Nan Feihuang remained in the East Palace until the sun dipped below the horizon, only departing when the sky had been painted in hues of twilight.
Xue Ke had been in high spirits all day. With her beloved elder brother finally released from confinement and Nan Feihuang returning as well, it had turned into one of the happiest days of her life. Surrounded by the people she cherished most, she laughed freely, as if nothing in the world could dampen her joy.
But unlike her lighthearted happiness, another person found themselves caught in a storm of emotions.
After Nan Feihuang left and Xue Ke returned to her own quarters, Xue Qinghe was left alone. She had maintained a composed and indifferent expression throughout the day, but the moment she stepped into her room and shut the doors behind her, all pretense shattered.
She clutched at the fabric over her chest, right where her heart pounded erratically.
The sensation Nan Feihuang had spoken of—the quickened heartbeat, the loss of control—was something she was experiencing now.
Today, she had been confessed to. Not by just anyone, but by Nan Feihuang.
She had long suspected his feelings. His actions had given him away far too many times, yet hearing it spoken so plainly was an entirely different matter. It was the first time someone had confessed to her with such sincerity.
And she had no idea how to respond.
Nan Feihuang was, after all, her sister's husband. She should have rejected him outright, dismissed his feelings without hesitation. That would have been the rational, correct thing to do.
But she hadn't. Because deep down, a part of her didn't want to.
The realization left her both frustrated and confused.
"This is unbearable. What should I do?" Xue Qinghe murmured to herself, pacing restlessly. She was trapped in a dilemma she never anticipated, unwilling to hurt either Nan Feihuang or Xue Ke.
She had always been someone who valued pragmatism over emotions, someone who could be ruthless when necessary. Sacrificing people in pursuit of her goals had never fazed her. And yet, for some reason, she hesitated now.
Perhaps, she realized, she had drawn an invisible line around herself.
In her world, there were two types of people: those within her circle and those outside it. The ones outside, even if they were loyal confidants, could be discarded if they became obstacles. But those within her circle—those she truly cared for—were untouchable.
Her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, was at the very core of that circle. She would fight to her last breath for him.
Nan Feihuang and Xue Ke, while not at the center, had nonetheless stepped into its boundaries. She could not bring herself to harm them.
Yet despite the mess of emotions weighing her down, one thing had become clear—Nan Feihuang had fallen for her completely. That meant she no longer needed to worry about the deadline Qian Daoliu had given her. As long as she played her part well, with his affection as leverage, the innate god-level martial spirit he possessed would eventually belong to the Spirit Hall.
That, at least, was good news.
At that moment, Qian Renxue was sure—Nan Feihuang would be in her team.
***
On the rooftop opposite the East Palace, two figures watched over Xue Qinghe's chambers, observing the flickering shadows pacing back and forth through the window.
"What's up with the young master today? I've never seen her like this before," Thorny Porpoise Douluo muttered, puzzled.
Snake Spear Douluo, equally confused, frowned as he studied the scene before them. "Could it be an old injury acting up again?"
Thorny Porpoise Douluo took a swig from the bottle in his hand and let out a loud burp. "Maybe. Who knows. Hiccup!"
Noticing the way his companion drank so contentedly, Snake Spear Douluo's curiosity got the better of him. "What are you drinking? Give me a sip."
Thorny Porpoise Douluo shook the bottle. "This? Hedinghong. Tastes pretty good. You want some? Bring me a cup."
Snake Spear Douluo hesitated before shaking his head. "Uh... on second thought, I think I'll pass. Not a fan of Hedinghong."
He must have momentarily lost his mind to even consider it. Anything Thorny Porpoise Douluo liked was bound to be questionable.
"Suit yourself. But I've got other options too—medicinal wine steeped in arsenic, heartbreak tea brewed from heartbreak grass, or bamboo leaf green snake soup. Take your pick."
Snake Spear Douluo broke out in a cold sweat.
At that moment, he suddenly understood Qian Renxue's dilemma. It was the same as his—knowing someone meant well, yet having no choice but to reject them. It was, indeed, frustrating.
Meanwhile, the very person responsible for Qian Renxue's frustration was walking back to the academy, completely at ease.
As he entered the academy grounds, he noticed a pair of figures engaged in a private conversation beneath the swan statue in the square.
"Lingling, it's been a while. Seeing you again, I finally understand what it means for a heartbeat to quicken. There are many kinds of love, but I have a special fondness for you. As long as my heart beats, it beats for you. After spending a month at home, I now know what it means to be obsessed. Missing you is like aging wine—stored deep in my heart, growing richer with time. And now, because of you, I find myself completely intoxicated."
Nan Feihuang's expression darkened as he heard the all-too-familiar words. A vein throbbed at his temple as he let out a pointed cough.
"Ahem."
Ye Lingling, momentarily moved by Xun Yu's words, snapped out of it at the interruption. She instinctively withdrew her hand before she could reach out to him.
"Well, classmate Xun Yu, it seems your prince has arrived. I won't get in the way—see you tomorrow!" she said hastily before vanishing like an agility-type spirit master, her face slightly flushed.
Xun Yu turned to Nan Feihuang with an expression of pure resentment. "My lord, can you not? Why did you have to show up at the exact moment I was about to succeed?"
Nan Feihuang scoffed. "You should be asking yourself that. Didn't you just use these same lines on Qian Renxue? Reusing them? Really? Ye Lingling and Xue Qinghe may not be close, but if they ever compare notes, we'll both be exposed."
"Oh, you're worried? Ye Lingling may not be able to kill you, but I have the Holy Sword of Angels. You're willing to risk your life for this nonsense?"
Xun Yu sighed. "My lord, you're being unreasonable. You commandeered my confession lines, and now you won't even let me use them? Besides, you were the one who insisted on making your first confession feel grand, even if it was fake. If you end up genuinely falling for her, then my lord, you've truly sinned."
Nan Feihuang clenched his jaw, realizing he couldn't win against Xun Yu's logic. "Wenruo, I'm the lord. If you have good material, what's wrong with me trying it first? From now on, always prepare an extra copy for me."
Xun Yu chuckled. "Ah, all lords are the same. When they lose the argument, they turn to force. And you're planning to use these lines in the future? My lord, you truly are a scumbag."
Nan Feihuang growled. "Says the man who came up with this method! If I'm the second biggest scumbag, then you're the first!"
In the dark night, two unscrupulous figures walked arm in arm, they quarreled, but anyone could see that the two of them had a good relationship, not only a relationship between a lord and his subordinate, but also a relationship of good brothers.