In the early morning, warm sunlight streamed down from the sky, piercing through the small window of the wooden house and falling onto Qian Renxue's adorable, sweetly sleeping face.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, her delicate eyebrows furrowed. With a look of extreme reluctance, Qian Renxue's trembling eyelids flickered. After a long while, she opened them, her sleepy eyes filled with a faint haze.
She rubbed her eyes with her small hands, let out a deep yawn, and lifted the quilt. Slipping on her shoes, she walked to the door. Facing the sunlight, Qian Renxue stretched her arms outward with all her might, indulging in a vigorous stretch.
Because she had just woken up, her expression was still a bit hazy. Coupled with her tender and cute little face, she exuded an indescribable charm.
Her slender fingers subconsciously tucked into her golden long hair, tidying it up as it had become slightly dishevelled from waking up.
A gentle breeze from the forest, carrying a hint of coolness, brushed past, lifting her golden hair. Qian Renxue's hazy expression slowly began to clear.
"Mmm!"
"I slept so comfortably last night!"
After smoothing her long hair, Qian Renxue patted her face and said contentedly.
She trotted to the riverbank, scooped up a handful of cold water, and splashed it on her face. The chill made her shiver violently.
"Such icy water."
"But it's quite refreshing."
With a sweet smile on her face, Qian Renxue scooped up a few more handfuls of river water and washed herself thoroughly. Returning to the house, she took out her prepared towel and gently wiped herself dry.
Having completed this, she sat on the small stool by the door as usual, resting her chin on her hands, and began to wait.
It had been a full month since she started staying here. Qian Renxue hadn't expected that after such a long time, Wang Zhong would really not have returned even once.
Although she hadn't waited for Wang Zhong, Qian Renxue's state of mind was exceptionally peaceful. She didn't feel the anxiety that an ordinary person would experience while waiting.
Her initial intention of staying here to wait for Wang Zhong had transformed into a relaxed feeling that staying here was quite pleasant.
The somewhat hard but captivatingly comfortable small bed, the morning sunlight that was somewhat annoying but arrived so early, and the breeze in the forest, which was a bit cold but very refreshing.
All these sensations made Qian Renxue herself unsure why she had stayed here for a month.
"Wang Zhong must be busy with something. Otherwise, after such a long time, he would have at least come back here to check once."
"I've also been here for a long time. It's time for me to go find him."
"If I don't get back what I've lost, I'm not Qian Renxue!"
With a firm decision in her heart, Qian Renxue placed the small stool back in the house, bolted the door, and walked out of the forest with light steps.
Not long after she left, Bibi Dong's figure appeared abruptly by the river. She watched Qian Renxue's retreating back, her exquisitely beautiful face etched with deep complexity.
It was a mix of pity and hatred, worry and venom, unwillingness and loathing.
Qian Renxue had stayed here for a full month, and Bibi Dong had silently watched her for that entire month.
She hadn't revealed herself, nor had she initiated any communication.
The river flowed quietly westward, and Bibi Dong stood by the riverbank, silent and motionless.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
Accompanied by a series of knocks, Qian Renxue walked in gracefully under the astonished gaze of Ying Yanyang.
First, she saluted Ying Yanyang by placing her hand over her chest. Qian Renxue asked politely, "Teacher, hello, may I ask where Wang Zhong has gone?"
Seeing her, Ying Yanyang quickly rose and returned the salute. The little princess of the Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue, was someone that anyone with status and position could not fail to recognize. She was the beloved granddaughter of the Great Enshrined Qian Daoliu.
Moreover, with her innate full spirit power of level twenty, and reaching Spirit Elder at the young age of nine, her talent was astonishing. At least, no one in the Spirit Hall Academy for the past hundred years had achieved this.
Wang Zhong might be able to, but this was only a possibility. Without anything concrete, it counted for nothing.
"Your Highness, Wang Zhong is currently in the simulated training environment. May I ask if you are looking for him for something?" Ying Yanyang inquired neither obsequiously nor arrogantly.
After all, Wang Zhong was his student, and also someone the Pope Bibi Dong paid attention to. Whichever the relationship, he had to be mindful.
Qian Renxue's small eyes darted around. She smiled and said crisply, "Grandfather asked me to find him."
All his questions were stuck in his throat. Ying Yanyang's expression froze. When the Great Enshrined was involved, it was no longer something he could delve into.
"Grandfather said for me to meet him and interact with him."
Sensing Ying Yanyang's change in expression, the sharp and perceptive Qian Renxue quickly understood his concerns. The Enshrined Hall and the Pope's Palace were two factions, and she had known this since childhood.
She was well aware of the struggles and checks and balances between the two factions, having been exposed to them since she was young.
She brought up her grandfather to prevent Ying Yanyang from investigating further, and the latter part of her explanation was to appease him.
"I understand."
Ying Yanyang nodded in agreement. He retrieved the token used to send Wang Zhong to the simulated training environment from a drawer beneath the table and handed it to Qian Renxue.
"Your Highness, you are not part of the academy. To enter the simulated training environment, you must have the Pope's token in hand."
The Spirit Hall Academy had a regulation that anyone entering the simulated training environment for the first time must have the Pope's token. Otherwise, entry would be strictly prohibited.
This was Wang Zhong's first time, so he, as his homeroom teacher, had to escort him. After that, it would no longer be necessary. Qian Renxue was in the same situation.
"Is that so? Then I'll trouble you to lead the way, teacher."
"I dare not."
Qian Renxue returned the token to Ying Yanyang, her words spoken with a smile making it impossible for him to refuse.
At the entrance to the simulated training environment, watching Qian Renxue's retreating figure, Ying Yanyang let out an inexplicable sigh.
Wang Zhong's talent had reached a point where both the Pope and the Great Enshrined had their attention focused on him.
Ying Yanyang couldn't judge whether this situation was good or bad. Perhaps Wang Zhong could stop the long-simmering conflict between the Pope's faction and the Elder's faction, or perhaps he could ignite their struggle into the open in an instant.
The waters within the Spirit Hall were becoming increasingly deep, and the undercurrents more turbulent.
Shaking his head helplessly, Ying Yanyang prepared to return and report the incident in its entirety.
Regardless of what happened in the future, he was currently firmly in the Pope's camp. His elder sister was also one of Bibi Dong's elders.
With a hint of worry in his expression, Ying Yanyang walked away slowly.
As soon as she stepped into the simulated training environment and saw the small path before her and its seemingly endless length, Qian Renxue regrettably patted her forehead.
She had forgotten to ask which simulated environment Wang Zhong was in.
Her delicate eyebrows furrowed tightly. Qian Renxue suddenly thought of something. She spread the wings of her Angel martial soul and flew high into the air.
The surrounding forest became smaller and smaller, and various simulated environments appeared like circles beneath her feet.
Golden spirit power surged into her eyes, dyeing them a brilliant gold. Her gaze swept across, and she saw a figure relentlessly punching in the midst of ice and snow.
"Found you!"
With a flap of her pure white wings, Qian Renxue instantly soared towards Wang Zhong's location.