Dugu Yan wore a proud smile, as if she were the one being praised.
Ye Lingling quietly watched Qin Feng, ripples stirring in her beautiful eyes.
After reading the decree, Xue Qinghe turned to Qin Feng and made an inviting gesture.
"Teacher Qin, Father has prepared a separate courtyard for you at the Crown Prince Mansion."
"There are some questions about Martial Soul Fusion that Qinghe would like to ask you about now."
Qin Feng looked at the "crown prince" before him, who was dressed as a man, and chuckled inwardly.
This little minx was quite convincing in her role.
"Since Your Highness is so eager to learn, I won't stand on ceremony."
Qin Feng nodded and followed Xue Qinghe out of the Education Committee.
Crown Prince Mansion, study.
After dismissing everyone else, only Qin Feng and Xue Qinghe remained in the room.
Xue Qinghe relaxed her stiff crown prince's bearing a little. She walked over to the desk and personally poured Qin Feng a cup of tea.
"Teacher Qin..."
"I wonder how you plan to teach me?"
Xue Qinghe watched Qin Feng, curiosity and anticipation hidden in her eyes.
She had made a special trip here today. The appointment and promises of rank were just an excuse; what she really wanted was to observe this diary-writing fellow up close.
Qin Feng plopped down in the grand armchair, looking at Xue Qinghe's flawless, handsome face.
He had to admit, Qian Renxue's disguise was impressive. Even her Adam's apple looked incredibly lifelike.
"Teach you?"
Qin Feng smiled and stood up. With an utterly natural gesture, he raised a hand, intending to pat Xue Qinghe on the shoulder as he would a brother, to show some friendly warmth.
"Don't worry. Since I'm your teacher now, I'll definitely..."
Whoosh!
Before Qin Feng's hand could land, Xue Qinghe sprang backward two meters like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
She moved so fast that she left a blur in her wake.
Qin Feng's hand froze in midair, his face a picture of confusion.
"Your Highness, what kind of footwork are you practicing? Why the huge reaction?"
Xue Qinghe stood beside the bookshelf, her back pressed against it, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Her formerly composed face was now bright red.
She stared fixedly at Qin Feng's hand, her mind filled with the words from the diary: "pat his chest and call him bro."
This guy...
He definitely hadn't meant well just now!
If he'd actually patted her, what would happen to her disguise?
Did he think it was that easy to take advantage of a girl?
"Ahem... well."
Xue Qinghe awkwardly straightened her collar and forced out an explanation:
"I've practiced martial arts since childhood, so I have an instinctive reaction to people getting too close."
"Please forgive me, Teacher Qin."
Qin Feng gave her a strange look.
An instinctive reaction?
I didn't have any killing intent. What are you jumping for?
But then he remembered that she was Qian Renxue and more or less guessed what was going on. That only made him find it funnier.
"Fine. If Your Highness doesn't like physical contact, let's get down to the important stuff."
Qin Feng flicked his wrist.
Thud!
A thick book landed heavily on the desk.
It was the Compendium of Martial Soul Theory Revision and Evolution, the reward from the system.
"These are some insights I compiled in my spare time."
"You can look through them first."
Xue Qinghe approached, half skeptical, and picked up the book.
The moment she opened to the first page, her pupils contracted sharply.
[Three Possibilities for Martial Soul Quality Evolution and Their Connection to Divine Properties]
[Methods for Purifying the Light Attribute of the Angel Martial Soul]
[Revised Formula for Calculating the Upper Limit of Spirit Ring Age]
How could this be just a collection of insights?
It was practically a sacred text capable of overturning the entire Soul Master World!
The annotations about the Angel Martial Soul were especially striking. Though they were brief, every sentence went straight to the heart of the matter, even solving some cultivation bottlenecks that had troubled Qian Renxue for years.
Xue Qinghe's hands trembled.
She looked up at Qin Feng in shock.
"Th-this was all written by you?"
Qin Feng leaned back in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, looking completely unruffled.
"I just jotted it down to pass the time."
"So, what do you think? Am I qualified to be your teacher?"
Xue Qinghe took a deep breath, calming the storm raging within her.
At first, she had only intended to make use of Qin Feng and, while she was at it, pick up a few diary rewards.
But now, she realized she had been wrong.
This man was unfathomable.
"Qualified... more than qualified."
Xue Qinghe closed the book and looked at Qin Feng with less calculation and more sincere admiration.
Over the next hour,
Qin Feng began explaining the theories in the book to Xue Qinghe.
Although Qin Feng was completely serious as he taught, Xue Qinghe couldn't focus.
They were sitting too close.
As he pointed out things in the book, Qin Feng would sometimes lean over. His warm breath brushed against her ear, making her whole body feel uncomfortable.
On top of that, her mind was filled with all those embarrassing things from the diary.
Things like "wife" and "hold her in his arms and cherish her."
Every time she thought of those words, then looked at Qin Feng's profile so close to hers, Qian Renxue felt her cheeks burn and her heart thunder.
At long last, the lesson came to an end.
Xue Qinghe felt as if the clothes on her back were soaked through with sweat.
"Um... Teacher Qin."
Xue Qinghe stood up, no longer daring to meet Qin Feng's eyes.
"I've learned a lot today, but theory is theory, after all."
"Heaven Dou City is incredibly prosperous. Would you be interested in taking a stroll around with me, Teacher Qin?"
"That would give Qinghe a chance to play host."
Qian Renxue had given it careful thought.
With the Diary System, she needed more contact and interaction to have a chance of triggering rewards.
Since Qin Feng was so capable, she had all the more reason to keep him firmly in her grasp.
Even if... even if she had to sacrifice a little of her charm to accompany him on a shopping trip, it would be worth it.
Qin Feng raised an eyebrow.
A stroll around town?
Was this a date?
"Sure."
A playful smile curled Qin Feng's lips. "Since Your Highness has invited me, let's go."
Just as the two left the Crown Prince Mansion and headed for Heaven Dou City's busiest street,
Elsewhere,
News that Yu Xiaogang's reputation as a "theoretical master" was a joke had already spread throughout Heaven Dou City like it had grown wings.
In a secluded inn,
Crash!
A teacup smashed against the floor.
Yu Xiaogang's face was livid, his chest heaving. His already rigid features twisted into an even more frightening grimace.
"Lies! These are lies!"
"My theories are invincible! What does Qin Feng know? He's just a brat who got lucky!"
"How dare he humiliate me like this!"
Flender and Zhao Wuji sighed beside him, not knowing what to say.
Facts spoke louder than words. Qin Feng had won, so whatever he said was right.
In the corner of the room,
Tang San sat in the shadows, head bowed and silent.
Yet the aura around him was exceptionally gloomy.
Xiao Wu had gone out early that morning, saying she was going shopping with Rongrong and Zhuqing. She still hadn't returned.
Xiao Wu used to tell him wherever she was going, but lately she seemed to be growing more and more distant.
That loss of control made Tang San feel uneasy.
But right now, he had more important things to do.