Chapter 24: The Real Deal

Chapter 24: The Real Deal

"How many Soul Masters from the Spirit Hall are willing to have their bones tempered by me?" Qian Renxue asked as she took out a roster with names listed on it, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"So far, there aren't many elders from the Spirit Hall who are truly willing to send their juniors over. Only eleven," she continued, explaining that many of these were likely doing so to give her grandfather face, and the actual number of interested individuals was probably lower.

Wang Si took the roster from her, glanced through it casually, and nodded slightly. He didn't find the names he had hoped to see, but he didn't seem to mind.

"Let's start with five people for the first group, and make sure they're all male. You decide on the time and place, and I'll go directly to temper their bones," he said. "As for how many will come after that, we'll see. I don't expect many."

He handed the roster back to Qian Renxue, adding, "Let's forget about the fees."

Hearing that the fees would be waived, Qian Renxue understood that the Spirit Hall's actions had left a bad impression on Wang Si. She couldn't argue with that, given the current state of affairs within the Spirit Hall, which was no longer solely under the Qian family's control.

"Don't look so resentful towards the Spirit Hall," Wang Si said casually. "I haven't forgotten that I'm their spy, after all."

Qian Renxue glanced at him. From his nonchalant expression, she could tell that he didn't truly feel that way, but what could she do about it?

Wang Si's bone-tempering method was indeed unique, but it wasn't an absolute necessity. Only when one's potential had been pushed to the limit and they still sought improvement would they consider alternative methods.

Most Soul Masters would simply follow the standard path of cultivation, and their future achievements would likely be significant, especially with a six-year-old helping them temper their bones. It was understandable that few would be willing to take the risk.

However, Qian Renxue found it difficult to accept this outcome. Why weren't people accepting this obviously beneficial offer?

Sensing her low spirits, Wang Si grew curious and asked what was troubling her. When he heard her worries, he couldn't help but smirk.

"Why are you so worried about this? Your grandfather is satisfied with the technique, and if it's good, we don't need to worry about a lack of customers."

Seeing Wang Si's confident expression, Qian Renxue frowned. "But didn't you give the Hundred Refinements of Bone to other powers? It only takes a year to learn and master it, and then they can help others temper their meridians. If no one comes within that year, they might not need your help at all."

Indeed, the Hundred Refinements of Bone could be learned and taught to others within a short period. There was little reason to take the risk unless one urgently needed to boost their strength.

But Wang Si had a different perspective. "In what situation do you think I would give the Hundred Refinements of Bone to other powers?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with interest.

Hearing this, Qian Renxue, who had unconsciously snuggled into Wang Si's embrace, raised an eyebrow. "The Hundred Refinements of Bone is a valuable technique. If other powers knew about it, they would definitely try to steal it from you, take it by force, or even capture and torture you to get it. Giving it to them directly would avoid all that risk."

That had been Qian Renxue's first thought when she'd heard the news. After all, Wang Si had a strong survival instinct, and his first priority, when faced with such a treasure, should be self-preservation.

Wang Si chuckled at her analysis. "If I were alone and suddenly exposed as possessing a treasure, I would definitely prioritize self-preservation. But have you forgotten my current public identity?"

His public identity? Qian Renxue was about to argue that he had no such identity, but then she paused, her eyes widening as she realized something.

Indeed, Wang Si's public identity was quite intimidating: he was a close friend of the future leader of the Heaven Dou Empire, and he was also a disciple of the Bone Fighting Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

With such an identity, few would dare to provoke him.

But she suddenly froze.

"Are there issues with the cultivation methods that were sent out?"

While Qian Renxue could catch on, the same might not be true for others.

"Don't slander me. I have no idea what you're talking about regarding sent-out cultivation methods. I've been at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect this entire month, and I'm unaware of any outside matters." Wang Si denied any knowledge of the situation.

It was now clear that the cultivation methods that had been sent out were flawed.

Was he playing a dangerous game, scheming against other Douluos or even Title Douluos?

"Aren't you afraid that those who encounter problems will come looking for trouble?" Qian Renxue asked, concerned.

Wang Si ruffled Qian Renxue's hair affectionately and smiled gently. "Rest assured, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect knows how to conduct business with discretion. Besides..."

Wang Si leaned in close to Qian Renxue's ear and whispered, his warm breath tickling her ear.

"What malicious intentions could a child like me possibly have? All the plotting and scheming should be the concerns of adults, not me."

Qian Renxue felt her ears turn soft from his breath, but she still couldn't shake off her gloom.

"Is there really a need to go to such lengths? You certainly don't lack resources at the moment."

It was true that Wang Si didn't lack resources currently, but this "business" had been proposed by Ning Fengzhi, and he had no choice but to agree.

However, Ning Fengzhi had invested heavily in promoting Wang Si, and he was likely aiming for more than just financial gain.

But Wang Si didn't mind, as no one would associate such intricate schemes with a six-year-old child.

"Two years. In about two years, the powers that have started studying the Hundred Refinements of Bone will discover the issues.

By then, there will likely be some chaos in Sky Dou City, and that's when you can frame Xue Qinghe without worrying about being found out."

Hearing Wang Si's plan to take advantage of the chaos and frame Xue Qinghe, Qian Renxue couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

"What are you laughing about?" Wang Si asked, curious.

"Nothing, just thinking about something amusing," Qian Renxue replied, swinging her legs casually.

But inwardly, she was delighted: the fact that they were so in sync when it came to getting rid of Xue Qinghe meant that they might also be on the same page regarding other matters.

...

Today, a new student arrived at Yue Xuan—a young girl named Xue Ya, who accompanied Wang Si.

Her surname was that of the noble families of Sky Dou, but her given name was unfamiliar to the members of Yue Xuan.

Eventually, after much gossip and speculation, the students of Yue Xuan discovered Xue Ya's true identity: she had been a maid who handled various important tasks for the first prince, Xue Qinghe.

As for why a maid of the first prince was now by Wang Si's side, and the two of them seemed so close...

No one bothered to ask about what could have transpired for Xue Qinghe to send his maid to Wang Si.

After all, Wang Si's reputation in Sky Dou City was already considerable, and Yue Xuan had even prepared a separate room for him to avoid any disturbances.

To be honest, most of the young nobles at Yue Xuan didn't pay much attention to Wang Si.

He was, after all, the one with the worst academic performance, the least refined manners, and the poorest skill with musical instruments.

If not for the fact that he had been personally sent by the first prince, Yue Xuan might have expelled him already.

But today was different.

After Wang Si and the girl entered the room, a soothing and ethereal melody from a wind instrument soon drifted out.

In that instant when they heard the music, the young nobles of Yue Xuan fell silent.

It was a new tune they had never heard before, and they wondered if it was the girl's composition.

It must be, they thought, since only the two of them were in the room, and Wang Si was notoriously bad at his studies.

However, remembering that she had been a maid of Xue Qinghe, the young nobles of Yue Xuan understood.

On the second floor of Yue Xuan, a woman dressed in silver-white palace attire stepped out of a room upon hearing the music.

Leaning against the railing, she looked towards the room with a mixture of appreciation and emotion in her eyes...

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end