Ji Ruxue didn't speak. Instead, she stared fixedly at Qin Hao for dozens of seconds before finally lowering her hands from her head.
"Your strength is quite good, more than enough to deal with Ao Yu."
Pausing here, a trace of confusion revealed itself in Ji Ruxue's eyes.
"I struck with all my might, yet you blocked it effortlessly. Even when I used an Emperor-level movement technique, you still saw right through it. Your bone age looks to be only in your twenties. I really can't figure it out."
"With your talent, no matter which faction you joined, you would be highly sought after. Why have you been reduced to working in this line of business?"
"You could easily do something much more respectable."
Hearing this, Qin Hao couldn't help but chuckle. "What? Is being a rented Dao Companion such a shameful job?"
As he spoke, Qin Hao took a step forward. Faced with his approach, Ji Ruxue subconsciously took a half-step back, but her back hit the wall. There was nowhere left to retreat.
Qin Hao continued to advance, compressing the distance between them to an extremely delicate degree—so close that Ji Ruxue could clearly smell the faint, refreshing scent of vegetation on him.
"What... what are you doing?" Ji Ruxue's back was pressed tightly against the wall. Her snow-white fox ears instantly perked straight up, and the pink at their tips seemed to ignite, instantly flushing crimson.
Qin Hao didn't answer. He simply raised his hand, planting it against the wall right beside her ear with a soft thud, and leaned in slightly.
From this angle, Qin Hao's face was less than three inches from hers. Ji Ruxue could clearly feel his warm breath.
"If I didn't work in this line of business, how would I have met you?"
That single sentence caused Ji Ruxue's brain to short-circuit. Her golden eyes trembled, and her expression was filled with utter bewilderment.
This cunning human, what... what on earth is he talking about?
"And if I didn't meet you, how could I justifiably appear by your side?" Qin Hao's voice continued, each word falling like a petal upon the tip of her heart.
Ji Ruxue looked up into Qin Hao's eyes. A gentle light flowed within his dual pupils, and she felt as if her heart was about to explode.
Her fox ears, which had initially been standing straight up, drooped under Qin Hao's offensive, pressing tightly against her head after just a short moment.
What is he saying? What is he talking about? What does he mean that he wouldn't have met me or justifiably appeared by my side if he didn't do this job? Could this all have been premeditated by him?
Is he confessing his love? No, we've only known each other for less than an hour. We only have a rented Dao Companion relationship.
But... a rented Dao Companion is still a Dao Companion.
Seeing Ji Ruxue's reaction, the corners of Qin Hao's mouth curled up slightly. He thought to himself, "People who judge by appearances are indeed easier to deal with. That Karmic Luck Dao Beast was truly insensible. If I hadn't repeatedly confirmed that the Karmic Luck Dao Beast had no gender, I would have doubted whether it was actually attracted to my karmic luck at all."
Just as Qin Hao wanted to touch her nimble and cute ears again, a shrill voice rang out from outside the door, breaking the tranquility.
"Your Highness, the Northern Wasteland Demon Emperor has arrived in person. His Majesty requests your immediate presence at the Ten Thousand Demon Hall."
Hearing the voice outside, Ji Ruxue's soft ears, which had been plastered to her hair, instantly perked straight up again. She looked sharply at Qin Hao and said:
The Northern Wasteland Demon Emperor is definitely bringing Ao Yu to propose marriage. The rest is up to your performance. You wouldn't want your Dao companion to be snatched away by someone else, would you?
Qin Hao chuckled softly, not refuting her. Instead, he reached out and pulled Ji Ruxue into his arms.
So you are admitting that you are my Dao companion?
Ji Ruxue's face instantly turned bright red. She hurriedly pushed Qin Hao away and quickly explained,
I... I meant in name only... a rental! Just acting! Do not overthink it!
After saying that, Ji Ruxue quickly ran off. Running out of the room and seeing that Qin Hao had not caught up yet, she could not help but urge him, Hurry up and follow me. If you can help me stop this marriage alliance, I will give you a great fortune once it is over.
What kind of fortune? Qin Hao asked, his tone carrying a trace of curiosity, but mostly a casual indifference.
What do you want? Ji Ruxue asked in return. Cultivation techniques? Pills? Spirit stones? Magical treasures? As long as you ask, I will give you whatever I can.
Give me everything? Qin Hao looked at Ji Ruxue and suddenly smiled. But I am not interested in any of that.
Saying so, Qin Hao slowly walked toward Ji Ruxue. Each step was unhurried, and each step made Ji Ruxue's heartbeat quicken a fraction.
Qin Hao stopped in front of her. The dual pupils in his eyes slowly rotated like two whirlpools, firmly drawing Ji Ruxue's gaze in.
Whatever fortune it is, Qin Hao spoke, his voice neither high nor low, carrying a teasing undertone,
In my eyes, none of it compares to you.
Boom. Ji Ruxue's face instantly flushed scarlet. She covered her face, looking at Qin Hao with a wildly beating heart.
We have known each other for less than two hours! You, you do not even know what kind of person I am. Do you... do you act like this with every client?
No! Qin Hao answered cleanly and decisively, without a shred of hesitation.
You are different.
Of course she was different. Previously, Qin Hao's skin had not been this thick. Now, he had trained it to be as impenetrable as an iron wall. He was no longer the rookie he once was, who needed three days to recover after taking an order.
Liar! Ji Ruxue's ears twitched. She pouted her lips and left without looking back. Stop being glib and hurry up.
Qin Hao followed behind Ji Ruxue, pulling out his jade pendant to send a message to Qin Wuya:
Old man, I am currently in the Myriad Demon Nation of the Supreme Heaven. If I cause a bit of a commotion, you should be able to support me in time, right?
The Supreme Heaven and the Primordial Heaven, where the Qin family resided, both belonged to the Upper Three Heavens. However, the Supreme Heaven was the territory of the Demon Race, while the Primordial Heaven was the domain of the Human Race.
Receiving Qin Hao's message, Qin Wuya replied:
You brat, when I asked to rent a sword from you, you dawdled and complained, and now you want my support? Support is out of the question. If you run into any trouble, go find the Demon Race's Northern Wasteland Demon Emperor. He is my little brother. Just reveal your identity, and he will know what to do.
After receiving Qin Wuya's message, Qin Hao's eyelid twitched. No way, what a coincidence. This Northern Wasteland Demon Emperor of the Demon Race was actually his old man's subordinate brother.
Interesting. It seems the old man was quite the restless troublemaker in his youth, even extending his reach over to the Demon Race.
But this works out perfectly. Since the old man said that just showing my identity will do the trick, then I have nothing to worry about. I can go all out and wreak havoc.
Qin Hao quickly caught up to Ji Ruxue. Then, under her astonished gaze, he gently took her small hand and intertwined his fingers with hers.
"You..."
Not giving Ji Ruxue a chance to speak, Qin Hao immediately explained, "Since we are putting on an act, we naturally have to go all the way."
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!
lity and could only live as an ordinary mortal. He only wished to live a peaceful life. Yet he didn't know— The dog he adopted, because it ate his food, became a legendary demon king. The kitchen knife he casually forged became a peerless divine weapon, causing numerous experts to fight desperately for it. The young disciple he took in became an immortal lord that led an era, due to cultivating the techniques Ye Feng taught him. Even the skeletons he looked down on the most were ominous demon kings that suppressed countless worlds. Many years later, looking at the void shattered with a punch, Ye Feng murmured to himself: It turns out the peerless kings were myself all along...
