Two-Faced

At the foot of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Xue Qinghe sat inside a carriage.

"What? Father wants me to return to the palace at once?"

"Yes. It seems the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has come as well."

"Alright, I understand."

Inside the carriage, Xue Qinghe rubbed her temples in frustration. After so many years, she had gradually grown accustomed to the identity of the "Crown Prince." Inevitably, there were endless political affairs to handle every day, and she also had to guard against her true identity being exposed.

Especially Ning Fengzhi, that old fox. As the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he had always been exceptionally accurate at judging people. Moreover, he was Xue Qinghe's teacher.

Normally, aside from Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi was probably the person who had the most contact with him.

Meanwhile, at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Ye Hao stood atop a cliff, watching the carriage gradually disappear into the distance at the foot of the mountain.

"Phew..."

"Xue Qinghe has finally left. That woman really isn't simple."

Did this count as indirectly joining Spirit Hall?

Ye Hao patted his chest and let out a deep breath. It was a fact that Xue Qinghe had tried to recruit him.

Among the things that had drawn Xue Qinghe's attention, the most obvious were undoubtedly his appearance and his Death Spider Emperor Martial Soul.

Fortunately, Ye Hao's Soul Devouring Spider Emperor had not been exposed. Otherwise, even if Ye Hao jumped into the sea, he would never be able to clear his name.

Xue Qinghe: What exactly is your relationship with her?

Ye Hao: ???

Bibi Dong: ???

Ye Hao placed the token Xue Qinghe had given him in his palm. Its heavy weight made his thoughts feel incomparably burdened. Should he go find her, or not?

This question was truly vexing...

Go?

Or not go?

They said Xue Qinghe was the most beautiful woman in the Douluo world. Unfortunately, he had not been able to see her true face today. There was plenty of time ahead; he would naturally see it someday.

There were still two years left before the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament began. Heaven Dou Royal Academy's main team was the Imperial Dou Team Ye Hao belonged to, and they had a direct ticket to the Finals.

In other words, the Imperial Dou Team did not need to participate in the Preliminary Tournament or elimination rounds leading up to it. That was the treatment reserved for the organizer's "son."

In past All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournaments, the Heaven Dou region had almost never won the championship. It was either Spirit Hall or the Star Luo Empire. For this tournament, the imperial family placed enormous importance on it.

Because the Imperial Dou Team had gained a genius, someone worthy of focused cultivation.

During his three months at the academy, Ye Hao had experienced many things and become accustomed to seeing certain matters. Toward the teachings of Qin Ming and the Three Education Commissioners, Ye Hao had always maintained a respectful attitude.

If Ye Hao remembered correctly, Teacher Qin would soon lead the Imperial Dou Team away from Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Their final destination was Suotuo City. Qin Ming came from Shrek Academy, so before long, there would likely be a clash between Shrek Academy and the Imperial Dou Team.

Over the years, aside from staying in Nuoding City, Ye Hao had secretly kept observing the true personality of Tang San, this "protagonist," to see whether he was really as two-faced as people had said in his previous life.

He remembered one time when Xiao Wu had gone out alone to have fun. She had grown accustomed to being called "Sister Xiao Wu" at the academy, and as a result, she was bullied outside by a powerful foreign Soul Master. In the end, she returned to the academy with a tearful face.

This happened in Holy Spirit Village. After that, one person and one rabbit made mutual promises, saying things like, "You're my sister."

Ye Hao had found it nauseating at the time and ran back to Nuoding City overnight. If he had stayed any longer, he truly could not guarantee that something else would not have happened.

Tang San had not been in the dormitory that night. The next day, that person disappeared...

That was right, the foreign Soul Master who had bullied Xiao Wu disappeared. It was said that the matter had alarmed the Branch Martial Soul Hall in Nuoding City. Because the culprit's method had been exceptionally skillful, not a single piece of evidence had even been left at the scene.

The only suspicious part was the wound between the deceased's brows. The investigation concluded that something like a steel needle had pierced directly through his forehead, leaving a hole between his brows. The matter was ultimately left unresolved.

Ye Hao only remembered that the next day, Xiao Wu kept calling, "Third Brother, Third Brother," and the fondness in her eyes was so obvious that even Wang Sheng and the others could see it.

In Wang Sheng and the others' eyes, Xiao Wu and Tang San were merely close. They had slept together ever since they arrived, so it was only natural for them to share such feelings.

But in Ye Hao's view, aside from Tang San, no one else could have done it. Hidden Weapons, the Silent Sleeve Arrow—Ye Hao had seen Tang San use it before. Other than that, Ye Hao could not think of any other suspect.

From then on, Ye Hao distanced himself from Tang San and Xiao Wu. Several times, Tang San had taken the initiative to show goodwill, but Ye Hao's response was genuine—he directly chose to ignore him and left as though nothing had happened.

Tang San was secretly annoyed by this. If Grandmaster had not instructed him to make sure he maintained a good relationship with Ye Hao, Tang San might have acted long ago. When had he ever humbled himself so much before another person?

You could hurt others, but others were not allowed to hurt you. What kind of logic was that?

Twin Martial Souls, the Clear Sky Hammer?

What a waste. Two-faced, one act in the shadows and another in reality. As for the Immortal Herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Ye Hao would take them all. Fortunately, Sister Yan was his teammate, so wouldn't Old Poison be easy to talk to?

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was where Old Poison had become a Titled Douluo. It possessed uniquely blessed terrain, with abundant Immortal Herbs spread everywhere.

Now, Dugu Yan was Ye Hao's teammate.

As the saying went, help your own, not outsiders. Could Old Poison really wrong his Granddaughter?

However, Ye Hao was in no rush to go there for the time being. The Immortal Herbs would stay there; they had no legs and would not run away. There was no need to hurry.

Suotuo City, Shrek Academy, the Shrek Seven Devils...

Before long, we'll meet.

Ye Hao recalled how, three months ago, Grandmaster had personally called him into the office and tried every possible way to persuade him to enroll in Shrek Academy. That commanding tone had seemed to say...

"You have to go to Shrek Academy. Whether you want to or not, you're going."

Ye Hao knew perfectly well what Shrek Academy was like.

Only then had Ye Hao come all the way to Heaven Dou City in a fit of anger. Afterward, he encountered Qin Ming in the city and, through Qin Ming's recommendation, joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy, where he came to know the members of the Imperial Dou Team.

Ye Hao could not be blamed for this. Grandmaster had put on such a lofty, superior air. That lecturing tone might have worked on Tang San, but to Ye Hao, it was plainly nothing but "coercion."

Just imagine it: if someone suggested that you attend some obscure academy—and even tried to force you to go—your reaction would probably have been even stronger than Ye Hao's.

After bidding Xue Qinghe farewell, Ye Hao calmed his irritated mood. He put away the token and slowly headed toward the dormitories. In a few days, he would be leaving for Suotuo City, so there were still some necessary things he needed to prepare in advance.