Without releasing his soul spirit, Qian Renfeng straightened his posture and punched the chest of the red-haired youth in the blue robe—a noble-born representative of Moon Pavilion—sending him crashing into a wall. A web of cracks spidered out from the impact.
The other young nobles hesitated, swallowing nervously as his calm smile remained.
"Relax," Qian Renfeng said. "Iron Tiger Duke is aligned with the Crown Prince—not my level. I won't kill his son, but he'll need at least half a year to recover. As for the psychological trauma, that's not my problem."
He paused and continued: "Now, tell me who sent you. Or should I knock you all out, and let the Crown Prince investigate?"
The blue-robed youths looked at each other in terror. They knew his connection to Xue Qinghe—his half-brother.
Qian Renfeng calmly surveyed them. "That red-haired one—come here."
The red-haired youth trembled, but his companions shoved him forward. Qian Renfeng asked softly, "Who sent you? Aiding whom? The headmaster of Moon Pavilion, Tang Yuehua? A prince? Or a lord?"
The youth stammered, "My father is the Duke of Blazing Flames… aligned with the Crown Prince. You can't hit me."
Qian Renfeng's smile vanished. He slapped the youth across the face. Coldly, he said, "Next."
He pointed to a pale, timid youth who knelt instantly.
"Don't hit me! I'll tell! It was Headmaster Tang Yuehua of Moon Pavilion. She wanted us to follow you—to see who you meet, why you gather information on her sects, and why you've been tailing her for over a year."
He confessed everything. Qian Renfeng stroked his chin thoughtfully. Then he stood and strode off toward Moon Pavilion, ignoring the rest, who fled in relief—running toward their fathers' mansions.
It wasn't far. Though Qian Renfeng walked slowly, he reached the academy quickly.
A teacher on duty spotted him and asked in surprise, "Young Master Qian, you're back?"
Known throughout Moon Pavilion for his talent and charm, this late-night return was highly unusual.
"Is the headmaster in?" he asked politely.
"You're lucky to find her awake," the teacher replied. "But if your matter can wait, let her rest, yes?"
Qian Renfeng nodded. Moments later, the teacher ushered him upstairs, where Tang Yuehua waited in her pajamas. Though nearly forty, she looked youthful and radiant.
She offered him plain hot water instead of tea.
"Looking for me?" she asked.
Qian Renfeng sat next to her, spotting two purple beads on a cord around her neck but ignored them.
"You're clever—do you know why I came?"
Tang Yuehua remained composed. "So you beat them?"
He nodded. "Those secrets... they're only for the headmaster."
She commented calmly, "The Crown Prince chose someone capable—he wouldn't send mere Soul Lords."
"So, Young Master Qian, ready to share your secret?"
He sipped his water and smiled. "Headmaster, this isn't a one-way trade. If you want mine, you must give me one in return."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I want to know…" he paused, "...where is Hǎo Tiān Sect?!"