"Has nobody ever told you that when you're looking for trouble, you'd better not get too close to your opponent?"
Tailong heard him and froze for a moment. Then a sharp pain shot up from between his legs.
Well, men all had remarkably similar weak spots.
At this distance, with his guard completely down, Tailong was practically a sitting duck for Fang Xuan.
Fang Xuan lifted his leg and sent him straight to his knees.
As Tailong lay on the ground, clutching his crotch and grimacing in pain, Fang Xuan calmly straightened his rumpled collar.
Then he turned and walked away without a backward glance.
He had no habit of picking fights with idiots. Otherwise, that kick just now would have made sure Tailong never had children and left him flat on the ground, unable to get back up.
But Fang Xuan had barely taken a couple of steps when he heard the wind whistle behind him.
"Why bother?"
He stopped, turned, and launched a flying kick.
The movement flowed as one, striking Tailong squarely in the chest and sending him flying as he tried to sneak up from behind.
The commotion naturally drew plenty of attention.
Fang Xuan sighed helplessly. He'd only gone out for a stroll; it hadn't been a big deal to begin with.
But now look at him—he'd run into a lunatic who really thought he was an easy target.
"I should've known better than to leave home."
There was no use regretting it now. He could only settle things first.
Soon, the patrol soldiers nearby rushed over and surrounded them both.
Fang Xuan didn't resist, allowing the soldiers to encircle him.
"Fighting is forbidden within Heaven Dou City. You've disrupted order in the city. Take them both away!"
The captain of the patrol shouted and was just about to step forward and seize them when a voice from farther away stopped him.
"Wait."
They turned toward the voice and saw a dignified-looking middle-aged man walking over.
His gaze swept across those present, then settled on Fang Xuan.
"Mr. Fang Xuan, His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence. Please come with me to the Eastern Palace."
As he spoke, he took out a standard-issue token and showed it to the patrol captain.
The captain's expression changed at once. He hurriedly ordered his men to stop surrounding Fang Xuan.
They couldn't afford to mistreat someone the Crown Prince had summoned. Looking at the middle-aged man who had appeared out of nowhere, Fang Xuan's expression shifted.
"What's Qian Renxue up to? I just stepped outside, and she's already got her eyes on me. I'm her husband, at least—could she show a little restraint?"
Of course, he only grumbled about that in his head. The other party was certainly not interested in him for that reason.
She had probably taken a liking to his talent.
An eighteen-year-old Soul King was considered a genius in any era, and he was an unaffiliated one at that. It would be strange if she didn't try to recruit him.
Especially Spirit Hall—they'd probably already dug up every last detail about him.
Innate Soul Power of one, yet he'd cultivated to Soul King at eighteen. If Qian Renxue weren't curious, something would be seriously wrong.
She had hinted at it once during the wedding a few days ago. This time, she was probably going to lay her cards on the table.
"Lead the way."
If it was a blessing, it couldn't be avoided; if it was a disaster, there was no escaping it. He'd been planning to find her anyway, so this saved him quite a bit of trouble.
Soon, Fang Xuan left with the middle-aged man.
Tailong, meanwhile, was taken away by the patrol soldiers and locked up.
According to Heaven Dou City's regulations, anyone who got into a fight was to be detained for three days. Commoners were to receive thirty strokes of the rod, while Soul Masters were to receive twenty lashes.
But given Tailong's condition, it would be better to take him to a clinic first. Fang Xuan's kick had been no joke.
Not far from where the incident had taken place, Fang Xuan was brought to a quiet tavern.
In a private room, Xue Qinghe sat quietly at a small table, with some pastries and fruit laid out before him.
Fang Xuan sat opposite him and quietly studied him.
"May I ask what the Crown Prince wishes of me?"
He didn't bother with small talk and went straight to the point.
"Wishes? There's no need for us to be so formal. I've never been one to put on airs around a genius."
Xue Qinghe smiled at Fang Xuan, his eyes bright as though he meant to see straight through him.
"But I do have some personal matters I'd like to discuss with you."
"Personal matters?"
Could it be that he was about to reveal his real identity? Fang Xuan was curious whether Xue Qinghe planned to keep approaching him under that name or speak frankly as Qian Renxue, her true self.
"Don't be nervous. I only wanted to ask what you plan to do next."
"A man should have a career, especially a genius like you."
Xue Qinghe was being courteous, but didn't seem inclined to reveal his true identity.
Then again, perhaps Fang Xuan wasn't yet worthy of making him expose himself to recruit him.
"Then, according to the Crown Prince, what should I do?"
Fang Xuan played along. The other party had made his intentions obvious enough, what with following him and now actively trying to recruit him. He could at least give him a little face.
They were both adults. There was no need for the coy routine of pretending to refuse while secretly hoping to be persuaded.
"Would you be willing to assist me? I happen to be short of a young, trusted and capable aide."
Seeing that Fang Xuan already understood what he meant, Xue Qinghe laid his cards on the table.
He wanted to recruit Fang Xuan under his own name, not on behalf of the royal family or the empire.
"What would I get out of it?"
"And, Your Highness, are you interested in me as a person, or because I'm Poison Douluo's disciple?"
There were some things he needed to clarify. That would help him gauge how much he mattered to Xue Qinghe and make it easier to plan his next move.
"Both. But personally, I have more faith in you yourself. Someone as devoted as you is rare."
At that, Fang Xuan smiled. The answer had surprised him.
"Your Highness, if you're interested in me because of that, I'd advise you to reconsider your opinion of me."
"To be honest, I'd wanted to give up at the time. No matter how you looked at it, I had nothing to lose."
"I won't pretend otherwise. The only reason I stuck with it was that all my earlier efforts would have gone to waste."
"I'd already spent so many days on my knees. Giving up then would've been embarrassing. Besides, I'd come all this way. I couldn't just quit halfway, could I?"
Faced with such a frank answer from Fang Xuan, Xue Qinghe was momentarily stunned, but quickly returned to normal.
"That answer certainly surprises me. But doesn't it prove that you're not a bad person? Why else would you tell me all this?"
"By the way, I heard your mother-in-law wants you to marry again. My younger sister is about your age. Perhaps..."
"Hold on. I'm not considering that right now. Please think carefully before bringing it up again, Your Highness."
Xue Qinghe's suggestion startled Fang Xuan.
Damn it, his mother-in-law hadn't even made a move yet, and now Xue Qinghe was already at it.
The thing was, was Xue Ke even his sister? How could he just say something like that?
Using someone else's younger sister to recruit talent—he really had some nerve.
"And this is a personal matter. There's no need for Your Highness to concern yourself with it."
He had to change the subject, fast. Otherwise, what if Xue Qinghe really tried to use a beauty to win him over?
He wasn't some paragon of virtue. In fact, it had already been proven that he truly couldn't resist.
Seeing how reluctant Fang Xuan was, Qian Renxue smiled faintly.
"I was rash. In that case, let's talk about something else."
"What kind of reward would you like, Brother Fang Xuan? Whatever I can give, I'll grant without exception."