Xiao Hongchen put away the manuscript, stood up, and cupped his hands.
"Thank you, Elder Kong."
Kong Deming waved a hand, then looked at Xiao Hongchen again. Suddenly, he said:
"From now on, call me Grandmaster."
"If Little Xuan hadn't snatched you up as his disciple first," Kong Deming said slowly, his tone carrying a hint of indescribable regret, "I'd have gained a final disciple today."
He glanced at Xuan Ziwen, his look meaningful. Xuan Ziwen lowered his head and drank his tea, pretending not to notice.
Xiao Hongchen caught on and cupped his hands again. He'd gained yet another towering patron.
"Thank you, Grandmaster."
"Mm." Kong Deming answered, nodding in satisfaction. Only then did he turn his gaze to Xuan Ziwen, his tone shifting to one that brooked no argument.
"Little Xuan, for your next project, put aside the idea of making Soul Tools usable by ordinary people for now."
Xuan Ziwen looked up.
"Put aside the task Little Mirror gave you, too—the one called the All-Terrain Self-Propelled Artillery." Kong Deming said calmly, "Just focus on your research into Humanoid Soul Tools and Battle Armor. Those are the most worthwhile things to work on right now."
He paused and looked at Xuan Ziwen.
"No problem, right?"
Xuan Ziwen froze for a moment.
"Of... of course not."
Kong Deming took out a badge and tossed it to Xiao Hongchen.
The badge was small but heavy in his hand. A silver moon and red sun were engraved on its face, the patterns so finely wrought that it was clearly the work of a master.
"With this, you can freely travel between the imperial palace and the Worship Hall." Kong Deming said calmly, "If you have any good ideas or run into anything you don't understand, come to me anytime."
He paused, then added:
"No need to let me know in advance. Just come straight over."
"Thank you, Grandmaster."
Kong Deming waved a hand and lowered his head again, picking up his carving knife to signal that the matter was settled.
Xiao Hongchen put away the badge. He exchanged a glance with Xuan Ziwen, and the two of them left the Worship Hall together.
"So that's why you're always so energetic—you have a spiritual-type Martial Soul, too?"
Xuan Ziwen looked at Xiao Hongchen, somewhat speechless. Thinking back on his student's many recent performances, it all made sense now.
"Sorry, Teacher Xuan. My grandfather wouldn't let me tell anyone."
Xiao Hongchen rubbed the back of his head, looking perfectly at ease as he shifted all the blame elsewhere.
"Looks like I haven't been giving you enough assignments."
"No, no, no." Xiao Hongchen immediately waved his hands. "Teacher Xuan, I still have to practice purifying metals. It takes a lot of concentration, and even the slightest distraction can cause a mistake. You should be giving me less work, if anything."
"Don't give me that." Xuan Ziwen glanced at him. "With a spiritual-type Martial Soul boosting you, you're in much better shape than an ordinary person. That excuse won't fool me."
Xiao Hongchen: "..."
"Come on, come on." Xuan Ziwen sighed, his tone softening a little. "Everyone knows you're also training in two Martial Souls. I'm not trying to make things difficult for you, but I still have to remind you of something."
He stopped and turned to Xiao Hongchen, his expression serious.
"Taking two paths at once may not be as good as seeing one through to the end. Having two Martial Souls is your advantage, but it's also a burden. You only have so much energy. You're young, so you might not feel it now, but the farther you go, the harder it'll be to avoid this problem."
Xiao Hongchen didn't argue. What Xuan Ziwen said was true.
"I know," he said, sounding less cavalier than usual. "But for me, those two paths were never separate. Metal is offense, and the spiritual realm is control. Battle Armor needs both. Instead of two paths, you could say they're two legs of the same path."
He paused.
"Take either one away, and I won't be able to walk steadily."
Xuan Ziwen watched him in silence for a while. In the end, he said nothing more and resumed walking.
"Maybe so, but don't push yourself too hard."
"Don't worry." Xiao Hongchen caught up, a smile returning to his lips. "I'm tough as nails."
Just as they were about to leave the imperial palace, they ran into a small group of people.
At the head of the group was a young man in white, seated in a wheelchair. He looked to be around twenty-three or twenty-four.
His clothes were very plain, and his eyes were bright and alert. He had pale purple hair and a face that wasn't especially handsome, but he carried the imposing air of someone in power. His skin was so pale it looked unhealthy.
A group of attendants followed behind him. They looked ordinary, but Xiao Hongchen could faintly sense a very dangerous presence among them.
Xiao Hongchen was completely certain of the young man's identity: Xu Tianran.
What a coincidence.
Xuan Ziwen pulled Xiao Hongchen into a slight bow, and they spoke together.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Xu Tianran looked at them warmly.
"Researcher Xuan, there's no need to be so formal. You're Mingde Hall's chief researcher, and you're even researching civilian Soul Tools. I, on behalf of the people of Sun Moon, thank you."
"Your Highness is too kind. Working for the welfare of the people is the duty of every imperial researcher."
"And who is this young friend beside you?"
Xu Tianran asked as though he had only just noticed Xiao Hongchen.
"Your Highness, I'm Xiao Hongchen, a student of Teacher Xuan."
Xiao Hongchen was neither servile nor overbearing.
"So you're Master of Mingde Hall's grandson. No wonder you're so distinguished."
Xu Tianran wheeled himself over to Xiao Hongchen and patted him on the shoulder.
"I heard you defeated the captain leading this year's Soul Master Tournament team during the assessment. You're only a little over thirteen, aren't you? You're not much older than my younger sister, yet you're far more capable than she is. If she weren't so rebellious, she'd be studying at Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy now. Having you keep an eye on her would put my mind at ease."
As he spoke, Xu Tianran touched his forehead, looking troubled.
"That's not the case, Your Highness. Ming Capital Soul Engineer Academy is a fine school, too."
Xiao Hongchen couldn't be bothered getting entangled with the imperial family.
"Let's not talk about that. I heard Master of Mingde Hall recently caught a group of Evil Soul Masters at the academy. I'd wanted to find a chance to thank him, but he's been too busy with official duties, so I had to let it go. It's a great fortune to see you today. Please thank Master of Mingde Hall for me when you return."
"I'll do as Your Highness commands."
Xiao Hongchen kept his expression composed, but inside, he wanted to roll his eyes. What are you putting on an act for? Everyone knows you're involved with the Holy Spirit Cult. Disgusting.
"Then you and Researcher Xuan should be on your way. I won't take up your research time. However..." Xu Tianran paused. "I have high hopes for you. Bring the Soul Master Tournament championship back for the empire."
"Hongchen will give it everything he has."
Xiao Hongchen cupped his hands and took his leave.
Only after Xu Tianran and his party had vanished completely from view did Xiao Hongchen drop his respectful expression and sneer.
He hoped that eunuch wouldn't come looking for trouble with him in the future. Otherwise, he'd have to follow young Xiang Yu's example: "He can be replaced."
"Let's go." Xuan Ziwen patted his shoulder and set off first.
The two left the imperial palace and walked back toward Mingde Hall.
"His Highness the Crown Prince is very interested in you."
"Yeah."
Xuan Ziwen glanced at him. "You handled yourself well just now."
"That's because I don't want to get too involved with the imperial family."
Xiao Hongchen said coolly.
"Smart." Xuan Ziwen nodded.
"But you should be careful, too. The Crown Prince seems mild-mannered and courteous, but in reality, he's shrewd and calculating. He deliberately brought up the Evil Soul Masters today and asked you to thank your grandfather. He was telling you that the imperial family knows everything Mingde Hall does."
Xiao Hongchen smiled but said nothing. It seemed Teacher Xuan wasn't entirely an ivory-tower researcher after all.
He even thought this encounter might not have been a coincidence. There were probably plenty of Xu Tianran's spies in the imperial palace, enough for Xu Tianran to know as soon as they entered.
He had always assumed the worst of others, especially someone like Xu Tianran, whose true nature he already knew.
Before you continue