Could the Young Mistress Be in Love?

Outside Mu Zhe's courtyard in Heaven Dou City.

A veiled young woman knocked on the door. After waiting for a long while, there was still no response.

It was the weekend. Ye Lingling had returned to the city from the academy. Recently, she had run into some problems with cultivation and wanted to consult Mu Zhe.

"Let's go, Lingling."

"I already told you, Mu Zhe is cultivating in my grandfather's Medicinal Garden."

Dugu Yan, who stood beside her, took Ye Lingling by the arm and explained.

Unlike Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling had often come to see Mu Zhe during the three months he had spent in Heaven Dou City, seeking his guidance on cultivation matters.

And Mu Zhe's answers had always resolved Ye Lingling's doubts.

However, over the past half year, Mu Zhe seemed to have left Heaven Dou City.

It was only now that Dugu Yan had told her of Mu Zhe's whereabouts.

"Your grandfather's Medicinal Garden?" For a moment, Ye Lingling did not understand what Dugu Yan meant.

She remembered that Dugu Yan had not known Mu Zhe for very long. How had they become connected to that Poison Douluo, to the point that Mu Zhe was even cultivating in his Medicinal Garden?

"Mm-hmm."

Actually, Dugu Yan was not certain either. But a few days ago, her grandfather, Dugu Bo, had left a letter at home saying that Mu Zhe was cultivating in his Medicinal Garden and that she need not worry about him.

Her grandfather doted on her the most, so she reluctantly chose to believe that Mu Zhe was still cultivating there.

It had been so long since she had seen him. She really missed Mu Zhe.

Dugu Yan secretly glanced at Ye Lingling, feeling somewhat guilty. Stealing a man from her sister was truly rather unkind.

Ever since Ye Lingling first met Mu Zhe, she had often used asking for guidance as an excuse to see him. Dugu Yan knew all about it; she simply had not exposed her.

She just did not know what Ye Lingling was worried about. Clearly, she felt deeply for him... yet she could not quite let herself go.

Still, that worked out in her favor.

"Your grandfather and Mu Zhe are friends?"

If he could even share his Medicinal Garden, they counted as friends, right?

Ye Lingling looked suspiciously at Dugu Yan. Although she and Dugu Yan were good friends, Dugu Yan's grandfather, Poison Douluo, was an elusive man. Ye Lingling had never even seen him in person.

She had heard that Poison Douluo was difficult to get along with, moody, and ruthless.

Could someone like that become friends with Mu Zhe? She would sooner believe he was bullying Mu Zhe.

"Probably... I suppose."

Dugu Yan was immediately at a loss for words. Every time she had an intimate moment with Mu Zhe, her grandfather's expression looked terrible, as though he wanted to kill Mu Zhe.

At that thought, Dugu Yan's mood instantly became as dreadful as Ye Lingling's.

Could Mu Zhe have already been... dealt with by Grandpa? Otherwise, who would cultivate in such a terrible environment?

As soon as the thought arose, Dugu Yan hurriedly shook her head and drove away the absurd notion.

"Grandpa fell ill, and Mu Zhe examined him. After that, they became friends despite their age difference."

After offering Ye Lingling that explanation, Dugu Yan quickly pulled her away, lest they both continue worrying.

"Anyway, Mu Zhe is alive and well."

"And besides, you and Mu Zhe are only ordinary friends. Why are you so concerned about him?"

At Dugu Yan's questioning, Ye Lingling's heart skipped unnaturally. A faint blush stained the corners of her eyes, and she hurriedly pulled her veil higher.

"I only came to ask about some cultivation problems."

Even she did not believe those words, much less Dugu Yan.

"Oh? Take a guess whether I believe you."

Faced with Dugu Yan's teasing smile, Ye Lingling chose to strike back, reaching out to pinch her slender waist.

"It's getting late. I'm going back to the academy."

After tossing out those words, she fled in embarrassment.

Dugu Yan looked up. The sun had not even set yet. Getting late?

Prince's Mansion.

Qian Renxue had just finished scheming against the ministers. Mentally exhausted, she lay sprawled over her desk, where a thick stack of memorials sat beside her. She had no desire whatsoever to review them.

Only thoughts of Mu Zhe managed to stir a bit of interest in her.

She called out toward the outside, no longer disguising her original voice.

"She Long, have you found Mu Zhe?"

The moment her voice fell, She Long appeared in the room. After respectfully bowing, he said, "Young Mistress, there has been no trace of Mu Zhe for half a year. Your subordinate is still searching."

She Long could not understand why Qian Renxue kept looking for Mu Zhe.

Mu Zhe was indeed somewhat handsome, just a tiny bit better-looking than She Long had been in his youth, and his talent was above average—but was that really why Qian Renxue was looking for him?

Then an absurd thought rose in She Long's mind.

Hiss!

Could the Young Mistress be in love?!

If this news reached the Grand Worshipper, Spirit City would be shaken.

Qian Renxue had no idea what She Long was thinking. Upon hearing his words, the slight hope she had just felt was immediately extinguished.

After meeting Mu Zhe for the first time, she had finally made up her mind to carry out the "plan." Yet before she knew it, Mu Zhe had vanished.

She had already sent She Long and Porcupine Douluo to search Heaven Dou City again and again, but there was still no trace of Mu Zhe.

Qian Renxue could already imagine that Mu Zhe had left Heaven Dou City. After all, he had said he was traveling to gain experience; he could not remain in one place forever.

"Go back to Spirit City and investigate."

They could not find any trace of Mu Zhe outside. Perhaps there would be clues back in Spirit City. It was the only solution Qian Renxue could think of.

She Long caught another implication in her words. "Could Mu Zhe be one of us from Spirit Hall?"

"It's highly possible. No other force could raise such a genius." Qian Renxue nodded, indicating that it was merely her own speculation.

"Even so..."

She Long looked troubled. He could not leave Qian Renxue's side.

Long before Qian Renxue's infiltration plan began, he and Pufferfish Douluo had been summoned by the Grand Worshipper, Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu had sent them to protect Qian Renxue and warned them that they were not to leave her side for even a single step.

Qian Renxue was the Grand Worshipper's only granddaughter and the Angel lineage's sole heir. If anything happened after he left, he might as well hand over his head.

"Are you refusing to listen to me now?" Qian Renxue asked with feigned anger.

Forgive me, Young Mistress, but these are the Grand Worshipper's orders!

She Long answered in his heart, then stood there pretending to be dead.

"Forget it. You may leave."

The oppressive atmosphere did not last long. Qian Renxue waved her hand, and only then did She Long breathe a sigh of relief before quickly withdrawing.

Although Qian Renxue felt she did not need protection, whenever matters like this were involved, neither She Long nor Pufferfish listened to her.

"Damn it. I am the Young Mistress of Spirit Hall, yet I do not even have anyone I can use."

In truth, aside from She Long and Pufferfish, who guarded her at her side, everyone in the Prince's Mansion had been replaced with people from Spirit Hall. But their authority was too low; expecting them to uncover anything in Spirit City was nothing but a fool's dream.

"Wait."

Qian Renxue suddenly thought of something and called out to She Long, who was hurrying away.

Hearing Qian Renxue call for him, She Long immediately returned to the room without a trace of displeasure in his heart.

"Where did Mu Zhe appear for the last time?"

"No one was watching him at the time, but this subordinate guesses that he went to Dugu Manor."

She Long knew that Mu Zhe was friends with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling. If Mu Zhe had left Heaven Dou City, he should have gone back to bid Dugu Yan farewell, right?

"Dugu Manor?"

Qian Renxue searched her memories. Dugu Manor was home only to Poison Douluo Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan.

Could he have been abducted by Dugu Bo?

No. According to the investigation, Dugu Yan was a righteous person. She would not let her grandfather abduct her own friend.

"Where is Dugu Yan?"

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

"Send someone to ask her. Say that Mu Zhe is my retainer, but do not make it too obvious."