...
"Someone?"
Qian Renxue was taken aback, then asked, "Who?"
Xuan Hao did not answer directly, but instead picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and looked out the window.
who?
Who else could it be?
Naturally, it was Pope Bibi Dong, who resided in Wuhun City, seemingly cold and ruthless, but in reality, more conflicted than anyone else.
During those days at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, besides guiding his cultivation, Bibi Dong had subtly probed him, intentionally or unintentionally.
"Although you've picked all the medicinal herbs here, do you... have any left?
Or are there any that are suitable for strengthening the body's foundation and enhancing potential?"
Xuanhao found it strange at the time.
Hu Liena had already consumed the "Bewitching Lotus" and the "Longing Dew," and Bibi Dong herself was already a peerless Douluo; these immortal herbs had negligible effect on her.
Furthermore, in the Papal Palace, besides Hu Liena, she paid no attention to any other juniors.
So, for whom could she be asking this question?
It can only be Qian Renxue.
That daughter whom she nominally didn't want to see, and even somewhat loathed, but whom she couldn't sever ties with by blood.
Moreover, before leaving, Bibi Dong had hinted at it to him on several occasions:
"Xuanhao, while you should remain neutral in your actions in Tiandou City, you can be a little more polite to Xue Qinghe."
"If necessary, it wouldn't be a bad idea to give her some benefits without affecting your own interests."
If Xuan Hao still doesn't understand now that things have been said this far, then he's lived in vain.
Bibi Dong's feelings for Qian Renxue were undoubtedly extremely complex.
That was a hatred that extended to everything connected to the source of her hatred; it was proof of that unbearable past.
She didn't want to see Qian Renxue, or even hear any news about her.
But her maternal instincts, or perhaps a subconscious sense of guilt, prevented her from truly ignoring Qian Renxue.
She couldn't care for Qian Renxue like a normal mother, so she could only awkwardly send her something through Xuan Hao, the "middleman," to help her out.
"Who exactly is it?"
Seeing that Xuan Hao remained silent, Qian Renxue's strange feeling grew stronger and stronger, and she couldn't help but ask again.
"It cannot be spoken, it cannot be spoken."
Xuan Hao put down his teacup, stood up, and resumed his usual nonchalant demeanor:
"Anyway, as long as you know that this magical herb came from a legitimate source and I never intended to harm you, that's enough."
"Alright, the goods have been delivered, I should go now."
"Go back and refine it properly. Don't let this immortal herb down, and don't let..."
Xuan Hao walked to the door, turned his back to Qian Renxue, waved, and lowered his voice:
"Don't let this sentiment go to waste."
After saying that, he opened the door and strode away from the Crown Prince's residence, leaving Qian Renxue alone in the study, staring blankly at the Hunyuan Immortal Herb in her hand that emitted a faint halo.
"Someone's face..."
Qian Renxue murmured softly, as images flashed through her mind.
Grandpa? Impossible.
This bastard doesn't even know her grandfather, let alone respect him with his lawless temper.
Who else could it be?
Could it be...?
A figure she both longed for and resented flashed through her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.
"Ha, how could that be?"
Qian Renxue shook her head self-deprecatingly, a hint of loneliness flashing in her eyes:
"That woman... probably wishes I were dead out there."
...
Xuan Hao left the Crown Prince's residence and went straight back to the Tian Dou Royal Hotel.
After a quick tidying up, he set off again with Na'er, who still hadn't had enough fun, heading straight for Sunset Forest.
This time, without the leisure to enjoy sightseeing, Xuanhao moved extremely fast.
For him, the previous two weeks of indulgence were to numb the nerves of all parties, to solidify his persona, and to give his tense nerves a break.
But now, the holiday is over.
In the Douluo Continent, where strength reigns supreme, all conspiracies and schemes, and all human relationships, must ultimately be built upon absolute power.
Without strength, no matter how clever he is, he will ultimately be nothing more than fish on someone else's chopping board.
...
The eye of ice and fire.
The familiar red and blue light was still dazzling, and the air was filled with a violent energy that was suffocating to ordinary people, but felt incredibly familiar to Xuan Hao.
Yue Guan was humming a little tune as he carefully watered a rare herb that had just been transplanted in the distance. When he saw Xuan Hao and the others return, he simply waved from afar and then continued to immerse himself in his world of flowers and plants.
"call..."
Xuan Hao stood by the spring, took a deep breath of the unique energy here, and felt every pore on his body relax.
"It's so comfortable here."
He turned to Dugu Yan and Na'er and said:
"I'm going into seclusion for a while now, at least half a month, or longer... it's hard to say."
"Na'er, just stay here and play quietly. Don't run around.
If you get bored, go find Elder Ju."
Having explained everything, Xuan Hao no longer hesitated.
He skillfully removed his outer garment, revealing his muscular upper body, and leaped into the air.
"Thump!"
Water splashed everywhere.
He plunged directly into the center of the red and blue spring, floating cross-legged beneath the surface.
Having undergone the previous tempering, his body had long since adapted to this intensity and even began to greedily devour this energy.
However.
Just as Xuan Hao held his breath and prepared to enter a state of deep meditation.
"Buzz—"
A gentle mental fluctuation suddenly and without warning came from his left leg, rippling across his mental sea.
Immediately afterwards, a gentle yet somewhat melancholic female voice echoed softly in his mind:
"Xiao Hao, do you have some time lately?"
Xuan Hao's mind stirred, and his soul power, which was circulating, paused slightly.
"Sister Arou?
What's wrong?
Did Sister Bing bully you again?"
"No, I'm recovering quite well too."
Arou paused, seemingly finding it difficult to speak, but finally sighed softly and asked with deep longing:
"I just... suddenly miss Xiaowu a little."
"Judging by the time, it's been almost a year since we last met in the Soul Hunter Forest, hasn't it?"
"I wonder how that girl is doing at Notting College?"
"She grew up in the Star Dou Great Forest and hasn't had much contact with human society.
She's also a bit impulsive. What if she gets bullied?"
"Besides, the human world has many rules. Will she be able to adapt to it, given her free-spirited nature?"
"There's food too..."
Listening to Arou's rambling, detailed chatter, Xuanhao couldn't help but smile and feel a little touched.
This is what a mother is like.
Even if only a wisp of a soul remains, even if one is barely able to save oneself, the one who will always be thinking of one's child is still one's child.
"Sister Arou, don't worry, everything will be alright."
Xuanhao smiled and comforted him from within the sea of his mind:
"Who is Xiao Wu?
That's a 100,000-year-old rogue rabbit... cough cough, that's a 100,000-year-old soul beast in human form!"
"Although she's retaking her studies, her foundation is still there, and her combat experience remains.
In a novice Soul Master academy like Notting Academy, she's the one bullying others; who would dare bully her?"
That's what they say...
Arou was still a little worried, "But I always feel empty inside.
After all, she has only recently taken human form, and this is the first time she has been so far from home..."
After a moment of silence, Arou's voice became somewhat pleading:
"Xiao Hao, could you... find some time to go see her again?"
"I know you're very busy right now, having to cultivate and deal with those powerful forces.
But I really… want to know how she is doing."
"Even if I just see her from afar and know that she is safe and sound, I will be at ease."
Feeling the slight tremor coming from his left leg bone, Xuan Hao sighed.
He who takes a bribe is bound to do his bidding; he who eats another's food is obligated to do his bidding.
Having received such a great favor as a sacrifice, he naturally could not refuse this request.
Besides, he really hadn't seen that little rabbit for quite a while.
"OK."
Xuan Hao readily agreed in his heart:
"Sister Arou, don't worry."
"I need to consolidate my cultivation at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well during this time, and also digest some of the good things I just acquired."
"Once this seclusion ends and I've stabilized my cultivation level, the first thing I'll do is go to Notting City!"
"real?"
Arou's voice instantly revealed a hint of joy.
"Of course, I promised you I would take good care of her," Xuan Hao said.
"I won't let anyone bully her."
"Of course, except for me."
"..." Arou.
Do you really have to bully her?
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