The next morning.
Chen Xin set out with Han Yu to visit the Ye Family.
Heaven Dou City was a tangled web of factions. The Ye Family was weak and lived beyond the city's fourth ring. Its estate covered only about a third of the area of the Crown Prince Tutor Mansion.
"Many people were lurking outside the mansion last night," Chen Xin said as they walked slowly along.
Han Yu gave an awkward smile. "Yes, Teacher. I'll act more cautiously from now on."
Chen Xin nodded.
It wasn't that he wanted to raise Han Yu to be the sort who hid from everyone. It was just that people could be treacherous, and Old Bone and he couldn't always stay by Han Yu's side. If Han Yu was too ostentatious, sooner or later he'd lose his life.
The banquet yesterday had been peaceful, filled with laughter and cheerful voices. Yet that very night, more than a dozen auras at the Soul Saint level had lingered near the mansion.
So now, Chen Xin never let Han Yu out of his sight, and had even moved into the room next door.
"We're here," Chen Xin said.
Han Yu looked up. The plaque bearing the words "Ye Family" was steeped in age. Several vines, dotted with fresh buds, crept over the outer wall. Their clean, fresh scent made him feel relaxed from head to toe.
A Ye Family servant respectfully led Han Yu and Chen Xin into the courtyard.
The Ye Family head from the day before rose to greet them. Her face shone with a peaceful smile as she personally poured tea for Han Yu and Chen Xin.
Rather than taking the seat of honor, the Ye Family head sat facing the two of them.
She sat ramrod straight on the front half of her chair, hands resting on her knees and clasped tightly.
"Your Excellency Chen Xin, Holy Son, I am Ye Qing. I hope you'll forgive this old woman for imposing on you today." Ye Qing cupped her hands.
Chen Xin replied with a smile.
Han Yu returned the gesture. "Teacher Gu Rong has mentioned you to me many times. In a way, the medicinal knowledge I've learned is thanks to the Ye Family."
"You're too kind. It's the Holy Son who has such extraordinary talent." Ye Qing looked somewhat uneasy and waved her hands with a smile.
The atmosphere in the hall eased a little. Ye Qing and Chen Xin first reminisced about old times.
When the conversation turned to the present, Ye Qing couldn't help sighing. Her face was full of worry.
Chen Xin's eyes shifted, but he gave nothing away and continued sipping his tea.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Ye Family had been close for many years. The sect had even spent considerable manpower and resources supporting the Ye Family, all in the hope of bringing them into the sect.
But whenever Ning Fengzhi extended an invitation, the Ye Family always found some excuse to turn him down. As time passed, the only bond between the two factions was the personal relationship between Gu Rong and the Ye Family head.
"Your Excellency Chen Xin, forgive me for speaking frankly, but Spirit Hall has invited the Ye Family to join them more than once," Ye Qing said, pursing her lips.
Seeing that Chen Xin still seemed unconcerned, she lowered her gaze and forced out a few words. "If Spirit Hall were as it used to be, the Ye Family might have agreed long ago.
"But the current Pope is ruthless and shows no regard for past ties. Spirit Hall simply isn't a good place to go."
Han Yu glanced at Chen Xin, who hadn't said a word, thought for a moment, then asked, "Then why doesn't the Ye Family join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
At that, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Chen Xin's mouth.
He'd known that someone as quick-witted as Han Yu would know exactly what to say and ask at a time like this.
Ye Qing had brought up Spirit Hall's recruitment because she wanted to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but clearly hoped to negotiate some additional terms.
"Holy Son, that is indeed my intention. It's just that... I have a few conditions. I wonder if you might..." Ye Qing cupped her hands toward Han Yu, though her eyes kept darting toward Chen Xin beside him. She lowered her voice.
Han Yu smiled. "Please, go ahead, Head of the Ye Family. As long as it isn't unreasonable, the sect won't stand in your way."
"The Ye Family is about to split. My granddaughter will take some of our clansmen and establish her own household. Would her branch be able to join your sect?" Ye Qing's eyes flickered. She rose and bowed.
At those words,
Chen Xin's gaze sharpened, and he set his teacup down on the table with a light thud.
A vast surge of Soul Power swept out.
Fear flashed across Ye Qing's face, but she forced herself to stand straight, lowering her head and trembling as she held her hands cupped.
Han Yu narrowed his eyes slightly as he studied Ye Qing.
The Ye Family head had quite a scheme. She'd separate her granddaughter and have her join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect while joining Spirit Hall herself, placing bets on both sides. Whichever side won, she wouldn't lose. She was trying to use the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to hatch an egg with someone else's chicken.
But as for whose chicken would lay whose egg, that remained to be seen.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might lack many things, but it certainly didn't lack Ning Clan descendants. There was no way they couldn't produce someone who awakened the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul.
Han Yu met Chen Xin's eyes and lifted his brows. Then he stepped forward, helped Ye Qing up, and said, "Of course. That's wonderful. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect welcomes the Ye Family's young talents."
Ye Qing froze, then got to her feet in confusion and thanked him repeatedly.
Only after a moment did she realize something was off. When had she ever said that the Ye Family's young talents would join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
But Chen Xin was smiling and nodding too, so all she could do was awkwardly play along.
Only then did she realize that Han Yu made her feel much like Ning Fengzhi did: before she knew it, he'd already gotten the better of her.
"Alas, I wonder if what I've done will be good or bad for Leng Leng." Ye Qing murmured under her breath, her eyes full of worry.
Spirit City, Worship Hall.
This majestic hall glowed with sacred light beneath the sun.
At its center stood an Angel God Statue more than ten meters tall.
Kneeling before it was a golden-haired old man with an extraordinary air and handsome features, praying with devout solemnity.
He was none other than Spirit Hall Grand Pontiff, Qian Daoliu, one of the continent's mightiest powerhouses.
A muscular middle-aged man clad in golden armor strode into the hall.
"Have there been any word from She Long and Chi Xue?" Qian Daoliu slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was impassive as he asked.
"Big Brother, the young lady sent word. She suspects the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was behind it." Golden Crocodile Douluo handed him a letter, frowning as he replied.
The letter recorded the two assassination attempts by Snake Lance and Chi Xue Douluo, even noting that Han Yu had held them back for a moment. It also documented how they later went to investigate and mysteriously vanished, how Dugu Bo joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and how Han Yu revealed his sword intent—not a single detail was left out.
"Xue'er's intelligence work is getting more and more polished." A trace of warmth showed in Qian Daoliu's eyes. He stroked the letter and smiled.
"Big Brother, at a time like this, you're still concerned about that? Xue'er has no Titled Douluo protecting her right now. She's in great danger." Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes widened, his voice urgent.
Golden light shone in Qian Daoliu's eyes as he gazed toward the Heaven Dou Empire.
He waved a hand and said slowly, "Go. Just protect Xue'er in secret. Don't make a move against any other sects. He's merely an insignificant auxiliary-type Soul Master. He's not worth her expending so much effort on."
To Qian Daoliu, all that mattered was that Qian Renxue returned to the Worship Hall safe and sound. Nothing else was important.
As long as Qian Renxue's temperament had been sufficiently tempered, this continent would once again welcome the radiance of the angels.