never be too many beautiful women," Qian Ran added with a smirk. He wasn't seeking an endless harem of women—just one of every type to suit his tastes.
Xue Lingxun's unique aura was unmatched among the women in his life. Letting her leave? Not a chance.
"You promised to look after Xu Sanshi, and now you're going back on your word?" Xue Lingxun stomped on Qian Ran's foot in frustration. Her effort barely registered; Qian Ran's body, enhanced by the Golden Dragon martial soul, was unyielding to her limited strength.
"That was on the condition that you stay by my side," Qian Ran replied nonchalantly.
In his eyes, Xu Sanshi was insignificant. If he wanted to, he could crush him without a second thought. Only Xue Lingxun piqued his interest.
Her beauty, talent, and noble lineage made her a rare gem, even on a continent teeming with stunning women. And she was a mature beauty at that—a class of her own.
With Xue Lingxun added to his circle, Qian Ran would have two of the most sought-after princesses from the continent's two prime age groups.
Falling into his hands, how could he ever let her leave his sight?
"If you stay, you'll be free to visit Xu Sanshi whenever you want. This way, his safety is guaranteed."
"…"
Once again, Xue Lingxun was forced to confront Qian Ran's shamelessness. This damned man… threatening her again!
Yet, amid her frustration, she inexplicably felt a sense of relief.
Deep down, she realized she didn't want to leave. Why that was, she couldn't say. Her pride told her she should stay far away from someone like Qian Ran, but his ultimatum gave her an excuse to remain.
"I'll protect you both. With you by my side, Xu Sanshi is like half my son. I'll treat him as if he were my own," Qian Ran said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders with a playful grin.
Qian Ran himself wasn't sure why men enjoyed playing the "father" role so much. Back in his previous life on Earth, it was a common joke in his dormitory—everyone wanted to "father" someone else. Perhaps this preference for motherly figures had something to do with it.
Here, he had already taken on the roles of surrogate father to Dai Huabin, Dai Yueheng, and even Huo Yuhao and Xu Sanshi.
Being a "father" often brought him more satisfaction than his romantic escapades with women like Zhu Ying, Huo Yun'er, or even Xue Lingxun.
Who could explain it? It was a feeling beyond words.
"Let go of me!" Xue Lingxun struggled, pushing away the hand Qian Ran had placed on her shoulder.
"You're not allowed to let Xu Sanshi know about us, nor anyone else for that matter," she said firmly. If word of their relationship got out, she'd lose all her dignity.
"Don't worry, I won't spill a word. My discretion in such matters is impeccable," Qian Ran said with a chuckle. Hadn't he kept his affair with Zhu Ying under wraps for so long?
Though playful by nature, Qian Ran was meticulous in safeguarding his women's reputations.
"So… I'm not your only victim, am I?" Xue Lingxun twisted a piece of his flesh between her fingers. She had thought he might lose interest in her, but it seemed he had a particular taste for variety.
"I'll tell you later. For now, are you staying? If you stay, I guarantee you'll break through to Titled Douluo within two years."
Xue Lingxun's martial soul, the Swan, was imbued with light attributes. Qian Ran had countless ways to accelerate her growth.
"Can you promise not to touch me without my permission?" she asked, slapping away his wandering hand.
"Nope," Qian Ran replied immediately.
(Chapter ends)
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X