Xiao Xuan and Hu Liena Join Forces to Set Up Qian Renxue?

"Your Highness is too polite."

"May I ask what brings you here this time?"

"If there is anything we can help with, the Xiao Clan will do its utmost."

Looking at Qian Renxue before him, disguised as a man and putting on a false front, Xiao Xuan sighed helplessly, already unwilling to keep tangling with her.

After all, he was Bibi Dong's disciple.

And outwardly, he certainly could not know Qian Renxue's true identity.

If he showed excessive enthusiasm toward the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family, he would undoubtedly draw the suspicion of Spirit Hall's higher-ups.

It could not be helped. Compared to the families of the Upper Three Sects, although Spirit Hall was more powerful, its internal conflicts were also fiercer.

One could roughly see the signs of this from Qian Renxue's display of "filial devotion."

Even if Bibi Dong did not think there was anything wrong with him, the faction opposed to her would very likely make a major issue of it.

Perhaps Qian Renxue had deliberately come looking for him this time as a test in itself?

It was precisely because of this

that Xiao Xuan had shown no initiative whatsoever since appearing.

He spoke strictly businesslike, with the air of someone impervious to both persuasion and pressure.

Even that final polite remark just now

had referred to the Xiao Clan rather than used his own name.

"Haha, nothing like that."

"I was merely passing by and happened to arrive at the right time."

"Of course, if Brother Xiao has the time, there is indeed something I wonder if you might help with?"

Hearing Xiao Xuan's reply, Qian Renxue's brows lifted slightly.

She quickly returned to normal, her eyes unconsciously shifting.

In an instant, she changed the subject with a smile.

Yet in Xiao Xuan's eyes, it looked somewhat ill-intentioned.

"It's not really anything important."

"Three months from now, Heaven Dou Royal Academy and several other academies will hold a friendly competition."

"If Brother Xiao is interested, would you like to come observe and learn with us?"

"It just so happens that those fellows at the Royal Academy

think they are exceptional all day long, yet they have never seen what a true genius is."

"I've recently been considering how to put them in their place."

As Qian Renxue spoke, she slipped in a subtle compliment.

But clearly, her true intentions were not so simple.

If Xiao Xuan had merely been a child, he definitely would not have heard anything amiss.

But he had a rather deep impression of her, after all.

He immediately confirmed that she was taking the opportunity to continue drawing him in.

Observing and learning was unimportant; what mattered was being able to spend time with Xiao Xuan.

Otherwise, with only today's single meeting, no matter how persuasive she was, she could not possibly succeed in recruiting him.

Qian Renxue was highly professional when it came to poaching people.

Naturally, she knew how to make her target lower his guard.

Unfortunately, Xiao Xuan had seen through all of it and would never willingly jump into her trap.

Upon hearing this, he deliberately revealed a bitter smile and put on a helpless expression.

"My apologies, His Highness Xue."

"I returned this time on a short leave granted by my teacher."

"In two more days, I must return to Spirit Hall for further training."

"Thank you for the invitation, but I may truly be unable to attend."

After all, everything he said was the truth.

Xiao Xuan's face did not redden, nor did his heart skip a beat. He simply did not care about her feelings.

Even if this girl sent people to investigate him in secret afterward, she would never uncover any answer different from his own.

Bibi Dong had dragged him into the Pope's Palace, where he had shut himself away to cultivate bitterly for an entire year.

Although outsiders could not obtain news of this matter, it was never much of a secret among Spirit Hall's upper ranks.

"Is that so? That truly is a pity."

"But there is still plenty of time. Brother Xiao, there is no need to refuse so quickly."

"When the time comes, we can see how things go..."

He could clearly sense that Qian Renxue's aura had shifted slightly.

It seemed she was already starting to lose patience with Xiao Xuan's inability to appreciate her goodwill.

Just as she was about to continue, a crisp voice suddenly rang out.

Hu Liena, who had handed over her shift and left early, suddenly returned, an unusual expression on her face.

"Your Highness, pardon me for interrupting your conversation."

"We just received news from the Nuoding City branch."

"There is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed with my junior brother immediately. Would it be possible..."

Hu Liena paused and looked toward Qian Renxue.

It sounded as though she was asking for permission, but in truth, there was no room for refusal.

After all, judging by their public identities, one was the Saintess and the other the Crown Prince. It was hard to say who ranked higher.

"Since this is a private matter of Spirit Hall, I shall take my leave first."

"Brother Xiao, we shall meet again if fate allows..."

Seeing this, Qian Renxue continued speaking in that male voice.

She nodded gracefully, pretending she had not been disturbed.

Then she rose, offered a polite salute, and prepared to leave.

"Uh, it's fine."

"It is not some secret matter. Your Highness may listen if you wish."

"Junior Brother, we just received word."

"One of Spirit Hall's training teams has lost contact in the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest."

"The mission has fallen to us. Pack up—we leave at once."

As Hu Liena spoke, she kept giving Xiao Xuan meaningful looks.

He immediately understood. The little girl had come to rescue him.

She had surely guessed that "Xue Qinghe" intended to set a trap for him.

To avoid any mishaps, she had deliberately come in to make this excuse.

Translated plainly, it meant Xiao Xuan truly had no time.

He had to leave Nuoding City immediately and could not keep accompanying this troublesome fellow.

Moreover, the Star Dou Great Forest was not close by.

Once the mission was complete, he would certainly return directly to Spirit Hall.

As for some exchange match or friendly match, naturally there would be no chance for him to come out again.

Hearing this, Qian Renxue's face twitched slightly.

With her intelligence, she could naturally tell it was all an excuse.

But she could not expose it, so she could only leave Xiao Mansion again with a hint of frustration.

Xiao Xuan and Hu Liena were left behind, exchanging smiles as they secretly breathed sighs of relief.

"Why does it feel like we're bullying Qian Renxue a little?"

"But there's no helping it. Who told that girl to keep thinking about poaching Bibi Dong's people?"

"Once everyone clears the air in the future, we can get along properly."

After confirming that she had left, Xiao Xuan finally relaxed.

Fortunately, things had developed fairly steadily.

After all, they would all be one family in the future.

If things truly turned sour now, they would not be so easy to mend.

Fortunately, Hu Liena was clever enough to come up with such an explanation.

"Sister Nana, you're still the smartest."

"We should keep our contact with the princes of the Heaven Dou Empire to a minimum."

"There have always been people watching the teacher, looking for trouble."

"Oh, right. That stuff about the Star Dou Great Forest... it can't be real, can it?"

Xiao Xuan had originally thought the matter was probably fabricated.

Or perhaps it was real, but had nothing to do with them.

Yet upon hearing this, Hu Liena shook her head.

She lightly flicked Xiao Xuan's forehead and revealed a gentle, radiant smile.

"What are you thinking? I wasn't joking."

"Besides, it's not that I'm smart. This was all Elder Ju's instruction."

"He said that man was very calculating and was afraid you wouldn't be able to handle him, so he specifically sent me over to bail you out."

"As for this mission, it really is real."

"It originally had nothing to do with us, but since we've already said it, we still have to do it."

Hu Liena shrugged and reminded him in a low voice.

The one they had just fooled was the Great Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.

And they were still on his turf.

If they failed to follow through on what they had said, it would definitely be uncovered later.

The idea of minimizing contact with people from other factions was quite right.

But Spirit Hall had no intention of tearing all pretenses apart yet.

They still had to keep up appearances.

"Don't worry, it's only the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest."

"And Elder Ju will definitely be following us in secret."

"There's no great danger. Maybe if you cultivate properly along the way—"

"—we can conveniently help you obtain your third spirit ring."