Xue Qinghe's face flushed upon hearing this. "Then tell me clearly, how exactly is it 'refreshing'?"
Seeing his serious expression and having personally witnessed the transformation of his five disciples, she was somewhat swayed. Becoming a disciple wasn't the goal; getting closer was the true objective.
Previously, she had scoffed at those girls for making advances on their master, but now an opportunity was right in front of her... Should she try it too?
"Hey, what are you spacing out for? Give me a definitive answer…" Jiang Yunzhou urged.
Xue Qinghe suddenly snapped back to reality, taking a deep breath. "You will take me to see the Yin Yang Two Extremes Eye. If what you say is true, I will tell you a secret."
Jiang Yunzhou's eyebrows twitched slightly. A secret? Was she going to be honest with him?
No way, did this woman trust him that much?
"Alright, I'll take you. Do you want to go back to the palace first to arrange some affairs?"
"Give me half an hour."
"Okay, the Academy will wait for you. Oh, and remember to prepare a carriage…"
Xue Qinghe turned and left, her figure quickly disappearing into the shadows of the street corner.
She didn't go far, only briefly instructing Ci Xue in the shadows.
The two Titled Douluo responsible for protecting her wanted to follow, but she waved them off.
With Jiang Yunzhou around, what could be unsafe?
After giving her instructions, she didn't forget to order a carriage.
Before long, the group assembled. Two carriages, one in front of the other, drove out of the Academy and headed straight for Falling Moon Forest.
With the change in plans, Jiang Yunzhou no longer intended to bother his five disciples.
Moreover, Dugu Bo's injuries had not yet healed, the depletion from his spirit power backlash had not been recovered, and a host of other issues had not been cleared up.
The five girls rode in one carriage, while Jiang Yunzhou, Xue Qinghe, and Dugu Bo rode in the other.
Among the three, Dugu Bo, who outwardly had the highest cultivation, seemed the most reserved in the carriage.
Xue Qinghe still maintained the Crown Prince's reserved and humble demeanor, mostly closing her eyes to rest and not speaking much.
Noticing the somewhat dull atmosphere, Jiang Yunzhou took the initiative to joke, "Dugu Bo, I've been waiting for you for days. Why did you only come to my Academy to cause trouble today? Did you just return from the Yin Yang Two Extremes Eye not long ago?"
Dugu Bo's mouth twitched. His old face was truly a bit embarrassed by those words.
Even his intention to cause trouble at Supreme Academy had been anticipated. It seemed the other party wasn't afraid at all.
Was he really that weak?
After thinking about it… it seemed he really was!
"Ahem, this old man did just return not long ago. I didn't expect to be going back again after only one day."
Jiang Yunzhou chuckled, "There are many more things you didn't expect. For example, did you also not expect that my Academy is raising a 100,000-year Spirit Beast?"
Dugu Bo's heart jolted. He subconsciously glanced at Xue Qinghe beside him.
Was this Crown Prince also aware?
Xue Qinghe immediately opened her eyes upon hearing this, her gaze filled with questions.
Before she could speak, Jiang Yunzhou had already interjected, "She is my disciple. Don't harbor any ill intentions, understand?"
His tone was relaxed and natural, yet it carried an undeniable aura that firmly suppressed both of them.
Dugu Bo had no other intentions now. "This old man already knew, but I had no designs on her. Dean Jiang, please don't misunderstand me."
After being beaten so badly, what good would knowing do?
Xue Qinghe was still in a good mood. Jiang Yunzhou had not avoided her regarding such a secret matter.
"Yunzhou," she said softly, "what are you two talking about?"
Since she already had the intention to be honest, Jiang Yunzhou didn't plan to hide anything from her.
"It's Xiao Wu."
He smiled, "Crown Prince, you shouldn't want to be my enemy, right?"
She sighed lightly, staring at Jiang Yunzhou. "Yunzhou, what kind of person do you take me for?"
She thought to herself, if she really did become Jiang Yunzhou's disciple, wouldn't she have to call that little girl 'Senior Sister' then?
Just thinking about it made her feel a little suffocated.
"That's for the best then."
Jiang Yunzhou added with a smile, "Maybe you two will even be Senior Sisters in the future~"
Xue Qinghe's eyes narrowed, and her mouth twitched.
You scoundrel, you're starting again, aren't you? Would you die if you didn't tease?
Dugu Bo, who had been listening quietly, had his eyes light up. This gossip was truly juicy!
Listening to their conversation, did it mean the Crown Prince also wanted to become Jiang Yunzhou's disciple? Then his granddaughter… He quickly asked, "Dean Jiang, does what you said before still count? Are you really willing to take my granddaughter as a disciple?"
Jiang Yunzhou didn't answer. Whether to accept or not was a mutual decision, and since he hadn't even met the person yet, it was a bit too early to say.
He suddenly remembered something and counter-questioned, "By the way, Dugu Bo, among all those exotic flowers and rare herbs in your medicine garden, how many do you recognize?"
Dugu Bo's old face flushed upon hearing this. "To be honest, this old man… doesn't recognize most of them."
Jiang Yunzhou secretly chuckled. If only you had said you recognized most of them, it would have sounded better than not recognizing most of them.
A cunning light flashed in his eyes. "Then do you know that the 'Azure-Scaled Seven-Star Flower' grows around the Yin Yang Two Extremes Eye?"
Dugu Bo was a bit confused. He thought for a moment and remembered there was indeed a peculiar poisonous herb. Was it called the Azure-Scaled Seven-Star Flower?
"Dean Jiang, please speak plainly."
He said with a faint smile, "This Azure-Scaled Seven-Star Flower is a great opportunity for your granddaughter."
The words 'Azure-Scaled' made Dugu Bo's Spirit perk up, as if he had thought of something.
It was just that the entire flower was poisonous, and it happened to grow around the Yin Yang Two Extremes Eye, preventing many Spirit Beasts from mistakenly entering the Yin Yang Two Extremes Eye.
He hadn't deliberately cleared it away.
Jiang Yunzhou specifically mentioned the Azure-Scaled Seven-Star Flower and said it was his granddaughter's opportunity?
Although he had some suspicions, he couldn't be certain.
This matter concerned his granddaughter, so he was quite invested. He quickly cupped his hands and said, "Please enlighten me, Dean Jiang!"
"This flower itself is incredibly poisonous. If an ordinary Titled Douluo is careless, touching it means instant death. But for your Dugu family, it's quite the opposite."
"If your granddaughter consumes it, there's a very high chance it can evolve her Spirit into… the Azure-Scaled Serpent Emperor. Do you understand what this means?"
After hearing this, Dugu Bo suddenly stood up, his head hitting the carriage roof with a 'thump' which he ignored. "What? Is that true?"
He had been guarding a garden full of treasures without knowing how to use them. At this moment, he felt like someone who had picked up gold but treated it as a stone.
"Of course."
Jiang Yunzhou smiled, "It's a pity your granddaughter is still out. Otherwise, you could witness it with your own eyes this time."
Dugu Bo was so excited that his face turned red, and he repeatedly rubbed his hands. "She should be back soon! If this matter can be accomplished, this old man, this old man will owe you a huge favor!"
Jiang Yunzhou waved his hand, completely unconcerned. "No need for favors. Just don't come looking for trouble with me. I'm not afraid of trouble, but my disciples are."
Dugu Bo understood and laughed loudly, "Dean Jiang, rest assured! After I return, this old man will spread the word: anyone who dares to trouble Supreme Academy is going against me, Dugu Bo!"
He spoke solemnly, but his eyes were exceptionally sincere.
Jiang Yunzhou sneered, "Then what if Prince Xue Xing still asks you to deal with me?"
Dugu Bo stammered, "Ah, well, that, I will naturally stand on Dean Jiang's side."
Xue Qinghe, who had been listening quietly, felt a little dazed.
She had painstakingly recruited talented individuals, yet she watched Jiang Yunzhou win over a Titled Douluo with just a few words.
Even all the benefits were still just verbal promises.
What kind of magic did this person possess? Was he attractive to both men and women?
"Yunzhou,"
she sighed softly, "I never knew you were so proficient in medicinal herbs as well."
Jiang Yunzhou chuckled, winked, and said, "Not proficient, just a little, a little~"
"Everyone has their strengths. What the Crown Prince is proficient in, others would be like headless flies."
Xue Qinghe pondered, "Proficient…?"
PS: Thanks to Adin'an for the burst of flowers, flowers, and likes, thanks to Officer Li, who loves black pepper sauce, for the milk tea, and to all the kind babies for their power… Your support and urges to update are the author's motivation to continue.