Chance Encounter

"My apologies, Your Excellency Sword Douluo, Miss Ning. The Crown Prince has still not returned. Shall I send someone to the Moonlight Pavilion to notify him?"

Standing before the gates of the Crown Prince's Mansion, the steward wiped cold sweat from his forehead, looking at Ning Rongrong and Sword Douluo Chen Xin with an apologetic expression. He had no choice; the pressure was immense.

Ning Rongrong let out a disappointed "Ah," and muttered, "Is the Moonlight Pavilion really that fun? Crown Prince Brother hasn't returned all afternoon."

They had already visited once before. Upon learning that Crown Prince Xue Qinghe was not at the mansion, they had politely declined the steward's hospitality, intending to first return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's residence in Heaven Dou City. They hadn't expected that after finishing their business and returning, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe would still be absent.

The reputation of the Moonlight Pavilion in the upper circles of Heaven Dou City was quite significant, and Ning Rongrong, who had never been there before, suddenly felt a spark of interest.

She turned to Chen Xin, "Sword Grandpa, why don't we go to the Moonlight Pavilion to find Crown Prince Brother?"

Chen Xin hesitated upon hearing this. The identity of the Moonlight Pavilion's mistress, Tang Yuehua, was far from simple, and very few people were aware of it.

It was only through Ning Fengzhi that he had learned Tang Yuehua was the younger sister of Tang Xiao, the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, which had long since closed its gates to the world.

"Sword Grandpa?" Seeing Chen Xin hesitate, Ning Rongrong blinked her large eyes, staring at him with a look of anticipation.

"Fine, fine, Rongrong can go wherever she likes." Facing Ning Rongrong when she wore such an expression, Chen Xin's mouth twitched, and he ultimately agreed.

As a dignified Sword Douluo, he was confident that, aside from a few rare places on the continent, he could protect Rongrong's safety anywhere.

About half an hour later, Sword Douluo brought Ning Rongrong to the entrance of the Moonlight Pavilion, only to unexpectedly encounter Crown Prince Xue Qinghe walking out.

"Qinghe greets Your Excellency Sword Douluo." Xue Qinghe first bowed respectfully to Chen Xin before looking at Ning Rongrong, his smile becoming a bit more genuine. "Rongrong, what brings you to Heaven Dou City? Did Sect Master Ning have instructions?"

"Daddy asked me to deliver a letter to Crown Prince Brother!" Ning Rongrong took out the letter and handed it over, then keenly caught a strange look in Xue Qinghe's eyes and asked curiously, "Crown Prince Brother, why do you seem troubled? Did you run into some trouble?"

Xue Qinghe took the letter and paused slightly, thinking to himself that he hadn't been composed enough.

He had originally planned to send Xue Beng away in a few years, but the events that had just occurred at the Moonlight Pavilion made him hesitate.

If Xue Beng were as talented as his deceased brothers, he would have taken the risk to kill him regardless.

However, through his observations over the last few years and what had just happened, he was convinced that the boy was nothing but a waste. He had been weighing his options since leaving the Moonlight Pavilion, never expecting this little girl, Ning Rongrong, to notice his abnormality.

This was not good!

Pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind, Xue Qinghe resumed his usual gentle, refined, and soft-smiling demeanor.

"It is nothing, just some trivial matters. Please don't mind me, Rongrong."

The more he said that, the more curious Ning Rongrong became, and she pressed, "Crown Prince Brother, just tell me! Did someone make you angry? Tell me, and I'll go vent your frustration for you!"

She waved her small fist, looking quite righteous.

Xue Qinghe was amused by her, the worry in his eyes seeming to dissipate slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed, "It is not a major issue. I just returned from the Moonlight Pavilion and was reminded of my incompetent fourth brother, which left me... somewhat sentimental."

Ning Rongrong was almost certainly the next Sect Master, so Xue Qinghe intended to sow some seeds of discord to make her thoroughly despise Xue Beng.

"Xue Beng?" Ning Rongrong immediately wrinkled her small nose. "What bad thing did that annoying brat do this time? Did he cause trouble at the Moonlight Pavilion?"

"Indeed." Xue Qinghe nodded, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and disappointment.

"I went to the Moonlight Pavilion today to discuss the zither with Mistress Tang. My fourth brother... for some reason, was also there, perhaps wanting to feign refinement. As a result, he clashed with a young man visiting the pavilion. His words were unruly and his behavior lacked decorum; he truly disgraced me, our Imperial Father, and the entire royal family."

"Ah? He started a fight at the Moonlight Pavilion? Xue Beng is truly out of line!"

Ning Rongrong widened her eyes. While she spoke words of complaint, her face wore an expression of pure gossip. "And then what happened? Did Xue Beng get beaten up, or did he beat someone else?"

"I wish he had won; at least it wouldn't have been so embarrassing," Xue Qinghe said, a complex look appearing on his face. "However, the young man visiting left a deep impression on me. Facing my fourth brother's aggression, he remained neither humble nor pushy, responding with perfect decorum. In the end... he actually left my fourth brother unable to save face. My fourth brother left in a huff, and I had no choice but to apologize to Mistress Tang on his behalf."

"He dared to make Xue Beng lose face?" Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she asked repeatedly, "Crown Prince Brother, who is that young man? He's so brave, daring to stand up to a prince!"

"Your Crown Prince Brother is also a prince. Is it really appropriate for you to say that? It's as if beating a prince is something worth praising."

Xue Qinghe glanced at Ning Rongrong, somewhat speechless, but he still answered gently, "That young man calls himself Lan Yin. He has a steady demeanor and clear, upright eyes, unlike ordinary people. His age... is likely similar to yours."

"Lan Yin?" Ning Rongrong was stunned. She repeated the name subconsciously, then suddenly grabbed Chen Xin's sleeve. "Sword Grandpa! It's Brother Lan Yin! How did he end up at the Moonlight Pavilion?"

Chen Xin had opened his eyes the moment Xue Qinghe mentioned the name "Lan Yin."

Hearing Ning Rongrong's exclamation, a trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by deep contemplation.

The Moonlight Pavilion was not a place just anyone could enter. It seemed that boy Lan Yin was not entirely honest and was hiding many things.

Xue Qinghe observed their reactions, especially Ning Rongrong's undisguised surprise and familiarity. His heart stirred, but his face showed just the right amount of astonishment. "Rongrong knows this young brother Lan Yin?"

He naturally saw that Ning Rongrong and the boy named Lan Yin had a good relationship, so he naturally changed his address to "young brother Lan Yin," making it sound much more intimate.

"I know him, I know him!" Ning Rongrong nodded like a chick pecking at rice, her face full of excitement. "Crown Prince Brother, Lan Yin is amazing! He has a great eye for things and knows so much! Most importantly, he's very good-looking."

Ning Rongrong paused slightly when she said "good-looking," but immediately shifted to a look of pride. "He only came to Heaven Dou City because he accepted my invitation to enter the city with me!"

She chattered on about how Lan Yin had helped her hunt for her spirit ring and other things that had happened during this time, finally adding, "Sword Grandpa also said he is quite good!"

Beside her, Sword Douluo Chen Xin secretly rolled his eyes as he watched his precious Rongrong talk endlessly about Lan Yin, but he did not voice any disagreement.

Listening to her, Xue Qinghe's gentle smile remained, but a profound light flickered in the depths of his eyes.

He knew the daughter of his teacher, Ning Rongrong, extremely well; ordinary people could never catch her eye. Furthermore, since Sword Douluo did not refute any of the things she said, it was clear that even if there was some exaggeration on her part, the truth was likely not far off.

His mind raced, but he revealed nothing on his face. Instead, he followed Ning Rongrong's lead and praised, "So, young brother Lan is your benefactor. Truly a hero among youth. To be able to face my fourth brother at the Moonlight Pavilion without losing his composure shows courage and character beyond the ordinary. However..."

Xue Qinghe shifted his tone, revealing a perfectly measured look of concern. "My fourth brother lost face before young brother Lan today. Given his temperament, I fear he will not let this matter rest."

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong's small face immediately fell, full of worry. "That's right! That annoying brat Xue Beng will definitely find a way to take revenge! Crown Prince Brother, can you help Brother Lan Yin? Don't let him be bullied by Xue Beng!"

Xue Qinghe smiled gently. "Don't worry, Rongrong. Since young brother Lan is your friend, I naturally will not stand idly by. I will have a word with my fourth brother later and tell him to restrain himself."

"Then thank you, Crown Prince Brother!" Ning Rongrong giggled, then seemed to think of something. "Oh, by the way, Crown Prince Brother, is Lan Yin still at the Moonlight Pavilion?"

"Naturally, he is still there, but..." Xue Qinghe paused, his words carrying a hint of probing, "Young brother Tang seems to be well-acquainted with Mistress Tang, and he is currently still at the Moonlight Pavilion conversing with her."