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Deep within the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, in a dimly lit secret chamber.
Qian Renxue sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, her slender fingers clenched into fists, knuckles white from the effort. Her brow was furrowed, and her long eyelashes trembled, as if she were enduring some unspeakable torment. In the flickering candlelight, fine beads of sweat could be seen covering her smooth forehead, dripping down her delicate chin onto her luxurious robes.
"Ugh," a suppressed groan escaped her lips. After an unknown amount of time, Qian Renxue suddenly opened her eyes, which, usually as clear and cold as frost, now gleamed with a faint golden light, exceptionally captivating in the dim chamber.
"Where on earth did that kid go with Dugu Bo?" she muttered, gritting her teeth, her voice tinged with an almost imperceptible anxiety and worry. Her slender fingers unconsciously rubbed the jade pendant at her waist, and due to the excessive force, several faint cracks had already appeared on its surface.
"Someone!" Qian Renxue suddenly called out, her expression of pain instantly vanishing, replaced by her usual image as the calculating Crown Prince.
"Young Master." A shadow appeared like Gui Mei behind her, kneeling on one knee, his voice respectful yet ethereal, as if coming from a great distance.
Qian Renxue elegantly wiped away the remaining sweat from her forehead, her tone as calm as if nothing had happened: "Go investigate where that kid went with Dugu Bo."
"Yes, Young Master." The shadow obeyed and vanished into the darkness in a flash, leaving only a faint spirit power fluctuation.
Silence returned to the secret chamber. Qian Renxue gazed at the flickering candlelight, a complex expression flashing in her eyes. She gently touched her chest, where a strange tremor faintly resonated.
Meanwhile, in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Feng Xiao slowly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam circulating within them. After several hours of spirit power tempering, he had finally successfully absorbed his first ten-thousand-year spirit ring. Before he could fully appreciate the surging spirit power within him, Dugu Bo's figure already appeared before him.
"Don't move." Dugu Bo's withered fingers precisely gripped Feng Xiao's wrist, a hint of surprise flashing in his turbid eyes. "A single spirit ring actually let you break through four levels?" The old poison master smacked his lips, his tone tinged with a hint of sourness. "However, the spirit power impact was too strong, and your meridians are somewhat damaged. Don't worry, with this old man here…"
Before he finished speaking, Feng Xiao's expression suddenly changed dramatically. His chest heaved violently, and a completely emerald green dan bead shot out from his mouth, hovering an inch above his palm, emitting a lustrous glow. The surface of the dan bead was covered with patterns identical to those of the Spirit Bamboo, as if it were alive and maintained a strange resonance with Feng Xiao's breathing.
"This…" Before Feng Xiao could even express his surprise, he heard Dugu Bo let out a sour scoff. The old poison master waved his large sleeve, and also spat out a greenish dan bead from his mouth, though its color was deeper and threads of poisonous mist entwined its surface.
"I call this a dan bead. Of course, I don't have the same good fortune as you, kid. This is something I spent sixty years cultivating by gathering poison with my spirit power. Of course, it can only store a portion of my spirit power and poison. Dan beads are found in many Spirit Beasts. For plant-type Spirit Beasts that love to store energy, theoretically, this can be considered a type of external Spirit Bone, and its function is to accumulate a large amount of spirit power, and this amount will grow larger and larger," Dugu Bo explained grumpily.
Feng Xiao's eyes lit up at the words, and he asked with some confusion, "Can ordinary Spirit Beasts like the Spirit Bamboo also drop such a precious item?"
Dugu Bo rolled his eyes at Feng Xiao and said, "If a freak like you can appear among ordinary Spirit Masters, why can't it happen among Spirit Beasts? A ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Bamboo that can cultivate naturally won't be an ordinary Spirit Bamboo. Just like there are geniuses among Spirit Masters, there are also talent gaps among Spirit Beasts. This is why the older the Spirit Beast, the higher the probability of it dropping a Spirit Bone."
Immediately, Feng Xiao retrieved the dan bead, then bowed slightly to Dugu Bo, smiling, "Thank you, Senior."
While Feng Xiao was speaking, Dugu Bo suddenly took out several herbs from his spirit tool, kneaded them into a pill, and without explanation, flicked it into Feng Xiao's mouth.
"Ugh!" Feng Xiao was choked by the sudden bitterness, nearly gagging, and was about to protest when he saw Dugu Bo had already grabbed him by the collar and shot into the air. In the night wind, the old poison master's gloating voice could be heard: "Save your strength, the journey back is still long!"
In just two short days, Dugu Bo brought Feng Xiao back to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. As soon as their figures appeared at the academy gates, the news had already reached Qian Renxue's ears.
"Young Master, judging by Dugu Bo's direction of travel, they most likely went to the Star Dou Great Forest," the ethereal voice sounded again in Qian Renxue's ear, with a hint of certainty.
"Hmm, you may withdraw," Qian Renxue said calmly, her fingertips gently tapping the table. Once the spirit power fluctuation completely dissipated, a sharp glint suddenly flashed in her eyes.
"Interesting…" She curled her lips slightly, muttering to herself, "With Dugu Bo's strength, if it were just an ordinary spirit ring hunt, how could that kid get injured? Unless…" She suddenly stood up, her luxurious robes shimmering with dark patterns in the candlelight, "Unless they hunted a spirit ring far beyond the normal Spirit Ancestor's endurance limit!"
Qian Renxue paced back and forth in the hall, her eyes gleaming with excitement: "There are clearly Spirit Beasts suitable for Spirit Ancestors in the Sunset Forest, so why risk going to the Star Dou Great Forest? Unless…" She suddenly stopped, her jade hand clenched into a fist, "The Spirit Beasts in the Sunset Forest couldn't satisfy his needs!"
Thinking of this, the image of Feng Xiao's confident appearance that day involuntarily surfaced in her mind, and a hint of anger immediately appeared on her pretty face: "A fine 'no secrets' indeed!" She snorted coldly, a wisp of golden spirit power condensing on her fingertips. "It seems this Crown Prince has underestimated you."
"Someone, prepare the carriage for Heaven Dou Royal Academy," Qian Renxue said calmly, flicking her sleeve.
As her spirit power circulated, a brilliant golden light flashed, and the noble and cold young woman in the mirror had transformed into the gentle and refined Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. When Feng Xiao had finished tidying up and arrived at the training ground where he usually played the zither, the members of the Huang Dou Battle Team gathered around him.
"Little Feng!" Dugu Yan was the first to greet him, her purple eyes filled with concern, "Did the spirit ring hunt go smoothly this time?"
Feng Xiao smiled slightly, his fingertips unconsciously brushing the tip of his nose: "With Senior Dugu's help, everything naturally went smoothly." He surveyed the crowd, his tone gentle yet authoritative, "The Grand Competition is imminent. Although we have guaranteed spots, training cannot be neglected."
"Oh~" Dugu Yan winked mischievously, "Our little Feng is becoming more and more like a captain."
Feng Xiao shook his head helplessly: "Sister Yan, please don't tease me. How can I be a captain who always misses team training?"
Not far away, Xue Qinghe stood holding a fan, taking in the entire scene. Watching the young man chatting and laughing with his teammates, an indescribable tremor suddenly passed through his heart. He subconsciously tightened his grip on the folding fan, and the white jade fan bones made a faint crisp sound.
"Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" Yu Feng, with sharp eyes, was the first to spot Xue Qinghe standing not far away.
Feng Xiao frowned slightly, then turned to the Royal Fight members and said, "You all continue training. I will go pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Everyone nodded understandingly, watching him walk towards the elegant figure.
"Greetings, Your Highness." Feng Xiao bowed respectfully.
Qian Renxue's gaze sharpened, and her folding fan snapped shut. "You're injured?" Although it was a question, her tone was so certain it brooked no doubt.
Feng Xiao's pupils constricted. Connecting his return to the academy with the Crown Prince's immediate arrival, his expression instantly darkened: "Is Your Highness monitoring me?"
"What?" Qian Renxue chuckled softly, her jade-white fingertips gently stroking the fan bones. "Shouldn't this Crown Prince monitor a kid full of lies?" She took half a step forward, a faint scent of dragon's saliva incense mixed with a hint of dangerous spirit power fluctuations emanating from her. "Or would you prefer I personally inspect your physical condition?"
Feng Xiao's gaze deepened, his thoughts racing: "No… with Dugu Bo's strength, even a Titled Douluo would find it hard to escape detection if they tried to secretly monitor him, given that Dugu Bo could even detect the arrows of Douluo Guang Ling. The method she used that day, could it really have left some mark on me? But the Angel Spirit shouldn't have the ability to cast curses…"
Qian Renxue observed Feng Xiao's shifting expression with interest, gently fanning herself: "Come, let's have a good talk."
Feng Xiao subconsciously took half a step back, his eyes even more wary: "I must refuse. The 'lesson' from my last private meeting with Your Highness is still fresh in my memory. If something else is discovered, I don't have a second life."
Seeing this, a hint of unease flashed imperceptibly in Qian Renxue's eyes. When Feng Xiao offered the cultivation method that day, he was indeed sincere. It was her own failure to conceal herself well, and for the sake of caution, she had indeed been somewhat overbearing.
"Never mind," she sighed softly, pointing her folding fan towards Heaven Dou City, "Then how about we meet at a teahouse in Heaven Dou City? In broad daylight, this Crown Prince wouldn't possibly attack you." As she spoke, she deliberately showed a hint of helplessness.
Feng Xiao was silent for a moment, then finally nodded slightly. He indeed needed to figure out what Qian Renxue had done to him that day.
As they boarded the luxurious carriage with gilded carvings, four pure white steeds simultaneously raised their front hooves, their gleaming horseshoes glinting in the sunlight. With a light shout from the coachman, the carriage smoothly drove away from the academy, its wheels making a crisp sound as they rolled over the cobblestone road.
Inside the carriage, tea smoke curled from the agarwood table. Feng Xiao and Qian Renxue sat opposite each other, the air heavy as if solidified.
"This Crown Prince remembers," Qian Renxue's slender fingers gently tapped the teacup, producing a crisp sound, "someone once swore allegiance to me, claiming no secrets whatsoever?"
Feng Xiao lowered his eyes and remained silent. Although he valued loyalty, he was not a stubborn person. Saying something against his will in a life-or-death situation was less about deception and more about expediency.
"That day, I offered a treasure to Your Highness," he raised his eyes, his voice calm, "Your Highness not only accidentally shattered the treasure but also tried to take my life. In such circumstances, isn't it human nature to say a few words to save one's life?"
Qian Renxue's fingertips paused slightly, the ripples in the teacup reflecting her flickering gaze: "But in the end… this Crown Prince did not harm your life, and even gave you some compensation…"
"What compensation?" Feng Xiao suddenly leaned forward, his gaze like fire, "Does Your Highness's so-called 'compensation' refer to that spell that has kept me restless?"
"Indeed." Qian Renxue nodded slightly, her fingertips gently stroking the gilded armrest. "This is my 'compensation'." Feng Xiao remained silent, his burning gaze like a sharp sword piercing her.
"As for why I knew you were injured…" Qian Renxue paused, her eyelashes trembling slightly. "That's not a curse, but a sacred oath of the Angel clan. Its only purpose is—" She met Feng Xiao's gaze. "—for us to share pain."
Feng Xiao's pupils constricted: "So… if you get injured, I will also…"
Qian Renxue was silent for a moment, then finally nodded gently.
"Isn't this kidnapping?" Feng Xiao smiled bitterly and shook his head, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the jade pendant at his waist.
"Kidnapping?" Qian Renxue suddenly sneered, her spirit power surging around her, the carriage curtains fluttering without wind. "Then, in your opinion, should this Crown Prince have just taken your life back then?"
Feng Xiao sighed inwardly. Now this was great; not only was he tied to Spirit Hall, but even more critically—if it truly followed the original plot, Qian Renxue would suffer a Guanyin Tear later on.
"Your Highness…" He forced a smile, "I wonder if there's a way to break this sacred oath?"
Qian Renxue's red lips curved slightly, but her eyes were filled with a chilling coldness: "Of course there is." Her slender finger gently tapped her own chest. "Only when two people are willing to die for each other will the oath be broken."
Qian Renxue's fingertips gently stroked the rim of the teacup, her voice as light as falling snow: "Now that this Crown Prince has revealed all her secrets, what about you? Can you be utterly loyal to this Crown Prince, with no secrets whatsoever?"
Feng Xiao slowly shook his head, his gaze as clear as a mirror: "I must refuse, Your Highness. In this world, no one can be completely transparent with another, not even their closest relatives." He picked up his teacup, watching his reflection in the water shatter with the ripples. "Just like the method for breaking the sacred oath you mentioned earlier—if someone truly wishes to die for another, they most likely won't speak of it, but choose to bear it silently."
"The best example is your grandfather," Feng Xiao silently added in his mind.
A long silence fell within the carriage, broken only by the regular rhythm of the horses' hooves on the cobblestone road. Amidst the curling tea smoke, Qian Renxue gazed at the gradually cooling tea, and for the first time, her unwavering belief in "absolute loyalty" wavered.
The carriage rumbled forward, the scenery outside flowing like water. Qian Renxue suddenly turned her head, her golden eyes like torches: "So, you ultimately refuse to be completely honest with this Crown Prince?"
Feng Xiao opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Qian Renxue's body suddenly erupted in a brilliant golden light. A vast wave of spirit power surged forth like a tide, and he was sent flying like a broken kite, crashing through the carriage curtain and landing heavily on the ground.
"Cough." Feng Xiao propped himself up, rubbing his aching chest, and smiled bitterly as he watched the gilded carriage disappear into the distance. "I hadn't even answered yet, had I? You could at least give me a chance to answer!"
Feng Xiao patted the dust off himself, looking at the distant carriage with a hint of confusion: "Speaking of which, could she even feel that kick? She wouldn't be tricking me, would she?"