...
"Tsk... Troublesome."
Xuan Hao scratched his hair in frustration.
"Brother, aren't you going to eat?"
Na'er swallowed a piece of braised pork, blinked her big eyes at him, and said, "It'll get cold if you don't eat it soon."
"You eat, I'm not hungry yet." Xuan Hao put a piece of green vegetable on her plate.
"Don't just eat meat, eat some vegetables too."
Na'er nodded obediently and ate the vegetables.
Looking at the well-behaved Na'er, Xuan Hao felt a little more at ease.
Two 100,000-year-old soul beasts—anyone would kill them.
If you want to appease Bibi Dong, you have to go back and apologize with something of equal value.
After much thought, the only thing he knew that could quell Bibi Dong's anger, and even make her not only not punish him, but also praise him.
The immortal herb of the Yin-Yang duality of ice and fire.
It would be wrong to tell Bibi Dong directly about the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire.
One must be prudent in one's actions.
Testing human nature with self-interest is the stupidest thing in the world.
Even the closest family members need to maintain appropriate boundaries.
Sunset Forest is so vast that searching for a needle in a haystack is out of the question.
Even if you did find it, the poisonous barrier on the outer perimeter would be too much for even a Soul Saint to withstand.
Not to mention, if they were to run into that old poisoner Dugu Bo, they would be asking for death.
Although he had Na'er as a protective charm, the matter was still uncertain, and he wouldn't entrust his life to something so uncertain.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have run away.
Before Xuan Hao could finish his thought, a strong sense of threat suddenly appeared outside the restaurant without warning.
Immediately afterwards, this aura locked onto the private room on the second floor in an extremely domineering manner!
"Um?!"
Xuan Hao's heart skipped a beat. He grabbed Na'er and instinctively tried to teleport away.
"Bang!!"
The tightly closed mahogany door of the private room suddenly burst open!
A golden afterimage rushed in, bringing with it a fragrant breeze.
"Oh, ancestors!!!"
A sharp voice, trembling with sobs and filled with boundless grievances, surprise, despair, and relief at surviving a catastrophe, suddenly rang out in the private room.
"I've finally found you!!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan had two large dark circles under her eyes, and her hair was even a little messy, completely lacking her usual glamorous appearance that paid attention to her appearance.
The moment he rushed in, he placed his hands directly on Xuan Hao's dining table, his peach blossom eyes fixed on Xuan Hao, who was holding a teacup and looking completely bewildered, with tears welling up in his eyes.
"My little darling!"
"Do you even know how I've been these past two weeks?!"
Xuan Hao looked bewildered. "I barely stepped into Tian Dou City, and before I even had a chance to sit down, you followed me in?
Is it really necessary to be so efficient?"
"efficiency?!"
Upon hearing this, Yue Guan nearly coughed up blood. He disregarded his image, grabbed a nearby chair, and sat down, gritting his teeth as he said:
"My little darling! Do you know how many spies I've planted in Heaven Dou City to capture you?"
"I've deployed all the deacons and spies of the Spirit Temple!
Any child around eight or nine years old with a spirit power fluctuation of level 30 or above, silver hair, and blue or red eyes, must be reported immediately upon their appearance!"
Yue Guan took a deep breath and pointed at Xuan Hao, "Looking across the entire Douluo Continent, besides you, a monster, can you find another person who can reach the level 35 Soul Master cultivation at the age of eight or nine?
You just entered the hotel and the news reached my ears the moment you stepped inside!"
"Alright, enough nonsense! Come with me now!
Before His Holiness the Pope completely explodes, if we go back now and beg for forgiveness, we might still be able to leave with a whole corpse!"
As she spoke, Yue Guan reached out to grab Xuan Hao's arm.
"stop!"
Xuan Hao leaned back, dodging Yue Guan's hand, and his expression instantly turned serious.
"Elder Ju, are you taking me back now to kill me, or to kill yourself?"
Yue Guan froze. "What do you mean?"
"Think about it, Teacher is furious right now, and that's the loss of two 100,000-year-old soul beasts!" Xuan Hao analyzed seriously.
"If I go back now, I'll be walking right into their trap.
Teacher's anger might get the better of him, and he might cripple me or even kill me outright..."
"Once she calms down and comes to her senses, looking at her crippled prized disciple, who do you think she'll blame?"
Xuan Hao pointed at Yue Guan, "She'll definitely blame you: 'Yue Guan! Why did you bring him back
Couldn't you have let him hide out there for a couple more days?!'"
Yue Guan's eyes twitched violently.
Believe it or not, given Bibi Dong's protective and unreasonable nature, this could actually happen!
"and..."
Xuan Hao lowered his voice, his eyes darkening, "You caught me in Heaven Dou City.
If you had taken me back, my teacher would definitely have asked, 'What was that rebellious disciple doing in Heaven Dou City?
Was he going to find Qian Renxue?'"
"Then, the blame will be pinned on both of us.
The teacher will think I betrayed her, and she'll also think you leaked the secret and instigated me to come to Qian Renxue..."
"When the time comes, shall we hold hands and go to the guillotine together?"
"hiss--"
Yue Guan gasped, feeling a chill run down the back of her neck.
This logic... is absolutely flawless!
If Bibi Dong were to believe that this kid came to Tian Dou City to seek refuge with Qian Renxue, then Yue Guan would definitely be skinned alive, have his tendons pulled out, and be burned alive!
"Then... then what do you suggest we do?"
Yue Guan panicked completely, slumped into a chair, and lost all his previous arrogance.
"His Majesty has given a death order: I must see you alive or dead.
If I don't bring you back, I'll be dead too!"
"Simple," Xuan Hao said. "Did you come alone, or with Elder Gui?"
"Old Ghost is right outside, watching from the shadows," Yue Guan said.
"That makes things easier."
Xuan Hao snapped his fingers. "You have Elder Gui stay behind and keep an eye on me.
With Elder Gui's elusive abilities, do you think I can escape right under his nose?"
"This way, I can ensure that I'm under control and prevent myself from disappearing again."
"And then?" Yue Guan pressed.
"Then you go back and report back yourself."
Xuan Hao cleared his throat and began the live demonstration:
"After you go back, report to your teacher that you have found me. But—"
"You might say: 'That kid is terrified, knowing he's committed a grave offense, and doesn't dare come back.
He says that if he can't find a way to atone for his sins and make amends for his teacher's losses, he won't have the face to return to the Spirit Hall, let alone face his teacher.'"
"To atone for one's sins with meritorious deeds?" Yue Guan was taken aback.
"This excuse... can Your Majesty believe it?"
"Whether you believe it or not is not important; what matters is your attitude," Xuan Hao continued.
"When the teacher hears this, he will definitely sneer and say that I am making excuses to delay.
At that time, you can start playing the victim."
"Playing the victim?"
"Yes! You said…" Xuan Hao cleared his throat, putting on a pitiful expression,
"'That child had been wandering outside for over a month, living in constant fear, never having enough to eat or wear, and had lost a lot of weight; it was heartbreaking to see him like that.
When he heard I was going to take him back, he trembled with fear, crying and shouting that his teacher would definitely kill him…'"
Yue Guan looked at Xuan Hao, who was sitting in front of her with a rosy complexion, dressed in fine clothes and eating a sumptuous meal, and with a pretty young girl sitting next to him, and his lips twitched: ".
You call this not having enough to eat or wear?"
"Oh, it's just artistic embellishment!" Xuan Hao waved his hand.
"The key is that you have to make the teacher think I'm pitiful and afraid of her.
As long as she knows I'm afraid, her anger will subside by half."
"Here comes the most crucial point!"
Xuan Hao tapped the table, his tone becoming extremely solemn:
"You must casually mention:
'Although Xuan Hao stayed in Tian Dou City for half a month, he stayed in ordinary hotels the whole time and didn't go near the Crown Prince's residence at all, nor did he even inquire about the Crown Prince.
He came to Tian Dou City purely because there were many people here, and he felt safe hiding among the crowd.'"
Yue Guan's eyes lit up.
Brilliant!
This is the real trump card!
Once it's confirmed that Xuan Hao has no intention of contacting Qian Renxue, Bibi Dong's biggest concern will be dispelled, leaving only her anger at his perceived lack of progress.
As for killing Xuan Hao?
If Bibi Dong were truly willing to take action, she would have done so back in the Star Dou Great Forest!
"As long as we throw out this excuse, the teacher's anger will definitely subside," Xuan Hao said.
"Then, she will definitely allow me to hide outside for a while.
If I can actually get some good stuff back, that would be the best.
Even if I can't, I can just go back looking pathetic and get beaten up again. Then this matter will be over, right?"
After listening to this, Yue Guan looked at the child who was only eight or nine years old and couldn't help but feel deeply impressed.
No wonder Bibi Dong hasn't really lost her temper with this brat who's been climbing on roofs and tearing tiles every now and then in Wuhun City these past two years; in fact, she's become more and more tolerant of him.
This cunning and skillful maneuvering has completely grasped Bibi Dong's thoughts!
"Fine! We'll do it your way!"
Yue Guan gritted her teeth and stood up.
"I'll go tell Lao Gui right now to keep a close eye on you! If you dare to run away, Lao Gui really will take action!"
"Don't worry, I won't run away." Xuan Hao picked up his teacup.
"Elder Zhu Ju, have a safe journey. Remember to describe my miserable state vividly."
"Your facial expressions must be on point, your tone must be pitiful, don't mess it up!"
Yue Guan rolled her eyes at him, then glanced at Na'er who was obediently eating beside her, sighed, and vanished from the private room in a flash.
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