Qin Heng cradled Song Ningran in his arms.

He sped away, finally arriving at the foot of Mount Tai.

He didn't know how many people's eyes he'd dazzled on the way.

Nor did he realize how many couples he had sent back to being single.

"How does it feel? Does your foot still hurt?" Qin Heng asked, still holding Song Ningran.

"No, it doesn't hurt anymore, but please put me down," Song Ningran said in a soft voice, her lovely face a bit flushed. She felt as if she had no strength in her body and could only lean on Qin Heng's chest.

"Then you have to be careful," Qin Heng said with a smile, gently setting her down to stand.

"Okay," Song Ningran nodded lightly.

However, the moment her foot touched the ground, her somewhat weak body couldn't stand steadily, and she leaned on Qin Heng instinctively, almost collapsing into his arms.

"Qin Heng!?" Song Ningran exclaimed in shock, her face flushing like fire, her voice trembling. She had never been held like this before.

"What's wrong?" Qin Heng looked at Song Ningran with some surprise, seemingly not understanding why she was having such a strong reaction.

"Ah? No, nothing," Song Ningran quickly shook her head, shy yet somewhat astonished. Didn't he feel anything? she questioned in her heart.

Shouldn't a normal eighteen-year-old boy get excited when a girl suddenly throws herself into his arms? Especially if she's a gorgeous girl with a great figure! He should be more excited, right? How could he remain so calm? It's too strange!

"Let's go, it's getting late. Let's head back to the hotel," Qin Heng said with a smile, as if nothing had just happened.

But in reality, how could he not have felt something?

Strictly speaking, in his past and present life, he hadn't had much contact with girls, let alone holding them in his arms.

After all, he had been obsessed with cultivation since he was seven years old and ascended to the Immortal Realm by Crossing Tribulation at the age of fifteen. He had barely seen any girls on Earth.

Even in the Immortal Realm, he was still absorbed in cultivation.

Those he interacted with were Saints and powerful beings like the Three Pure Ones, Haotian, and Buddha. He hardly ever saw any fairy maidens.

In the past, I thought girls were nothing special, no big deal. But now it seems they're not too bad? Qin Heng felt as if his mental state had been somewhat elevated. He gained a deeper insight into the fundamental principles of Yin and Yang, even making slight progress in his cultivational Realm!

However, on the surface, his expression remained completely normal. Life is like a play. Acting is important.

「Late at night.」

It was past ten o'clock and quiet. Inside the hotel, the lights were dim.

Song Ningran knocked on the door of Qin Heng's room.

Dressed in pajamas, she walked in. It seemed she had just taken a bath. Her jet-black hair emitted a faint fragrance, and there were some glistening droplets of water on her forehead. Then, she sat on Qin Heng's bed.

Of course, what happened next wasn't what you'd expect.

Song Ningran took out her phone, opened an app for booking plane tickets, and said, "Qin Heng, shall we just head back to Tianhai? I'm not too comfortable with leaving Little Yun at home alone."

"What, has the Jade Emperor Palace's survey been put on hold?" Qin Heng smiled; he had expected this.

"Yep, that's right," Song Ningran nodded and said. "Just now, our teacher sent a message saying Daoist Xu He has temporarily closed the Jade Emperor Palace, so the survey can't proceed. After reporting to the school authorities, we received the outcome: the original survey plan is canceled. However, we can still stay in Qi Lu for a few days. Accommodations will be reimbursed, but we'll have to pay for our own meals. Most people plan to sightsee here for a few days before heading back."

"That's understandable; for Daoist Xu He, healing is now the most important thing," Qin Heng nodded and smiled. "Well, let's book first class for tomorrow noon then. I'll write down the Cultivation Technique tonight and have Qian Zhenghai bring it to Xu He tomorrow."

This could also be seen as providing Qian Zhenghai with a powerful backer in Qi Lu. That way, he could avoid major trouble if he accidentally offended some big shot when Qin Heng wasn't around and found himself unable to handle the situation.

"Okay," Song Ningran nodded, performed a few taps on her phone, showed it to Qin Heng, and laughed, "All set, tomorrow's flight at one o'clock. Don't forget. I'm going back to sleep now; staying up late is bad for the skin."

"Not considering sleeping over at my place?" Qin Heng said with a playful smile.

"Tch!" Song Ningran instinctively clutched her collar, then let go. She glared at Qin Heng and sneered, "Just turned eighteen and already thinking of tasting the forbidden fruit? *I* won't let you have your way! See you tomorrow~"

Having said that, she turned around and left Qin Heng's room, hurrying away as if fleeing.

HAHAHA!! Qin Heng, watching the graceful figure of Song Ningran leaving, lay on the bed, laughing heartily.

Outside, Song Ningran heard Qin Heng's laughter. Her pretty face flushed instantly, and she even turned red all over as she scurried back to her own room.

"You're going to be the death of me, Qin Heng, really!!" Inside her room, Song Ningran stamped her foot, then flopped onto her bed, burying her head in the slightly cool pillow.

Her heart was pounding. She had seemed calm just now but was actually scared to death, afraid that Qin Heng would really keep her there.

If that had really happened... what should I have done?

Suddenly, Song Ningran felt a bit lost, then she fiercely shook her head.

After a little while, she twisted her delicate body, clenched her fists, and whispered to herself:

Nonsense! Of course, I would've refused! We're friends! Friends! Friends!!

「The next morning.」

Qin Heng and Song Ningran boarded the bus to the airport.

They didn't call a taxi, nor did they ask Mo Cheng or Qian Zhenghai to drive them.

The reason was simple. When the two walked out of the hotel, an airport bus was passing by, so they simply got on it. It was just a coincidence.

Not many people were going to the airport on a weekday. Most of the seats on the bus were empty, so Qin Heng and Song Ningran chose two seats towards the back and sat together.

At first, nothing was amiss.

But after the airport bus had gone some distance, a muscular man with a tattooed arm, followed by two lackey-like assistants, got on.

The bus driver seemed quite wary of him, greeting him repeatedly.

The tattooed brute was about to carelessly pick a seat when his gaze landed on Song Ningran, who was sitting beside Qin Heng. His eyes lit up, and he walked over.

Pointing at Qin Heng's nose, he said, "Kid, there's an empty seat over there. Go sit in it."

As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Song Ningran, his expression ravenous, like a hungry wolf that couldn't wait to pounce.

Song Ningran's eyebrows knitted slightly. She felt very uncomfortable under his gaze.

Qin Heng looked up at the man and said indifferently, "Scram!"

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