"This is good news!"
Li Xun chuckled, glancing out the carriage window at the streets of Heavenly Dou. He had just been lamenting that if Qian Renxue's actions were too swift, it would be difficult for him to manage. Now, he felt reassured.
"Haha, you're right." Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment and then aligned his thoughts with Li Xun's, nodding with a smile. "However, I asked Grandpa Dugu to lend her a hand. I'm not sure if it was the right move or not."
"Did you use a strong dose? How long until it takes effect?" Li Xun asked curiously, turning to Dugu Bo.
"Shortest three days, longest five. Moreover, the medicine I used also helps mask her condition, making it even harder to detect." Dugu Bo stroked his short beard, his eyes showing a hint of gloom.
"Then we'll need to prepare as well."
Li Xun nodded upon hearing this. "Grandpa Dugu, I'll have to trouble you to stay in Heavenly Dou for a while and keep an eye on those royal nobles, especially Xue Beng and Xue Xing."
"If they try to escape, just kill Prince Xue Xing. After all, that prince is quite clever."
"Hmm? Why leave a prince alive?" Dugu Bo was puzzled. "They say you should pull out the roots when cutting weeds. Aren't you afraid of letting the tiger return to the mountain?"
Unlike the straightforward Dugu Bo, Ning Fengzhi quickly grasped Li Xun's intention after a moment of thought. "Xiao Xun, are you planning to keep Xue Beng around to further enhance the value of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School in Qian Renxue's eyes?"
"Teacher, you're always one step ahead." Li Xun smiled and gave a thumbs-up, then explained to Dugu Bo, "Grandpa Dugu, if Qian Renxue can handle everything perfectly on her own, what would she need us for? Right now, she's in a vulnerable state, and we need to take advantage of this period to make her gradually dependent on us."
"This will also give us more leverage when we eventually enter the Spirit Hall."
At this point, Li Xun recalled a saying: "A leader who doesn't meddle is a good leader."
"Then we'll need to plan carefully. I've heard that Bishop Salas is quite disheartened lately. Although his character isn't the best, he still has some use." Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile.
Seven days later.
In a high-level teacher's dormitory at Blue Lightning Advanced Academy, Flender suddenly pushed open the door. "Xiaogang, have you heard that Heavenly Dou City has been placed under martial law recently?"
"I heard that Emperor Xue Ye is seriously ill, but the specifics are still unknown." Yu Xiaogang nodded gravely.
Their group had only recently escaped from the Crown Prince's grasp, so they were naturally paying close attention to the movements of the upper echelons of the Heaven Dou Empire.
"Does that mean Xue Qinghe will soon ascend the throne?" Flender quickly walked to the table, picked up a cup of tea, and drank it in one gulp.
Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "It's hard to say, but we should prepare for the worst."
"Tianheng has been back at the Blue Lightning Tyrant School for several days now. He should be returning soon. With the support of the sect, even the Crown Prince and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School won't dare to act against us easily."
Yu Xiaogang's gaze was profound. "As long as we can hold out until the Soul Master Competition is over, we'll return to the Kingdom of Balak."
Flender felt uneasy. "Xiaogang, isn't this too risky? For our safety, I suggest we withdraw from this year's Soul Master Competition."
"Elder Flander, you know how much effort I've put into this competition and why I'm so determined."
Yu Xiaogang looked at Flender with an expressionless face: "Waiting another five years is indeed manageable for Xiao San and the others in terms of age, but what if we can't encounter children as outstanding as Tianheng and the others again?"
"Moreover, neither of us is getting any younger. How many more five years do we have left?"
Flender, unmoved by Yu Xiaogang's words, slammed the table in anger: "But you're gambling. If we lose, not just you, me, and Erlong, but also Xiao San, Tianheng, Ma Hongjun, and the others will suffer alongside you. Have you forgotten that they still have unresolved issues with Li Xun?"
"Are you really willing to drag all these people into the fire just for the sake of your so-called pride and honor?"
"Flender, the succession of an emperor is not a simple matter. Even if Emperor Xue Ye is just bedridden now, if he were to suddenly pass away, the Crown Prince's mourning and ascension would take time. With the Soul Master Competition just days away, do you really have to come here now and pour cold water on everyone?"
Yu Xiaogang stared coldly at Flender.
He noticed that Flender's personality had changed significantly since the three of them were released from prison. The most obvious change was that Flender seemed to be deliberately distancing himself from him and Liu Erlong.
Although the change was subtle and hard to detect, Yu Xiaogang, who was constantly surrounded by people, couldn't help but notice it.
"You!"
Flender's expression changed, pointing at Yu Xiaogang but momentarily at a loss for words. After a while, under Yu Xiaogang's gaze, he finally lowered his hand: "I hope you won't regret this in the future!"
"Dean Flender, Uncle, what are you two doing?"
Just as the two were at a standoff, Yu Tianheng's voice came from outside the room. Both quickly composed their expressions and emotions.
"It's Tianheng! How was your trip back to the clan?" Flender forced a smile as he greeted Yu Tianheng, who had just entered.
"My grandfather has arrived and is outside."
Yu Tianheng nodded at Flender with a smile, then turned to Yu Xiaogang: "Uncle, please go easy on Grandfather when you speak with him. After all, he's getting older."
"What! Thunder Coronet has arrived!"
Flender was startled and quickly straightened his clothes, hurrying out of the dormitory. He walked up to Yu Yuanzhen, placed his hand on his chest, and bowed: "I apologize for not welcoming Your Excellency properly upon your arrival."
"It's fine. I overheard your conversation earlier, and what you said was correct."
Yu Yuanzhen slowly turned around, nodding at Flender with a smile: "It's Xiaogang's fortune to have a friend like you."
"Your Excellency is too modest. Xiaogang is knowledgeable and well-learned. It's my luck to be friends with him." Flender chuckled, straightening his back.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, both turned their attention to the dormitory door.
Yu Xiaogang hesitated for a moment before slowly walking out. It took him a while to finally stand before Yu Yuanzhen: "Father."
"Hmph! You unfilial son, so you still remember that I'm your father." Yu Yuanzhen glared at Yu Xiaogang, who was acting timidly, and snorted coldly.
"I know I was wrong." Yu Xiaogang wanted to kneel several times but held back upon seeing Yu Yuanzhen's expression. In the end, he just bowed respectfully.
"If you truly knew you were wrong, you shouldn't have left the clan without a word back then, nor should you have been silent for so many years."
Yu Yuanzhen knew that Yu Xiaogang cared about his reputation, but as a father, seeing his son lacking both ambition and responsibility made him grit his teeth in frustration.
"..." Yu Xiaogang couldn't refute and remained in a bowing posture, not standing up.
"Enough of this, get up."
Yu Yuanzhen snorted lightly, flicked his sleeve, and brushed past Yu Xiaogang as he walked into the dormitory.
Only when the sound of footsteps faded did Yu Xiaogang let out a sigh and slowly straighten his back.
Seeing the hesitation on Yu Xiaogang's face, Yu Tianheng softly advised, "Uncle, let's go in."
(End of Chapter)