Chapter 71: A Man of Great Talent!

In the Adjacent Carriage

Prince Xue Xing and "Xue Qinghe" arrived one after another, both coming to visit Dragon Lord Meng Shu.

As a prominent figure in the world of Soul Masters, Dragon Lord Meng Shu held a status equivalent to that of a grand noble. Even Prince Xue Xing had to lower his posture and engage in friendly conversation with him.

"Xue Qinghe" smiled warmly, casting a deep glance at Prince Xue Xing, and said, "When I woke up and didn't see you, Uncle, I thought you might have come to visit Lord Meng Shu. It turns out I was right…"

"Xue Qinghe" maintained a polite smile, but inwardly, he was cursing Prince Xue Xing.

This cunning old fox!

Last night, he spoke so disdainfully of Meng Shu, making it clear that he didn't think much of him and even agreed that they wouldn't interact.

They were supposed to depart at dawn without bothering to engage.

Yet now, at the break of dawn, this shameless old man had already rushed over!

Prince Xue Xing laughed heartily and said, "Of course! Didn't I mention it to you before? Lord Meng Shu is a heroic figure, deeply devoted to his wife, and I admire him greatly. Moreover, our previous interaction was too brief, and I might have come across as impolite…"

"Naturally, I had to come and pay my respects, to clear up any misunderstandings!"

Prince Xue Xing showed no sign of embarrassment whatsoever.

In politics, deception was commonplace, and the dirtier the game, the better.

So what if "Xue Qinghe" noticed? Was he going to bite his uncle for it?

"Xue Qinghe" maintained his gentle smile, swallowing his grievances.

"I thought the same, though I didn't expect Uncle to arrive so early…"

The uncle and nephew duo continued their courteous pretense.

Then, they both engaged in conversation with Dragon Lord Meng Shu, exchanging pleasantries and laughter.

Prince Xue Xing was skilled at steering the conversation, bringing up interesting anecdotes from the world of Soul Masters, as well as tales of Meng Shu and his wife's legendary feats.

Meanwhile, "Xue Qinghe" occasionally asked Meng Shu for his views on matters concerning Soul Masters.

Essentially, they were giving Meng Shu the opportunity to express his opinions, making him feel at ease and valued.

"Xue Qinghe" then smiled and suggested, "Why don't we travel together? It would be good to have each other's company and support."

"Indeed, Lord Meng Shu, after speaking with you today, I feel as if we should have met much earlier. If we were to part ways now, I would truly regret it…" Prince Xue Xing added sentimentally.

However, Meng Shu simply shook his head and replied, "I appreciate the offer, but I am currently traveling with a friend. I cannot make this decision on my own…"

As he spoke, he glanced toward Dan Heng's carriage.

Compared to dealing with the politics of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, Meng Shu actually preferred spending time with Dan Heng—at least there was no scheming involved.

Prince Xue Xing and "Xue Qinghe" exchanged a brief look, momentarily caught off guard.

They turned their attention to the other carriage.

Unlike Meng Shu's luxurious ride, Dan Heng's carriage was spacious but plainly built. It was immediately clear that he was neither a noble nor particularly wealthy.

Such a person… could be a friend of Dragon Lord Meng Shu?

Before now, they had assumed he was merely one of Meng Shu's servants.

"This… may I ask, what kind of esteemed figure is this friend of yours, Lord Meng Shu?" Prince Xue Xing inquired with curiosity.

"Xue Qinghe" was also intrigued and looked forward to hearing the answer.

Meng Shu shook his head and said, "No, he… is neither a Soul Master nor a noble. But he is a true friend, with impeccable character. Though still young, I dare say…"

Meng Shu continued to praise Dan Heng, speaking of him so highly that it was as if he were describing a deity.

Upon learning that Dan Heng was merely an ordinary man, Prince Xue Xing lost interest almost immediately.

He couldn't help but secretly scoff at Meng Shu.

Only a boorish Soul Master would put such a person on a pedestal!

"Xue Qinghe," however, listened patiently. In this regard, she was far more composed than Prince Xue Xing. She smiled and asked, "Oh? Lord Meng Shu, are you saying that this Dan Heng is a great scholar?"

"Of course! His knowledge is vast and profound… There is no one who understands theory better than him!"

Meng Shu, noticing their dismissive attitudes, purposefully elevated Dan Heng's status further.

Just as "Xue Qinghe" was about to offer some polite flattery, a soft and pleasant female voice rang out from behind them.

"My husband would surely feel embarrassed to hear such high praise from you, Lord Meng Shu…"

The moment this voice reached their ears, even without seeing the person, Prince Xue Xing and the others instinctively assumed she must be a stunning beauty.

Turning around, they saw a woman in a white dress approaching gracefully. Her posture was elegant, and though her attire was modest and conservative, with a veil covering her face, just her captivating eyes alone were enough to leave them entranced.

"Dan Heng is truly deserving of my praise. This is his wife," Meng Shu introduced.

Gu Yuena nodded slightly and looked at "Xue Qinghe."

With just a single glance, she easily saw through the disguise.

This was not a man but a young woman.

Of course, this was not the most pressing matter.

What mattered now was that since the members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family had come to them, it was the perfect opportunity to elevate her husband's reputation!

She would make them revere Dan Heng and pull him into the political arena!

"Madam, would you mind removing your veil?" Prince Xue Xing asked with a grin.

"Your Highness, please conduct yourself properly," Meng Shu suddenly scoffed, his gaze filled with warning.

The lighthearted conversation from moments ago now seemed entirely superficial.

With just a casual remark, Meng Shu's entire attitude shifted. He no longer cared to show any courtesy toward Prince Xue Xing.

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Prince Xue Xing's face, and he gave an awkward chuckle.

"Xue Qinghe" smiled and said, "Lord Meng Shu mentioned that Dan Heng is a great scholar. Coincidentally, we were just discussing the current state of the Douluo Continent. At present, Heaven Dou and Star Luo are in balance…"

"But the two empires have chosen different strategies. We are allied with the Soul Master forces, while the Star Luo Empire relies on military expansion. The question is—which approach is truly correct?"

"We believe that Heaven Dou, with its alliances among Soul Masters, has the advantage. Lord Meng Shu prefers not to comment. However, when we traveled through Star Luo, the nobles there firmly believed that their militarization would lead them to ultimate victory."

"If Dan Heng is as knowledgeable as Lord Meng Shu claims, I wonder what insights he might have on this matter?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuena's lips curved into a subtle smile.

She had just been thinking of ways to create an opportunity—how convenient that one had just been handed to her!

In that instant, even Meng Shu and his family didn't seem so bothersome anymore.

Gu Yuena gently replied, "Please wait a moment. I shall go and ask my husband. If it is my husband, he will surely see the truth clearly…"

Leaving behind this remark, Gu Yuena turned and gracefully returned to the carriage.

"Xue Qinghe" watched her retreating figure without overthinking the situation. She had merely raised the topic to prevent the conversation from becoming awkward.

Prince Xue Xing, however, had taken offense at being snubbed by Meng Shu and now had little patience for this gathering.

"It's getting late. Qinghe, shouldn't we be on our way?" Prince Xue Xing said flatly.

"Xue Qinghe" shook his head. "Did we not just say we would hear Dan Heng's opinion? If we could travel together, that would be even better."

"You—!" Prince Xue Xing furrowed his brows.

He knew that "Xue Qinghe" was deliberately going against him.

Despite knowing that his relationship with Meng Shu had soured, "Xue Qinghe" was still trying to bring them together!

(End of Chapter)