Gu Xuan didn't dawdle. He took a sip of tea and got straight to the point. "Big Brother, this matter is simple for someone like you. Now that I've enrolled, I want to borrow something from you."
Xue Qinghe rolled his eyes at Gu Xuan. "Borrow something? You are the young master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan; is there anything in this world you don't already have?"
Gu Xuan chuckled. "Of course there is."
Xue Qinghe didn't refuse. "Out with it then. What kind of mischief are you up to now?"
Hearing this tone, anyone not as close to him as Gu Xuan would find it hard to believe such words could come from his mouth. But Gu Xuan was used to bantering with him, so when they were alone, Xue Qinghe dropped the formal persona he maintained in public.
"It's no big deal. Don't you have a private garden estate in the east of the city? I want to take my teammates there to hang out sometime," Gu Xuan said softly.
Xue Qinghe's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this, but seeing Gu Xuan's expectant gaze, he eventually nodded helplessly.
"You brat. You know that place is my private residence, right? It doesn't matter if you go; no one will stop you with the token I gave you. But why are you thinking of bringing your classmates there?" Xue Qinghe couldn't help but ask.
Gu Xuan grinned. "Big Brother, that place of yours is arguably the most beautiful environment in all of Heaven Dou City. Training has been too grueling lately; I just want to take them there to relax a bit."
He then added, "Don't worry, it's just the Emperor Team. Including me, there are only eight of us. We won't break anything."
Xue Qinghe nodded. "At least you aren't completely foolish and know to ask for my permission. I agree, but try to go sparingly. I don't like too many people there."
Gu Xuan was actually quite surprised that Xue Qinghe agreed. He could vaguely guess that the estate was likely the place where Xue Qinghe shed his disguise and lived as Qian Renxue.
Gu Xuan had visited Qian Renxue's garden many times, but he had never seen an outsider there; even Ning Fengzhi only visited occasionally. For her to agree to let Gu Xuan bring others was unexpected.
But more than that, he was delighted. The environment there was truly top-tier—a perfect dating spot. Gu Xuan was already imagining a day when the team was exhausted; he would bring Dugu Yan there, and with the beautiful scenery combined with his own charming self, wouldn't her heart skip a beat?
Gu Xuan nodded happily and immediately moved to Xue Qinghe's side to massage his shoulders and legs, though he was stopped when he reached for the legs.
"I knew your sudden diligence meant you were up to no good. Are we done? If so, get lost. I still have government affairs to handle," Xue Qinghe said plainly, taking a sip of tea.
"How can we be done? I finally made a trip here; I have to stay for a meal with you," Gu Xuan said with a smile.
"It's still a long time until dinner. All you think about is playing and eating. If the teacher knew you were neglecting your duties like this, don't you think he'd be angry?" Xue Qinghe glanced at him.
Gu Xuan waved his hand dismissively. "Sigh, you have no idea what I went through today."
Xue Qinghe grew interested. "Oh? With your strength, what could possibly trouble you?"
Gu Xuan looked helpless. "You know Teacher Qin, right?"
Xue Qinghe nodded. "Naturally. The youngest Heaven Dou-level teacher at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, and a genius with the potential to challenge for the title of Titled Douluo in the future."
"See? Even you say so. This morning, he personally stepped into the arena to duel us. I've only been with the team for two days! A Soul Emperor beating us little Soul Elders is like handling baby chicks. My hair was almost scorched off," Gu Xuan grumbled, venting about the morning's encounter.
Xue Qinghe couldn't help but chuckle. "Hehe, it seems Teacher Qin places great importance on your practical combat training."
Gu Xuan curled his lip. "He values it, alright. If he didn't, he wouldn't have been so ruthless."
With his business finished, Gu Xuan stayed to chat with Xue Qinghe to further strengthen their bond. He stayed for dinner and only left afterward, as he had training the next day.
As Xue Qinghe watched Gu Xuan's departing back, the warm smile gradually faded. His eyes turned indifferent as he returned to his study to continue working.
His days were packed with affairs; only Gu Xuan could make him willing to delay his work to spend time together.
Neither Snake Lance nor Porcupinefish understood it, and sometimes even Gu Xuan couldn't guess the true thoughts of Xue Qinghe—or rather, Qian Renxue.
As for romance, Gu Xuan didn't think a mature twenty-year-old beauty like Qian Renxue would fall for a twelve-year-old kid. When they first met, he wasn't even nine. No matter how "love-brained" she was in the original story, she wouldn't fall for a literal child.
Though Gu Xuan was very mature for his age, he always acted like a younger brother in front of her—a real younger brother.
However, Gu Xuan didn't care what she thought of him, as long as she didn't reject him. That was enough to leave room for future manipulation and maneuvering.
Leaving the palace, Gu Xuan went to the most luxurious hotel in Heaven Dou City, ordered a large amount of rare delicacies to go, and then returned to the academy.
By the time he got back, it was already night, around nine o'clock. Gu Xuan went straight to the living room, took out the food from his soul tool, and called everyone for a midnight snack.
They were all gluttons at heart. After a delicious meal, they went to the mimicry cultivation grounds to train. They had been stimulated by Gu Xuan over the last two days; every one of them wanted to rapidly strengthen their physique and soul power so they could also attempt a limit-surpassing absorption for their fourth soul ring.
Gu Xuan had told them the true purpose of whale glue. Although they were somewhat skeptical, they had still asked their respective clans to purchase it for them at high prices. The clan elders had looked at them with strange expressions, but since Gu Xuan insisted on keeping the secret for now, the students couldn't explain further.
The next morning, everyone was up early, training with Gu Xuan. After breakfast, they had practical combat drills. Because the morning was dedicated to combat, they headed straight to the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena in the afternoon.
While the official curriculum scheduled theory in the morning and practicals in the afternoon, that was for the ordinary members—the second team. The first team had spent their first few months that way, but now they essentially planned their own schedules.
This was also Gu Xuan's first time visiting the Great Spirit Arena. Though he often came to the city, he had never stepped inside. While the arena was an excellent place for a soul master to train, Gu Xuan had the resources of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the support of his grandfather, the Bone Douluo. The education he received was top-tier.
Coupled with his own hard work and self-discipline, his achievements far exceeded those of the soul masters of the same rank.
Entering the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena, they were met with a sea of people. This was the largest arena in the entire Heaven Dou Empire, with a scale massive enough to hold eighty thousand people at once.
In the original story, the qualifiers for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament were held here, which spoke volumes about its terrifying size. The daily turnover and profits here were sums that ordinary people couldn't imagine in a lifetime.
(End of Chapter)
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