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When they returned to the camp, the moon had already quietly shifted westward. The world was silent, save for the occasional soft crackling of the burning campfire.
Dai Chengfeng carefully retrieved a spare tent from his soul-guiding device and began setting it up on a flat patch of ground.
As he secured the frame, he softly spoke to Xiao Wu, who was following him closely:
"Tonight, you'll sleep in this tent. Get some rest."
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Wu vigorously shook her head. Her cheeks flushed red, and her small hands tightly clutched the hem of his clothes, her voice filled with a hint of grievance and playfulness:
"No… Chengfeng, I… I want to stay with you."
Dai Chengfeng paused his movements and turned to face Xiao Wu, meeting her mesmerizing eyes that seemed especially hazy under the moonlight.
Her eyes shimmered with moisture and brimmed with affection, exuding the unique awkwardness and boldness of a young girl.
Moreover, she stood extremely close, her warm and soft body nearly brushing against Dai Chengfeng's arm, while a faint fragrance wafted from her hair.
Dai Chengfeng sighed inwardly; the emotions induced by the hypnosis seemed to have become excessively intense.
He gently pried her hand off his clothes, "Xiao Wu, be reasonable."
"There are differences between men and women, and right now, you're only hypnotized. You'll be fine by tomorrow."
"But…" Xiao Wu's eyes reddened, tears welling up, "I just… just want to be closer to you. I promise I won't disturb your rest."
She tilted her face up, her eyes pitiful and sorrowful, as if being rejected was an immense grievance.
Seeing her like this, Dai Chengfeng helplessly shook his head.
He knew that reasoning with Xiao Wu under hypnosis was futile. He could only comfort her based on the emotions he had guided.
Dai Chengfeng softened his tone, imbuing it with a hint of persuasion: "I understand your feelings."
"But precisely because I care about you, I must consider what's best for you."
"Be a good girl, alright?"
He reached out and gently patted Xiao Wu's shoulder, feeling the delicate bones beneath his hand and a slight tremble. He continued in a gentle voice:
"I'm in the tent right next to yours, very close. We'll see each other first thing in the morning."
Xiao Wu stared at Dai Chengfeng, her infatuation making her instinctively resist any separation. However, the consideration implied in Dai Chengfeng's words made her heart swell with a sweet warmth.
She bit her lower lip, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately, her trust and attachment to Dai Chengfeng prevailed. She obediently nodded.
"Then… alright. Chengfeng, you should get some rest too."
She whispered softly, taking hesitant steps towards the newly erected tent. At the entrance, she paused to glance back at Dai Chengfeng before lifting the flap and going inside.
Dai Chengfeng watched the tent flap fall and let out a soft sigh of relief.
Handling such intense emotions sometimes drained more mental energy than facing formidable enemies.
Just as he was about to turn back to his own tent, a slightly cold female voice came from behind.
"Prince Chengfeng."
Dai Chengfeng paused momentarily and turned around to see Grand Priest Zhu Hongye standing quietly a short distance away.
She still wore her solemn ceremonial robe, her face calm under the cool moonlight, but her eyes were deep and probing, with a hint of barely noticeable curiosity.
She had obviously noticed Dai Chengfeng leaving and returning in the middle of the night.
"Grand Priest." Dai Chengfeng nodded slightly, his expression calm.
Since he had chosen to bring Xiao Wu back, he had anticipated drawing attention.
Zhu Hongye's gaze passed over Dai Chengfeng and lingered briefly on the new tent behind him before returning to his face. Her tone was neutral, betraying neither joy nor anger:
"Prince Chengfeng went out late at night. Was there something important?"
She didn't directly confront him, as Dai Chengfeng's status warranted certain secrets.
Dai Chengfeng was fully aware that Zhu Hongye wasn't without questions but refrained from prying due to propriety.
He followed her lead, stepping aside slightly as if just remembering something, and introduced:
"Thank you for your concern, Grand Priest. It was nothing significant. I merely went to meet a friend."
At this moment, Xiao Wu, who had already entered the tent, seemed to have heard the commotion outside and quietly lifted the flap to peek out.
When she saw Zhu Hongye beside Dai Chengfeng, her body stiffened, and her face instantly turned pale. Instinctively, she wanted to retreat.
A Title Douluo!
Xiao Wu's heart almost leapt out of her chest. The instinct of a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast filled her with fear towards such a powerful being.
She nervously looked at Dai Chengfeng, unconsciously gripping her hands tighter.
Naturally, Zhu Hongye's gaze fell upon Xiao Wu.
She scrutinized the suddenly appeared girl, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes.
This girl appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old, exceptionally beautiful, with a slender figure, especially striking long legs.
Her clear eyes carried a trace of remaining innocence and… an indescribable panic?
The fluctuations of her soul power suggested she was just above Level 30, quite impressive for her age. But what puzzled Zhu Hongye was…
The girl's aura was pure and gentle, slightly different from ordinary soul masters, yet upon careful inspection, she was undoubtedly human.
How could such a human girl suddenly appear deep within the Great Star Dou Forest?
Moreover, looking at the interaction between her and Dai Chengfeng…
Zhu Hongye suppressed her doubts and looked at Dai Chengfeng, her tone inquiring: "Prince Chengfeng, who is this young lady?"
Dai Chengfeng smiled slightly and explained naturally: "Her name is Xiao Wu, she's my friend."
"Coincidentally, her academy also organized students to come to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for soul rings and set up camp nearby."
"We happened to meet earlier. Upon learning that I was here, she wanted to come over and catch up."
"Her companions will continue searching for suitable soul rings tomorrow. Seeing that she knows me, they allowed her to leave with me first, which was convenient."
This explanation was reasonable, accounting for Xiao Wu's origin, why she appeared in the middle of the night, and why she was alone.
Upon hearing Dai Chengfeng's words and feeling Zhu Hongye's gaze linger on her without revealing any suspicion, Xiao Wu finally felt the heavy stone in her heart lift.
She quietly exhaled in relief, her gratitude towards Dai Chengfeng becoming immeasurable.
Dai Chengfeng not only helped conceal her presence but also crafted such a comprehensive cover story!
After listening, Zhu Hongye's gaze shifted between Xiao Wu and Dai Chengfeng.
Dai Chengfeng's explanation had no obvious flaws, but as the Grand Priest, her intuition was sharp. She felt the girl's appearance was somewhat abrupt, and the atmosphere between them didn't seem like that of mere "friends."
Especially the way the girl looked at Dai Chengfeng, filled with an unusual dependence and… infatuation?
However, Dai Chengfeng was the fourth prince of the Star Luo Empire, of noble status and extraordinary talent. It was not surprising for admiring girls to be around him.
As long as the girl's identity was clear and posed no threat to the prince, she saw no reason to interfere further.
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