Early the next morning, Yu Tianshuo got out of Qian Renxue's bed feeling refreshed.
Looking at Qian Renxue, who seemed exhausted, Yu Tianshuo flashed her a grin.
After getting her answer that he didn't need to bring her breakfast, Yu Tianshuo left the room to find something to eat.
But as soon as he closed the door, Snake Lance and Porcupinefish Douluo appeared before him like ghosts.
Seeing the two of them glaring at him like evil spirits, Yu Tianshuo broke into a nervous sweat and asked, "What's with you two? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Since Yu Tianshuo had the nerve to ask, the two could only point accusingly at him, but they never said a word.
Their expressions turned deeply resentful again, as if they were grieving over their own cabbage having been stolen by a pig.
Yu Tianshuo had a pretty good idea they'd misunderstood something, but he didn't clear things up. He just smiled and walked past them.
Just as he was about to leave, Yu Tianshuo's voice reached the two of them.
"Xiao Xue asked me to tell you not to wake her for now. She's pretty tired today and needs to get up later."
The two Titled Douluo stared blankly as Yu Tianshuo walked away, their minds replaying his words on a loop.
"Xiao Xue, pretty tired."
"Pretty tired."
"Tired."
Crack—!
As if something had snapped, the two of them turned to stone and stood rooted to the spot.
Once he was out the door, Yu Tianshuo finally couldn't hold back his laughter and burst out laughing.
Of course, they hadn't done anything last night. They'd simply sat cross-legged and cultivated with their backs pressed together.
As for why they hadn't pressed their palms together, it was only because Yu Tianshuo didn't want his arms to be stiff the next morning.
It certainly wasn't because Yu Tianshuo had wanted to snuggle up against Qian Renxue and deliberately told her that more contact would speed up their cultivation.
How could that be? He, Yu Tianshuo, wasn't that kind of person.
As for why Qian Renxue had looked so drained—
Of course it was because accelerated cultivation consumed too much concentration. It certainly wasn't because he'd deliberately sped up the Soul Power transfer, forcing Qian Renxue to exhaust herself even more until she had to lean against his back just to keep from collapsing.
How could that be? He, Yu Tianshuo, wasn't that kind of person.
Thinking about what had happened last night put Yu Tianshuo in an even better mood. He walked along, humming a tune.
But when Yu Tianshuo pushed open the dining hall doors, he saw someone he hadn't expected, already sitting there and eating.
Before Yu Tianshuo could say anything, the man spoke first.
"Well, look who's up! My good disciple. The Crown Prince Residence's breakfast is really quite good. Don't just stand there—come on over. I've got some left; try it."
As he spoke, Dugu Bo pushed a bowl of corn chowder toward the edge of the table and gestured for Yu Tianshuo to hurry over and taste it.
Yu Tianshuo froze for a moment, then instinctively did as his master said. He sat beside him and took the bowl of corn chowder.
After a couple of sips, Yu Tianshuo had to admit it was delicious. But the next moment, he couldn't help complaining to his master.
"The chowder isn't the point, Master. Why are you at the Crown Prince Residence at this hour?"
As he spoke, he picked up a croissant and started eating.
When his disciple asked, Dugu Bo released a layer of Soul Power to block anyone from eavesdropping. Then he picked up a croissant too and spoke as he ate.
"What else? It was because of what happened last night. Some unknown powerhouse fought outside the city. When the emperor got the news, he hurriedly sent someone to ask me to go take a look. By the time I'd finished investigating, it was nearly morning. I figured I'd come to the Crown Prince Residence to pick you up and grab breakfast while I was at it."
After finishing the corn chowder in his bowl, Yu Tianshuo took another dessert. As he ate, he thought, So it was about what happened last night. I left in such a hurry—I wonder if anyone noticed anything.
After finishing the last bite of his little cake, Yu Tianshuo gestured for more dishes and asked Dugu Bo, "So, Master, did you find anything?"
As he spoke, Yu Tianshuo looked at his master, who was dipping bread into the chowder.
After finishing the bread in his hand, Dugu Bo gave Yu Tianshuo a strange look.
Before Yu Tianshuo could get impatient, he spoke up.
"Do you really think so little of your master? I could sense the aura from your clone exploding last night, even from that far away. If I hadn't sensed that you were still alive, I'd have gone over right then."
After speaking, he took another dessert and started eating.
Hearing Dugu Bo's answer, Yu Tianshuo froze. He ignored the dishes the attendant had just brought and continued asking, "How did you sense that, Master? I didn't know you could."
Dugu Bo paused his dessert-eating and looked at Yu Tianshuo in confusion as he explained, "You didn't know? Ever since you used that thing to bring me back to life, I've somehow been able to sense your condition. You didn't know about that?"
Yu Tianshuo could only shake his head in bewilderment, showing that he had no idea either.
Silence fell between them.
They looked at each other, both thoroughly confused.
But before the awkwardness could drag on, Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, flung open the doors and looked around, full of fury.
As soon as she spotted Yu Tianshuo, she ignored Dugu Bo. Under his bewildered gaze, she grabbed Yu Tianshuo and marched out of the dining hall.
Dugu Bo blinked.
Then he blinked again. Once he was sure it wasn't a dream, he could only think that things had gotten even more surreal.
Because he'd actually seen the bashful anger of a woman on Xue Qinghe's face.
He rubbed his forehead and sank into silence again.
He now seriously suspected that his disciple had some strange preferences—like, for instance, liking men...
At the thought, he hurriedly shook his head, driving the terrifying notion from his mind.
That was just too horrifying. Anything but a man who liked men!
The view shifted to Yu Tianshuo.
After dragging Yu Tianshuo into her room, Qian Renxue reverted to her original voice. She sounded embarrassed, but angry too. Pinning him against the wall with one arm, she gritted her teeth and demanded, "What on earth did you say to those two idiots, Snake Lance and Porcupinefish?"
"Why did they just rush into my room and give me some herbs to prevent miscarriage?"
"Explain yourself!!!"
Seeing Qian Renxue so furious, Yu Tianshuo felt a little guilty. But his eyes shifted as if he'd thought of something, and he put on a puzzled expression.
"Xiao Xue, what are you talking about? I only told them you were tired from cultivating last night and that they shouldn't wake you so early."
After speaking, he even put on a wounded expression, as if she didn't trust him.
If it had been anyone but Yu Tianshuo standing in front of Qian Renxue, she might have believed him.
But her fierce gaze still turned to the two men beside them, who were enjoying the show.
"Gentlemen, care to explain yourselves?"
Hearing that voice, as if it had come from the depths of hell, the two knew they were done for.
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