A Clear Understanding

Qian Renxue took the envelope, opened it, and carefully read the contents of the letter.

"You want to bring the Breaking Clan under your control?"

After finishing the letter, Qian Renxue looked at Ye Xi with surprise.

"To be precise, the Defense Clan as well."

Ye Xi nodded lightly, her expression extremely serious.

"As far as I know, it's practically impossible for the Breaking Clan and the Defense Clan to join Spirit Hall."

Qian Renxue placed the letter back into its envelope. She did not approve of Ye Xi's proposal.

"Mm. It would be nearly impossible to make them join Spirit Hall, but I never intended to have them join Spirit Hall."

Ye Xi met Qian Renxue's gaze and spoke calmly.

"Xiao Xi, you mean..."

A sharp glint flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes as she asked thoughtfully.

"Big Sister, exactly as you think."

Ye Xi nodded gently, confirming Qian Renxue's guess.

"How confident are you?"

Qian Renxue asked.

"There's a seventy percent chance of success."

Ye Xi answered calmly.

"It's worth trying. How will we deal with the issues afterward?"

Qian Renxue continued.

"Of course, there's a way to handle that."

Ye Xi raised a hand and pointed in the direction of the Tiandou Imperial Palace.

Qian Renxue looked where Ye Xi was pointing, a contemplative look appearing in her eyes.

"The initial groundwork will also begin with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family?"

Though Qian Renxue phrased it as a question, her tone was exceptionally certain.

"That's right. Xue Qinghe is a very good opening."

Ye Xi answered with a faint smile.

"Alright."

"I'll handle matters within the palace."

Qian Renxue nodded slightly, agreeing to Ye Xi's plan.

While the two spoke, Tian Yao sat on the bed, staring blankly at Qian Renxue and Ye Xi.

Tian Yao had been listening the entire time they talked. She could understand the earlier parts, but by the end, she could not understand anything at all. Still, her instincts told her that Qian Renxue and Ye Xi seemed to have settled on a very important decision.

"Tian Yao, did you understand what we were discussing?"

Qian Renxue turned her gaze toward Tian Yao behind them and asked softly.

"Young Master, I didn't understand."

Tian Yao shook her head slightly, answering without hesitation.

"Then why didn't you ask?"

Qian Renxue looked at Tian Yao curiously.

"Young Master, with my intelligence, even if I asked, I might not understand. Even if I understood, I might not comprehend it. Even if I comprehended it, I might not remember it. So I didn't ask."

After thinking it over carefully, Tian Yao answered with complete seriousness.

"Mm..."

"Tian Yao, all I can say is that you know yourself very clearly."

Qian Renxue looked at Tian Yao for a moment before withdrawing her gaze.

Hearing that, Tian Yao blinked. She felt that her Young Master was probably praising her, but she was not entirely sure.

Tian Yao picked up a piece of fruit and silently began eating it.

"Xiao Xi, with you helping me in Heaven Dou City, things will be so much easier for me from now on."

As Qian Renxue spoke, she reached out, lifted Ye Xi, and placed her on her lap. She stroked Ye Xi's silver hair, her eyes brimming with amusement.

"Ah... Big Sister."

Seeing Qian Renxue's actions, Ye Xi froze for a moment, and her face could not help flushing slightly.

A gentle breeze blew in through the window, stirring the hair of both Qian Renxue and Ye Xi.

Their golden and silver hair drifted softly in the wind, as though forming a beautiful painting.

Tian Yao sat in the back, watching the two of them, then looking at the half-eaten fruit. Confusion appeared in her eyes.

At that moment, Tian Yao felt that her presence in the room seemed just a little unnecessary.

"Big Sister, Dugu Bo has also agreed to serve me for ten years."

Sitting in Qian Renxue's arms, Ye Xi felt somewhat restless and uneasy.

"Dugu Bo serving you for ten years is a good thing."

Qian Renxue's eyes lit up slightly. Looking at Ye Xi's faintly reddened cheeks, she found her even more adorable.

Especially the feel of that silver hair—it made Qian Renxue reluctant to let go.

"Tomorrow morning, I'll go meet Dugu Bo."

"I'll have to trouble you, Big Sister, to give that letter to Yang Wushuang and have him deliver it personally."

Ye Xi looked at Qian Renxue seriously.

"Mm, leave it to me. Don't worry."

A lovely curve formed at Qian Renxue's lips. Her stunning face suddenly moved closer to Ye Xi's, her pale golden eyes staring directly into Ye Xi's sapphire-blue ones.

The distance between them suddenly shortened. Looking at that peerless face so close at hand, Ye Xi could not help but freeze.

Seeing Ye Xi's reaction, the smile on Qian Renxue's face grew even brighter. No matter how she looked at Ye Xi now, she found her utterly adorable.

Suddenly, crisp chewing sounds echoed through the quiet room.

Qian Renxue and Ye Xi turned toward the sound and saw Tian Yao sitting on the bed, silently eating fruit.

When she noticed their gazes, Tian Yao silently turned around with the fruit in hand, looking as though she knew nothing and had seen nothing.

"It's about time."

"I should head back too."

"Xiao Xi, we'll talk again next time."

Qian Renxue set Ye Xi down, rose from her seat, straightened her clothes, and walked toward the door.

"Mm, goodbye, Big Sister."

Ye Xi followed Qian Renxue to the doorway.

As the door opened, She Long appeared before them.

"Young Master."

"Second Young Lady."

She Long bowed respectfully to Qian Renxue and Ye Xi.

"Elder She Long."

Ye Xi politely greeted She Long.

"Let's go back."

After giving She Long a slight nod, Qian Renxue walked straight ahead.

With her hands behind her back and a light spring in her step, Qian Renxue looked exceptionally happy.

She Long followed behind Qian Renxue as they left together.

Only after their figures disappeared did Ye Xi close the door and return to the room.

"Second Young Lady, I'm going back to cultivate too."

Tian Yao got down from the bed and headed for the door.

"Mm, I'll call you tomorrow morning."

Watching Tian Yao leave, Ye Xi walked straight into the bathroom.

After filling the bathtub, Ye Xi climbed in and began soaking comfortably.

"The bathtub is still a little too small."

"Once the Mansion is finished, I'll build a bathhouse first."

Ye Xi murmured to herself, then closed her eyes and quietly enjoyed herself.

After a long while, Ye Xi stepped out of the bathtub. After drying herself with a bath towel, she took out a clean set of clothes from her Storage Bracelet and changed into them.

Seeing that it was still far from dawn, Ye Xi went to the bed, sat cross-legged upon it, and entered a state of Meditative Cultivation.

Time passed bit by bit.

At around nine in the morning, Ye Xi slowly opened her eyes. After stretching her waist, she got up, left the room, and headed toward Ling Yuan and Tian Yao's room.