In the long, winding path of Blue Lightning Advanced Academy, Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Xiaogang walked slowly, one after the other. Perhaps because father and son had little to say to each other, neither knew who should speak first.
Finally, Yu Xiaogang couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Father, what did you want to talk to me about in private?"
Yu Yuanzhen gradually slowed his pace and eventually came to a stop. "Xiaogang, what do you think of that child, Tang San?"
Yu Xiaogang was taken aback. He had thought that his father was displeased with something he had done, but it turned out that the purpose of this conversation was about Tang San.
Unsure of Yu Yuanzhen's intentions, Yu Xiaogang pondered for a moment before replying, "Xiao San is naturally exceptional in both talent and character. Most importantly, he respects his teachers and upholds the principles of the sect."
"Respects his teachers and upholds the principles? I'm not so sure about that," Yu Yuanzhen said with a hint of mockery at the corner of his mouth. "If he truly respected you, why didn't he use that so-called Hidden Weapon Blueprint to replace the Papal Token in your hand just now?"
"Sometimes, prolonged silence is a form of refusal."
Yu Xiaogang lowered his head thoughtfully. After a moment of silence, he looked up at Yu Yuanzhen and said, "Father, I've watched Xiao San grow up. His usual behavior has been nothing but proper. However, his obsession with hidden weapons does indeed surpass that of others. I think this time, he might have just hesitated slightly."
"If it ever comes to a point where we are truly helpless, I believe he won't stand idly by."
Yu Yuanzhen looked at Yu Xiaogang's earnest expression and grinned. "Xiaogang, you're not a young man anymore. Your life experience should far exceed that of others. I shouldn't be lecturing you, but seeing you like this, I feel it's necessary to give you one last lesson."
"There's an old saying that you can see a person's future when they're three years old. Based on my observations over the past two days, I've found that this child is actually cold-hearted and has an extremely strong desire for control. He is not a good person."
"Father..." Yu Xiaogang was shocked by his father's harsh assessment of Xiao San. He wanted to defend him but found that Yu Yuanzhen had already walked away.
"Cold-hearted and with an extremely strong desire for control..." Yu Xiaogang murmured as he watched Yu Yuanzhen's retreating figure.
In the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace, Emperor Xue Ye's study was bustling with activity as two figures worked diligently.
"Junior Brother, Prince Xue Xing's mansion is preparing to replenish the national treasury. Who do you think we should send?" Qian Renxue glanced at the memorial before turning to Li Xun.
"I'll go. If we send someone else, they might embezzle some of it," Li Xun said, his eyes lighting up as he quickly organized the memorials on the desk and placed them in front of Qian Renxue.
"And you won't embezzle anything if you go?" Qian Renxue teased with a slight smile.
"Sister Xue, do you have the wrong impression of me?" Li Xun chuckled. "Although I'm not exactly wealthy, I could easily buy half the street where the prince's mansion is located."
Over the past few years, Li Xun had acquired shares in every business he had been involved in. Though the shares were small, the industries he engaged in were highly profitable.
Pharmaceuticals, Soul Beast meat hotel chains, Seven Treasures factories—even Whale Glue, which Ning Fengzhi had left him a share of the profits from, as it was his discovery.
This was the unspoken understanding between him and Ning Fengzhi, and Li Xun was more than happy to go along with it.
"Hmph! The richer people are, the greedier they become. Just the other day, you acted like you didn't care about money, but when you left, you still secretly took those thirty million Gold Soul Coins with you." Qian Renxue grinned and shook her head. "No, you can't go. Just stay here and help me sort out these documents."
"That money belongs to the sect! It's not mine." Li Xun was utterly speechless. "Sister Xue, if you're overwhelmed with your duties and want to find some labor, just say it directly."
"Would I be overwhelmed?" Qian Renxue snorted lightly, picked up a document, wrote Ning Fengzhi's name on it, and then handed it to Li Xun. "It's settled then. You'll hand this over to the subordinates later."
Li Xun took it and glanced at it. "Sister Xue, you really aren't giving me any chance, are you? Besides, who works without getting paid? Do you expect me to work for you for free?"
"Didn't I already give you your salary? Aren't you now second only to one, above tens of thousands?" Qian Renxue's lips curled slightly.
"That doesn't seem right, does it?" Li Xun looked at Qian Renxue with suspicion. "I always feel like I'm at a loss, but I can't quite put my finger on it."
Qian Renxue pursed her lips, shook her head, and said nothing, continuing to flip through the documents as if she hadn't heard.
Just as the two were teasing each other, a soft knock came from outside the study.
"Young Master, we're back." As the words fell, Serpent Spear Douluo and Thorn Blood Douluo walked in one after the other.
When the two entered the hall and saw Li Xun sitting at the lower end of Qian Renxue's desk, handling documents, they were both stunned.
Has the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School acted so quickly? Serpent Spear Douluo wondered in his heart. "Young Master, Yu Xiaogang still refuses to offer anything."
"I see. Did you kill him then?" Qian Renxue nodded, as if she had expected this, showing no emotional fluctuation.
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant School's leader, Yu Yuanzhen, is currently there. It's not convenient for us to act, especially since Yu Xiaogang holds a Papal Token." Serpent Spear Douluo shook his head.
"Yu Yuanzhen, huh? I see." Qian Renxue narrowed her eyes, then looked at Serpent Spear. "Did you get the money back? Don't tell me you went out and accomplished nothing."
Qian Renxue was truly disappointed with these two.
Not only were they ineffective, but they also wavered between her and Bibidong. If it weren't for the fact that she needed people now, she would have sent them back to Spirit City to serve the Pope.
"Young Master, I've already made Yu Xiaogang return the ten million issued by the Spirit Hall, but he needs some time from us."
Having watched Qian Renxue grow up, Serpent Spear immediately knew from her expression that she was in a bad mood and quickly said, "To ensure he doesn't go back on his word, I've taken the Papal Token he held as collateral."
With that, Serpent Spear Douluo placed the Papal Token on Qian Renxue's desk.
Qian Renxue stared at the Papal Token in a daze, then sighed softly. "Uncle She, Uncle Xue, you've worked hard. Thank you for your trouble."
"It's nothing, just a small matter." Serpent Spear and Thorn Blood felt a warmth in their hearts and smiled.
Seeing Qian Renxue's expression, they knew that their silence on the matter of Bibidong had been forgiven.
It was worth the risk they took to reclaim the Papal Token, even if it meant offending the Pope's authority.
"Uncle She, Uncle Xue, you two must be tired after a long day. Please go and rest for a while. I'll call you if anything comes up." After a long pause, Qian Renxue finally looked away from the Papal Token and gave the two men a smile, just like before.
"Haha, it's nothing," Snake Lance responded with a laugh, then left with Ci Xue.
Li Xun glanced at Qian Renxue and then at the Papal Token, marveling to himself. He realized that this woman was truly unpredictable.
"What are you looking at?"
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