Turning Down Recruitment, but Unable to Refuse a Shopping Trip

"Interesting." Xue Qinghe nodded slightly. "Most children your age would have agreed at once on hearing about a Soul Douluo and cultivation resources. It's rare that you can calm yourself and think of laying your foundations first."

He pressed no further. Instead, he took a token from his sleeve and held it out. "I won't force you. Take this token. If you change your mind later, or run into trouble in your cultivation that you can't resolve, you can bring it to the Eastern Palace and find me anytime. A genius of the Heaven Dou Empire shouldn't be left buried and forgotten."

Gan Lin hesitated, then reached out and accepted the token. It felt cool in his hand. The emblem of the Heaven Dou Empire was carved on the front, and the character "Qing" on the back.

"Thank you, Your Highness." He nodded his thanks again, neither servile nor overbearing. He made no effort to curry favor because the other party was the crown prince, nor did he appear ill at ease because he had refused him.

Xue Qinghe gave him another couple of looks and nodded. "Cultivate well. I look forward to seeing what you become."

With that, he turned and walked down from the Soul Fighting platform. The students along the way bowed again, and only when he had completely left the Soul Fighting Arena did they dare straighten up.

The moment he left, the Soul Fighting Arena erupted again.

"Heavens, did Gan Lin really refuse His Highness the crown prince?"

"He's only six, and he already knows his own mind that well? If it were me, I'd have agreed at once. Those are the Eastern Palace's resources!"

"He has the strength, so of course he has the confidence to refuse. If you could reach level thirty-five at six and defeat a Soul Ancestor above your level, you'd have that confidence too."

"His Highness didn't even get angry. He even gave him a token. He really does think highly of him."

The buzz of discussion was all about Gan Lin and the attempt to recruit him just now. Standing by the platform, Bai Ling looked at Gan Lin's small figure with even greater admiration. Never mind a six-year-old child-even he himself might not have been able to refuse the crown prince's offer so calmly and give such sound reasons for it.

Gan Lin paid no attention to the discussion below the platform. He tucked the token into his robes, checked the Blackcliff Warbow and the Condensed Arrow Ice Box, then turned and headed down.

He knew very well that on the path of cultivation, foundations mattered more than anything. Getting caught up in the court's power struggles too early might seem like a way to gain plenty of resources, but in truth he would have to divide his attention between navigating social obligations and dealing with factional disputes, which would only hinder his original resolve to cultivate.

What he needed to do most now was to hone himself steadily at the academy, then consider other matters once he was strong enough.

When he walked out of the Soul Fighting Arena, the sun was shining brightly.

Gan Lin glanced up at the sky without breaking stride and headed straight for the mimicry cultivation area.

The battle had taken a great deal out of him. He needed to return and meditate to restore his Soul Power, then think over the shortcomings he had shown in today's fight. As for the crown prince's offer and the token, he put them out of his mind for the time being.

He had just turned onto the tree-lined path beside the Soul Fighting Arena's side corridor when two figures approached him head-on. They were Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.

Dugu Yan walked in front, her purple braid swaying gently with her steps. She raised a hand when she spotted Gan Lin from afar. Ye Lingling followed at her side, the hem of her plain white dress brushing the stone steps. She still held half a piece of honey cake, and when she saw him, she quietly tucked the pastry into her sleeve pocket.

"Gan Lin, we finally caught up with you." Dugu Yan ran over in a few strides and looked him up and down. Only when she saw that his breathing was steady did she relax. "We watched your whole match from the stands. When we came out, we ran into His Highness the crown prince's carriage heading toward the palace gates. He lifted the curtain and gave a slight nod in this direction, then went on without stopping."

Ye Lingling softly chimed in, "Yes, His Highness looked to be in a hurry. He probably had official business to attend to."

Gan Lin nodded slightly, his tone flat. "He was only passing by."

"Passing by? What a coincidence that would be." Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow and laughed, her voice full of admiration. "You really are amazing, daring to negotiate terms with His Highness at six years old. Anyone else would have kowtowed and agreed the moment they heard about the Eastern Palace's resources. Only you would still be thinking of laying your foundations first. Your character is even rarer than your talent."

Ye Lingling nodded gently as well, her gaze warm. "Xiaolin, your final arrow followed through very steadily, and your Soul Power control was excellent. It's rare to have strength left in reserve when fighting someone above your level."

"Thank you for the praise, sisters." Gan Lin remained composed and stepped aside in a gesture. "I was just going to the mimicry cultivation area to regulate my breathing and stabilize my Soul Power, so I'll take my leave."

"Hey, wait a moment, Xiaolin." Dugu Yan stretched out an arm to stop him, her eyes sparkling. "What difference would one hour make to your cultivation? We were planning to go to the West Street market after the match. Come with us."

"A new shop selling jujube-paste yam cakes opened on West Street, and there are stalls selling delicate little ornaments too," Ye Lingling added softly. "Take a walk and ease the tension from the fight. Your cultivation will go more smoothly when you get back."

Gan Lin frowned and took half a step back. "No. My Soul Power is fluctuating after the fight, so this is just the right time to meditate and stabilize it. I won't go out."

"Oh, there's no need to rush to stabilize it this very moment." Dugu Yan waved a hand, speaking as though it were only natural. "The worst thing for a Soul Master's cultivation is to stay wound too tight. You shut yourself up in the cultivation grounds every day; sooner or later you'll stifle yourself. Go out for a stroll and get some air, and you'll settle into meditation faster when you come back."

Gan Lin tried another excuse. "I didn't bring any money. It wouldn't be convenient to go shopping."

"What's the problem? I'll treat you." Dugu Yan patted her chest. "The pocket money Grandpa gave me is enough to buy ten jin of cakes. You don't need to worry about something so small. Besides, how could you possibly be without money? At least put some effort into your excuses!"

Gan Lin smiled awkwardly and tried to decline again. "My clothes aren't suitable. I'm afraid I'd be discourteous and make you two sisters lose face."

"We're only going shopping. Why bother with empty formalities?" Dugu Yan cut him off and turned to give Ye Lingling a meaningful look. "Isn't that right, Lingling?"

Ye Lingling's cheeks grew a little warm under her gaze, but she followed her lead and urged him gently, "We'll only go for a little while. It won't take too much of your time. If you're really worried about your depleted Soul Power, I can use the Nine Heart Glaze Begonia to nourish your meridians a little. It would be faster than recovering through meditation on your own."

Gan Lin watched the two play off each other: one straightforward and forceful, leaving him with nothing to say; the other gently delivering the follow-up blow, making it impossible for him to refuse outright. After a moment's silence, he finally sighed helplessly. In the body of a six-year-old child, he could beat neither of the two girls at persistence or persuasion.

"...All right." He relented. "Just one hour. I have to be back in the cultivation area before nightfall."

"That's more like it!" Dugu Yan broke into a smile and reached out to pat his shoulder, but halfway there she remembered how short he was and snapped her fingers briskly instead. "Come on. If we're any later, that shop's yam cakes will be sold out!"

Ye Lingling's eyes curved in a smile as well. She quietly took a small pastry wrapped in oil paper from her sleeve pocket and offered it to Gan Lin.

Gan Lin accepted it helplessly. It was time to endure the "torture" next.