Young Master

This question was rather sensitive. It touched on the internal affairs of the Tiandou Empire.

But Xue Qinghe wasn't really the Tiandou Crown Prince. She merely shot Naruto a barely perceptible, guarded glance and replied indifferently.

"Not at all. I'm usually quite free as the Tiandou Crown Prince. It's just that the Spirit Hall and the Tiandou Empire have had a falling-out recently, so I've been busy until sunset."

"I see..."

The topic seemed to end there.

But just as Xue Qinghe smiled and nodded, a strange look flashed across Naruto's face. He spoke up again.

"Brother Xue, your talent as a Spirit Master is quite impressive across the continent. Wouldn't all this work get in the way of your cultivation?"

"Well... a little, I suppose... But my talent as a Spirit Master is rather average, so losing a few days won't make much difference." Xue Qinghe answered casually, her gaze growing more puzzled as she looked at Naruto.

If he was curious about Tiandou's affairs, shouldn't he keep asking about them?

Why had he suddenly started asking about her?

"Brother Xue!" Naruto's eyes widened as he raised his voice. "How can you think that way? Strength rules the continent. As the Crown Prince, you'd be better off setting some duties aside than slacking off on your cultivation!"

"Well... I suppose..."

Xue Qinghe's lips trembled, and her words grew halting. She seemed to have faintly guessed why he was saying all this.

It was just a little concern, nothing more.

For Qian Renxue, the Young Master of Spirit Hall, and Xue Qinghe, the Tiandou Crown Prince, was concern really in short supply?

The slightest hint of trouble would send all sorts of precious medicinal herbs flying to her desk like snowflakes!

But...

But!!

Xue Qinghe cried out in despair inside. Her throat was tight, and she bit her lip, trying to smother the hurt about to burst out with anger.

Don't show concern for me with that face!

Bastard!

Night had fallen deep.

Countless townsfolk had drifted peacefully off to sleep, but several lamps still burned in the Crown Prince East Palace beneath the black night sky. Several shadows silently skimmed along the rooftops.

The guards patrolling nearby carried on as usual, completely unaware of the two shadows overhead.

The shadows stopped at the Crown Prince's bedchamber, deftly opened a secret passage, and entered the room.

The Crown Prince's bedchamber was spacious, divided into separate areas by walls and screens, and still brightly lit. A golden-haired figure was leaning against a chair.

The two shadows leaped down from the roof. They didn't dare go near, or even look at, the private quarters. With impeccable manners, they landed in the middle of the room.

They bowed in unison.

"Young Master?"

Only then did they realize that the person living in the Crown Prince's bedchamber was a woman.

Her waterfall of golden hair flowed down her back. She slowly turned around. Her exquisite features were marred by a pair of golden eyes, faintly red with anger, spoiling what might have been a perfectly sculpted work of art and lending her a touch of humanity.

The two powerful figures from the continent sucked in a breath, instantly feeling a headache coming on. They had heard the entire conversation between the two of them. How could they not know what had happened?

They averted their eyes, and the two, feeling guilty, spoke in unison.

"Uh... We didn't see anything..."

At that, Qian Renxue glared at them in annoyance.

She raised a hand to wipe at her reddened eyes, then took several deep breaths to steady herself.

She had nearly exposed herself in front of an outsider, all because she almost couldn't hold back the ache in her heart.

A few moments earlier, her conversation with Naruto had still been going on.

Qian Renxue had thought she could easily bluff her way through, but the little brat wouldn't let up. He kept asking more and more detailed questions, even asking whether she had been eating properly. He was as long-winded as an old busybody.

If anyone else had acted that way, Qian Renxue could have smiled, paid it no mind, and simply nodded along.

But this person!

With that face!

The more Qian Renxue listened, the more irritated she became. Her hands clenched of their own accord, and all the emotions building inside her surged like ocean waves. In the end, she had nearly let her disguise slip.

Still, she had managed to bluff her way through.

That annoying brat was so troublesome!

Qian Renxue seethed, unable to help cursing him under her breath.

Her hands clenched unconsciously. As she recalled that face, she thought that if she ever got the chance, she would tear it to shreds!

Qian Renxue clenched her teeth and made a ripping motion with her hands. But then she remembered the tenderness in those purple eyes, and instantly furrowed her brow with regret. Her hands slowly brought the "torn face" back together.

But...

Wouldn't that be too wasteful?

Thinking it over, Qian Renxue decided to compromise.

Then she'd pinch his face until it was swollen and mangled, wait for it to heal, and pinch it swollen and mangled again!

Imagining Naruto with a pig's head, Qian Renxue felt much better. She couldn't help humming a few notes as she leaned back in her chair and casually looked up at Snake Lance and Pufferfish before her.

"Have you settled him in?"

The two men, who had been pretending to be dead, came back to themselves and answered her command.

"We settled him in beside our residence. The guards patrolling the area will keep an eye on him as they make their rounds. If he tries to sneak away, someone will notify us immediately."

"Mm..."

Qian Renxue nodded slightly.

Now that this person had fallen into her hands, she absolutely couldn't let anyone else take him away.

Qian Renxue hesitated for a moment, then lowered her eyes. Her dangerous gaze swept over the two men, but she abruptly changed the subject. "Do you think he could be..."

Her voice was barely a whisper, yet it rang in their ears like thunder.

"Young Master! That's absolutely impossible!"

Snake Lance, who had been half-crouching, sprang upright. Beside him, Pufferfish hurriedly spoke up as well.

"Back in Spirit City, the Great Elder was watching personally! How could Her Holiness the Pope hide it from him? She would've had to carry the child for ten months! How many days could she possibly keep it secret?"

How could the mess among Spirit Hall's upper ranks possibly be hidden from a group of Titled Douluo? The two of them, in particular, had been handpicked by the Great Elder, Qian Daoliu, to serve as Qian Renxue's personal guards.

That kind of turmoil had happened once already, frightening everyone into years of trembling with fear and unease. Only after countless internal compromises had the first Pope from outside the family risen to power.

If it happened again?

The Great Elder and the current Pope would start a war on the spot, fighting to the death!

Qian Renxue looked away and secretly nodded. That was true. Naruto's background was simple but clear enough. She only had to look into it a little to find out whether it was genuine.

And the dates didn't add up. He couldn't possibly be her younger brother.

He was simply someone who looked similar.

Seeing Qian Renxue's furrowed brow gradually relax, Snake Lance asked again, "Should we inform the Great Elder or Her Holiness the Pope?"

"No need."

Without much thought, Qian Renxue waved her hand. "Why bother them with such a small matter?"

"Young Master, if we're not informing them... what do you plan to do?" Snake Lance asked cautiously, still somewhat uneasy.

"Heh?"

Qian Renxue couldn't help scoffing.

"What do you mean, what do I plan to do?"

"I've recruited a top-tier genius with Innate Full Soul Power while undercover. Of course I'm going to bring him over to our Spirit Hall's side!"

Qian Renxue had already thought this through. As soon as she finished speaking, something seemed to occur to her. Her bright golden eyes gleamed, and she suddenly sprang to her feet, excitement in her voice.

"No, no, that's not all!"

"The continent-wide Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament... It's in about six years, right? That's the one my dear older sister's disciple will compete in?"

A cold smile tugged at the corner of her lips as Qian Renxue looked down at them for confirmation. Snake Lance and Pufferfish, who had a vague idea of what their Young Master meant, nodded.

"Exactly!"