When everyone arrived at the imperial palace, Xuan Qing took a seat at the very edge of the VIP section.
He couldn't be bothered with etiquette or rules. He went straight to eating. The imperial chefs were quite skilled.
Everyone got to witness his terrifying appetite. More than half the dishes on the table ended up in his stomach.
He ate very quickly, yet his movements weren't clumsy. He even looked rather graceful.
Xue Qinghe stared in amazement and couldn't help asking Dugu Bo,
"Mr. Dugu, does Brother Xuan Qing usually eat this much? His appetite could rival that of ten grown men."
Xuan Qing didn't even look up as he replied between bites,
"That's because there isn't enough energy in the food. Do you think the freakish physiques of Dragon-type Soul Masters just appear out of thin air?"
"Uh..."
Xue Qinghe was left speechless. There was nothing wrong with what he'd said. Hardly any Dragon-type Soul Masters ate little; every one of them was a big eater.
Xuan Qing couldn't be bothered with him either and kept wolfing down his food.
When Xue Qinghe saw that he'd nearly finished eating, he came over again and tentatively asked,
"Brother Xuan Qing, would you be willing to teach the Soul Masters under my command your Self-Created Soul Skill? Of course, I'd pay you. I wouldn't expect you to teach them for free."
Xuan Qing put down his chopsticks and shook his head.
"It's not that I'm being stingy. You saw for yourself: my skill takes the form of a Water Dragon. Even to imitate it seven-tenths as well, you'd need to control water as easily as moving your own arm."
"Those people from Skywater Academy aren't quite up to it, and the Soul Masters under your command probably..."
He didn't finish, but Xue Qinghe understood.
It really wasn't that Xuan Qing didn't want to teach. It was like asking someone who didn't even know their letters to write an essay.
"Fine, I understand. I won't keep bothering you about it. Come by the imperial palace when you have time. I have plenty of questions I'd like to ask you."
"Sure, but you have to feed me, and make sure I'm full. Otherwise, I'm not coming. It's awful to go hungry."
Xue Qinghe laughed.
"Don't worry, you can eat your fill. The Imperial Kitchen can provide as much as you want."
As the two were talking, Ning Rongrong approached with Zhu Zhuqing.
Ning Rongrong looked a little awkward, and she wasn't as lively as usual.
"Xuan Qing, thank you."
Her voice was very small and soft.
Xuan Qing froze.
"What are you thanking me for? I don't think I did anything for you."
Ning Rongrong blushed.
"Thank you for telling me to leave Shrek. If it weren't for you, I'd probably still be wasting my days there."
Xuan Qing casually waved a hand.
"I told you back then, I only warned you because I had Sect Master Ning's dinner to thank for. Don't take it to heart. It was nothing."
"But as for you..."
He looked at Zhu Zhuqing with a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Did I scold some sense into you?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded seriously.
"Yes. What you said opened my eyes. I didn't escape my family just to waste my time at Shrek, much less to keep getting tangled up with Dai Mubai."
She took a deep breath.
"Could I... follow you?"
Xuan Qing gave her a faintly mocking look.
"Oh? Why? Because I'm strong? Or do you want to use me to escape the Zhu Family and the Star Luo Imperial Family?"
"If that's all, you can just join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Sect Master Ning would surely welcome you."
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head.
"You said people strive for higher ground, while water flows downhill. You're the most talented person I've ever met. Birds of a feather flock together. I understand that much."
"Even if I were only your maid, I could learn a lot by staying at your side. There's nowhere else that could compare."
"And I believe you're not the kind of person who uses someone and then throws them away."
Xuan Qing looked at her. The girl did have some brains. She knew what she wanted and how to choose.
"At least you're honest. But think carefully. I won't tolerate even a grain of sand in my eye."
"If you choose to follow me, you must be absolutely loyal. If you dare betray me, I'll make you wish you were dead. I mean what I say."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't hesitate.
"I'm willing to swear upon my Martial Soul that I will follow Xuan Qing in this life and never betray him. If I break this oath, may my Martial Soul shatter and my soul scatter."
It was the gravest oath a Soul Master could make. If she broke it, her Martial Soul would truly shatter, and she would die.
Xuan Qing looked at Zi JI.
"What do you think? Should we take her in? I do seem to be short a pair of hands to pour tea and water. I can do it myself, of course, but it's nice to have someone look after me."
Zi JI glanced at Zhu Zhuqing.
"If Young Master wants her, then take her in. She's just a little girl. Her talent is average, but she has a decent disposition and looks. At least she's better than some ugly oddballs. She won't embarrass you when you take her out."
Xuan Qing wasn't too pleased.
"Are you saying I have bad taste? I've never taken anyone in before. She's the first."
Zi JI answered without batting an eyelid.
"Surely you misheard, Young Master. I never said you had bad taste. I only said this girl was passable and could just about qualify to serve you."
Xuan Qing pursed his lips. Zi JI had picked up bad habits from him. She used to be so proper, but now she even joked around.
"Fine, then. You're accepted. From now on, follow Zi JI and learn from her. She'll teach you, and how much you learn is up to you."
Zhu Zhuqing was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed.
"Zhu Zhuqing greets Young Master and Senior."
Xuan Qing waved her off.
"There's no kneeling here. Just nod when you greet people from now on. I don't like having people kneel to me. It feels like they're visiting a grave."
Zhu Zhuqing paused briefly, then nodded.
"Yes, Young Master."
Just then, a crisp voice rang out.
"Hey! Xuan Qing!"
Xuan Qing turned around, and his face went green. Why had this little menace come back again?
Shui Yue'er came bouncing over, looking excited.
The people around them, especially Xue Qinghe, immediately wore gleeful expressions. This was going to be fun. That jerk Xuan Qing was finally getting his comeuppance.
"Xuan Qing, little brother, I've been looking all over for you. Why are you hiding here?"
The corners of Xuan Qing's mouth twitched violently.
"Miss Shui Yue'er, what can I do for you? If you want to eat, there are empty seats over there. If you're here to pick a fight, turn left at the door. Don't let it hit you on the way out."
Shui Yue'er giggled.
"I noticed you're short a pair of hands to pour tea and water. Why not take me in too?"
"I may not be as strong as your new little maid, but I'm pretty, and I can warm your bed too. I promise I'll make you feel great."
"Pfft—"
Xue Qinghe spat out his food. This girl was way too bold. She'd gone as far as offering to warm his bed?
Xuan Qing's face went green. Gritting his teeth, he said,
"Shui! Yue'er! Why do you insist on clinging to me? What did I ever do to you? Tell me, and I'll change, all right?"
Shui Yue'er blinked, looking completely innocent.
"There's no one else in the world like you, little brother. You're handsome, strong, well-connected, and young. You'd be easy to train. Do you think I'd let you get away?"
"Your big sister may be boy-crazy, but I'm not stupid. If I don't get my hands on such a promising prospect now, some other vixen will snatch you away when you grow up, and I won't even have anywhere to cry."
"So I'm reserving you while you're still young. In a few years, once you're grown up, I'll marry you. Then you'll be mine, and no one else can take you."
Xuan Qing held his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. This girl's logic was airtight and perfectly self-consistent.
And she almost seemed to have a point. He couldn't even come up with a rebuttal.
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