Fifth Brother! Take my staff!

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace

Crown Prince's Bedchamber

In the sumptuous hall, several pots of precious camellias stood on a carved wooden table. The scent of sandalwood drifted from the incense burner, soothing the heart and refreshing the spirit.

A breeze swept past, making the palace windows creak. A moment later, an earth-colored figure flashed through, and a man over two meters tall appeared in the cool, quiet hall, his lean frame as straight and sharp as a javelin.

Directly before him stood a screen as white as sheer gauze. In front of it, a youth dressed in white-and-gold formal attire stood with his back to the man. Before the youth was a mural of a beauty, depicting a pond beneath the moonlight. A single two-colored lotus at its center was the most striking feature.

"Young master, I have news about the Second Young Lady's background."

Today, after the man sent word that he had finished investigating Qian Renyue's origins, Xue Qinghe had deliberately dismissed everyone. Gazing at the mural before him, he said in an even tone, "Thank you for your efforts, Uncle She."

Indeed, the man dressed in earth-colored clothes was one of Spirit Hall's elders, Snake Lance Douluo, She Long.

"You are too kind, young master." She Long bowed slightly, his face expressionless, and recounted everything he had learned to Xue Qinghe. "Young master, the Second Young Lady was originally named Tang Yue. A blacksmith from Holy Soul Village found her abandoned outside the village and brought her back. He did not adopt her immediately, but handed her over to the village chief to raise. Only after the chief offered him a small monthly subsidy did the blacksmith adopt her, and only then did she receive a name of her own. Furthermore, I made inquiries throughout Holy Soul Village. Every villager said she had a miserable life there. The blacksmith not only made her perform hard labor at a young age, but also took his anger out on her from time to time. Over the years, she became somewhat timid and would not even speak up when she was wronged..."

At this point, She Long found it rather strange. He had watched Xue Qinghe's previous fight with Qian Renyue from a distance. Judging by his many years of experience reading people, that Second Young Lady had absolutely nothing to do with the word "timid." Yet he had spent several days investigating Holy Soul Village, practically questioning every household. Their accounts were remarkably consistent: Qian Renyue had done hard labor in the blacksmith's home, and the little girl had been terribly frail. Without her older brother, she probably would have starved to death in the Tang Family's home long ago.

Thinking of this, She Long added, "Also, the Second Young Lady has an older brother named Tang San."

"Tang San?"

The name sounded familiar to Xue Qinghe. "The Tang San who shot and killed a commoner in Heaven Dou City?"

"Yes."

She Long explained, "That day, the Second Young Lady had a conflict with Tang San's companions. In a fit of rage, Tang San shot an innocent commoner dead. The Fifth Enshrined witnessed it himself, and it caused quite a stir. You already know what happened afterward, young master. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect intervened to settle the matter. Those sesame-seed-sized local officials were in no position to pursue it, so it was left unresolved, with no further action."

"Mm, I know." Xue Qinghe nodded, his tone as unreadable as ever. "Was compensation paid?"

He asked.

"Yes."

She Long said, "On the day of the killing, the Fifth Enshrined visited the local Spirit Hall branch. Spirit Hall provided a total of one thousand Gold Soul Coins in compensation for that commoner. It also promised a place at Spirit Hall Academy for the commoner's descendant. As long as they awaken a martial soul that allows them to cultivate, they can enroll unconditionally."

One thousand Gold Soul Coins?

Unconditional admission to Spirit Hall Academy?

At this, a different expression suddenly flickered across Xue Qinghe's calm face. "That doesn't sound like something Grandpa Guang Ling would do."

"It was my second younger sister," he said.

"Yes. You see clearly, young master."

She Long did not believe the Fifth Enshrined would do such a thing either. Spirit Hall already awakened commoners' martial souls for free every year and issued regular subsidies. Even with the money amassed from the two great empires, it had not simply blown in on the wind. Paying so many Gold Soul Coins for a dead commoner was one thing, but unconditional admission to Spirit Hall Academy too? Was this supposed to be a charity?

Although he privately could not understand Qian Renyue's actions, She Long did not voice his true thoughts before Xue Qinghe. He believed his young master probably thought the same way: that Second Young Lady was not necessarily a lamp that spared the oil.

"Is there any other news?"

Xue Qinghe asked.

He actually had no particular opinion about Qian Renyue's actions. It was normal for a ten-year-old girl to overflow with sympathy. Besides, the main problem was that Guang Ling spoiled her too much. Otherwise, there would not have been so much fuss.

"Yes, there is one more thing!"

Prompted by Xue Qinghe, She Long seemed to remember something important. His brows knitted slightly, and he said gravely, "Young master, the blacksmith who adopted the Second Young Lady is named Tang Hao!"

"..."

Tang Hao?

Clear Sky Douluo?

Xue Qinghe narrowed his eyes slightly, and a chill suddenly radiated from him.

His expression hovered between a smile and no smile, the smile never reaching beneath his skin. It was chilling to behold.

No one knew better than Xue Qinghe that Clear Sky Douluo and Spirit Hall shared a blood-deep feud. He gazed at the lotus in the mural, his thoughts inscrutable. "Where is he?"

Xue Qinghe asked.

His voice was naturally gentle. Even with that thread of coldness woven through it, no one could discern what he was thinking.

"His whereabouts are unknown," She Long answered truthfully.

"Tang San is his son. His martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, and he is twelve this year. Everything matches. That man should be the Clear Sky Douluo who vanished back then, Tang Hao."

"Mm, understood."

Xue Qinghe acknowledged this without saying anything more.

The grudges of the previous generation were not his to meddle in. Besides, with his current strength, he could not defeat Tang Hao. Rather than burden himself with needless worries over this, he might as well face it calmly. At least that would not waste his time.

Xue Qinghe's reaction was a little too calm, leaving She Long unsettled. He fell silent for a while, his thoughts unknown, then suddenly ventured, "Young master, should we send someone to keep an eye on the Second Young Lady?"

"No."

Xue Qinghe rejected the suggestion outright. "Grandfather would not misjudge someone. Let my second younger sister settle her own affairs. If there is anything she cannot handle, I will handle it for her. Also, I know what you are worried about, Uncle She, but none of those things are cause for fear. Whether she wishes to be Tang Yue or Qian Renyue is her own business. If she is Qian Renyue, she is the second younger sister I cherish. If she is Tang Yue, she is my enemy. Which it becomes depends on a single thought of hers. You and I need only watch which choice she makes."

"But..."

She Long frowned and wanted to say more, but Xue Qinghe suddenly dismissed him. "That will do, Uncle She. I have other matters to attend to shortly. Sorry for the trouble, but please relay this information back to Spirit Hall."

"...Yes, young master."

She Long's expression was complicated. He truly did not understand why his young master was so tolerant of the Second Young Lady.

She was Tang Hao's adopted daughter!

Granted, Tang Hao had treated her poorly. Perhaps the two hated each other more than enemies did...

But even so, it was not the ten thousand ordinary chances one feared, but that one chance in ten thousand. Was he really not going to take any precautions?

She Long felt rather frustrated.

A Second Young Lady had popped out of nowhere, yet his young master had no sense of danger at all. Truly, the emperor was untroubled while the eunuch fretted. All his worrying was for nothing.

Shaking his head helplessly, She Long nevertheless went to carry out Xue Qinghe's instructions.

Xue Qinghe stood before the mural. In the pond, beside the beautiful lotus blossoms swaying gracefully, a fair-skinned beauty lay asleep on a lotus leaf. A flame-shaped floral ornament adorned her brow, delicate and exquisite, lending her a distinctive charm. The mural should have been well worth admiring. Unfortunately, on closer inspection, the woman's lotus-root-like arms were entwined with vines. Those vines were more vividly colored than either the flowers or the woman, as though someone had deliberately painted them on afterward. This changed the entire flavor of the painting.

Only after pondering it for days had Xue Qinghe discerned its hidden meaning.

"Tang Yue..."

"Qian Renyue..."

"She really does resemble her a little..."

Spirit Hall

Guang Ling Hall

Upon learning that Qian Renyue had been injured, all six of the other enshrined hurried to Guang Ling Hall. Qian Daoliu arrived first, and his face was thunderous when he saw Guang Ling. He snatched Qian Renyue from Guang Ling's arms and immediately carried her to her own room, shutting Guang Ling outside for good measure.

Bang-

"..."

From that sound alone, it was clear their eldest brother was truly furious.

Guang Ling lowered his eyes in guilt. He wanted to explain, but Qian Daoliu would not hear a single word. The look he gave him was like a shower of knives, downright unnerving.

"..."

"Sigh."

With a heavy sigh, Guang Ling could only wait anxiously outside the room. He was not afraid Qian Renyue would blame him. He only feared she would suffer lingering effects. After all, the gap in strength between him and Xiao Yue'er was enormous. Although he had used only a tenth of his strength, it was still a skill that harmed the body. If she did not recover properly, she might be left with a cold affliction.

"..."

The more Guang Ling thought about it, the more troubled he became.

He had no idea what he had been thinking then. It had clearly been nothing but a dead bird, yet he had actually thought it was an illusion.

He must have lost his mind.

Maybe spending more than a month in the Far North had frozen my brain.

Guang Ling grumbled to himself.

However, he had not been berating himself for long before a great bird descended outside Guang Ling Hall. The bird landed and headed straight for the main hall. "Fifth Brother, where is Yueyue?"

"Third Brother."

Guang Ling looked toward the voice. It was Azure Luan Douluo.

After receiving Guang Ling's letter, Azure Luan Douluo had immediately informed Qian Daoliu. That was why Qian Daoliu had caught Guang Ling at Guang Ling Hall, snatched Qian Renyue away, and left Guang Ling facing his thunderous expression.

"You said you accidentally injured Yueyue. Is she all right?"

Seeing that Guang Ling had not yet been beaten, Azure Luan breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Guang Ling and asked about Qian Renyue's condition with a slight frown. If she was doing well, this would amount to a scolding at most. If not, Guang Ling would get a beating. Given Qian Renyue's temperament, she might not be happy to see Qian Daoliu beat Guang Ling. Thus, in the interest of keeping the household from erupting into flying chickens and fleeing dogs, Azure Luan had decided to come mediate, though his own first impulse upon hearing the news had also been to beat Guang Ling.

"I still don't know. Eldest Brother took her inside and slammed the door in my face. There's nothing I can do but stand out here. Third Brother, why don't you go in and take a look? I'm terribly worried about Xiao Yue'er."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Guang Ling did not dare provoke Qian Daoliu now. Otherwise, he might get a beating without even getting to see Xiao Yue'er. That would be far too steep a loss.

Hearing this, Azure Luan asked a soul-searching question. "Did you hit her hard?"

"...No..."

Not hard, probably...

Guang Ling answered hesitantly.

"..."

All right. That look confirmed it. This fellow was almost certainly getting a beating.

Meanwhile, inside the room.

Qian Renyue lay peacefully on the bed while Qian Daoliu examined her body beside her.

When he found that Qian Renyue had neither external nor internal injuries, he could not help frowning. "What is going on?"

When he took Qian Renyue from Guang Ling, Qian Daoliu had clearly sensed cold energy lingering inside her. Had he not been anxious to check her condition, he would certainly have beaten Guang Ling first. Yet now, in just a few minutes, there was suddenly nothing wrong with her body at all. How was that possible?

Qian Daoliu had never encountered anything like this.

Had she absorbed it herself?

At that moment, Little Phoenix gradually awakened inside Qian Renyue.

It gave a small yawn and could not resist grumbling aloud, "Ignorant human. Master absorbed an immortal herb, and she has an ice attribute herself. On top of that, I, Little Phoenix, repaired her insides. Of course she's fine!"

Unfortunately, Qian Daoliu could not hear Little Phoenix. After pondering the matter this way and that, he finally arrived at a single conclusion. "Could this be related to the God of Kindness?"

Little Phoenix: "Smooth."

Qian Renyue was still asleep, and Little Phoenix did not disturb her. In her dantian, it enjoyed the nourishment of her soul power, feeling utterly content. Its master seemed to have released a vast amount of soul power inside her body after being injured a day earlier. Little Phoenix had seized the opportunity to absorb quite a bit, so after only a day and a half of shut-eye, it had awakened again. Had it not known its master was unquestionably human, it would have suspected she was a ferocious beast with hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation.

Such vast, gentle soul power should never have appeared in a Soul Master of only level thirty-five. There had to be another secret behind it.

Little Phoenix knew its master was extraordinary, but it had never imagined she was this extraordinary. A mere mortal body actually contained such profound soul power. It was truly frightening.

In fact, comparing her to a Titled Douluo would probably not be an exaggeration.

As Little Phoenix thought about it, it felt fortunate that its master's soul power was not overbearing. Otherwise, given its greedy nature, its body probably would have exploded after it swallowed a portion. How could it ever have opened its eyes again?

Come to think of it, it was lucky to have chosen a master who suited it perfectly and could even grant it rebirth.

What bliss!

Hehe!

While Little Phoenix basked inside her body, a sudden jumble of voices rang out outside-

"Third Brother! Where is Yue'er? How is she?"

"Third Brother, how is Xiao Yue doing?"

"Where is Eldest Brother? Did he take Yueyue away?"

"Fifth Brother! Take my staff!"