Zhu Zhuyun felt that her explanation wasn't clear enough and added, "It's not just the one person who had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor who returned, but out of the many powerful individuals the Empire deployed, only the one from the Xu family came back, the rest have all fallen in battle!"
"Is the information accurate?"
The Grand Duke Youming asked in a deep voice.
Zhu Zhuyun replied, "This message comes from the Imperial Guards, so there should be no mistakes. Also, the individual from the Xu family is not far from death now; after returning to the Duchy Residence, they started preparing for their own end."
"Hahaha, good, very good."
Finally, a smile appeared on the face of the Grand Duke Youming, "My decision was the right one, to not get involved. Otherwise, we would be preparing for my own funeral at the Duchy Residence now."
"Father, is Qin Xiao really that terrifying?"
Zhu Zhuyun couldn't help but ask, her eyes filled with an indescribable light.
"It's merely the fall of some Soul Douluo and Soul Sages, and there's another significant matter that's about to come to light."
"There's something even more significant?"
Zhu Zhuyun was stunned.
In her view, being able to kill so many strong individuals was already defying the heavens.
She had taken a very long time to accept the reality when she received this message.
And now the Grand Duke Youming was telling her this wasn't a big deal?
"Just wait and you'll see."
"I only have a half-understanding of this matter myself, so I won't go into details. But our people have established a connection with the disciples of the Seven Treasures Glaze Sect, and the truth will soon be revealed."
The words of the Grand Duke Youming were enigmatic.
However, he himself was clear about whether Qin Xiao had annihilated the Hao Tian Clan or not; the breakthrough would lie with the Seven Treasures Glaze Sect.
If this were true, it would be an event that shakes the Soul Master world.
No.
It would be an enormous event.
Suddenly, the Grand Duke Youming recalled another matter, "Starting from today, maintain some distance from Davis and remember not to get too close to him…"
"Understood."
Zhu Zhuyun nodded, offering no objections.
Yet, the Grand Duke Youming also noticed that the way Zhu Zhuyun was looking at him was somewhat abnormal.
"Do you have something on your mind?" he asked.
"Father, you aren't planning a rebellion, are you?"
Zhu Zhuyun's question was shocking.
...
Meanwhile.
Icefire Polarized Eyes.
"Qin Xiao, you're such a shrewd person, how could you have impulsive moments as well?"
"If it wasn't for saving me, you wouldn't have fallen into Yu Yuanzhen's deadly trap."
"I'm not worth it..."
Liu Erlong, in front of Qin Xiao's cenotaph, spoke with tears streaming down her face.
These past few days, she wept daily, immersed in endless self-reproach.
She had come to Qin Xiao's cenotaph more than once, repeating the same sentiment.
"So what you're saying is that I'm foolish?"
Suddenly, a voice came from behind Liu Erlong.
In contrast, upon hearing this voice, Liu Erlong's body stiffened, and then she quickly turned around.
"Qin Xiao, it's really Qin Xiao!"
She recognized the person behind her, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
"Yes, it's me."
Qin Xiao nodded gently, his lips also curved in a smile.
After confirming with Flander that Liu Erlong had left the Blue Tyrant Academy with Du Gu Bo, he went straight to the Icefire Polarized Eyes.
And the first person he encountered was Liu Erlong.
"Qin Xiao, have you come back to see us?"
"So it's true what Your Highness Du Gu Bo said, that seven days after a person dies, their spirit comes back to say their final goodbyes to those they know."
Liu Erlong said as she could no longer hold back the tears in her eyes, letting them fall.
Qin Xiao paused, what kind of nonsense was this?
I'm not dead yet, okay!
He was inwardly speechless.
At this moment, Liu Erlong continued, "How is it going for you over there? Do you have any needs? Meng Yiran and I burned ten beauties for you, did you receive them?"
Ten...
Really, they were worried I wouldn't be able to live a pleasurable life.
Qin Xiao shook his head, "Just sending beauties is not enough, you also need to send me some kidneys."
"Kidneys...."
Liu Erlong was shocked, her tears even stopped flowing.
She had not expected Qin Xiao to make such a request.
Yet, she nodded firmly, "No problem, I'll arrange it for you."
"No, that's still not enough, I also want you..."
Qin Xiao's lips carried a hint of a playful smile, and in the next moment, he was already beside Liu Erlong.
He stretched out his hand and directly embraced Liu Erlong's plump waist.
Thinner...
Qin Xiao could instantly feel that she had lost weight, different from before.
In contrast, Liu Erlong did not struggle at all; looking up at Qin Xiao, she said despondently, "Not now, wait until I've avenged you, then I'll join you..."
In her heart, Qin Xiao's death was because of her, and she carried immense guilt.
Death had already taken root in her heart.
But she couldn't die yet, not before her vengeance was fulfilled.
"Vengeance?"
Qin Xiao's eyebrows rose as he quickly understood, could this be about Yu Yuanzhen?
"There's no need for you to seek vengeance for me..." He shook his head slightly.
"Qin Xiao, you've already sacrificed your life to protect me. I should repay you, even if it means giving up my life, I wouldn't hesitate."
Liu Erlong's resolve was even firmer than Qin Xiao had imagined.
Good lord, willing to give up her life for me? Qin Xiao thought the joke had gone too far, or it could really cost someone their life.
"Er Long, truth be told, I'm not dead...."
"I'm not listening, I won't let you console me!" Liu Erlong covered her ears with her hands.
Qin Xiao: "..."
He was speechless, was proving that he was alive really so difficult?
"Feel my hand again, it has warmth."
"Hand? Warmth?"
Liu Erlong paused for a moment, truly feeling it again.
And indeed, it was just as Qin Xiao had said.
Even through the clothing, she could feel the warmth from Qin Xiao's palm.
Liu Erlong burst into tears, "You, you're really not dead?!"
"Do you really wish I was dead?" Qin Xiao asked with a smile.
Liu Erlong didn't speak, trying hard to hold back her tears.
"Although Yu Yuanzhen is strong, he's still no match for me." Qin Xiao said, and with his other hand, he gently rested it on Liu Erlong's shoulder, pulling her into his embrace.
"Wuuu...."
Liu Erlong stopped talking, buried her head in Qin Xiao's chest, and sobbed.
At that moment, all her strength crumbled.
For a time, the scene seemed to freeze.
After who knows how long, two startled cries broke the silence.
"What are you two doing?"
"President Liu, His Highness's body is not yet cold, how can you do right by His Highness like this?"
Meng Yiran and Zhu Zhuqing, while still at a distance, had already called out.
They were angry.
Even if you want a secret rendezvous, at least change the location.
The spirit of His Highness above must be watching!
But then.
When Liu Erlong and the man separated.
They were stunned.
Standing in place, unsure of what to do.
"Yiran, Zhu Qing, are you two alright?"
Qin Xiao said, smiling.
"It's really His Highness!"
"You're safe, it's truly wonderful."
Zhu Zhuqing and Meng Yiran, like swallows returning to their nest, rushed into Qin Xiao's embrace.
Similarly, both women were sobbing uncontrollably.
Everything was unsaid.
After a long while.
Qin Xiao gently patted their backs, "It's okay now, haven't I returned?"
"Eh, what's this, 'Tomb of Qin Xiao'?"
He intended to divert their attention, to pull everyone out of their sorrow.
"This, this, we thought that His Highness had already...."
"So we made a cenotaph for you, so that you had a place to belong."
Zhu Zhuqing twisted the corner of her clothes somewhat awkwardly.
She hadn't expected such a huge misunderstanding to occur.
"Right, now that His Highness has returned, this cenotaph is naturally superfluous." Meng Yiran spoke, ready to use her Soul Power to level the small mound.
"Wait." Qin Xiao interjected, stopping Meng Yiran.
Swish, swish, swish...
Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran, and Liu Erlong all looked at him in unison.
"I should be the one to do this." Qin Xiao clarified his intention.
"Do it yourself?"
The three women paused for a moment, nodding unwittingly.
There wasn't a problem with that.
But.
When Qin Xiao took action, they all panicked.
Because Qin Xiao wasn't leveling the mound, he was tossing it.
Liu Erlong couldn't help but exclaim, "Qin Xiao, what are you trying to do?"
Even Zhu Zhuqing and Meng Yiran became anxious.
After all, the cenotaph was prepared with great care by the three of them, and if it was exposed, wouldn't it mean they'd have to die of embarrassment all over again?