Walking Tang San's Path, Leaving Him Nowhere to Go

By the time Yun Chen returned to his room, it was already noon the next day. Anyone could clearly tell that he seemed somewhat listless. He leaned against the windowsill in boredom, staring at the distant scenery as he lost himself in thought.

What was he thinking about? Perhaps he was wondering how vast the universe was.

Ah Yin beside the windowsill was still gently swaying her vines. She seemed to sense Yun Chen's mood and continuously reached out to touch him with them.

"Don't touch me."

Yun Chen frowned and cast Ah Yin an irritated glance. Upon hearing him say that, Ah Yin obediently stopped moving.

Heh... Xiao San, do you know your mother is this obedient?

Yun Chen thought maliciously.

During the time Ah Yin had been with him, he had given her a little training. The old Ah Yin had constantly wanted to kill herself and follow that bastard Tang Hao into death. How could he allow that?

If she really did that, wouldn't rescuing her have been a complete waste?

So Yun Chen had no choice but to use that method. Based on all the conspiracy theories and indirect speculation about Tang Hao from his previous life, he had fabricated a logically airtight story.

He turned Tang Hao's image in Ah Yin's heart into that of a heinous villain who had murdered his wife to seize her soul ring.

The truth was, those guesses from his previous life were fucking reasonable. They matched the details of many events; it was merely a matter of perspective.

Thus, after learning the truth, even if Ah Yin did not believe it, she would still harbor doubts.

That suspicion caused her and Tang Hao to grow estranged. Of course, Tang Hao was already dead, but that only made it more convenient for Yun Chen to use Ah Yin.

"Heh..."

Yun Chen sneered, his gaze toward Ah Yin carrying a trace of mockery.

Tang San, if you learned that your mother was in my hands, what would you do?

A knock at the door interrupted Yun Chen's thoughts. He glanced at Ah Yin, and she tacitly disguised herself as an ordinary clump of weeds.

Yun Chen then calmly walked to the door and opened it. His maid, Sakura, had arrived.

"Young Master Yun Chen, His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence."

"He asks that you join him in the study."

Yun Chen nodded. Though he was somewhat puzzled about why Qian Renxue was calling for him now, he still agreed.

Why is Sister Xue looking for me? Didn't we just do it last night?

Though Yun Chen was confused, he quickly tidied up the room, locked the door, and headed for the study.

At the same time, in Qian Renxue's room.

"Uncle She, Dugu Bo suddenly asked to see Xiao Chen this time. You must protect him from the shadows."

Qian Renxue's expression was calm and her tone flat as she spoke, but She Long understood that she cared about this matter far more than usual.

"Rest assured, Young Mistress. Young Master Yun Chen's safety will be my foremost priority."

Qian Renxue nodded in satisfaction.

She Long was no fool. Qian Renxue and Yun Chen had become increasingly intimate lately. As an old fox, She Long naturally understood what had happened.

Likewise, he wished the two of them well.

After all, he had watched Qian Renxue grow up. She had been sent to an enemy nation as a spy at such a young age, and the hardships she had endured along the way were easy to imagine. Now that someone could accompany her and make her happy, She Long was deeply gratified.

Besides, their talents were well matched, so there was no issue of them being unsuitable for one another. And they had feelings for each other, which made it even more perfect.

"Mm, good."

"Xiao Chen will be here soon. Stay hidden and protect him."

After bowing once more, She Long vanished from the spot.

Soon after, the door was pushed open and Yun Chen walked in.

When Qian Renxue's gaze met Yun Chen's Golden Eyes, she visibly turned her head away in embarrassment.

The wild scene from last night still lingered in her mind, making her feel shy.

"Xue'er, what did you want to see me about?"

Yun Chen casually pulled over a chair and sat opposite Qian Renxue's desk, then propped his legs up on it.

Qian Renxue showed no displeasure at Yun Chen's rude behavior. Their intimacy had long allowed for such casual impropriety. After all, they knew each other inside and out, and had basically done everything together.

"That consecrated member of the Heaven Dou Empire, Dugu Bo—the Poison Douluo—specifically asked to see you."

Qian Renxue stared unblinkingly at Yun Chen as she spoke.

She was now highly suspicious that this matter had something to do with Yun Chen. Otherwise, why would Dugu Bo specifically ask to see him?

After all, Yun Chen had done this sort of thing plenty of times over the years. Setting aside Tang Hao's matter, which might have been a coincidence, there had also been Whale Rubber and Soul Tools afterward. Without exception, it had always been the same.

Yun Chen would hint to Qian Renxue that there might be profit to be made in a certain area, then step in himself to seize the benefits.

To Qian Renxue, Yun Chen seemed to possess foresight. He was always tinkering with something, and he often achieved excellent results.

Of course, this was generally attributed to Yun Chen being an extraordinary genius. Yet the instincts of a lover told Qian Renxue that Yun Chen was definitely hiding some unknown secret—something on the level of foresight.

"Oh, I know."

Yun Chen spoke casually, sounding utterly unconcerned.

Qian Renxue's brows knitted slightly. From Yun Chen's reaction, he truly did not seem to think much of it.

"Then why does he want to see you?"

"Oh, I met his granddaughter at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and I felt that their family seemed to be deeply poisoned."

"So I reminded her of it. It might be because of that that the Poison Douluo wants to see me."

Yun Chen made himself sound entirely innocent. He had clearly brought up the matter on purpose, yet made it seem as though he had merely wanted to save someone.

"Poisoned? How is that possible? He's the Poison Douluo. How could he possibly be poisoned?"

Qian Renxue was greatly surprised, but she did not doubt Yun Chen's words. Her trust in him was practically absolute—except when it came to him being with other women.

"Why is it impossible?"

"Snake venom is stored within the snake's own body, which carries the risk of contaminating the soul master himself."

"On top of that, Dugu Bo evolved his Martial Soul into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, making its venom even stronger. When that poison is passed down to his descendants, the damage it causes them is irreversible."

"Dugu Bo himself only endured the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's venom because of the physique of a Titled Douluo. But when his descendants were born, they did not possess the physical constitution of a Titled Douluo, so naturally they were deeply poisoned."

"I even suspect that his son and daughter-in-law died because of this."

After hearing Yun Chen's explanation, Qian Renxue's brows never relaxed. Her fingers unconsciously tapped against the desk.

She connected all the information she had previously gathered with Yun Chen's explanation, and everything suddenly became clear.

"So that's how it is. No wonder."

Qian Renxue abruptly raised her head, a smile blooming on her face. Her eyes held admiration for Yun Chen, along with a faint trace of reverence that was difficult to detect.

Yun Chen found that deeply satisfying. He merely gazed at Qian Renxue tenderly, admiring her beauty.

Ah, this is what it means to walk Tang San's path and leave Tang San nowhere to go.