Early the next morning.
"Did you clear things up?"
Mighty Lion Douluo stood with his arms crossed, leaning against a stone pillar of the pavilion. A teasing smile played at his lips as he looked at Qian Renxue.
"Yes, we did."
"He'll stay undercover with me."
Mighty Lion Douluo frowned slightly, looking at Qian Renxue in confusion.
"Why? With his talent, he'd receive far better training from Worship Hall if he returned to Spirit Hall."
"Or do you only see him as an ordinary genius?"
"Of course not. His talent is beyond doubt. He might even reach Grandfather's level."
Qian Renxue objected at once, her gaze wavering. Even though Yun Chen wasn't there, she worried that Mighty Lion Douluo's words might give him the wrong idea.
Xue'er thinks highly of the boy...
Wait. Xue'er seems to have special feelings for Yun Chen.
No wonder... She doesn't want her little sweetheart to leave.
Qian Renxue looked calm, but inside she was thoroughly irritated. Mighty Lion Douluo kept casting her teasing glances.
"That's enough, Grandpa Lion."
"I need people here too, and having Yun Chen around will strengthen my position."
"More importantly, if you take Yun Chen away now, I won't be able to explain it to Xue Ye."
Qian Renxue stammered at first, but the words came more easily as she went on. By the end, she almost believed them herself.
Mighty Lion Douluo nodded. He had only come on Qian Daoliu's orders. Taking Yun Chen back would have been ideal, but if Qian Renxue wanted him to stay, he would follow her wishes.
Since she said Yun Chen would help her, Mighty Lion Douluo saw no need to press her on how. He would simply do as she asked.
"And the resources...?"
That was the crucial question.
Qian Renxue herself had no such concerns. Worship Hall already supplied her with the finest resources available.
"Give him the very best resources. And in my capacity as Spirit Hall's young mistress, I'll grant him a title."
"Within Spirit Hall, his identity will be classified. His code name will be Regent."
Mighty Lion Douluo narrowed his eyes. He understood what Qian Renxue meant. She was announcing to everyone in Spirit Hall that Yun Chen was under her protection and was her most trusted subordinate. He was to receive the same treatment she did.
After all, the Qian Family had endured for over ten thousand years and possessed deep reserves. And because Bibi Dong was an outsider who controlled Spirit Hall, much of Spirit Hall's wealth had been transferred to the Qian Family's Worship Hall.
That was why, in the original story, Bibi Dong couldn't even obtain a Soul Bone for her disciple.
Even when she tried, Worship Hall blocked her. In the end, the Soul Bones were offered as prizes for the Soul Master Tournament champions instead. Of course, Tang San ended up claiming them.
Qian Renxue had no use for many of Spirit Hall's resources. Take Soul Bones, for example: she already possessed a complete set of Angel Soul Bones.
She certainly had no need for the high-quality Soul Bones Spirit Hall had accumulated over the years, including those from ten-thousand-year and even hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts.
But they couldn't simply be given to anyone else. As things stood, Qian Renxue and Yun Chen were the only two members of Worship Hall's younger generation.
If Qian Renxue had no use for them, there was no question who would get first pick.
Regent? Why that title? Shouldn't it be Holy Son?
Mighty Lion Douluo found the title a little strange, but he didn't pursue it. He simply nodded.
Qian Renxue was a little embarrassed. She didn't know how she would explain the title Regent, but fortunately, Mighty Lion Douluo didn't ask.
"Take care of yourself, Xue'er."
"Find a chance to visit Spirit Hall soon. Your grandfathers all miss you."
"I'll tell your grandfather about Yun Chen. Bring him along when you come."
"Your grandfather will need to see him for himself. If he approves, he has a few Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones."
Mighty Lion Douluo left it at that.
His meaning was clear. Whatever the relationship between the two of them, they acknowledged Yun Chen's undeniable talent. His character, however, would take time to judge.
They could provide him with cultivation resources, but treasures as rare as Soul Bones called for caution. Qian Daoliu would have to assess him personally.
"Grandpa Lion, aren't you going to take Yun Chen as your disciple?"
Seeing that Mighty Lion Douluo was about to leave, Qian Renxue voiced what had been bothering her. After all, he had said that taking Yun Chen as his disciple was the main purpose of his visit.
"No. There isn't enough time."
"Oh, and our spy in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect sent word."
"Ning Fengzhi is bringing Bone Douluo to your residence this afternoon."
"Most likely because of Yun Chen."
With that, Mighty Lion Douluo vanished in a flash.
Qian Renxue was left standing there, her brow furrowed.
"Xiao Qing! Xiao Qing!"
By the time Qian Renxue returned to the study, she had resumed Xue Qinghe's appearance. He called Xiao Qing's name twice, his brow furrowed with urgency. A young woman dressed in green hurried in from outside.
"Your Highness, what is it?"
"Did my teacher, Sect Master Ning, send a note requesting a visit yesterday?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll have a servant bring it to you at once."
Xue Qinghe's frown deepened. He slammed a hand on the desk and glared at Xiao Qing.
"How dare you! My teacher sent a note, and you failed to bring it to me immediately!"
"You didn't even tell me about it."
"What are you playing at?"
Qian Renxue wasn't particularly angry. She was using the chance to lose her temper on purpose. Xiao Qing was no ordinary maid. Xue Ye had personally assigned her to supervise the crown prince years ago. Her purpose was obvious: she was a spy planted right beside Qian Renxue.
"Your Highness, I... I wouldn't dare."
"Hmph! You wouldn't dare? What wouldn't you dare do?"
"You think I don't know? You control the finances of the Crown Prince's Residence, skimming money for yourself and secretly lining your pockets."
"You think I'm unaware of it?"
Qian Renxue practically roared the last words. Xiao Qing was so frightened that she dropped to her knees.
"Brother Qinghe, what's wrong?"
Yun Chen walked in slowly. The scene raised plenty of questions in his mind, but he didn't ask them yet.
Instead, he went over to Qian Renxue and sat on a small stool beside her, watching with interest.
"Little Chen, how do you think someone who takes bribes, breaks the law, and shows no respect for her ruler should be dealt with?"
Qian Renxue was testing Yun Chen to see what the boy was really like. She was also giving him a cue to play along.
Yun Chen had been a twenty-year-old university student in his previous life. He could hardly miss what she meant. He glanced at Xiao Qing, who was trembling on the floor, and more or less understood what was going on.
"She should certainly be punished."
"Oh? Tell me what punishment she deserves."
Qian Renxue was pleased, but she continued to follow his lead. Every so often, she glanced at Xiao Qing on the floor, making her tremble even harder.
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