"This is between me and you. There's no need for anyone else to get involved." Meng Hongchen paused, then shook her head and refused.
Though she knew that Xu Lanqing must have been absolutely confident in his victory to make such an offer after seeing how her brother had performed. Even if he faced both of them at once, he wouldn't waver in the slightest.
It was hard to believe. Xu Lanqing was twelve, just like her. Could their abilities really be so different?
But she felt an inexplicable, groundless trust in Xu Lanqing. Even though they'd only just met, perhaps this was what it meant to have a crush on someone.
A one-sided crush.
Xiao Hongchen was at a loss for words. People said daughters grew up and left their families, but Meng Hongchen wasn't even grown up yet and she'd already relegated her own brother to the category of "someone else."
Leaning against the doorway, he sized Xu Lanqing up, his mismatched eyes scrutinizing him from head to toe.
He straightened unconsciously, his expression growing more serious as he rapidly searched his memory. Since when had the Sun Moon Empire had a genius this powerful?
Xu Lanqing...
The surname Xu. Was he part of the imperial family?
The name sounded familiar. He was sure he'd heard it somewhere, but the memory was too old and hazy.
"Are you sure you don't need anyone else?"
Xu Lanqing glanced at the two of them, who had remained silent. Their expressions and movements had already given him the answer.
The young man stood ramrod straight, his proud bearing making it clear he wouldn't stoop to ganging up on anyone.
The young woman had already taken an attack Soul Tool from her Storage Ring: a long, entirely white sword.
The blade was