Xue Qinghe stood rooted to the spot, feeling like a completely forgotten backdrop.
She looked at Jiang Yunzhou with a hint of resentment. Did this scoundrel really want to cut ties with her completely?
Suppressing her anger, she said coldly, "Since Dean Jiang is fine, I shall take my leave."
With that, she flicked her sleeve and turned to walk away.
Jiang Yunzhou smiled bitterly in his heart.
This woman had clearly rushed over specifically because she learned Dugu Bo was causing trouble. How could he not know her intentions?
But in front of so many people, what could he say?
"Crown Prince, please stay."
He called out to her, "Since you're here, why not sit down and have a cup of tea?"
He looked up at the sky; it was almost noon after all that commotion.
If he really let her leave like this, the knot in her heart would only grow larger.
Anyway, he would have to make her understand sooner or later that he was the one in charge, so there was no need to cause such a rift that they would never speak again.
Xue Qinghe paused, the ice on her face subtly melting a little.
Heaven knew how long she had been waiting for that sentence!
Enduring not coming to find him these past few days had felt like an eternity.
What was so good about this scoundrel? He repeatedly made her lose control of her emotions, even making her cry many times, not even sparing her in her dreams.
So infuriating, yet, she still wanted to stay.
"Is Dean Jiang inviting me to dine?" She deliberately maintained her composure.
"Uh, if the Crown Prince doesn't mind, why not have a simple meal before you go?"
He remembered saying something about having a cup of tea, right? This woman actually went straight to asking for a meal.
Seeing her still feigning hesitation, Jiang Yunzhou understood. It seemed he needed to extend the olive branch a bit further.
"Crown Prince, I understand your intentions in coming here. Please do me the honor of staying for a meal. How about I personally cook to entertain you?"
Xue Qinghe finally couldn't hold back anymore.
The bit of grievance in her heart suddenly vanished. This scoundrel was indeed deliberately trying to provoke her! He clearly knew how to coax people... "Then I shall impose."
Dugu Bo, who was standing to the side, didn't know whether to leave or stay, so awkward that his toes curled.
Why didn't anyone ask him? He was a person of some standing, after all, wasn't he?
Fortunately, his silent protest received a response.
"Poison Douluo, you too?" Jiang Yunzhou spoke up at the opportune moment.
"Hahaha~~ Good! This old man also wants to chat more with Dean Jiang!" Dugu Bo immediately beamed, his attitude much more eager than when he arrived.
"Disciples, come out and greet the guests."
Five small heads popped out from behind the door, then smilingly crowded around, inviting the two into the reception room.
Dugu Bo looked at the five, his gaze falling on Xiao Wu. A thoughtful expression immediately appeared on his face.
"Teacher, I'll help you prepare the dishes." Xiao Wu said softly, feeling that sense of being watched again.
"Good."
Soon, busy sounds echoed from the kitchen.
In the living room, Huo Wu hugged Ning Rongrong and whispered, "Rongrong, just how strong is Teacher? He fights Titled Douluo like they're his grandsons!"
Poison Douluo happened to overhear, and his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
He could only turn his head, pretending not to hear.
Ning Rongrong's face was full of pride: "Of course! Back then, in the Star Dou Great Forest..."
She vividly recounted Jiang Yunzhou's glorious achievements, even Shui Bing'er listened with eyes full of admiration.
In summary, it was one sentence: incredibly strong, impossibly handsome!
It was just that he was too principled, insisting on waiting until they grew up, which wasn't so good.
Huo Wu secretly rejoiced after hearing this: she was already fifteen, a great advantage!
Ning Rongrong saw through her thoughts at a glance and raised an eyebrow to remind her, "Hey, we were here first, you guys get in line behind us!"
She could yield on anything else, but not this!
Huo Wu's small face flushed, and she retorted stubbornly, "Hehe~~~ Senior Sister is overthinking, I didn't mean that at all..."
Ning Rongrong smiled faintly, "Stop pretending. Every time you talk to Teacher, your legs are clamped tighter than Zhu Qing's Hell Rush Stab."
"You!..." Huo Wu stamped her foot in embarrassment and ran off.
Shui Bing'er's eyes darted around. Seeing Ning Rongrong's gaze sweep over, she quickly waved her hands, "I, I'm only one year older than you guys! Don't look at me!"
Zhu Zhuqing let out a soft laugh, "That's called a confession without being prompted~~"
Ning Rongrong nodded, "The wording is very accurate this time."
Shui Bing'er's face turned slightly red, and she covered her face and fled.
After the two ran far away, Ning Rongrong winked at Zhu Zhuqing and said, "Happy cooperation!"
They had already secretly formed an alliance, deciding to leverage their respective strengths and unite their front to pursue the man.
After all, Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er's intentions were completely transparent, and their biggest disadvantage was their young age.
Moreover, did Teacher just say he was going to admit Poison Douluo's granddaughter into the academy?
Sigh, it was a long and arduous journey.
Xue Qinghe naturally heard their conversation. Indeed, none of his disciples were normal!
After lunch, Jiang Yunzhou walked Xue Qinghe out of the academy.
Their relationship finally eased. He rarely gave her so much face, which put her in a great mood, and the nickname 'scoundrel' was temporarily removed from her mind.
"Yunzhou, are you preparing to go out? Where are you going?"
"Falling Moon Forest. Dugu Bo has a medicinal garden there, and it contains something I need."
"What is it? And you're taking your disciples with you?"
Jiang Yunzhou didn't hide anything: "There's a Yin Yang Two Extremes Eye there. The environment is special, filled with Immortal Herbs, which can aid cultivation and improvement. The ice and fire springs can also temper the body."
Xue Qinghe saw his strength making leaps and bounds day by day, and even his disciples were progressing rapidly, which made a sense of crisis arise within her. What if she was left too far behind?
She stammered, "Is there really such a place? I've been bogged down with trivial matters these past few years, and my cultivation has been slow. You mentioned Immortal Herbs, are there any that could help me break through?"
"Of course there are."
Jiang Yunzhou said without hesitation, "Brother Qinghe, in my opinion, with your aptitude, if you're willing to spend more time cultivating, you will certainly make great progress in the future."
Xue Qinghe secretly grumbled in her heart, 'Great progress in the future? Progress where?'
"Alas, I'm not my own master..." She sighed softly.
She had been planning for many years; her great endeavor was not yet complete, how could she easily give up?
Jiang Yunzhou knew her difficulties and didn't expose her, instead teasing her with a smile, "Brother Qinghe, what do you think of my strength?"
"Very strong. At your age, you are the strongest person I have ever seen."
She didn't hesitate, saying it sincerely, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.
Jiang Yunzhou's eyes glinted mischievously, and he smiled faintly, "Then, if I wanted to take you as a disciple, would you be willing?"
Xue Qinghe froze instantly, her red lips slightly parted.
She had never expected Jiang Yunzhou to suggest such a thing; he actually wanted to take her as a disciple?
Unexpected, truly too unexpected.
But why did she feel a strange flutter in her heart?
Although she already had a teacher, Ning Fengzhi, Jiang Yunzhou was younger, more handsome, and had higher cultivation. Thinking about it carefully, it wasn't entirely out of the question... But if they were to have a master-disciple relationship, that little bit of unwillingness in her heart resurfaced.
Should she find an opportunity to be honest with him?
What kind of magic did this man possess? He made her unable to extricate herself.
It wasn't just her; she was already certain that all five of his disciples had impure intentions... If she didn't do something soon, even Tang Yuehua might be 'eaten' by him.
And if the information was correct, this guy had already completely 'eaten' that little evil dragon opposite.
Did she really have to share him with others?
Although she knew these things, she dared not speak them now.
If she did, they might break up again.
"Yunzhou, you, you just said you wanted to take me as a disciple?"
"Of course, do I look like I'm joking?"
"No, not really..."
Her heart raced, "It's just too unexpected."
"So, will you agree? I promise, if you join my sect, you'll feel absolutely fantastic."