Qian Renxue was leaving the Angel Corps headquarters, her golden hair fluttering in the mountain breeze as she walked down the stone-paved path that led toward the carriage.
Ci Xue walked a few steps behind her, silent as ever. She Long followed with a thoughtful gaze, occasionally glancing toward the tall man trailing behind them.
The man was Hua Zhang, the commander of the Angel Corps. A towering figure clad in standard silver-white armor tinged with faint traces of gold around the edges, his posture straight, the aura he exuded was firm, like tempered steel.
A long jagged scar ran from his temple to his chin, permanently twisting the left side of his face in a half-grimace. His left eye was milky-white and blind, a wound taken years ago in a deadly skirmish with a fallen Soul Douluo.
Yet despite the injuries, his single eye burned with conviction, his gaze sharp and resolute as he stepped forward.
"Like always," Hua Zhang said, his voice rough yet respectful, "I appreciate the Young Master's efforts to encourage the men."
Qian Renxue gave a light shake of her head. "They are the ones standing at the front lines, facing evil soul masters day after day. The least I can do is show them support."
"But you are yourself putting in effort," Hua Zhang insisted, falling into step beside them. "Most nobles only care for empty speeches. You listen to them and encourage them. It matters more than you know."
Qian Renxue smiled faintly but didn't respond directly. Instead, she turned her gaze to the soldiers in the distance still training under the slanting sun. Her thoughts ran deeper than her expression revealed.
'I'm not doing this out of kindness.'
'I'm building relationships for the future… preparing for the day when I act as the Psychiatrist.'
'While the people of this world might not yet recognize mental trauma as illness, I have seen the haunted expressions in many of those soldiers' eyes.'
'Fighting evil soul masters, witnessing human sacrifices, mutilated innocents… cleaning up such grotesque scenes leaves scars. Not on the body, but the mind.'
'This world has no psychologists, no therapy, no healing for the soul. I will change that, also it will help me properly digest the power of psychiatrist.'
As they reached the carriage that would return them to Spirit City, Hua Zhang gave a respectful nod and stepped back.
"May the Angel God watch over your steps," he said, bowing low.
Qian Renxue turned back to him, her voice calm yet firm. "And may it give you strength for the battles ahead."
The carriage doors closed as She Long and Ci Xue took their positions on either side. As the horses began to move, Qian Renxue cast one last look through the window at the Angel Corps headquarters fading in the distance.
Her fingers tapped against the side of the wooden frame rhythmically, her eyes thoughtful.
' I'm glad that atleast after being grounded, Bibi Dong had not come forward to trouble me.'
'And also that reincarnator , Lin Yuan did not show any outstanding capabilities aside for a 300 year first soul ring. The ring age which is considered average even in today's era.'
'It can be concluded that he is not able to use his system properly, because his novice mission is still incomplete.'
'It's been two months… and my soul power has risen to level 28. I'll soon need to plan for my third soul ring.'
The carriage rocked gently as the path grew smoother near the Spirit City gates. But Qian Renxue's attention was elsewhere.
She descended into her spirit sea, the endless expanse of stars and shimmering silver mist welcoming her consciousness. There, Electrolux stood waiting, as if he had already anticipated her arrival.
"Electrolux," she called calmly. "Can your undead demiplane travel between different regions?"
Electrolux stroked his long beard, then slowly shook his head. "Yes. But moving the entire plane requires a tremendous amount of energy…or the controller should have the strength to move an entire plane."
Qian Renxue's eyes flickered with understanding.
'So that's a no. At Electrolux's current condition, it's not worth risking him using all his strength just to sneak out for a soul ring.'
Just then, a snorting laugh echoed from the upper branches of her spirit sea.
"Hahaha! So you're stuck, huh?" Tianmeng, the lazy bug , also the million-year-old soul beast spirit was unusually sharp today, stretched and flopped onto a glowing mist cloud. His gelatinous, ill-defined body bounced like jelly.
"You're grounded and can't even go soul ring hunting, how tragic!"
Qian Renxue sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in her mind. "It's not that I can't leave. I just know if I ask Grandfather, he'll come with me and select a soul beast that have been tested by the Qian family for generations—"
She paused, her expression cold and dry.
"—but it is likely not suitable for me."
Tianmeng cackled. "That means you are after another auxillary soul skill. What kind of soul beast are you aiming for this time then? With this I will get an idea of the auxillary ability that you have your eye on."
Qian Renxue didn't answer.
Instead, she gave a mysterious little smile, tilting her head as her long golden hair shimmered in the spirit sea's glow.
"Let's keep it a secret."
And with that, the carriage moved through the dusty roads under the setting sun, toward the Elder's Hall.