"I'm all alone here..." Ah Yin said, her head bowed, her voice tinged with loneliness.
The immortal Immortal Herb in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well have not yet developed complete consciousness. The few that are conscious ignore her since she is just a Blue Silver Grass.
Especially when Xuan Ming and the Ice Dragon King are not around, these powerful flowers and plants will release their auras to bully her. Fortunately, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red is there to protect her, otherwise she would probably have fallen into a deep sleep long ago.
"Once we're out, we can't just transform into this form." Xuan Ming came to Ah Yin's original form, took out a small shovel and a flowerpot, and began transplanting.
Ah Yin was stunned for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "I'll do whatever you say!"
Heaven Dou City.
After leaving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Xuan Ming flew directly towards this direction.
Following his usual route, he would first go to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy before entering the city, but since Dugu Yan and the others hadn't returned yet, he went directly into the city.
"Did Dugu Bo say anything to you?" Xuan Ming asked.
"He said the Crown Prince wants to see you and asks you to go to the Crown Prince's residence after you come out," Ah Yin said.
"Is there anything else?" Xuan Ming asked.
"That's all," Ah Yin said.
Xuan Ming stopped and looked at the two roads in front of him.
The left side leads to the Imperial Palace, which is also the Crown Prince's Residence; the right side leads to the center of Heaven Dou City, where Moonlight Pavilion is located.
After thinking for a moment, Xuan Ming turned right.
He can go to the Crown Prince's residence anytime, and Xue Qinghe's spies should have already been sending messages after he entered the city, so there's no big problem whether he goes or not.
Let's go check out Moonlight Pavilion first.
He had told Tang Yuehua he would be back in two months at most, but from the moment he left the city, it took him more than a month to hunt for Soul Ring in the Star Dou Great Forest, then another half month in Suotuo City, another half month Doudou get to Spirit City, and almost another half month to get back from Spirit City. Then, he spent another three months in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. All in all...
He's been away for over six months!
"I'm going to start nagging again..."
Xuan Ming stood at the entrance of the Moonlight Pavilion, hesitating whether he should go see Xue Qinghe first and bring him along.
If Xue Qinghe were present, Tang Yuehua would restrain herself a bit.
Xuan Ming?
Just as Xuan Ming was about to turn and run away, Steward Aode returned from shopping, and the two bumped into each other.
"You're finally back." Steward Aode breathed a sigh of relief.
"Master has been very worried these past few months, contacting people everywhere to look for you."
"I..."
"Don't stand outside, come inside quickly." With that, Aode Aud strode into the Moonlight Pavilion.
"Master Xuan! Xuan Ming is back!"
"You're back? Where are you?"
"It's right outside."
"He still knows to come back?"
"..."
Chapter 140 A Skyscraper Rises from the Ground
"You promised to come back in two months, but it's been more than half a year!"
"I didn't even hear from you. I thought you'd been kidnapped and taken to the Star Luo Empire!"
"..."
In Tang Yuehua's room, Xuan Ming sat obediently, listening to her rambling.
After a long while, Tang Yuehua finally stopped talking, her throat dry, and plopped down in a chair.
"Don't get agitated, have some water first." Xuan Ming handed Tang Yuehua a cup of tea.
Tang Yuehua rolled her eyes at Xuan Ming, took the teacup, and slammed it down on the table. "Was he kidnapped by someone's daughter?"
"Where is he? Why didn't you bring him back so I could see him?"
"You've misunderstood," Xuan Ming said.
"A misunderstanding?" Tang Yuehua frowned.
"Where have you been for the past six months? You couldn't have gotten lost and wandered off to the Star Luo Empire, could you?"
Xuan Ming's expression froze. "I didn't get lost; it was all an accident."
"Yes, yes, it was all an accident. How could someone get lost even in Heaven Dou City?" Tang Yuehua took a sip of tea.
"Tell me, why haven't we heard anything from you? The Imperial Fighting Team hasn't heard from you either. Qin Ming said you went to Suotuo City Suotuo City, but I contacted the students there, and after investigating, they said you've been missing for a long time."
Xuan Ming thought for a moment and explained, "I went to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for my Fourth Soul Ring, which took me more than a month. After that, I went to Suotuo City. Qin Ming said that his old school, Shrek Academy, is there. If I have the chance, I can go and take a look."
" Shrek? The academy founded by Flender the Four-Eyed Cat Owl?" Tang Yuehua said.
"Hmm." Xuan Ming nodded.
"But the information I received is that you're not at the Shrek Academy," Tang Yuehua said.
Xuan Ming paused for a moment, then said, "I met someone."
Tang Yuehua raised an eyebrow and leaned closer. "Whose daughter is this?"
Xuan Ming sighed, " Tang Hao."
" Tang Hao? Whose aunt is that...?" Tang Yuehua's expression changed.
" Tang Hao? Which Tang Hao?"
"The one carrying the hammer, and with nine Soul Ring," Xuan Ming said.
Tang Yuehua's body jolted, and she nearly dropped the teacup in her hand, spilling a few drops of scalding tea onto her skirt. She seemed oblivious, staring intently at Xuan Ming, her voice trembling slightly. "You... you met Tang Hao? He... he didn't do anything to you, did he?"
"I fought with him," Xuan Ming said.
"Then..."
"They got into a fight?!" Tang Yuehua screamed in surprise, instinctively reaching for Xuan Ming's collar.
"Are you... are you alright?"
Xuan Ming quickly stopped Tang Yuehua from tearing her clothes open, saying, "She was slightly injured, but she's recovered now."
"Master, are you alright?" Steward Aode rushed over upon hearing the commotion.
"It's alright, Aode Aud, you can go about your business." Tang Yuehua tried her best to calm herself down.
Even if Xuan Ming is exceptionally talented, he is still just a Soul Ancestor, while Tang Hao is Titled Douluo!
Moreover, Tang Hao doesn't know how to control his strength!
"You... you've been recuperating all this time?" Tang Yuehua frowned, her eyes filled with worry.
"Hmm." Xuan Ming nodded.
"How could he lay a hand on you..." Tang Yuehua's expression was complicated as she gripped Xuan Ming tightly with both hands.
"It's me..." Xuan Ming opened his mouth, about to explain, but was interrupted by Tang Yuehua.
"Did you tell him about me?" Tang Yuehua asked.
"If he knew about your relationship with me, he wouldn't have laid a hand on you."
Three years ago, Xuan Ming was openly courted by the Pope of the Spirit Hall during the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. During that period, Xuan Ming frequently visited the Martial Soul Holy Temple, which led to some unpleasant rumors. Even the royal family was worried that Xuan Ming would be lured away by the Spirit Hall.
If Tang Hao hears this news, he is very likely to take action against Xuan Ming in order to retaliate against the Spirit Hall!
"I already said it," Xuan Ming said.
"He hit you after I told him?!" Tang Yuehua said anxiously.
"Has he gone mad?!"
Xuan Ming sighed, "After I told him, he stopped fighting."
"I see..." Tang Yuehua breathed a sigh of relief.
How is your injury?
"It's all better now," Xuan Ming said.
"I've been in seclusion in Sunset Forest recuperating for the past few months. Didn't Poison Douluo send you any messages?"
"No," Tang Yuehua said.
"That old man probably forgot because he found it too troublesome..." Xuan Ming wondered.
Dugu Bo has never been fond of places like Moonlight Pavilion, and given his notorious reputation, he would probably just casually mention it to Xue Qinghe at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"I'm glad you're alright. You shouldn't go out so much in the future; it's too dangerous," Tang Yuehua said.
"Hmm." Xuan Ming responded without saying anything more, since he wouldn't be leaving Heaven Dou City anytime soon.
Judging by the timeline, the Imperial Fighting Team should have arrived in Suotuo City by now. In another two months, Shrek Academy should also come to Heaven Dou City, Ah Rou should be coming over then as well.
However, it feels like I've forgotten something...
Knock knock!
"Master Xuan, His Highness the Crown Prince's men have arrived, saying they wish to invite Xuan Ming to the Crown Prince's residence for a discussion," Aode Aud said from outside the door.
"The Crown Prince?" Tang Yuehua was taken aback.
Did they say what it was about?
"No, I only said that Xuan Ming knows," said Steward Aode.
Xuan Ming stood up. "I'll go over there."
"Wait, have you eaten?" Tang Yuehua stopped Xuan Ming.
"No," Xuan Ming said.
"Let's eat first, then we'll go."
"Um."
As dusk fell, Xuan Ming finally arrived at the Crown Prince's residence.
Although it was supposed to be a meal, Tang Yuehua kept subtly asking him who helped him hunt for the Soul Ring, what he did in Suotuo City, whether he had any new friends at Shrek, and about Tang Hao's situation.
So, lunch, which started in the afternoon, wasn't finished until dark.
As they entered the Crown Prince's residence, there was hardly anyone around. Without a doubt, it was Qian Renxue who would be making an appearance tonight.
"Haven't seen you for a long time."
Upon entering the backyard, Qian Renxue was already waiting there, dressed in a gorgeous white dress, facing sideways to Xuan Ming, looking just like a ghost.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Xuan Ming stopped and asked.
Qian Renxue walked into the pavilion, sat down, and poured two cups of tea. "It's been so long since we last met, can't we catch up first?"
"Catch up?" Xuan Ming frowned slightly.
"Did you come here to argue with me?"
Qian Renxue's expression froze. "What do you mean?"
"Our past is nothing more than arguments, isn't it?" Xuan Ming said.
He couldn't find any pleasant memories between him and Qian Renxue Qian Renxue. Although he wanted to get along peacefully with her, this woman always managed to pick out topics from a bunch of things that he didn't want to talk about and that could provoke him.
For a long time, he suspected that Qian Renxue was deliberately picking a fight.
Everything became clear when he started to see Qian Renxue as a boss with a screw loose!