Qinghe, the Soul Master world is too deep, you can't grasp it!

"Brother Xue, who are these people?" Lan Yu leaned in toward Xue Qinghe's ear, lowering his voice to ask.

He was truly desperate to get to the bottom of things.

Afraid of being overheard by the people opposite them, he had deliberately moved a bit closer.

As his warm breath swept across her ear, Qian Renxue's mind jolted, and a silent flush of red crept up the tips of her ears.

Damn it, I'm asking you a question, why are you blushing?!

"That refined middle-aged man is my teacher, the current Sect Master of the Seven-Colored Precious Lotus Sect—Ning Rongxin. His martial soul is the Eight-Treasure Colored Lotus, a level 85 support Spirit Douluo."

Lan Yu nodded, waiting for the rest, but after hearing nothing for a long while, he turned his head and locked eyes with Qian Renxue.

The other party coughed lightly and looked away, though the redness on her earlobes had deepened even further.

No, what exactly are you trying to do?!

Qian Renxue, I really should discipline you!

Tang Shan stared at the pair leaning in to whisper, her eyebrows arching slightly as a flicker of suspicion crossed her eyes.

She always felt that this Xue Qinghe was acting strange.

Xue Qinghe cleared her throat as if nothing had happened and continued, "The woman beside my teacher is the Sword Douluo, known as the world's number one sword—Chen Xin. Her martial soul is the world's strongest assault-type martial soul—the Seven Kill Sword."

At this, she paused and added, "The Sword Douluo is also my teacher's wife."

Lan Yu rubbed his chin. That made sense; without Tang Chen or Tang Hao, how could the Clear Sky Hammer possibly be the world's number one tool martial soul?

He asked casually, "So, these two are Ning Yurou's grandparents, then?"

"Uh... I suppose so." Xue Qinghe pondered for a moment before giving an ambiguous answer.

"Suppose so?" Lan Yu raised an eyebrow at her.

"My teacher has had three wives in his life. The first was Yurou's biological grandmother, who passed away years ago; the second is this Lady Chen Xin."

"Wait." Lan Yu's brain stalled, and he raised a hand to interrupt. "Sect Master Ning has had three wives?"

"Yes."

"And the second one is a Title Douluo?"

"Mm."

Lan Yu perked up instantly, asking curiously, "Then who is the third? Who has the guts to compete with a Sword Douluo for a man?"

"The third one is also a Title Douluo," Xue Qinghe said slowly.

Lan Yu was silent for two seconds before tentatively asking, "Is that person's martial soul... a Bone Dragon?"

Xue Qinghe's eyes widened, her face full of astonishment. "How did you know?"

Damn, I knew it!

"Is there a problem?" Seeing him remain silent, Xue Qinghe asked with concern.

"Nothing." Lan Yu shook his head, then suddenly, as if remembering something, he stared straight at Qian Renxue.

"What is it?"

In the original story, your Angel grandfather was a widower just like Ning Rongxin. A support spirit master can bring two Title Douluos home, yet your peerless grandfather spent half his life fawning over someone and got absolutely nothing.

Thinking this, he suddenly turned and gripped Tang Shan's wrist, his expression earnest. "Xiao Shan, in the future, if you take a liking to someone, you must strike first to gain the advantage, lest someone else snatches them away."

"Alright~" Tang Shan smiled, her eyes curving as she looked at him with hidden meaning.

"Whatever Brother tells Xiao Shan, Xiao Shan will remember it firmly~"

My cute brother~ you've just handed your sister a royal decree! You know, I have always been the most obedient to you~

As they spoke, Ning Rongxin walked over, holding Ning Yurou's hand.

"Qinghe, who are these two young friends?" He asked Xue Qinghe, though his gaze slowly swept over Lan Yu and Tang Shan.

Xue Qinghe felt a tightness in her chest and quickly laughed it off. "Two younger siblings I just met. Their talent is quite good, and they have already joined Heaven Dou Academy."

She was currently recruiting talent under the guise of the Heaven Dou Crown Prince. The Seven-Colored Precious Lotus Sect already possessed two Title Douluos and had much deeper roots than she did; she couldn't let Ning Rongxin poach them.

Ning Rongxin had lived several decades longer than Qian Renxue and saw through her little schemes at a glance.

Amused inwardly, he decided to test them and gently pushed Ning Yurou's back.

Ning Yurou stumbled half a step forward, her small face flushed bright red. She fidgeted for a long time before squeezing out a voice as quiet as a mosquito: "I apologize... Brother."

Seeing this, Ning Rongxin's face immediately showed a hint of apology. "Young friend, allow me to apologize to you on behalf of my granddaughter."

"Sect Master Ning, there is no need for that," Lan Yu said, waving his hand. He then cupped his fists and said solemnly, "This junior has something to say, though I do not know if I should speak it. I hope Sect Master Ning will not take offense."

"Speak freely."

"The inheritance of a sect lies in its people, not its form. Do not let empty titles trap a true successor."

As these words fell, the faint smile on Ning Rongxin's face suddenly froze.

Not far away, Chen Xin saw this and hurried over, gently placing a hand on his shoulder, his eyes filled with worry.

"It is nothing."

Ning Rongxin waved his hand, looked down at the bewildered Ning Yurou beside him, and reached out to pick her up. His voice carried a touch of self-reproach. "Rourou, I have wronged you all these years."

As soon as he finished speaking, the young girl in his arms instantly reddened, tears falling down her cheeks. She let out a sob and buried herself in his embrace, crying.

"As a dignified Sect Master, I actually placed the entire burden of the sect on a child... I have been muddled." Ning Rongxin let out a long sigh, filled with regret.

No, this... did I just activate a "talk-no-jutsu"?

Xue Qinghe leaned in at this moment and whispered an explanation: "When Yurou was three, her parents were attacked and killed while traveling. After suffering the pain of losing his child, Teacher poured all his heart and soul into Yurou."

"When she awakened her martial soul at six, Yurou tested for innate soul power of level nine, and her martial soul was the Seven-Colored Precious Lotus."

"Back then, Teacher had innate soul power of level eight, and he managed to evolve his martial soul into the Eight-Treasure Colored Lotus."

"Yurou might be even better."

"From then on, Teacher regarded Yurou as the hope for the sect's glory and insisted on raising her as a boy. That is how the name 'Young Master Guang Zong' spread."

As he was speaking, Ning Yurou jumped down from Ning Rongxin's arms, walked up to Lan Yu, and bowed solemnly. "Big Brother, I am sorry."

If the first apology had been at her grandfather's instruction, this one was sincere.

After saying this, she blushed and ran back behind Ning Rongxin, only poking half her head out to peek at Lan Yu.

Sigh~

Seeing this, Tang Shan, who was beside Lan Yu, let out a soft sigh. She was all too familiar with that kind of look.

My dear brother, another little girl has taken the bait~

Why can't you just stay obediently by my side? Why must you go around flirting with everyone?

Ning Rongxin took in this scene, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

He took a token from his storage soul tool and, under Xue Qinghe's fixed gaze, handed it to Lan Yu.

"Young friend, if you have time in the future, you may use this token to visit Seven-Colored City at any time."

Xue Qinghe gritted his teeth, maintaining a smile on his face while cursing Ning Rongxin to death in his heart.

"Qinghe, I intend to send Yurou to Heaven Dou Academy to study. What do you think?" Ning Rongxin turned to look at him.

"Rest assured, Teacher. This student will make proper arrangements," Xue Qinghe immediately replied respectfully.

Ning Rongxin nodded in satisfaction. In his view, anyone Xue Qinghe took a liking to must have exceptional talent.

He and his two wives were getting on in years and could not protect Yurou forever.

Given the relationship between the Seven-Colored Precious Lotus Sect and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, the child would be safe anywhere there.

Qinghe, the waters of the soul master world are too deep for you to handle. Let Teacher help you keep watch!