Is This Woman Sick?

Ghostly Shadow watched his nose, his nose watched his heart, pretending he did not exist.

He did not dare involve himself in the affairs of this feuding mother and daughter.

"What? Scared stupid?"

Qian Renxue looked at Xuan Hao's blank expression, a trace of smugness flashing through her eyes. "I know this is rather shocking. I originally had no intention of revealing my identity this early. After all, the risk was too great."

"But..."

Qian Renxue walked up to Xuan Hao and looked down at him, admiration gleaming in her eyes.

"Your performance in Heaven Dou City these past two days has truly impressed me."

"Whether it was plotting against Dugu Bo or manipulating the Imperial Family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, your scheming, methods, and grasp of human nature were all astonishing. Even at your age, I could not have managed such things."

"We are the same kind of people."

Qian Renxue's tone was certain. "Since you are that woman's disciple, you are naturally one of Spirit Hall. Rather than letting you stumble around outside like a headless fly, why not... come help me?"

"Help me take the Heaven Dou Empire and complete this great plan!"

"Once it is done, this achievement will be enough to place you above everyone in Spirit Hall save one!"

As Xuan Hao listened to this impassioned "recruitment speech," his expression grew increasingly strange.

After remaining silent for a while, he finally could not help raising a hand and pointing at Na'er, who had been watching the show beside them with wide eyes.

"Um... Senior Martial Sister."

"I am indeed touched that you were so honest right from the start. But..."

"Did you overlook something?"

"I am Teacher's disciple, and Elder Ghost is an Elder of Spirit Hall. You know who we are, so there is no problem with coming clean to us."

"But there is also a completely uninformed bystander here, someone with absolutely nothing to do with Spirit Hall!"

"You just revealed your greatest secret in front of her?"

"Aren't you afraid she might go out and tell people? Or... be scared out of her wits?"

Hearing that, Qian Renxue merely gave Na'er a casual glance.

In her eyes, Na'er was merely an ordinary little girl without the slightest fluctuation of Soul Power. She was a little pretty, perhaps, but still just a porcelain doll who posed no threat whatsoever.

"You will handle it, won't you?"

Qian Renxue looked at Xuan Hao with a confidence that seemed only natural, even carrying a faint hint of threat.

"Since I dared reveal myself before you, it means I trust you to be a smart person."

"You understand the gravity of this matter. If it leaks out, I might not necessarily suffer, but you—and this little sister you care about..."

Qian Renxue's slender fingers lightly tapped the tabletop twice.

"I am afraid you will not be so fortunate."

"So, I trust you will keep her mouth shut."

"After all, we are on the same boat now, aren't we, Junior Martial Brother?"

"..."

Xuan Hao's expression grew even stranger upon hearing that.

He leaned back, lounging lazily against the sofa with his arms crossed. Looking at Qian Renxue, who had fully unleashed her imposing aura, he said unhurriedly:

"Senior Martial Sister, it seems you have not quite mastered the art of making empty promises."

"Threats and bribes will not work on me."

"Also, have you gotten something wrong?"

"I am the Pope's Personal Disciple. Teacher has taught me since I was young that in Spirit Hall, I only need to listen to her."

"As for everyone else, whether they are Elders or some Young Master, even that Great Elder who sits beneath the Divine Statue all day staring into space, none of them are qualified to command me."

"And you said something about... above everyone save one?"

Xuan Hao snorted and spread his hands.

"In Spirit Hall right now, aside from Teacher, who dares control me? Am I not already below only one person? Do I need you to give that to me?"

"Besides, this Nation-Stealing Plan sounds like a lot of trouble. Teacher has not said a word, so I have no spare time to be your laborer. I might even end up taking the blame. Do you think I am sick?"

"You—!"

The smile on Qian Renxue's face instantly froze.

Ever since she was young, whether in Spirit Hall or the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, she had always been surrounded by adoration. Who had ever dared speak to her like this? Who had ever rejected her recruitment so bluntly?

What angered her even more was that this brat had actually used Bibi Dong to suppress her!

"Xuan Hao, you are being far too presumptuous!"

Qian Renxue abruptly rose to her feet. In that instant, the Sacred Pressure belonging to the Six-winged Angel burst forth, even overpowering the faint Dragon Might emanating from Xuan Hao.

"Have you forgotten what my surname is?"

"My surname is Qian!"

"Since you are from Spirit Hall, you should understand what that surname means!"

Qian Renxue stepped forward, her presence overwhelming.

"The Pope? Hmph, that woman is merely Spirit Hall's public administrator. Behind me stands the Elder Hall! The Worship Hall! The entire Angel Family! The true foundation of Spirit Hall!"

"As long as I wish it, that woman may not be able to keep her position at any time."

"As long as I am willing, I can give you twice whatever that woman can give you! And I can give you what she cannot!"

"Even..."

Qian Renxue bent down and stared directly into Xuan Hao's eyes.

"Even the future position of Pope—I can give it to you as well, so long as you are willing to sincerely assist me!"

"..."

Rather than showing the slightest fanaticism, Xuan Hao reacted as though he had heard an exceedingly boring joke and idly dug at his ear.

"The position of Pope?"

"Senior Martial Sister, are you a little too confident in yourself—or in that Angel Family of yours?"

"I will say it again. Teacher did not tell me to involve myself in this matter, and I have no interest in doing so."

"As for the Elder Hall, the Worship Hall, or even the Angel Family..."

Xuan Hao shrugged, utterly unconcerned.

"What does any of that have to do with me?"

"If there is something I want, I will reach out and take it myself. Whether it is status, power, or anything else."

"I do not need anyone to give it to me, much less need anyone's charity."

"You..."

Qian Renxue looked at the youth before her, someone impervious to both soft and hard tactics. Her silver teeth clenched, and her fists tightened.

In Spirit Hall, no one could refuse the olive branch offered by the Angel Family.

She had already said this much, even promising him the position of Pope, yet this brat still acted like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water?

He did not know what was good for him!

He simply did not know what was good for him!

"Fine. Very good."

Qian Renxue laughed in extreme anger and nodded. "As expected of that woman's disciple. That arrogant defiance of heaven and earth is exactly like hers."

"Since you cannot see reason right now, I will give you time to think it over slowly."

"Buzz—"

Golden light flashed once more.

The stunningly beautiful Qian Renxue vanished, replaced by the gentle and refined yet grim-faced Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

"I will come again."

Xue Qinghe gave Xuan Hao a deep look, adjusted his collar, and turned to pull open the door. "I hope that the next time we meet, you will give me an answer that satisfies me."

With that, Xue Qinghe flicked his sleeve and left. He did not even spare Ghostly Shadow a glance before slamming the door shut with a bang.

The room fell silent once more.

"Tsk..."

Xuan Hao looked at the tightly shut door with a disgusted curl of his lips, then turned to Ghostly Shadow.

"Does this woman have something seriously wrong with her head?"

Ghostly Shadow's mouth twitched, but he did not dare respond.

One was the current Pope's beloved disciple, while the other was the former Pope's daughter and the Great Elder's granddaughter. How could he dare interrupt when these two little ancestors were clashing?

"Right from the start, she acted like, 'It is your honor that I have taken a liking to you,' just talking to herself over there."

Xuan Hao stood up and complained as he adjusted Na'er's dress.

"Does she think I am one of those ignorant lackeys from Spirit Academy? She thinks flashing her surname and making a worthless promise means I have to grovel at her feet?"

"She is seriously sick."

"Even Teacher does not put on such airs when she speaks to me. Yet she is asking someone for help while acting like she is doing them a favor."

"She does not even know how to put on an act. As for that so-called Imperial Art of Governance, I think she learned it all in a dog's belly."

"Let's go, Na'er!"

"Do not let that weird aunt ruin our mood. Let's go have a feast!"

Heaven Dou City, the bustling district.

The streets were filled with carriages and pedestrians, while cries of vendors rose and fell without end. The area was exceptionally lively.

Xuan Hao held Na'er's hand as they wandered enthusiastically among the various snack stalls.

In the shadows not far away, a somewhat disheveled golden figure quietly appeared. It was Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, who had just rushed back in a panic.

After hearing that Xuan Hao had just rejected Qian Renxue's recruitment, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness. If he had actually gotten carried away and agreed, getting tangled up with Qian Renxue... once we got back, Your Excellency would peel the skin off both of us!"

In the shadows, Ghostly Shadow also looked shaken. "Isn't that the truth? You did not see what happened back there. Young Master looked down on people as though she were looking through her nostrils. I was truly afraid Xiao Zu Zong's temper would flare up and he would turn hostile on the spot and punch her."

"But..."

Ghostly Shadow's voice paused. "Young Master suffered a setback this time, so she definitely will not let it go. With her temperament, I am afraid..."

As he spoke, a concealed yet sharp aura suddenly approached from the side.

Yue Guan's gaze sharpened, and he was just about to react when he realized it was one of their own.

An elderly man dressed in black, with a fierce aura, silently appeared at the entrance of a nearby alley. He nodded to Yue Guan and Ghostly Shadow before transmitting his voice directly to them.

"Lao Gui, come out for a moment."

"Young Master wishes to see you."

"She Long?" Ghostly Shadow frowned. "What does Young Master want with me?"

"Young Master has some questions regarding that brat and wishes to seek your advice." Although Snake Lance Douluo spoke politely, his attitude clearly left no room for refusal.

Ghostly Shadow glanced at Xuan Hao, who was still eating without a care in the world, and helplessly sighed.

"Fine."

Ghostly Shadow turned to instruct Yue Guan, "Keep an eye on Xiao Zu Zong. Do not let him cause any more trouble. I will be back shortly."

"Go on, go on. I have things covered here." Yue Guan waved him away, looking sympathetically at his old partner.

It seemed Lao Gui would be the one suffering the squeeze today.