Beiming Yuan Politely Declined, Snow Empress: Xiao Yuan, You Really Know How to Pass the Buck
"Also from the Heaven Dou Empire, and from the north?" Ning Fengzhi's heart stirred, and he quietly made a note of it.
Qian Renxue also noted this information. She had already decided to send word back to Spirit Hall and have someone investigate.
Beiming Yuan was worth winning over!
It would be even better if she could bring Beiming Yuan under her command!
"Come to think of it, this is my first time venturing so far into the Heaven Dou Empire. I plan to travel around next..." Beiming Yuan's eyes flickered as he spoke to himself.
As the saying went, the speaker may have been "unintentional," but the listeners took note.
Ning Fengzhi and Qian Renxue would not pass up a single chance to gather information on Beiming Yuan.
Hearing Beiming Yuan say it was his first time here, they became even more certain that he came from some hidden family or sect.
"Since Young Master Yuan also plans to travel around the Heaven Dou Empire, let me introduce someone to you," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile.
"Oh?"
Beiming Yuan already had a guess.
"Rongrong, come here." Ning Fengzhi gave Ning Rongrong a look, and she immediately came running over in quick little steps.
"Daddy."
Ning Rongrong answered obediently, though inwardly she grumbled that Ning Fengzhi had finally remembered her. She had nearly died of boredom listening beside them just now.
"Young Master Yuan, this is Ning Rongrong, my daughter. Come to think of it, you two should be the same age," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile.
"Hello, I'm Ning Rongrong!"
Ning Rongrong took the initiative to greet Beiming Yuan, a gentle smile on her face.
To tell the truth, if Beiming Yuan hadn't had a god's-eye view, he wouldn't have been able to tell that the Ning Rongrong before him was a "Little Demoness" to the bone.
That appearance, that smile-they were utterly deceptive.
"Hello, I'm Beiming Yuan."
Beiming Yuan smiled slightly.
Ning Rongrong stared straight at Beiming Yuan's face. She had seen him from a distance before, but now that she could look closely, he really was handsome.
At first glance, Beiming Yuan was the sort of graceful young master.
But a closer look revealed a distinctive quality to his black eyes. They lacked the gentleness of a scholarly young master's and were instead noble and mysterious.
He's so good-looking, Ning Rongrong thought to herself, her eyes never leaving him for a moment.
Seeing his daughter staring at Beiming Yuan like such a lovestruck fool, Ning Fengzhi felt a little embarrassed himself.
"Ahem."
Ning Fengzhi coughed lightly, bringing Ning Rongrong back to her senses.
Ning Rongrong blushed and stood properly.
Ning Fengzhi said, "Young Master Yuan, this is Rongrong's second time leaving the sect. She's no longer that young, and it's time for her to gain some experience on the continent."
"Since you both have the same idea, why not travel together..."
Before Ning Fengzhi had finished speaking, Ning Rongrong's face was already full of anticipation.
She really did want to go out and have fun!
But going out and having fun with Beiming Yuan seemed pretty good too!
Beiming Yuan didn't look like a bad person, either.
A strange look flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes as she stood nearby.
If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect "lured" Beiming Yuan away, it would undoubtedly be a major loss for her.
Just as Qian Renxue was considering how to respond, Beiming Yuan smiled and politely declined. "Sect Master Ning, the way I travel is rather dangerous. Your daughter wouldn't be suited to following me."
"...I was presumptuous."
Ning Fengzhi knew that Beiming Yuan was refusing, but he wasn't in a hurry.
Ning Rongrong, on the other hand, looked crestfallen. All the anticipation in her eyes was gone, leaving only disappointment, but she quickly pulled herself together.
Hmph, what's so great about that? I can do it on my own, Ning Rongrong huffed inwardly, but her eyes still couldn't help drifting back to Beiming Yuan, a trace of inexplicable resentment in them.
Although she could manage on her own, she still hoped, just a "little bit," that she could travel the continent with Beiming Yuan.
Unlike Ning Rongrong, Qian Renxue was delighted and quite satisfied with Beiming Yuan's "performance."
"Since Young Master Yuan plans to travel the continent, please accept this token. It should make things convenient for you in any city within Heaven Dou's borders."
Qian Renxue took out a golden token engraved with special patterns that gave it a noble air.
It was the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince Token. To see the token was to see the crown prince himself.
"Then thank you, Your Highness." After accepting it with a smile, Beiming Yuan asked, "I wonder if Your Highness and Sect Master Ning know anything about flowers and plants?"
"Flowers and plants?"
Ning Fengzhi was taken aback, a strange look in his eyes.
A man who liked flowers and plants... Could this hobby mean there was something wrong with his sexual orientation?
Qian Renxue's gaze also turned strange for a moment before slowly returning to normal. She asked in puzzlement, "Is that your hobby, Young Master Yuan?"
"It's Xue'er's hobby. I'm asking on her behalf," Beiming Yuan said. "Ancient books on rare flowers and plants would be best. Actual specimens would be even better."
The Snow Empress, who was guarding him from the shadows, looked annoyed and spoke to him directly through voice transmission. "Xiao Yuan, you really know how to pass the buck. Everything's my fault."
Beiming Yuan's expression remained unchanged.
Ning Fengzhi and Qian Renxue, however, were startled and instinctively began to take the matter seriously.
The "Xue'er" Beiming Yuan spoke of was probably that Peerless Douluo. If she was the one who liked flowers and plants, that made sense.
Moreover, ordinary flowers and plants wouldn't do.
"Rest assured, Young Master Yuan. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's library should have ancient books of that sort. I'll keep an eye out when I return," Ning Fengzhi said.
"Then thank you, Sect Master Ning."
Beiming Yuan nodded.
"Flowers and plants..." Qian Renxue seemed to think of something, and a trace of delight flashed in her eyes. She also replied, "The Heaven Dou Empire will keep an eye out for you as well, Young Master Yuan."
She didn't know whether the Heaven Dou Empire had any records of exotic flowers and plants, but Spirit Hall certainly did, and they were in the hands of a certain elder.
As it happened, all she had to do was ask, and that elder would let her see the recorded information on exotic flowers and plants.
When the time came, she only had to make a copy and give it to Beiming Yuan as a "favor," and she could naturally establish a relationship with him before Ning Fengzhi did.
Finally, she would slowly win Beiming Yuan over.
"All right, thank you too, Your Highness."
"..."
Qian Renxue was silent for a while before asking, "Young Master Yuan, forgive Qinghe for asking, but what is your relationship with Her Majesty Xue'er...?"
"Family."
Beiming Yuan didn't elaborate, giving only a broad answer.
After all, family also included his own woman.
Qian Renxue didn't ask any more questions. Instead, she urged Beiming Yuan to keep drinking and eating, offering a few compliments and boasts along the way.
In short, she was building a relationship with him.
Ning Fengzhi also took the opportunity to get better acquainted with Beiming Yuan, and had Ning Rongrong chat with him a little more as well.
Finally, he introduced Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who was beside him, partly with the intention of "showing off the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strength."
Beiming Yuan gave him plenty of face in return. Everyone helped carry the flower-decked sedan chair: you lift me up, and I lift you up. He observed all the social courtesies.
Before long, the banquet came to an end.
But undercurrents had already begun to stir among various factions.
Beiming Yuan's appearance was like a depth charge, blasting apart all the Heaven Dou Empire's "arrangements." Everything was slowly beginning to revolve around him.
He was becoming a "vortex"!