So Many Choices, No Need to Rush

Watching Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, leave, Cheng Xiao's eyes held an inscrutable look as countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

He had originally planned to use Xue Ke as a connection at Moonlight Pavilion, gradually getting to know Qian Renxue and forming a relationship with her. He had not expected to meet her under such circumstances by sheer coincidence.

That was fine too. Now that they had made an impression on each other, future contact would be much easier. He could also make some minor adjustments to the various plans in his head rather than following the original plan step by step.

He was in no hurry to make a decision. This world was not as simple as it seemed; you could not just decide to pledge yourself to someone and do it.

Based on his experiences over the past decade or so, the people of this continent possessed an extremely strong sense of hierarchy. If you simply decided on a whim to seek shelter under some noble or faction, you probably would not even be able to find the door!

It was not as though displaying a Thousand-Year Soul Ring would make people immediately bow their heads and beg him to join their sect. Nor would spreading news of his Twin Martial Souls allow him to walk straight into Spirit Hall and become Bibi Dong's disciple.

Any group that could become a major power was no pushover. More likely, they would force him to reveal the secret behind his second Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

Spirit Hall was not a monolith either. The Worship Hall and the Pope's Palace were at odds—did that mean the people beneath them were all united? Hu Liena had been the Saintess for so long; could a newcomer simply become Bibi Dong's disciple? Would the established factions agree to his involvement and allow him to disrupt the current balance?

Even setting all that aside, would Bibi Dong really accept a male disciple?

Yan and Xie Yue were no less outstanding than Hu Liena, yet Bibi Dong had not taken either of them as disciples. Why?

Perhaps one could infer a thing or two by connecting it to the secret chamber incident.

She had taken a male master, only for him to turn out to be a beast. If she took on another male disciple and he was also a beast... would there be another secret chamber incident?

Perhaps Cheng Xiao was overthinking things, but he could not gamble on it.

No one revealed all their cards from the start, exposing themselves without reservation before an unfamiliar person or faction. That would mean there was no room left to turn back!

If he lost the gamble, the consequences would be disastrous!

Therefore, if he wanted to borrow the strength of a certain faction, he could not rashly show up at their door and expose everything on a whim. He had to make careful, repeated contact with them, learn their character and way of doing things, and only then make a decision.

Otherwise, he might very well end up like the Four Servant Clans, used up and discarded.

Some factions truly had no shame.

Joining Moonlight Pavilion was the easiest way to get close to Qian Renxue, making it one of his tentative goals. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Spirit Hall came second, followed by a whole range of other factions. Ye Renxin, whom he had met by chance today, naturally became another candidate for his consideration.

As for whether he would ultimately choose Qian Renxue, he would have to decide after further contact. He also did not know whether this woman had any problems beyond being love-struck.

If being love-struck was all there was, then she could still be saved. But if she was truly hopeless... then he could only choose from his alternatives instead.

He had plenty of choices. There was no need to rush.

Coming back to himself, Cheng Xiao prepared to continue eating, only to see Ye Renxin set down his chopsticks with a sigh.

Cheng Xiao paused and glanced around. The diners were whispering among themselves, their eyes occasionally flickering toward their table.

Then Cheng Xiao understood. With every move being watched and commented on by others, how could anyone enjoy a meal?

"Sir, if you have no appetite, why don't we go somewhere else?" Cheng Xiao asked tentatively. "I remember a place with good food. There aren't many people there either, so we won't be disturbed."

Cheng Xiao deliberately used a small conversational trick: "we."

Ye Renxin stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, then nodded. If he stayed here too long and his identity spread, it would inevitably draw many people over. Dealing with them would be troublesome.

"Ah? Why? The food is pretty good." Ye Lingling raised her head and blinked her beautiful, bewildered eyes.

"I'll take you somewhere else with good food." Cheng Xiao stood up, grabbed Ye Lingling's soft little hand, and pulled her out of the restaurant without allowing any argument. "Let's go!"

Her small hand was icy cool, and its feel was quite unique—soft and delicate, so tiny that one could not help wanting to play with it.

Ye Lingling's mind buzzed, and her entire delicate body stiffened. Only the words He's holding my hand remained in her mind. The tips of her ears flushed red as she blankly followed Cheng Xiao step by step, trailing after him like a little tagalong.

Ye Renxin followed behind them with a smile, saying nothing. He was not particularly worried. They were still young, far from the age of romance. His granddaughter had never had many friends growing up, so it was good to have someone accompany her around Heaven Dou City.

How could he know that Ye Lingling might not have any particular thoughts herself and was simply shy, while that black-hearted little fox had the soul of an adult inside him? Once Ye Lingling fell into his hands, sooner or later, she would be thoroughly devoured.

"Senior Brother, who was that old man? Sacred Hand Benevolent Heart? Is he really that impressive?" Ning Rongrong tilted her head, her bright, watery eyes filled with curiosity.

"That was Ye Renxin, inheritor of the Nine Heart Begonia." Xue Qinghe spoke with a smile. Though she appeared calm on the surface, she was deeply worried inside.

"Nine Heart Begonia?" Ning Rongrong frowned. "A Martial Soul? Is it powerful?"

Xue Qinghe was at a loss for words and merely shook her head. "You're still young. You'll understand when you grow up."

How was she supposed to answer? Praise another support-type Martial Soul in front of the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda? And her identity was Ning Fengzhi's disciple! If she truly did that, the people of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would probably curse her as a traitor behind her back.

She was not that foolish.

Ning Rongrong's eyes darted about as she thought, Hmph, Senior Brother is just humoring me like a child. When I get back, I'll ask Father.

After safely delivering Ning Rongrong back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Xue Qinghe stayed a while longer. Only after strengthening her relationship with Ning Fengzhi and the Sword and Bone Titled Douluo did she return to the Crown Prince's Mansion in Heaven Dou City.

"Leave me." Xue Qinghe waved a hand, looking somewhat weary.

Once everyone had left, two people with extraordinarily powerful auras abruptly appeared in the room. With a wave of their hands, all the doors and windows shut.

"They've all left." One of them spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice.

Xue Qinghe nodded. A ray of light emerged from between her brows. Though no larger than a fingertip at first, it rapidly expanded after shooting out, forming a thin golden film that enveloped Xue Qinghe.

When the golden light faded, Xue Qinghe had transformed into a stunningly beautiful woman. She appeared to be around twenty years old, with skin fairer than snow, a straight nose, slightly narrow phoenix eyes, and a peerlessly beautiful face tinged with both majesty and holiness, making it impossible for anyone to harbor irreverent thoughts.

"Young Mistress." The two placed their hands over their chests in salute.

"Ye Renxin has come to Heaven Dou!" Qian Renxue opened her eyes, her beautiful gaze filled with gravity.

"Ye Renxin?! Why has he come to Heaven Dou City?" Both men's expressions changed.

They had just been preparing to carry out that plan. If anything went wrong with Xue Ye, he would surely summon Ye Renxin. At that point, their scheme would likely be exposed outright!

"Should I go kill him?" A vicious expression appeared on one man's face.

No matter how capable the Nine Heart Begonia was at healing, without other Soul Masters to protect him, it would be difficult for Ye Renxin to withstand an attack from a Titled Douluo!

He was confident that he could kill him in a single strike.

P.S. I checked, and it seems the Ye Family being hunted by Spirit Hall was a setting from the manhua. I haven't read the manhua, so I won't be using that setting. I'll follow my own setting instead.

Thanks to Forbidden-Desire L Yunye and You're Both Really Idle for the tips! I'm immensely grateful!

Also, I should have another update, but it'll be very late. Don't wait up; read it when you wake up tomorrow morning. Don't stay up late like me—be a little kinder to yourselves.