...
"Do you think this is like buying cabbage on the street?"
Ning Rongrong couldn't help but roll her eyes and complained wildly:
"If this kind of brainwashing and value reshaping method could be easily copied and pasted, the world would be full of rebels by now!"
"At most, I just went along with the flow and guided him a little.
Besides, Tang San isn't some clueless three-year-old; he's very deep.
How was I supposed to know that he only listened to half of what I said, and then inexplicably had a sudden epiphany and got stuck on his own little problems?"
Xuan Hao shrugged. "Anyway, you caused this mess yourself, so you'd better figure out how to clean it up.
I'm going into seclusion to cultivate again, so I don't have time to deal with your mess."
"Still cultivating?!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes twitched violently.
"Big brother, you're only fifteen and you're already a Soul Saint!
You're still working so hard, are you planning to become a Title Douluo by the time you're eighteen?"
Xuan Hao stroked his chin and made a serious assessment:
"Based on the current progress and foundation, becoming a Title Douluo at eighteen... is indeed very promising."
Ning Rongrong was speechless for a long time, and in the end, she could only give a thumbs up:
"Okay, you're awesome!"
Unable to afford to offend this cultivation fanatic, Ning Rongrong's eyes darted around, and she immediately fixed her gaze on Tang Yuehua, who was walking in front.
The one who tied the knot must untie it.
Tang San is probably immune to her words now, and trying to persuade him further would definitely backfire.
This kind of thing needs to be said to someone Tang San can listen to!
Tang San has just been reunited with his family and is currently in a stage where he is extremely lacking in love and longs for familial recognition.
If his aunt Tang Yuehua were to give him some guidance, he would definitely listen!
Thinking of this, Ning Rongrong immediately took off running like a cheerful lark to pester Tang Yuehua.
Following her principle of helping her brother clean up his mess, Na'er also went over to help.
Seeing that there was something to do, Dugu Yan and Xiao Wu naturally wouldn't miss out, and the girls quickly chattered and walked away from Tang Yuehua.
For a moment, only Xuan Hao, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ye Lingling, who were always quiet, remained at the back of the group.
Xuan Hao slowed his pace, turned his head to look at Zhu Zhuqing beside him, and casually asked:
"You've been in Tiandou City for a while now. How are you settling in?
Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I've had a chance to ask about you."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded coolly: "It's fine."
"What about cultivation?"
"That's good too, the increase in soul power is very stable."
Xuan Hao raised an eyebrow, stopped and looked at her:
"Really, there's absolutely no problem? Not a single problem that requires my attention?"
A hint of doubt flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, and she shook her head: "No."
Are you sure?
Xuan Hao's smile faded slightly. "You can fool others, but you can't fool me.
Ever since you came to Tian Dou City, or even back when you were still in Soto City, the Star Luo Empire's spies here have already sent back information about you and Dai Mubai, haven't they?"
Upon hearing the words "Star Luo Empire" and "Dai Mubai," Zhu Zhuqing's expression immediately became somewhat unnatural.
Xuan Hao stared into her eyes and asked, "What exactly does Xingluo mean?
Or rather, has your Zhu family been putting pressure on you behind your back lately?"
Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment, gently biting her lower lip, and finally nodded: "Yes."
"They don't know that Dai Mubai has been deposed by you and has completely lost his right to compete for the throne.
These past few days, I've received secret messages from home, telling me to either immediately return to the Star Luo Empire or go back to Dai Mubai's side to assist him."
"They warned me not to associate with men from other factions anymore.
Otherwise... the Star Luo Royal Family will send an assassination squad to deal with me."
She was the fiancée chosen by the Star Luo Emperor for Dai Mubai.
Her existence represented the face of the Star Luo royal family and also involved the life and death of the Netherworld Cat Clan.
To the high and mighty Xingluo royal family and the ruthless Zhu family, Zhu Zhuqing could die in the power struggle, but she absolutely could not do anything that would dishonor the family's reputation or affect its interests!
Otherwise, she would be a traitor!
A stain that must be erased!
Especially now that she's getting so close to Xuan Hao.
Xuan Hao is not only a guest of honor of the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, but also the president of the Heaven Dou Self-Improvement Association.
He will inevitably become a major enemy of the Star Luo Empire in the future.
Her association with Xuan Hao was seen as a dangerous sign of betrayal by the Xingluo royal family.
After listening to Zhu Zhuqing's account, Xuan Hao frowned, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice: "Why didn't you tell me about something so important?"
"Back in Soto City, I gave you immortal herbs and soul bones.
Didn't I already promise you that I would hold up the sky if it fell in the future, and that you could rely on me completely
? Now that you've encountered such a deadly trouble, why are you keeping it all bottled up inside and not saying a word?"
Zhu Zhuqing felt a little guilty after being scolded by him, and lowered her head, her voice barely audible:
"I...I didn't find an opportunity."
Xuan Hao was taken aback.
He carefully reviewed his recent itinerary:
Every day he's either in seclusion cultivating to break through to a higher realm, or he's out causing trouble at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's place.
After returning, he's busy dealing with Blue Tyrant Academy and all sorts of other miscellaneous matters...
It seems that I have indeed been constantly on the move, and have not given this aloof ghost cat a chance to be alone with it or ask for help.
"Okay, this is my fault for being too busy lately."
Xuan Hao nodded readily. "You don't need to worry about those lousy rules of the Star Luo Empire. Since things have come to this point, let's have a proper talk tonight and set a solution."
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly raised her head, her expression instantly becoming somewhat unnatural. "Tonight?"
Ye Lingling, who had been walking quietly to the side like a ghost, suddenly reached out and nudged Xuan Hao with her elbow upon hearing this, and solemnly instructed him:
"be safe."
After saying that, Ye Lingling quickened her pace and jogged to catch up with the main group ahead, leaving the two of them alone.
Upon hearing Ye Lingling's ambiguous "Be careful," Zhu Zhuqing's icy face instantly flushed crimson, even her delicate earlobes burning hot.
She glared at Xuan Hao, embarrassed and annoyed, and stamped her feet in frustration:
"Lingling, you've misunderstood! That's not what I meant!"
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's embarrassed and annoyed expression as she stomped her feet in frustration, Xuan Hao couldn't help but take a half-step closer:
"Oh? What do you mean by 'not that'? Then what do you mean? And what do you think... what did I mean just now?"
Zhu Zhuqing was immediately speechless.
She was never good with words to begin with, and now, being teased made her speechless.
Her already flushed face turned even redder, almost as if it were about to bleed.
Ning Rongrong, who was walking ahead, heard the commotion behind her and turned around to see Ye Lingling jogging after her.
She peeked over to look at Zhu Zhuqing, who was blushing and unable to lift her head because Xuan Hao had teased her so much, and couldn't help but gossip over to her.
"Lingling, what were you two whispering about in the back? Why is Zhuqing blushing so much?"
Ye Lingling remained calm and replied seriously, "Xuan Hao said he would help her solve the Star Luo Empire's troubles tonight. Judging from this, they might be playing some games together tonight."
"Play mini-games?!"
Upon hearing these four words, Tang Yuehua, who was walking beside her, felt her heart skip a beat.
Her originally dignified and fair cheeks instinctively flushed hot, and she felt so guilty that her breathing became erratic.
A mini-game? Could it be... one of those "massage" mini-games that Xuan Hao forced her to play in Yuexuan's room before, the kind that could even tear clothes?!
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