Soul Land: Heartbreak Makes Me Stronger

This night would be one Qin Jian would never forget.

He had no idea what kind of mood Xue Qinghe—or rather, Qian Renxue—was in. For some inexplicable reason, she decided to drag him along the entire evening.

With her arm draped casually around his shoulders, she took him around to eat and drink. Whenever someone greeted them, she would introduce him with a playful, "This is my little brother, Qin." By the end of the night, even Ning Rongrong, who had been trailing behind them in silence, couldn't help but cast increasingly peculiar glances at Xue Qinghe.

Although the two were of the same gender, the way things unfolded seemed to suggest… there was only one possible explanation.

"Qin Jian, Qin Jian! Why was His Highness the Crown Prince clinging to you all night?"

On their final evening at the palace, Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong naturally spent it together.

Seated on the grand bed, Ning Rongrong straddled Qin Jian, arms crossed over her chest, her head tilted to the side in a show of dissatisfaction.

"How would I know what kind of whim took hold of her tonight?"

Qin Jian rolled his eyes and pushed her off. "And stop sitting on me like that."

"Why not? Why not? Rongrong insists on pinning you down, hmph!"

Before he could retort, Ning Rongrong climbed back on top, her mischievous grin unrelenting. Qin Jian sighed, rolling his eyes again. With a swift motion, he pulled her down into his arms.

"Mm… Qin Jian, you…"

Before she could finish, Qin Jian flipped her over, pressing her beneath him. He braced himself on both sides of her head, looking smug. "See? This is the proper posture. Got it?"

"No, it's not…"

Ning Rongrong pouted, attempting a weak protest. But then Qin Jian's hands shifted to grip the pillows on either side of her head, and his face slowly lowered toward hers.

Her eyes widened, then shut tightly. A blush spread across her cheeks, and her entire face turned crimson.

But just as she braced herself for what was to come…

A warm touch brushed lightly against her forehead before disappearing. Then came Qin Jian's teasing voice:

"All right, time to sleep."

He rolled over, turned off the lights, and covered himself with the blanket, his movements fluid and decisive.

In the darkness, Ning Rongrong puffed out her cheeks and sulked. But eventually, she scooted closer to Qin Jian, resting her body lightly against his, and soon drifted off to sleep.

Unfortunately for Qin Jian, sleep eluded him. Lying on the bed with his eyes wide open, he stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.

"I've reached level 20. If I don't want to stagnate here, I'll need to leave Rongrong for a while…"

"She's also at level 20 now. The Soul Hunting Grounds would be the ideal place to help her obtain a soul ring. I must ensure she gets the best one possible—something far better than what she originally had…"

"What else can I do for her?"

Qin Jian pressed his lips together, his eyes gradually filling with resolve.

"The heart of the Sunset Forest… Poison Douluo… and the Qiluo Tulip!"

"Although Tang San would eventually obtain the Qiluo Tulip in the original story…"

"If I retrieve it myself, it won't be the same as letting the events play out naturally…"

"No matter how difficult it is, I must try."

He closed his eyes, his resolve firm.

Clink!

Suddenly, the faint sound of a pebble striking the window broke the silence.

Qin Jian's eyes snapped open, his brows furrowing. He sat up soundlessly, glancing toward the window. Carefully, he removed Ning Rongrong's hand from his arm, slipped out of bed, and dressed.

Stepping into the courtyard, he spotted an unexpected sight.

Under the moonlight, Xue Qinghe sat leisurely at a stone table, a wine jug and two cups before her. Pouring herself a drink, she sipped slowly, her cheeks faintly flushed.

Seeing him, she raised a cup and smiled. "I thought I'd have to toss a few more stones to wake you. Turns out you're like me—sleepless on this long night. Care to join me for a drink?"

Qin Jian remained motionless, standing where he was.

Did this woman not realize how strange it was for a crown prince to appear uninvited in someone else's courtyard in the dead of night?

"Qin Jian…"

Her tone softened, and this time she didn't call him "little brother." Qin Jian's heart tightened.

"Why do you seem both interested in me and wary at the same time?"

She tilted her head back and drained her cup. The movement revealed her Adam's apple—a subtle yet astonishing effect of her soul bone disguise.

Qin Jian shook his head, his voice calm. "If Your Highness seeks company, I'm sure there are plenty of people willing. I'll take my leave now."

He turned to leave, but her voice, faint and tinged with a hint of alcohol, stopped him in his tracks.

"Qin Jian, do you really like Ning Rongrong?"

Her breath was warm as it reached him. Even a soul bone couldn't mask such a detail.

Qin Jian took two steps forward to create some distance before turning back with a slight frown. "Whether I like Rongrong or not has nothing to do with Your Highness."

Xue Qinghe's cheeks flushed deeper, yet she stepped closer. "How does it not matter? I like you, Qin Jian."

"What… what did you say?"

Qin Jian's expression twitched, and he quickly leapt back. "Your Highness, this joke isn't funny."

"Who said I was joking?"

Xue Qinghe closed the distance in an instant, pinning Qin Jian against the wall. Her hand reached for his face as her eyes gleamed with unspoken emotion. "What do you say, Qin? Be with me?"

Instead of fleeing, Qin Jian suddenly stilled, his demeanor calm. He stepped forward slightly, closing the gap between them.

"If I agree, would you really dare to be with me?"

He chuckled. "Ready to give up inheriting the Heaven Dou Empire?"

Xue Qinghe froze for a moment, but her composure quickly returned. Pressing herself closer, her voice softened. "If you dare to accept, I dare to follow you. What is the Heaven Dou Empire compared to you?"

That was the last straw. Qin Jian bolted away, leaving her behind.

Her laughter rang out, but Qin Jian's brow was soaked with sweat.

"Ahhh!"

A sharp gasp came from the doorway.

Qin Jian turned, only to see Ning Rongrong standing there, her face pale with shock.

"You… you… you like men?!"

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