As they stood side-by-side, their hands still clasped, a comfortable silence settled between them, filled with the unspoken language of their hearts. Song Qing gently squeezed her hand, his verdant eyes filled with a deep affection.
"Renxue," he whispered softly, breaking the silence, "there's something I wanted to tell you."
Qian Renxue turned her head slightly, her purple eyes meeting his with a gentle curiosity. "What is it, my Qing?"
"I… I have spoken to Rongrong and Zhuqing," Song Qing continued, his voice a little hesitant. "I told them about my feelings for… for the other girls. Sister Yan, Sister Lingling, and even my Senior Sister Hu Liena."
He paused, his gaze searching hers. "But I didn't mention you. I remembered that it was your wish to keep our relationship… more private, for now."
A soft smile bloomed on Qian Renxue's beautiful face, her purple eyes softening with warmth and gratitude. "Thank you, Qing," she whispered, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. "Thank you for respecting my wishes."
She leaned in closer, her breath warm against his ear. "I didn't wish to reveal our… intimate connection to them just yet. Not when their relationship with you will be… more open."
Song Qing frowned slightly, a question forming in his mind. "Why is that, Renxue?" he asked, his voice low.
Qian Renxue's smile turned slightly enigmatic, a hint of playful mischief returning to her eyes. "Well, my dear Qing," she whispered, her voice laced with a teasing tone, "isn't it said that a mistress often receives more love from a man than his wives or concubines?"
Song Qing chuckled softly, shaking his head. He gently cupped her face in his hands, his verdant eyes filled with sincerity. "You are wrong, my beloved Renxue," he whispered back, his gaze unwavering. "I am going to love all of you. Each and every one of you, with all my heart. There will be no difference in my affection."
Qian Renxue looked up at him, her purple eyes searching his, as if trying to gauge the truth of his words. A soft smile slowly spread across her face as she nodded.
"I know, Qing," she whispered, her voice filled with a deep understanding. "I knew that about you from the very beginning. You are not like any other man. If you were… I wouldn't have fallen for you so completely."
The tension in the room eased, replaced by a comfortable intimacy and a shared understanding. They continued to hold each other's hands, their fingers intertwined, their hearts beating in a gentle rhythm.
After a few more moments of comfortable silence, Song Qing gently led Qian Renxue towards the bed. They lay down together, still holding hands, their bodies nestled close.
The earlier sensual performance might have concluded, but the intimate connection between them continued to deepen. Qian Renxue, her affection for Song Qing evident in every touch and gaze, continued to use her beautiful body to express her love, her movements now softer, more tender, filled with a quiet devotion.
She gently traced the lines of his face with her fingertips, her purple eyes filled with adoration. She leaned in and pressed soft kisses to his forehead, his cheeks, his chin, each touch sending a wave of warmth through him.
Song Qing responded in kind, his arms wrapping around her, pulling her closer until there was barely any space left between them. He buried his face in her golden hair, inhaling the sweet scent that was uniquely hers.
They lay there, cuddled intimately, their bodies pressed together, their hearts beating as one. The gentle rise and fall of their chests was the only sound in the room, a testament to the peaceful contentment they found in each other's arms.
Even in this quiet intimacy, Qian Renxue continued to express her affection through subtle touches and gentle caresses. She ran her hand down his chest, her fingers tracing the contours of his muscles. She nuzzled her face against his neck, her warm breath sending shivers down his spine.
Song Qing held her close, savoring the feeling of her body against his.
As they lay there, wrapped in each other's embrace, the night outside the Crimson Leaf Forest continued its silent passage. The gentle sounds of the forest drifted through the open window, a soothing lullaby to their intertwined hearts.
~~
Before the first rays of sunlight could pierce through the thick canopy of the Crimson Leaf Forest, Qian Renxue gently disentangled herself from Song Qing's embrace. She moved with the practiced silence of a celestial being, careful not to disturb his peaceful slumber.
She slipped on her oversized robe, the white silk of her angel dress concealed beneath. With a final, tender glance at the sleeping Song Qing, she quietly opened the door and slipped out of his room, returning to her own chambers down the hallway.
'It wouldn't do for Rongrong and Zhuqing to see me leaving his room so early,' she mused, a faint blush touching her cheeks as she recalled the passionate night they had shared. 'They might get the wrong idea… or perhaps the right one, but it's still too soon for that.'
As the sky began to lighten, the entire group gathered in the inn's courtyard, ready for the day's hunt. Bibi Dong, Dugu Bo, and the five Titled Douluo led the way as they entered the depths of the Crimson Leaf Forest, their target being a ten-thousand-year spirit beast suitable for Ning Rongrong's fourth soul ring.
Song Qing kept Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing close by his side, just as he had promised. He could sense their excitement and anticipation.
It wasn't long before Song Qing's enhanced senses located a truly unique spirit beast – a magnificent creature resembling a unicorn, but instead of a single horn, it possessed a spiraling horn that refracted light into a dazzling array of colors. Its coat shimmered with a pearlescent sheen, and its eyes sparkled like amethysts. It was a Prism Radiant Unicorn, a creature of pure light and immense spiritual power.
"Teacher," Song Qing whispered to Bibi Dong, pointing towards a clearing ahead, "I believe we have found the perfect spirit beast for Rongrong."
Bibi Dong followed his gaze, her pink eyes widening slightly at the sight of the beautiful creature. "Indeed, it seems quite suitable for a support-type spirit master."
The Titled Douluo quickly surrounded the Prism Radiant Unicorn. The beast, startled by their sudden appearance, let out a melodic cry, its horn emitting a wave of shimmering light.
The battle was swift but elegant. The Prism Radiant Unicorn, while powerful, was no match for the combined might of the Titled Douluo. Following Bibi Dong's instructions, they weakened the beast without causing unnecessary harm, allowing Ning Rongrong to deliver the final blow.
A vibrant, multicolored soul ring materialized above the fallen unicorn. Ning Rongrong stepped forward, her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda hovering behind her, its nine layers radiating a soft, gentle light. She focused her spirit power and began the absorption process.
It went smoothly, the soul ring resonating perfectly with her spirit. Soon, a fourth soul ring, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow, encircled her pagoda.
"I did it!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed, her cyan eyes sparkling with joy. "My fourth soul ring!"
"Congratulations, Rongrong," Song Qing said, smiling at her. "What abilities did you unlock?"
Ning Rongrong's excitement bubbled over. "The first ability allows me to boost the attack power of my allies! I can focus my spirit power into the pagoda, and a beam of multicolored light will enhance their attacks, making them even stronger! Well, this is an ability I knew I would unlock since its one of the abilities of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
She paused, her expression becoming even more thrilled. "But there's more! The second ability is called 'Prismatic Barrier'. I can create a shimmering shield of light that can absorb a significant amount of damage, protecting myself or my allies!"
"And the third ability is 'Radiant Amplification'!" she continued, her voice filled with wonder. "It allows me to amplify the effects of my other support abilities even further! For example, when I use my first soul ring to increase strength, the increase will be even greater with 'Radiant Amplification' active!"
Song Qing nodded, pleased with her new abilities. "Those are all excellent, Rongrong! They will greatly enhance your support capabilities."
As if the heavens were smiling upon her, the Prism Radiant Unicorn's body dissolved, leaving behind a shimmering, opalescent skull bone.
"A spirit bone!" Zhu Zhuqing exclaimed, her dark eyes wide with surprise.
Song Qing carefully picked up the skull bone. "Indeed. This is a good omen. I will keep this safe for you, Rongrong, and give it to you when we return to the Spirit Hall."
Ning Rongrong's soul power had also surged dramatically. "Qing! I reached level 45!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with delight. "That Torso Spirit Bone really helped!"
With Ning Rongrong's fourth soul ring secured, the group set their sights on their next destination: the Nether Spirit Forest. This forest was known for its eerie atmosphere and the powerful dark attribute spirit beasts that resided within its depths. It was the perfect place to find a suitable soul ring for Zhu Zhuqing's Abyssal Phantom Lion.
Song Qing used his enhanced senses to scan the forest, searching for a spirit beast that possessed a long-range attack capability, as that was what Zhu Zhuqing desired for her fourth soul ring. After a while, he located a powerful aura emanating from a large, winged creature perched high in the skeletal branches of a dead tree.
"There!" Song Qing pointed towards the creature. "That is an 11,000 Year Old Netherwing Griffin. I sense a faint but distinct ancient bloodline within it… perhaps a trace of a Dark Phoenix or a Nether Swallowing Sparrow."
The Netherwing Griffin was a fearsome creature, with jet-black feathers, razor-sharp talons, and glowing crimson eyes. Its wings were leathery and vast, capable of carrying it swiftly through the air.
The Titled Douluo engaged the griffin, their attacks focusing on weakening it for Zhu Zhuqing. The battle was intense, the griffin's sharp claws and powerful wing gusts proving to be formidable. However, the combined power of the Titled Douluo eventually prevailed.
Zhu Zhuqing, her Abyssal Phantom Lion spirit manifesting behind her, delivered the final blow. A dark black soul ring, crackling with nether energy, appeared above the fallen griffin. She absorbed it without any issues, her fourth soul ring now complete.
"What abilities did you gain, Zhuqing?" Song Qing asked, his verdant eyes filled with anticipation.
Zhu Zhuqing's dark eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "The first ability is 'Abyssal Energy Beam'. I can now unleash powerful beams of pure abyssal energy from my claws!" She demonstrated, and two streaks of dark purple energy shot forth, leaving trails of smoky residue in the air.
"And the second ability is 'Nether Control'," she continued. "It allows me to manipulate abyssal energy to some extent, forming shields or even short-range tendrils to ensnare my opponents!"
"Excellent, Zhuqing!" Song Qing praised her. "Those are perfect long-range attack abilities."
Zhu Zhuqing's soul power also increased, reaching level 44. "The Right Leg Spirit Bone is still giving me a boost," she noted with satisfaction. Unfortunately, the Netherwing Griffin did not yield a spirit bone.
With both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing now possessing their fourth soul rings, the group turned their attention to Song Qing's needs. "Now," Song Qing announced, his verdant eyes gleaming with anticipation, "it is time for my fifth soul ring. And for this, we must venture deeper into the Nether Spirit Forest."
He could sense a powerful, draconic aura emanating from the depths of the forest. "There is a very powerful draconic beast further in," he explained. "It possesses a Space Attribute, which will be incredibly useful for me. I believe it is an Ancient Void Abyssal Wyvern." The prospect of obtaining such a rare and powerful soul ring filled him with excitement.