A Commoner's Perspective, Qian Renxue Moved

After Xue Qinghe finished speaking, Gu Feng immediately set down his teacup.

He understood. Tonight's main event had arrived!

Qian Renxue had infiltrated the Heaven Dou Royal Family for years. On the surface, she was the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, but in truth, she was the young mistress of Spirit Hall.

This question appeared to be asking for his opinion, but in reality, Qian Renxue was using it to assess whether he could be completely drawn into Spirit Hall's camp in the future.

Gu Feng did not answer immediately. Instead, he began to ponder.

Seeing this, Ning Rongrong remained silent as well. Ever since she had been with Gu Feng, whether at home or outside, she had always placed his dignity first.

As long as Gu Feng was present, she would always be second. This was Ning Rongrong's trust and love for Gu Feng.

Qian Renxue watched Gu Feng think without urging him. This question was not only meant to examine his stance, but also to test him.

After thinking briefly, Gu Feng raised his head and looked at Xue Qinghe.

"Brother Qinghe, although I am now a core disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the man Rongrong has chosen, I have never forgotten that I was born in a remote mountain village called Holy Soul Village in the Balak Kingdom."

Xue Qinghe quietly listened to Gu Feng's words. Naturally, she had investigated him as well.

Any Soul Master whose Martial Soul had been awakened through Spirit Hall would be recorded, regardless of what Martial Soul they awakened, as long as they possessed Soul Power.

This was not only how Spirit Hall recorded the number of commoner Soul Masters awakened each year, but also a guarantee of its deacons' performance.

Thus, Gu Feng's background had never been a secret. Anyone with the intention could certainly uncover it.

Gu Feng looked at Xue Qinghe and continued.

"When I was six, a Spirit Hall deacon from Notting City named Su Yuntao came to the village to help the children of the proper age awaken their Martial Souls."

"It was because of his help that I was able to awaken my Martial Soul and embark upon the path of a Soul Master."

"No matter how remote or impoverished a mountain village might be, once the time came, Spirit Hall would send deacons to the mountains and countryside every year to awaken Martial Souls."

"Even if none of us ultimately awakened Martial Souls with Soul Power, at least we had been given such an opportunity."

At this point, Gu Feng sighed. Although quite a few people in Spirit Hall's upper ranks had rotted away, deacons like Su Yuntao were still worthy of respect.

Without Spirit Hall's policy of freely awakening Martial Souls, Douluo Continent would probably be like Unrivaled Tang Clan now, where even soldiers in the army had never seen a Martial Soul.

After sighing, he continued.

"On this point alone, as a Soul Master born a commoner, I actually have a very favorable impression of Spirit Hall."

"As for the power struggles between great factions, Brother Qinghe, I am only a little over twelve years old. Every day, the moment I open my eyes, I cultivate. My understanding of higher-level matters is truly limited. Sorry!"

After hearing Gu Feng's words, Xue Qinghe's eyes shone with surprise.

"Brother Feng, a mere Spirit Hall deacon was enough for you to remember him even now?"

She was very surprised. She had not expected Gu Feng to remember even such a minor figure for so long.

Gu Feng shrugged, a hint of helplessness rising in his heart.

"Brother Qinghe, that deacon was called Su Yuntao. He was a Soul Grandmaster of more than twenty ranks.

"When I graduated from the junior academy, he seemed to still be a Soul Grandmaster. Yet such an ordinary Soul Grandmaster passed through who knew how many villages every year.

"The children whose Martial Souls he awakened numbered in the hundreds or thousands.

"In my view, every major faction has good people and bad people.

"The Heaven Dou Empire's territory is vast, and quite a few spoiled young nobles use their status to bully others. In their eyes, ordinary people do not even count as people.

"Therefore, I believe that whether one is judging people or things, one cannot make blanket judgments."

Gu Feng's words were very sincere.

Although Gu Feng had now joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he had never forgotten Grandpa Jack, who had raised him since childhood.

Nor had he ever stood from a noble's perspective and made grand speeches. Everything Gu Feng said was entirely his own belief.

Having been born into the spring breeze and raised beneath the red flag in his previous life, Gu Feng naturally approved of measures like those of Spirit Hall.

Although there were also many parasites within Spirit Hall, that was normal.

When water was too clear, no fish could live in it.

Xue Qinghe quietly listened to everything Gu Feng said, light shining in her eyes.

She was very satisfied with such a genuine answer.

As for Gu Feng's other views regarding Spirit Hall, it was true enough. Gu Feng was only a little over twelve years old, so how many opinions could he really have?

She mocked herself inwardly. It seems I was still too impatient.

Xue Qinghe looked at Gu Feng and broke into a smile.

"What a fine saying, that one cannot make blanket judgments. I never expected that Brother Feng, with your current status, could still remain true to your original heart. This truly delights me."

Gu Feng cupped his hands in salute.

"Brother Qinghe, you praise me too highly."

Afterward, Xue Qinghe discussed several other matters with Gu Feng, and Gu Feng answered each one.

Before long, Xue Qinghe asked the final question of the evening.

"Brother Feng, with your talent, you will surely break through to become a Titled Douluo in the future. I am very curious—what is your dream for the future?"

Ning Rongrong looked at Gu Feng. She also wanted to know what he planned for the future.

Gu Feng turned around and looked at Ning Rongrong, who was quietly watching him. He reached out and gently took her hand.

"My dream is simple. To become strong! Stronger than everyone else—strong enough that no one can decide whether I live or die, strong enough to protect those I wish to protect!"

As Gu Feng spoke, his gaze never left Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong's eyes met Gu Feng's, and the two smiled in perfect understanding.

Xue Qinghe listened to Gu Feng's domineering words: "Strong enough that no one can decide whether I live or die, strong enough to protect those I wish to protect!"

Watching Gu Feng and Ning Rongrong gaze deeply into each other's eyes, something suddenly stirred within her.

Could this... be love?

Qian Renxue did not know, nor did she understand.

Her father's death, her mother's heartlessness.

At the age of nine, she had infiltrated the Heaven Dou Empire. From that moment onward, she had almost lost all of her emotions.

She looked at Gu Feng and Ning Rongrong before her, filled with envy. Such feelings... I want them too. I want them too.

A moment later, Xue Qinghe gathered her emotions and rose to her feet with a laugh.

"Passionate and true! Brother Feng truly is a remarkable man! I admire you!"

Gu Feng also rose while holding Ning Rongrong's hand. He smiled at Xue Qinghe as well.

"Brother Qinghe, it is late. Rongrong and I will head back first."

Xue Qinghe nodded with a smile and personally arranged for a carriage to send Gu Feng and Ning Rongrong back to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

After seeing the two off, she stood somewhat dazed before the gates of the Crown Prince's Residence.

The slightly cool night breeze lifted the loose strands of hair over her forehead, as though it had carried away her emotions as well.

Qian Renxue's entire body relaxed beneath the evening breeze, and the tension between her brows vanished.

She recalled every conversation she had had with Gu Feng that evening.

She felt deeply intrigued by Gu Feng.

Born a commoner, he had now attained a high position, yet he remained loyal and affectionate.

After Gu Feng joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and became a core disciple, he had even brought the old man who had raised him to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect so he could enjoy his remaining years in peace.

A person so devoted to loyalty and gratitude was indeed worth befriending properly.

As long as she treated someone like him with sincerity, Qian Renxue believed that he would choose to stand on her side in the future!