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After seeing Xue Qinghe off, Gu Yuena suddenly jumped out and perched on Tang San's shoulders. "Why did you talk so long with that girl pretending to be a boy?"
"Shh—" Tang San motioned for Gu Yuena to lower her voice, as Xue Qinghe hadn't gone far. "She is the Crown Prince; we must show the proper respect."
"Really?" Gu Yuena was unimpressed. "I don't think you're the type to willingly bow down to anyone."
"That's right. Any subservience now will require a corresponding price in the future," Tang San's eyes glinted with determination.
"What kind of price? Will you make her submit to you?" Gu Yuena blinked her big eyes, curious.
Tang San was taken aback, left speechless. "I'm starting to question what you learned at that auction house..."
"Of course, I learned a sense of humor!"
Gu Yuena laughed, fiddling with Tang San's peculiar "hair tie." The Nine-Segment Jade, even after growing a tenth scale with sun and moon patterns, didn't dare resist Gu Yuena's "provocation." It quietly wrapped around Tang San's hair, fearing being plucked off by the little demoness and eaten like a snack.
"Enough chatter, and don't scare the Ten-Segment Jade," Tang San said, pulling Gu Yuena off his shoulders and walking into the manor. "Except in bed, neither Xiao Wu nor Guang Ling has ever ridden on my shoulders. If they see this, they'll be jealous."
"Hey! Talking about such things to a kid, are you a pervert?" Gu Yuena's amethyst-clear eyes stared at him, proclaiming she was still a child.
"Really? You seem too smart to be just six years old," Tang San observed her with interest, his gaze penetrating as if composed of countless starlights, capable of seeing through everything.
Despite feeling seen through, Gu Yuena maintained her composure, hands on hips, proudly proclaiming, "Of course, I'm a genius child!"
"I should've known better than to introduce you to new concepts and terms," Tang San sighed, regretting that Gu Yuena seemed to have picked up all the wrong things, becoming quite the chatterbox.
Oh, the regret...
The next day, after visiting Marshal Masi, Tang San set off for Spirit City. His companions included Xiao Wu, Guang Ling, Lan Yinzi, Ning Rongrong, Huo Wu, and Gu Yuena.
Ning Rongrong wanted to avoid being called back by Ning Fengzhi for sect affairs. Huo Wu hoped to spar more with the Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall.
Both had legitimate reasons to accompany Tang San to the Spirit Hall... at least officially. Xiao Wu and Guang Ling, however, suspected they were just drawn to Tang San himself.
Gu Yuena insisted on coming along, claiming that being around Tang San was fun, educational, and a way to grow stronger—though the primary reason was the fun.
Xiao Wu found this familiar, remembering how she was once similarly attracted... or rather, enticed by Tang San. She wondered if the little silver dragon might also fall for Tang San.
Hmm, that wouldn't be so bad. The mighty Lord of Soul Beasts would have to call her "sister" in the future. The thought was amusing... but also infuriating.
How dare she compete with her for Tang San?
Just wait and see how she'd teach this little dragon a lesson!
Upon arriving at Spirit City, the guards at the city gate immediately knelt on one knee, addressing Tang San as "Holy Son." Hu Liena, as the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, personally came out to greet him with Xie Yue and Yan. Clearly, they had anticipated his arrival today.
However, even Hu Liena couldn't help but gasp when she saw Tang San arriving with Xiao Wu, Guang Ling, Ning Rongrong, Huo Wu, Lan Yinzi, and a six-year-old silver-haired girl with purple eyes.
"Is this guy here for official business in Spirit City? Or is he here to enjoy with his 'harem squad'?" Hu Liena quipped sarcastically.
"You seem quite relaxed, Your Highness. It took you so long to arrive at Spirit City. The Gentle Town tends to sap one's will if lingered in for too long," Hu Liena remarked with a touch of irony.
"I'm not idle. Along the way, I documented the spirit situations of many villages. The 'Evolution of Martial Souls' wasn't just a product of my imagination. As for the Gentle Town, one must balance practice with leisure. Being constantly tense doesn't do much to improve soul power. Who knows, one day, that string might snap and never be mended," Tang San replied casually, his words seemingly cryptic.
Hu Liena understood the implication and knew that Tang San wasn't truly indulging in the Gentle Town. Nodding slightly, she led them into the city. "His Holiness has arranged an independent estate for you, which, though not as grand as Xue Ye bestowed upon you, is situated at the foot of Martial Soul Mountain, near a tranquil lake. Allow me to take you there."
"Thank you, Lady Liena," Tang San nodded.
"No need to be so formal. Just call me Nana or Nana'er; that's how those familiar with me address me," Hu Liena smiled charmingly. Despite Tang San's admirers, she felt a genuine fondness for him, not only for his unique life force and formidable strength but also for his courage and wisdom to publish his research findings.
All of it fascinated her.
"Nana'er won't do!" Gu Yuena suddenly interjected, emitting a hint of danger from her narrowed eyes. "Nana'er is mine exclusively."
"Who's this little one?" Hu Liena asked, puzzled.
"Gu Yuena," Tang San introduced her briefly, while secretly comparing her to Hu Liena. Suddenly, a strange thought struck him: in the Douluo Continent series, Gu Yuena might have been named by removing the 'Lie' from Hu Liena and splitting 'Hu' into 'Gu' and 'Yue.'
"That's right, it's me!" Gu Yuena took a small step forward, hands on hips and head held high, her proud demeanor reminiscent of the super sleuth from 'Winnie the Pooh.'
Hu Liena: "..."
Forgive her, she couldn't fathom why a little girl would strike such a pose.
But soon she shrugged it off; after all, children's minds were always whimsical, making anything they did unsurprising and utterly illogical.
"Hello, little Nana'er," Hu Liena greeted, crouching down.
"You should address me as Lady Gu Yuena. Only people I know well can call me Nana'er," Gu Yuena said solemnly.
"Alright, Lady Gu Yuena," Hu Liena found the girl amusing and wanted to pat her head, but Gu Yuena dodged.
However, Gu Yuena wasn't upset. She stood up and continued to lead Tang San and the others.
In no time, they arrived at the foot of Martial Soul Mountain.
What greeted them was a large estate, with red-brick black-tiled walls and high gates. Divided into three areas, the outer area housed the servants, the middle area served guests, and provided a simulated environment for training. The innermost area was for the owner's residence.
Overall, the architectural style resembled a palace but on a smaller scale, with an Eastern flavor that felt strangely familiar to Tang San.
"The estate bestowed upon you by the Xue Ye reflects the architectural style of the Star Luo Empire. Therefore, His Holiness ordered the construction of this estate with a similar architectural style, named: Soul Martial," Hu Liena explained the estate, her tone carrying a hint of irony. "It's slightly larger than my own estate, Saintess's Manor."
"Isn't that just 'Martial Soul' spelled backward?" Gu Yuena remarked with an odd angle. "But it does sound inexplicably grand."
Ignoring this, Tang San observed the servants coming and going in the outer area of the estate, bowing to them. "I can sense soul power fluctuations from them, not high, but they're all soul masters. Are these all servants?"
"Yes," Hu Liena replied, seemingly accustomed to the situation, her expression unchanged. "They were originally nobles, but because someone in their family or sect offended the empires of Tian Dou, Star Luo, or powerful clans within the Martial Soul Temple, their families were destroyed, and the survivors were sold as slaves."
"And those with some strength were sent to Spirit City."
"After all, the residents of Spirit City are all soul masters, or at least possess soul power. Larger families, to showcase their status, naturally require their servants to be soul masters."
Tang San had no intention of granting these servants freedom outright, as he had done in the Silver Blue Manor in Tian Dou City. Instead, he planned to treat them as hired help since they were all soul masters!
Moreover, just arriving in Spirit City, even as the Crown Prince, he couldn't afford to do anything too outrageous immediately. It was best to first understand the rules, both overt and covert, of this place.
After Hu Liena led Tang San and the others around the entire Soul Martial estate, Tang San arranged separate rooms for Xiao Wu, Guang Ling, Lan Yin, Ning Rongrong, Huo Wu, and Gu Yuena.
Hu Liena sighed softly. "Actually, for Xiao Wu and the others, His Holiness has also arranged for corresponding estates to be built, but on a slightly smaller scale than here."
Xiao Wu raised her eyebrows. "Smaller? Then I'll only accept Tang San's 'big.'"
Guang Ling said, "I'll stay here, closer to Master. It'll be more convenient for mutual discussion and research."
Lan Yin added, "My martial soul is the same as Tang San's, so we can exchange more in terms of cultivation."
Huo Wu chimed in, "I want to spar with Xiao Wu, and I also want to consult Tang San for advice on creating soul skills."
Ning Rongrong nodded, "My situation is similar to Huo Wu's. I want to inquire about creating soul skills. Living nearby will also be more convenient."
Gu Yuena raised her hand and declared loudly, "Me too!"
Alright, everyone had their reasons.
Hu Liena seriously doubted the gossip from Tian Dou City about Tang San: having an affair with all the female members of the Tian Dou Team was highly likely! Except for Gu Yuena, as she was too young to be involved.
It was Xiao Wu who made Hu Liena uneasy for some reason. She always felt that Xiao Wu's words carried hidden meanings, and not of the innocent kind.
Quitting time was three o'clock in the afternoon. Thankfully, overtime wasn't too long.
(End of chapter)