With the arrangements for Tianlin finalized, Xue Qinghe bid farewell to Ning Fengzhi and agreed to return early the next day to pick up Tianlin. After she left, Tianlin finally spoke.
"Uncle Ning, are you sending me to Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
"Yes. Cultivation isn't something you can achieve behind closed doors. You've only ever trained with Rongrong, and you haven't had much contact with others. That's not a good thing. I hope you'll get to meet more people," Ning Fengzhi replied, his intentions genuinely out of concern for Tianlin. However, his good intentions might inadvertently lead to unintended consequences.
But then again, it wasn't entirely his fault—after all, he didn't know the truth about Xue Qinghe.
"Uncle Ning, I don't think this Xue Qinghe is a good person," Tianlin voiced his last attempt at resistance.
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's eyes lit up. "Oh? Why do you think so?"
"Because he became the crown prince. As far as I know, the second prince of the Heaven Dou Empire was very capable and had the support of many ministers, while the third prince was exceptionally talented in cultivation and favored by the military. Yet, both of them suddenly died under suspicious circumstances. I suspect Xue Qinghe had something to do with it."
"Just because he became the crown prince? Tianlin, don't make unfounded accusations without evidence," Sword Douluo chastised him, not wanting Tianlin to invite unnecessary trouble by speaking out of turn.
But Ning Fengzhi interrupted, "It's fine, Uncle Sword. Let Tianlin continue. I'd like to hear his thoughts."
"Alright, Uncle Ning, I'll continue. Although I don't have proof, I've always believed that in cases of murder, the most suspicious person isn't the one who discovered the crime or the one with the most apparent motive. It's the one who stands to gain the most from the murder. Since Xue Qinghe became the crown prince, I can't help but suspect him," Tianlin explained his reasoning.
"Well said! Very insightful!" Ning Fengzhi was overjoyed. He had thought Tianlin was merely a genius in martial cultivation, but now he realized Tianlin's wisdom was just as impressive. At only seven years old, he could see through the essence of things. With someone like him supporting his daughter in the future, Ning Fengzhi felt reassured.
"Xiao Tian, I can tell you that your suspicions are correct. Xue Qinghe is certainly connected to the deaths of the two princes. But so what? In the royal family, there is no such thing as familial affection. To ascend the throne, one must stop at nothing—that is the mark of a true hegemon."
"When Emperor Xue Ye ascended to the throne back then, it was also through a blood-soaked path. Not only you, but many ministers and even His Majesty himself likely suspect Xue Qinghe. However, as long as he remains outstanding, no one will bring it up." Ning Fengzhi subtly reminds Tianlin that those in high positions must display a wise and virtuous side while also knowing when to use underhanded means.
When your wisdom and virtue outshine your ruthless methods, the world will gradually overlook your cunning and come to accept you.
Tianlin sighed. With things explained this clearly, it seemed there was no escape for him. Since that was the case, he decided to make the best of the situation. After all, for now, Qian Renxue wouldn't make a move against him.
He might as well establish a good relationship with the surface persona of Xue Qinghe. Since he was in the dark while the enemy was in the open, perhaps his foreknowledge and insight could allow him to gain valuable information from Xue Qinghe.
...
The next morning, at the gates of Seven Treasure City, Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong, and two Douluos came to see Tianlin off. This was quite a grand send-off.
"Brother Sword, you must visit often! If you dare to forget about Rongrong, I'll bite you!" Ning Rongrong clung to Tianlin, crying like a pear blossom in the rain.
Little girls were always emotional. This wasn't a life-or-death parting. Seven Treasure City wasn't far from Heaven Dou Royal Academy—it was only half a day's journey. Tianlin could come back anytime.
"Xiao Tian, train well when you get to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Next time you return, I'll test your progress. If your Seven Kill Sword techniques or your soul power cultivation show no improvement, don't blame me for making you experience the Seven Kill Domain!" Chenxin threatened sternly.
Tianlin knew his master wasn't joking. He was entirely capable of following through. Though usually kind and gentle, he was stricter than anyone when it came to cultivation.
"Don't worry, Master. I won't slack off," Tianlin promised quickly. Then he looked at the four of them. "Master, Uncle Ning, Grandpa Bone, I'm leaving now."
With that, he boarded the carriage with Xue Qinghe, leaving Seven Treasure City, where he had lived for a year.
...
Inside the carriage, Tianlin felt a bit nervous. Xue Qinghe smiled and asked, "What's wrong, Junior Brother Tianlin? You seem unhappy. Is it because you're leaving home?"
It's because of you, not leaving home! Tianlin thought to himself, but outwardly, he nodded slightly.
Xue Qinghe could understand. When she was still Qian Renxue, she had left home at a young age to come to Heaven Dou City, a strange and unfamiliar place, and play the role of someone she wasn't.
"Don't worry, Xiao Tian. Big Brother will take good care of you from now on. There's no need to be anxious!" Unconsciously, Xue Qinghe's way of addressing Tianlin had changed—from "Junior Brother" to "Little Brother."
In Xue Qinghe's heart, someone who could fuse martial souls with her was bound to be hers eventually. Since he was younger, wasn't he naturally her little brother? She had long harbored the desire to enjoy the feeling of being an elder sibling.
What? You mention Xue Beng and Xue Ke? Forget it. To Qian Renxue, those two were destined to be eliminated, so there was no need to care for them.
"Thank you, Big Brother Xue!" Tianlin responded with a sincere expression of gratitude.
In the carriage, the two—one a cunning woman, the other a smiling fox—seemed like a perfect match in some ways.
"By the way, Xiao Tian, you probably noticed yesterday, didn't you? Our martial souls seem to have a connection. I heard your martial soul is a sword, right? Can I take a look?" Qian Renxue asked, finally touching on the matter she was most concerned about.
"Of course." Tianlin didn't hesitate and immediately summoned his Demon Sword.
Instantly, that mysterious sensation reappeared. Qian Renxue's eyes lit up with joy. Yes, this was the beautiful sword she had sensed. She hadn't expected it to be a divine-level martial soul.
"Big Brother Xue, my sword is a top-tier martial soul. Since it can connect with yours, does that mean you also have a top-tier martial soul?" Tianlin asked with feigned curiosity.
Top-tier martial soul?
Qian Renxue was momentarily puzzled but quickly realized that Tianlin's sword was an incomplete divine-level martial soul. It lacked certain elements that, once fulfilled, would reveal its true divine power.
"It seems Xiao Tian doesn't know he has a divine-level martial soul. That's good—it saves me the trouble of explaining why I have one," Qian Renxue thought, quickly crafting an explanation in her mind.
"Yes, Big Brother also has a top-tier martial soul. The Heaven Dou royal family's Swan Martial Soul experienced a positive mutation in me, gaining a trace of divine attributes, which elevated it to a top-tier martial soul."
"I see! Big Brother Xue, I've heard that people with compatible martial souls can train together to improve their efficiency. Can I visit the palace to train with you in the future?" Tianlin asked.
Qian Renxue was overjoyed at his words. She had been struggling to find a reason to get closer to Tianlin.
"Of course! Here, take this Crown Prince's Token. With it, you can freely enter and leave the palace."
Tianlin accepted the token with apparent delight. He was well aware of Qian Renxue's intentions, but who would end up influencing whom was still up in the air.