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Of course, while Dai Chengfeng felt inwardly troubled, his outward demeanor remained calm and composed.
He acted as if he didn't feel the almost palpable waves of jealousy and scrutiny, casually walking to the campfire, naturally finding a spot to sit, picking up a prepared ration, and greeting them in a relaxed tone:
"Good morning, everyone. Did you all rest well?"
Zhu Zhuqing gave a cold snort and continued to ignore him.
Hu Liena chuckled softly, her voice carrying its characteristic magnetism: "Naturally, we can't compare to how 'busy' His Highness was last night. I imagine you rested extremely well."
Ning Rongrong smiled sweetly, her tone laced with an unsettling level of concern:
"Big Brother Chengfeng must have worked so hard, having to go out in the middle of the night to 'pick up a friend.' Don't tire yourself out too much."
Xiao Wu lowered her head even further, nearly burying it in her knees.
Dai Chengfeng inwardly sighed, knowing there was no way to avoid this situation.
Clearing his throat, he decided to take the initiative to defuse this invisible storm.
He turned to Xiao Wu, introducing her in as calm and natural a tone as possible: "Zhu Zhuqing, Hu Liena, Ning Rongrong, this is Xiao Wu, my friend."
Forced to raise her head, Xiao Wu managed a smile that was more pained than joyful, her voice barely audible:
"H-hello, everyone. I'm Xiao Wu, the 'Wu' from 'Dance'."
Zhu Zhuqing finally lifted her gaze, her icy eyes sweeping over Xiao Wu, pausing briefly on her flushed cheeks and fidgety fingers before coldly turning back to Dai Chengfeng.
Her expression seemed to say, "Keep making things up."
Hu Liena's smile deepened, her eyes twinkling: "Oh? A friend?"
"Little Sister Xiao Wu… what an innocent and pitiable girl you are."
Ning Rongrong tilted her head, feigning innocent curiosity: "Is Big Sister Xiao Wu here to hunt for soul rings too? Where are your companions? Why did you come back alone with Big Brother Chengfeng?"
Bombarded by these rapid-fire questions, Xiao Wu grew flustered, her face reddening further. She stammered and looked pleadingly at Dai Chengfeng, her eyes silently begging for help.
Dai Chengfeng inwardly sighed again, realizing his explanation clearly hadn't convinced these three jealous young women.
Maintaining his composure, he smoothly took over the conversation, repeating the story he had told Zhu Hongye the night before. His tone was sincere, leaving no obvious loopholes.
However, Zhu Zhuqing, Hu Liena, and Ning Rongrong were exceptionally intelligent women. They exchanged glances, each seeing the same disbelief in the others' eyes.
Dai Chengfeng had gone out in the middle of the night, returning with a stunningly beautiful girl who acted ambiguously toward him and clearly shared a special relationship…
Explaining it away as just a "friendship" and a "coincidence" was far too weak.
Especially given Xiao Wu's shy demeanor—unable to meet Dai Chengfeng's eyes yet stealing glances at him when she thought no one was looking…
This was clearly no ordinary friendship!
The atmosphere around the campfire grew somewhat tense.
Zhu Zhuqing emanated even colder energy, Hu Liena stopped playing with her hair, and Ning Rongrong's fake smile faded slightly.
Three pairs of beautiful eyes, filled with varying degrees of scrutiny, jealousy, and dissatisfaction, focused squarely on Dai Chengfeng.
Though Dai Chengfeng maintained his outward calm, he could feel their piercing gazes almost drilling into him, sending a slight chill down his spine.
He knew this matter wouldn't be easily brushed aside.
Enjoying the blessings of multiple women certainly wasn't as easy as it seemed.
Glancing at Zhu Hongye, who had remained silent and seemingly detached from the situation, Dai Chengfeng had an idea.
He cleared his throat lightly, adopting an appropriately helpless yet respectful expression, and turned to Zhu Hongye, bowing slightly:
"Grand Priest, last night's events were indeed unavoidable. Disturbing your rest weighs heavily on my mind."
"Miss Xiao Wu became separated from her companions, and being alone in the depths of the Great Star Dou Forest is extremely dangerous. As I happened upon her, I couldn't simply stand by and do nothing. I hope you can understand, Grand Priest."
Though this statement appeared to be directed at Zhu Hongye, it was, in fact, meant for the other three women…
It emphasized the nature of "rescue," invoked Zhu Hongye's authority, and subtly implied that this wasn't merely about romantic entanglements but also involved safety and morality.
How could Zhu Hongye fail to notice the undercurrents swirling within and outside this small tent?
She had no intention of meddling in the emotional affairs of these younger individuals, but Dai Chengfeng was the fourth prince of the Star Luo Empire—his status was unique.
Moreover, his character and talent were exceptional, and she didn't want such a minor issue to interfere with more important matters.
Thus, amidst the slightly tense atmosphere, Zhu Hongye slowly set down her water pouch.
Her calm gaze swept over Zhu Zhuqing, Hu Liena, and Ning Rongrong before settling on Dai Chengfeng. Her voice remained steady and emotionless, yet carried undeniable authority:
"The Great Star Dou Forest is fraught with danger. Encountering a lone soul master and offering assistance is only right."
"Prince Chengfeng has done nothing improper."
She paused, her gaze shifting to the food cooking over the fire: "Let's eat. We still need to find a suitable soul ring for Hu Liena today. Let's not delay the main task."
Zhu Hongye's words carried significant weight.
Though she didn't explicitly side with Dai Chengfeng, her statement that he had done "nothing improper" and her redirection to the "main task" effectively diffused the awkward situation.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips but said nothing more.
She picked up her rations and quietly resumed eating, though the cold aura around her hadn't entirely dissipated.
Hu Liena smiled charmingly, as if nothing had happened, lazily flicking her hair.
"The Grand Priest is right. The main task comes first."
She also resumed eating, but her wandering eyes occasionally lingered on Dai Chengfeng with an inscrutable glint.
Ning Rongrong's fake smile softened somewhat, reverting to her usual polite yet distant demeanor.
She nodded obediently to Zhu Hongye and began sipping her soup, no longer subjecting Dai Chengfeng to her "concerned" gaze.
Xiao Wu secretly exhaled in relief, casting a grateful glance at Zhu Hongye, then quickly peeking at Dai Chengfeng before lowering her head again. She ate her food in small bites, trying her best to remain inconspicuous.
Breakfast concluded in this atmosphere of apparent calm but underlying tension.
Though the three young women temporarily refrained from verbal attacks, the faint traces of jealousy and scrutiny lingering in the air hadn't truly dissipated.
After packing up the camp, the group resumed their search through the Great Star Dou Forest.
Zhu Hongye's spiritual power spread out like an invisible spiderweb, carefully searching for a suitable soul beast for Hu Liena.
The search wasn't smooth sailing—spiritual-type soul beasts over ten thousand years old were relatively rare and often skilled at concealment.
It wasn't until the sun began to set that the group, led by Zhu Hongye, stopped at the entrance of a secluded valley.
Zhu Hongye furrowed her brows slightly, sensing for a moment before speaking with a hint of satisfaction:
"There's a 'Thousand-Illusion Fox' inside the valley, and its cultivation is approximately twenty thousand years."
"This beast excels at creating illusions, and its spiritual power is highly unpredictable. Its soul ring should greatly enhance your mental control abilities."
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