Fourth Prince, Xue Beng

She Long released Chen Xi's wrist and lightly tapped her on the head.

"What did you do last night? Your Mental Power was drained so badly."

"Eat something first, then go back and get some proper rest. We'll move the lesson to this afternoon."

She Long turned around and led Chen Xi toward the dining hall.

Following behind She Long, Chen Xi still looked drowsy and half-asleep.

Only when she caught the scent of food did Chen Xi force herself to perk up and begin eating breakfast.

After finishing breakfast, Chen Xi returned to her room, lay down on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

Time passed bit by bit.

At around two or three in the afternoon, Chen Xi finally opened her eyes and climbed out of bed.

After resting for so long, although Chen Xi's Mental Power had not fully recovered, it had returned considerably. At the very least, she no longer looked like she could fall asleep at any moment.

After stretching, Chen Xi picked up the books from the desk, left her room, and went to find She Long.

The moment she stepped outside, Chen Xi saw She Long reclining in a wicker chair, leisurely basking in the sun.

"Awake?"

She Long sat up from the wicker chair and looked toward Chen Xi as she approached.

"Uncle She Long."

Chen Xi smiled sheepishly.

Seeing her expression, She Long waved it off indifferently and took the books from her hands.

"I'll teach you the most basic knowledge of Soul Masters now."

"If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."

She Long casually flipped through the books a couple of times before setting them aside.

At his level, there was no need to use books to explain the basics of Soul Masters.

She Long began with the ranks of Soul Masters. After explaining those, he went on to cover Soul Beasts, Soul Rings, Soul Bones, and other fundamental topics.

Chen Xi listened with great attention.

Moreover, because Chen Xi had an exceptionally good memory, after She Long explained something once, she could remember seventy or eighty percent of it. She could even draw inferences from it.

She Long did not hold back his praise for this at all.

As the sun set, She Long checked the time and rose from his seat. "Let's stop here for today."

"I'll take you out to eat first. Once we're back, I'll teach you some basic combat techniques."

"Alright, Uncle She Long."

Chen Xi followed She Long out of the residence and onto the bustling streets.

Even though night was approaching, the streets of Heaven Dou City remained lively. Listening to the cries of vendors on both sides of the street, Chen Xi's gaze constantly swept over the roadside stalls.

"Xiao Xi, what do you want to eat?"

"Uncle She Long, can we have the beef soup over there?"

Chen Xi pointed toward a small roadside stall.

"Of course."

She Long smiled and led Chen Xi over.

Arriving at the stall, She Long ordered two bowls of beef soup and several meat pies. Then they sat down at a clean table and waited quietly.

Before long, their food was served.

Drinking the steaming beef soup and eating the freshly baked meat pies, Chen Xi looked extremely happy.

Children really are easy to satisfy.

She Long watched Chen Xi's delighted expression and thought to himself.

Just then, as though he had noticed something, She Long turned his gaze in another direction.

Across from them, Xue Beng, dressed in royal attire, was striding toward them with an arrogant gait.

"Isn't this my elder brother's little maid?"

"Why are you here by yourself? Sneaking out of the imperial palace will have very serious consequences."

Xue Beng walked up to their table, planted one foot on a chair, and looked down at Chen Xi from above.

As for She Long beside her, Xue Beng had long since ignored him.

After all, Chen Xi was merely a little maid from the imperial palace. What kind of status could someone have if he was sitting and eating with a little maid?

Chen Xi looked up in surprise. Just as she was about to say something, She Long rose from his seat.

"Get as far away as you can and stay gone."

She Long grabbed Xue Beng by the collar and lifted him straight up. With a slight exertion of his arm, he tossed Xue Beng aside.

"You dare lay a hand on me?"

Xue Beng pointed at She Long, his eyes full of disbelief.

After playing the dandy for so many years, he knew perfectly well who he could and could not afford to provoke in Heaven Dou City. Clearly, in his understanding, She Long was not among those he could not provoke.

"I've already laid a hand on you. What do you think?"

"Point at me again, and believe it or not, I'll make your blood splash five paces away."

She Long swept Xue Beng with a cold glance, his tone flat.

As Chen Xi watched the scene unfold, he silently took a bite from the meat pie in his hand, his dark violet eyes shifting slightly.

"Uncle She Long, since you acted, you must have made thorough preparations, right?"

"Still, Xue Beng really is a little annoying."

"Should I subtly let something slip?"

As Chen Xi pondered, he took another bite of his meat pie.

Meanwhile, Xue Beng climbed up from the ground and dusted himself off, his face so grim it seemed ready to drip water.

"Fine!"

"You're very good!"

"Just you wait!"

After leaving behind that threat, Xue Beng turned and left without hesitation.

He certainly could not win on his own in the current situation, so naturally, he had to go back and call for backup.

Watching Xue Beng's departing back, She Long gave a disdainful smile, paying no mind at all to his threat.

Returning to the table, She Long sat down and took a sip of the beef soup before him.

"Uncle She Long, Xue Beng is still a prince of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. You attacked him in public, so he probably won't let this go."

Chen Xi lowered his voice greatly.

"It's fine. He's just a dandy."

"Even if he refuses to let it go, what can he do?"

"Xiao Xi, just eat in peace. There's nothing for you to worry about."

She Long waved his hand indifferently.

"Uncle She Long, I suddenly thought of something."

Chen Xi leaned close to She Long mysteriously.

"What idea?"

A hint of curiosity appeared in She Long's eyes.

"Uncle She Long, look, there are two beef pies now, and you can choose which one to take."

"But if I take one away, then Uncle She Long, wouldn't you have no choice left?"

Chen Xi picked up one of the meat pies and took a small bite.

"You child, if you wanted to eat, you could've just said so."

"Would I really let you go hungry?"

Seeing Chen Xi's little expression, She Long could not help but smile.

"Uncle She Long, if these two meat pies were the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince from earlier, wouldn't you have no choice left?"

Holding the meat pie, Chen Xi blinked playfully.

"Mm..."

"There'd be no choice left..."

The smile on She Long's face gradually vanished as he lowered his head in thought.

Meanwhile, Chen Xi took small bite after small bite of the meat pie. Once he had finished it, he contentedly rubbed his little belly.