I Simply Can't Afford Your Rent

Qin Hao pulled Su Qingyue into his arms. Right now, what Su Qingyue needed most was comfort and support.

"If you don't want to go back, then we won't. I'll accompany you to the ends of the earth." Qin Hao's voice carried a reassuring power. For a fleeting moment, Su Qingyue wished time could freeze at this very second forever.

Qin Hao took Su Qingyue away from Clear Wind City. In a flash, half a month passed.

During this half a month, Qin Hao took Su Qingyue on various adventures. He used his Dual Pupils to rewrite the rules of nature, taking Su Qingyue into the underwater world to observe all kinds of fish up close.

In a vast, boundless wilderness blooming with nameless wildflowers, the two felt the gentle breeze sweeping by. The sea of flowers rippled like waves, carrying an intoxicating fragrance. Qin Hao wove countless petals into a floral carpet, taking Su Qingyue soaring through the sky on the wind.

He also took Su Qingyue to a mortal kingdom to watch acrobatics, eat street food, and experience all sorts of bustling city life.

Spending time with Qin Hao, Su Qingyue initially felt very safe. Later, she found her heart uncontrollably fluttering for him. But now, a sense of unease enveloped her entire being.

Qin Hao treated her so well, but why was he doing so? It was all because he was her rented Dao Companion.

"Rented"—this word was like a fine needle, popping the bubble that held all of Su Qingyue's beautiful fantasies.

Since it was a rental, he would have to leave one day. If she wanted him to stay, she would definitely have to pay the rent. But could she afford this rent?

Beside her, Qin Hao noticed that Su Qingyue's mood was off. He reached out and gently tapped her nose.

"What are you thinking about? You look so lost in thought."

Su Qingyue pursed her lips, her fingers unconsciously gripping her hem. Gathering her courage, she looked at the exceptionally handsome Qin Hao and asked,

"I... I want to know, since you are acting as my rented Dao Companion, what kind of rent do I need to pay you? Or rather, what do I need to give in return?"

It was difficult for Su Qingyue to ask this, because she didn't think she possessed anything that could catch Qin Hao's eye.

Realizing Su Qingyue's concern, Qin Hao chuckled softly. He lowered his head, resting his chin against the top of her head.

"Are you worried about this?"

Su Qingyue nodded slightly. "Mhm."

"Don't worry." Qin Hao's voice remained reassuringly steady.

"The rent isn't much. Once the rental period is over, I will take away a portion of your karmic luck. It won't harm your foundation, and it won't have much of an impact on you."

Qin Hao's words made Su Qingyue sigh in relief. So it was just karmic luck. She had been afraid that she wouldn't be able to give Qin Hao anything. As long as Qin Hao could get some benefit from her, it was fine.

But soon, a new question popped into Su Qingyue's mind:

"Then... how much longer is our rental period?"

Looking at the cautious expression on Su Qingyue's face, Qin Hao gently stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers.

"There's still half a month left."

Hearing that the time left for her rented Dao Companion was only half a month, Su Qingyue couldn't hide the disappointment on her face. She looked up at Qin Hao, her beautiful face filled with a stubborn expression.

"Then can you see how much karmic luck I have left? How much longer can my remaining karmic luck rent you for?"

Su Qingyue's words completely stunned Qin Hao. Wait, something was wrong—very, very wrong. This girl, she couldn't be getting serious, could she?

We agreed it was just a rented Dao Companion, and you're actually falling for it?

Qin Hao stared straight at Su Qingyue. In her eyes, he saw an almost stubborn, resolute plea for him to stay.

Qin Hao let out a barely audible sigh and said to Su Qingyue in a gentle tone,

"If your karmic luck is gone, you'll end up in a very miserable state."

Su Qingyue lowered her head, a strong sense of loss surging in her heart. From Qin Hao's words, she knew that he was rejecting her in a roundabout way.

Looking at the depressed Su Qingyue, Qin Hao shook his head helplessly.

"I am a temporary Dao Companion during your hardest times, a companion to help you out of your predicament, and a travel partner for what has been a rather pleasant journey. But in the end, I am just a passing traveler in your life, not your final destination."

What a joke! Qin Hao wasn't going to do something as stupid as hanging himself on a single tree! Across the Three Realms and Nine Heavens, there were countless beautiful girls waiting for him to save them. Not to mention that the system didn't even have a renewal option; even if it did, Qin Hao wouldn't agree to it.

He already had the exact same Innate Dao Body as Su Qingyue. Since a person could only give one positive review, renewing the lease with Su Qingyue would bring Qin Hao no other benefits besides a little karmic luck—and he could get that same karmic luck from renting himself out to someone else anyway.

"A passing traveler, not your final destination..."

Hearing these words from Qin Hao's mouth was more devastating to Su Qingyue than any blunt rejection. They completely stripped away all of her fantasies!

The color drained from Su Qingyue's face at a visible rate, leaving behind only a deathly pallor.

In her chest, the heart that had just been leaping with anticipation felt as if it were being ruthlessly squeezed by an invisible hand. The dull ache made it hard for her to breathe.

Seeing that Su Qingyue looked unwell, Qin Hao reached out to touch her forehead to check if she was sick. However, this time, faced with his outstretched hand, Su Qingyue slapped it away for the first time.

"We are just a rented Dao Companion pairing! It's just a transaction! You've crossed the line!"

Su Qingyue practically gritted her teeth as she said these words, placing special emphasis on "rented" and "transaction."

From this moment on, Su Qingyue no longer relied on Qin Hao in every possible way like she had over the past half month. In fact, every time Qin Hao approached her, she would deliberately keep her distance.

This made Qin Hao feel quite frustrated. "What's wrong with her? I just didn't want to play with your feelings, and you're mad about it? If there's no future, of course I have to reject you clearly. Sigh, it's hard to be a man, but it's even harder to be a good man!"

The two were traversing a forest. Because Su Qingyue was shutting him out, Qin Hao had no choice but to jump up into the trees so as not to bother her.

Seeing Qin Hao retreat to the trees and ignore her, Su Qingyue couldn't help but clench her fists.

"Hmph! What's so great about him! He's just a bit stronger. A bit more handsome, a bit gentler... What else does he have besides that?"

"It doesn't matter if you look down on me now. One day, I will stand before you again! Qin Hao, just you wait. Three thousand years on the east bank, three thousand years on the west bank—the tides of fortune turn! I will cultivate diligently and strive to grow strong enough to be worthy of you as soon as possible!"

"No, I'm going to become even stronger than you! When that time comes, whether you accept me or not won't be up to you!"

Having made up her mind, Su Qingyue began to bury herself in arduous cultivation.

Qin Hao noticed that Su Qingyue was cultivating, but the cultivation method she was practicing was pure garbage. Moreover, through his Dual Pupils, Qin Hao discovered that Su Qingyue's Innate Dao Body had yet to awaken.

With this in mind, Qin Hao immediately took out a voice transmission jade slip to contact his butler in the Qin family.

"Prepare a cultivation method suitable for an Innate Dao Body, and gather some heavenly materials and earthly treasures that can awaken it, then teleport them over to me."

As the Imperial Son of a Desolate Ancient Family, Qin Hao's voice transmission jade slip was not just for sending messages. It could also teleport treasures, and at the same time, be used for escaping, killing enemies, and defense...

The jade pendant in his hand possessed every single function you could possibly imagine. That is right, you could even use it to watch action blockbusters.