However, Qian Xunji only smiled faintly and didn't mind.
Because breaking down the image of Tang Xiao and Tang Hao in Ah Yin's heart was just something he did in passing.
If it worked, great.
If not, oh well.
As for winning Ah Yin over, he had plenty of time.
First, he would try to understand her personality and situation, then tailor a strategy accordingly.
He didn't believe it—
With his outstanding appearance in this life, powerful strength, and as a transmigrator, his knowledge and wisdom far beyond the confines of this world...
On a continent like Douluo, where even robbing food routes could be hailed as a "brilliant strategy through the ages,"
he still couldn't conquer a single piece of intelligent—but not that intelligent—grass?
Of course, Qian Xunji was aware—
this "Romance Continent" was a bit absurd.
The women were practically all hopeless romantics, and the men were basically all doormats and simps.
It was like the divine fruit of love from the God Realm had fallen onto the Douluo Continent.
If this were a novel, and Ah Yin had already gone through years of life-and-death experiences with Tang Hao,
Qian Xunji might not be confident in prying her away.
But right now, Ah Yin had only sworn brotherhood with Tang Xiao and Tang Hao.
They'd only been adventuring together in the soul master world for half a year.
Their bond wasn't nearly as deep as in the novel, where they spent a whole three years together.
As long as he wielded his metaphorical hoe well...
Digging up this stalk of grass shouldn't be that hard!
After Qian Xunji took Ah Yin away,
Tang Hao was devastated, living in a daze like his soul had left his body.
But after being harshly scolded by Tang Xiao,
and repeatedly encouraged with talk about revitalizing the Clear Sky School and upholding the family legacy,
Tang Hao finally pulled himself together a bit.
Though he could now hold conversations and cultivate again,
he still drank every day, getting himself drunk and reeking of alcohol all the time.
This only made Tang Xiao even angrier.
Helpless, he decided to forcibly take Tang Hao back to the Clear Sky School,
hoping their father, Tang Zhen, could knock some sense into him and help him truly recover.
On the other side...
Though he'd been snappily rebutted by Ah Yin the other night—
when he tried to tarnish the images of Tang Xiao and Tang Hao in her heart—
Qian Xunji wasn't the least bit bothered.
He still smiled every day, taking Ah Yin sightseeing through the mountains and rivers.
From time to time, he'd recite a few poems from his past life, expressing his emotions as they witnessed the magnificent scenery of the Douluo Continent.
Ahem, this wasn't plagiarism!
There was no such thing as poetry on the Douluo Continent.
Qian Xunji was simply a Chinese soul, and when he saw beautiful landscapes, his blood stirred,
and he couldn't help but recite poetry to express his feelings.
He didn't publish or claim the poems as his own, so it couldn't be considered plagiarism.
But showing off a little in front of Ah Yin? He absolutely intended to do that.
Even though the Douluo Continent didn't have poetry,
poetry and music were both forms of emotional expression.
And when it came to expressing emotions—
that wasn't something easily blocked by language barriers.
Even though she was forcefully taken along to sightsee,
every time Ah Yin saw breathtaking sights—
like the rising sun emerging from red-orange morning clouds atop a peak,
or waterfalls cascading down thousand-meter cliffs,
or picturesque landscapes like scenes from a painting—
It all deeply moved her.
After all, as the Blue Silver Emperor, she'd been unable to move freely for 100,000 years.
And every time, Qian Xunji would smile and softly chant a few verses from ancient poems to add to the atmosphere.
Even if she didn't fully understand them, Ah Yin couldn't help but be amazed.
'These lines... sound kinda beautiful. There's something meaningful in them.'
She hadn't expected him to actually be... kind of talented!
During their travels, though she was initially resistant,
she gradually grew used to it—this was the nature of intelligent life.
Eventually, Qian Xunji managed to learn about Ah Yin's past.
As the Blue Silver Emperor, before she took human form, Ah Yin had always lived in a place called the Forest of Life, unable to move.
Because she couldn't move, she rarely witnessed the slaughter of soul beasts by humans.
And her fellow blue silver grasses were too weak and too abundant to draw any attention from humans.
They were the kind of plant-type soul beasts that would never be hunted.
So Ah Yin never developed much resentment toward humans.
On the contrary, once she gained intelligence and began communicating with many ten-thousand-year soul beasts,
she learned of the deep hatred between humans and soul beasts.
And in her heart, a naive hope sprouted:
'What if humans and soul beasts could live in peace? Wouldn't that be wonderful?'
So, when her cultivation reached 100,000 years and she chose to take human form,
she hid her identity and moved to a small village near the Star Dou Forest.
There, she used the human presence to help her cultivate,
while also working as a healer and treating the villagers' ailments.
The villagers' honesty, warmth, and simplicity further nurtured her hope.
'Humans can be kind too.
Why must humans and soul beasts be enemies?'
She wanted to change all of that.
But as a stalk of intelligent—but not especially smart—grass,
Ah Yin could only start with herself, yet never found a real solution to the problem.
After learning all this, Qian Xunji finally pieced together Ah Yin's personality.
She was a kind, innocent, and compassionate blade of grass.
That made things simple.
Qian Xunji smirked confidently in his heart.
After realizing Ah Yin's hope for peace between humans and soul beasts,
he didn't mock her—he praised her greatly.
"Ah Yin, you're truly kind."
"Actually, I feel the same. I also think it'd be wonderful if humans and soul beasts could live in peace."
"I believe any intelligent lifeform should be treated equally."
"If we could help each other and live together in harmony, wouldn't the world be even more beautiful?"
"You should be able to tell—"
"Even though I know you're a soul beast, I've never treated you as one. I've always seen you as an equal person."
Hearing his approval and praise, Ah Yin nodded like a woodpecker, her heart full of joy and excitement.
The happiness of being understood filled every corner of her soul.
Because she knew—
whether from humans or soul beasts,
this dream of hers was almost impossible to gain support for.
So she'd always kept it buried in her heart, never telling anyone.
She never imagined Qian Xunji would not only acknowledge it but even praise it.
And even more incredible—he actually shared the same belief!
She could feel it.
Qian Xunji wasn't lying.
"But Ah Yin, your dream is beautiful," Qian Xunji added softly.
"But have you thought about how to actually achieve it?"
Ah Yin looked confused.
"I don't know. I really want to make it happen."
"But before I took human form, I shared this idea with some other soul beasts."
"They didn't understand me at all. They even called me a traitor to our kind."
"They said... it's completely impossible!"
"From the moment this thought appeared in my heart until now, I've been thinking about how to make it real—
but I've never found a way."
Ah Yin hung her head, deeply discouraged.