As he followed Xue Qinghe, Wang Xiaoming also took in the Crown Prince's residence.
The Crown Prince's residence was on a scale Wang Xiaoming's home could never match.
The front courtyard alone was more spacious than Wang Xiaoming's entire residence.
He was studying the map, trying to work out where the red dot was.
Unfortunately, the map couldn't be enlarged. He could only make out that the thing should be somewhere in the Crown Prince's back garden.
Wang Xiaoming thought to himself.
Looks like I'll have to find a chance to make an excuse and look around...
When they entered the front hall, the tables were already laden with exquisite pastries and several cups of steaming tea.
"Brother Qinghe, what did you ask us here for?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Ning Rongrong plopped herself down in a seat and helped herself to a cup of kumquat milk tea. Swinging her two short legs, she put the question to Xue Qinghe.
Her main reason for coming along today was to speak for Wang Xiaoming!
That way, the Crown Prince wouldn't be able to hoodwink him with a few words.
Looking at Ning Rongrong, who was like a little fox, Xue Qinghe couldn't help feeling impressed.
As expected of Ning Fengzhi's daughter.
She hadn't learned even three-tenths of his abilities, but that cunning look was already beginning to take shape.
He didn't remember inviting Ning Rongrong.
He had deliberately sent the invitation early that morning because he knew Ning Rongrong generally didn't visit Wang Xiaoming in the mornings.
He hadn't expected to miscalculate...
Xue Qinghe gently stirred the tea before him twice with the lid of the cup, then spoke.
"It's nothing. I only asked Xiaoming over for a casual chat."
As he spoke, his gaze settled on Wang Xiaoming.
"Little brother, have you given any thought to how you'll develop your Martial Soul? If you need help, I can ask the three education committee members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy to make a plan for your Martial Soul's development. They can also get to know a little genius like you ahead of time.
"After all, of all the Soul Master Academies in Heaven Dou City, only our Junior Heaven Dou Imperial Academy is suitable for you.
"It would be good to make a favorable impression on them in advance."
Xue Qinghe chose to begin with Martial Souls and his somewhat exceptional connections, showing Wang Xiaoming what he could offer him.
After all, he was only a child. It was enough to let him know how impressive Xue Qinghe was.
Although the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was a playground for noble children and a hallowed ground that churned out hordes of good-for-nothings year after year, its teachers and resources were among the finest in the entire Heaven Dou Empire.
"It's all right, Brother Xue. I've already thought it through. I just need to find a strong enough Soul Beast!"
He really does have a child's way of thinking... Heh.
Seeing Wang Xiaoming's reaction, Xue Qinghe chuckled inwardly.
But he wasn't mocking him. This was probably how all children thought. She, for example, had thought the same way when she was young, wanting to absorb stronger Soul Beasts so that woman would acknowledge her.
"It's not that simple, little brother. Whether someone is strong or weak doesn't depend solely on absorbing powerful Soul Beasts. You have to choose the right ones too.
"Take a hammer Tool Martial Soul, for example. Absorbing Lone Bamboo or a scorpion would produce different effects. Neither is actually very suitable for it, but the toughness brought by Lone Bamboo is a better match and more useful than poison. Can you understand the difference?"
Wang Xiaoming nodded, appearing to only half understand.
Of course he actually understood. But until he saw the red dot in the Soul Hunting Forest, he didn't need to worry about his Soul Ring for the time being.
Ning Rongrong quietly drank her milk tea without speaking.
The book she had given Wang Xiaoming contained plenty of cautionary examples. He could understand them just by reading it.
Just then, a burly middle-aged man came in from outside, interrupting their conversation.
He looked rather strange, though, dressed head to toe in black robes in broad daylight.
Ning Rongrong didn't find it particularly odd. After all, people like that often appeared around her father too.
"Your Highness..."
The man said something beside Xue Qinghe, though Wang Xiaoming didn't know what it was. He clearly saw Xue Qinghe's brow furrow.
His expression was one of distaste, as though he had received a message from someone he disliked.
He waved a hand, dismissing the man.
Then he looked apologetically at the two children before him.
"Rongrong, little brother, I have some matters to attend to. If you still want to leave, just let the steward know."
"Okay~"
Ning Rongrong answered sweetly.
She couldn't have been happier to keep Xue Qinghe from talking to Wang Xiaoming.
"Brother Xue, can I look around the Crown Prince's residence? I've never seen such a big courtyard before."
Wang Xiaoming looked every bit like a child who had never seen the world.
Seeing him like that, Xue Qinghe smiled and reached out to pinch his cheek. It felt surprisingly nice.
"Of course, little brother. Make yourself at home in the Crown Prince's residence. It's just a shame... The next time there's an opportunity, I'll invite you over again, and we can talk by candlelight into the night."
With that, Xue Qinghe left.
"You still want to look around the Crown Prince's residence? What's so interesting about someone else's courtyard? You might as well come shopping with me."
Ning Rongrong looked at Wang Xiaoming as she spoke.
Wang Xiaoming grabbed a pastry and stuffed it into his mouth, speaking indistinctly.
"You don't understand, Rongrong... I've just never seen such a big house before."
Whatever his purpose, he couldn't possibly say it here. For all he knew, some pervert might be watching them in secret.
Ci Xue: "Achoo!"
Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at his words.
How could she fail to guess that Wang Xiaoming was lying?
This guy definitely wouldn't shoot an arrow without a target.
"Go on, go on, have a look around. But come back after I've eaten my fill... I'll take you to see my home when there's time."
Wang Xiaoming nodded, then left the front hall.
He jogged along, asking the cleaners for directions as he went, and headed straight for the back courtyard.
But the way he went about it made him look as though he were exercising in the back garden.
Ci Xue, who was watching him in secret, couldn't make sense of what Wang Xiaoming was doing either.
What was he doing running around in someone else's back garden?
Unless the boy really was listening to that little girl and trying to see the entire Crown Prince's residence before she finished eating.
But did such a fool really exist?
Ci Xue didn't understand.
Wang Xiaoming ran all over the place, keeping his eyes on the screen of light before him.
The area covered by that damned flashing red dot was too large, so he could only search one garden after another.
Finally, as he passed the lotus garden, he noticed a peculiar object standing in the pavilion at the center of the lake.
With every step, he ran toward the pavilion, his excitement held in check.
When Wang Xiaoming saw the strangely shaped sword embedded in a stone, he was so shocked he nearly cried out.
"Th-this is... the Blay Rouzer!?"
He hadn't expected the Royal Straight Flush to be hidden in the Crown Prince's residence. That had to be the thing marked in red.