Chapter 38: The Resurrection of Tang San
"Something strange happened?"
Qian Renxue frowned and asked,
"What is it? You look flustered."
"The body of Tang San, the one you asked us to bring back a few days ago… it's gone."
The man's voice was shaky.
"It was lying there one moment, and the next, it disappeared into thin air. Just vanished. Don't you think that's strange?"
Qian Renxue's heart sank.
"Could it have been stolen?"
"Who would steal a corpse? And why?"
The man shook his head and smiled bitterly, clearly baffled.
"Besides, the place was heavily guarded. Who could steal it right under our noses without making a sound?"
Qian Renxue's expression darkened.
"I understand. You may go now. And remember—don't let a single word of this slip out."
"Understood."
After dismissing him, Qian Renxue turned and walked into the room, her thoughts racing.
Who would want Tang San's body? And for what purpose?
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't come up with an answer. Eventually, she shook her head and forced herself to push the matter aside—for now.
Inside the room, Qin Chuan lay quietly on a large white bed. Though his face still showed signs of fatigue, his complexion was far better than it had been in previous days.
Ye Lingling was resting beside the bed, her head resting on her folded arms. Her body rose and fell gently with each breath, and her slightly curled posture traced out a graceful arc.
Near the bed, a fine iron cage—just one meter long—stood silently.
Inside, a girl was curled up, fast asleep.
Though her face was partly hidden behind messy locks of hair, it was easy to see she was incredibly beautiful.
Her limbs were bound with the finest soul-binding ropes—unbreakable, rendering her completely helpless. All she could do was curl up pitifully.
But no one in this room would pity her.
Because she wasn't human.
She was a 100,000-year-old soul beast—the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit, who had taken human form and roamed the human world.
A captured, living soul beast with a century of cultivation was unimaginably rare—priceless beyond measure.
Yet Qian Renxue didn't even glance at her. She simply walked past and stood at the side of the bed.
Her footsteps stirred Ye Lingling from her slumber.
The moment Ye Lingling saw Qian Renxue, she immediately stood up in panic.
"Your Highness, forgive me. I must've dozed off…"
"It's fine," Qian Renxue said softly, shaking her head.
"You've worked hard these past few days. I'll make sure you're rewarded when we return to the empire."
Ye Lingling lowered her head in silence.
"What's wrong? Something bothering you?" Qian Renxue asked, noticing her hesitation.
After a moment of internal struggle, Ye Lingling finally looked up and spoke, voice low but determined.
"Your Highness, when we return… I'd like to remain by His Majesty Qin Chuan's side."
Boom—
Qian Renxue's expression instantly changed.
"What did you say?"
"Your Highness, you know how well my martial soul resonates with His Majesty Qin Chuan's. During the time I spent healing him, my soul power increased by two full levels…"
Ye Lingling's eyes wavered slightly, but she continued.
"But please rest assured—I harbor no improper intentions toward His Majesty. I simply wish to stay by his side to aid his recovery and continue cultivating."
She hesitated, then added with a flush of embarrassment,
"With me by his side, any rumors regarding your relationship with His Majesty will lose traction."
Those last words struck like lightning.
Qian Renxue's heart skipped a beat as her pupils narrowed.
"You… What do you know?"
Her tone turned cold, the first flicker of killing intent rising in her gaze.
She had known deep down.
After that fateful battle, her behavior had been too unusual. And with her constantly by Qin Chuan's side, even the least observant might begin to suspect something.
But she hadn't realized it was this obvious.
Ye Lingling bit her lip and said timidly,
"Your Highness has never taken a concubine… Some wonder if it's because you've been waiting for His Majesty Qin Chuan."
Qian Renxue was stunned. Her face shifted through a mix of shock and embarrassment.
She had indeed never taken a concubine—
Not because she didn't want to. But because taking one would risk revealing her secret identity.
That alone had been enough for Emperor Xue Ye and the court ministers to sternly reject the matter.
But to think Ye Lingling interpreted it this way…
Still, it didn't matter. Whether she misunderstood or not, Qian Renxue had no intention of explaining anything.
"As long as I'm by His Majesty's side," Ye Lingling added softly, "no one will dare question the true nature of your relationship."
Qian Renxue narrowed her eyes and studied Ye Lingling's expression carefully.
"You truly only wish to cultivate?"
"Yes," Ye Lingling replied, eyes sincere. "I dare not think otherwise."
Qian Renxue was silent for a moment before nodding.
"Very well. We'll discuss it again once Qin Chuan wakes up."
The room quieted.
Together, the two women stood silently, eyes fixed on the man lying in the bed.
Meanwhile…
In a chaotic, disordered space shrouded in darkness—
A tall figure clad in dark red armor appeared out of nowhere, the air around him distorting from his presence.
Before him floated a nearly decomposed corpse, suspended in the void.
The armored man's eyes darkened with sorrow and determination.
Opening his palm, he revealed a glowing green pill brimming with vitality.
"This is the medicine I acquired from the Goddess of Life," he murmured.
"I'll use it… to save you."
The pill floated gently toward the corpse, embedding itself into the chest cavity.
Whoosh—!
In an instant, a dazzling green light exploded from the corpse, turning its decayed flesh translucent and radiant.
The overwhelming life energy poured uncontrollably from its seven orifices.
The damage had been too great—the first pill alone couldn't contain the power.
Frowning, the armored man summoned another pill, sending it into the corpse as well.
This time, the decay receded visibly. Rotten flesh regenerated, the face began to resemble its original form. But the body was still lifeless.
Gritting his teeth, the man summoned a third pill and melted it into the corpse.
Thump… thump…
A heartbeat. Faint at first, then gradually gaining rhythm.
The life energy leaking from the body lessened.
But it wasn't enough.
The armored man didn't hesitate. He summoned a fourth pill.
Once again, the pill merged into the corpse.
Suddenly, all the rampant life energy around them froze.
Then—like a gust of wind inhaling its own storm—every wisp of life force was pulled back into the corpse through its seven orifices.
The heartbeat accelerated—louder, stronger.
In that space of death and darkness, only the sound of a beating heart remained.
Then—
A finger twitched.
The limbs spasmed, jolting to life.
Life energy surged through the vessel, restoring blood, muscle, breath, soul—
Then the corpse's eyes snapped open.
Tears streamed down his cheeks as he gasped.
"…Dad… Xiao Wu…"
He sat up abruptly.
He was Tang San.