Chapter 105: Maintaining One's Original Heart

Xun Yu's method of analysis is to deduce backwards from the conclusion: first analyze the results that She Long and the others want, then deduce the essential factors required to achieve these results, and finally consider what the key to completing these essential factors is.

In other words, whoever is the key in this situation must be the one with the problem.

After hearing Xun Yu's analysis, Nan Feihuang could basically confirm that the traitor must be Xu Rong.

As for his motive, it is actually quite easy to infer; the martial soul of the Xu clan, the Glory Shield, is a special martial soul that can borrow the national fortune to cultivate.

In other words, the stronger the country, the stronger their clan becomes.

But the Gu Lei Kingdom is only a small country, and the Xu family has not produced a true powerhouse for many generations, with the highest only being a Spirit Saint.

They are not content, and therefore want to attach themselves to a stronger power.

But they did not choose the two great empires of Heaven Dou and Star Luo, but instead chose the Spirit Hall, which has the greatest strength, showing the magnitude of their ambition.

If one day the Spirit Hall establishes a nation and unifies the world, their family's Glory Shield could borrow the fortune of the unified great empire to cultivate; at that time, reaching a Title Douluo would definitely have a great chance.

"Sigh, the Xu family has been loyal to my Gu Lei Kingdom for generations, but it is a pity they still could not resist the temptation of power," Nan Feihuang sighed.

Xun Yu comforted him, "Being loyal for generations does not mean being loyal forever. My Lord, do you know that my former lord, Cao Mengde, was truly a virtuous minister at the beginning? Even during the campaign against Dong Zhuo, he was absolutely loyal to the Han Dynasty. It was only later, when the Eighteen Route Feudal Lords each had their own ambitions and the Han Dynasty fell apart, that he could see no hope, which caused his heart of loyalty to deteriorate. Xu Rong is in the same situation; the Gu Lei Kingdom is simply too weak, both in military strength and in the power of its Spirit Masters. He cannot see the hope of the kingdom's rise and can only seek another way out."

"Wenruo, I understand the principle that a traitor must be executed, but even knowing that Xu Rong has secretly joined the Spirit Hall, I still do not want to kill him, let alone exterminate his clan. After all, his family has served our country for hundreds of years," Nan Feihuang said with reluctance. "Actually, since he does not like my Gu Lei Kingdom, he could just follow the formal process to retire to his hometown. I would persuade my father the King to agree and set him free. Wenruo, do you think I am being womanish?"

"I do, but I will not look down on you, my Lord, because of it. On the contrary, I feel somewhat relieved. You once said that you are composed of three parts kindness, three parts evil, and four parts hypocrisy."

"Towards outsiders or those who can be utilized, you are mostly hypocritical; towards enemies, you are unashamedly evil; but towards your own people, you reveal a kind side. Master Xu Rong watched you grow up and has always taken great care of you. If it weren't for discovering he had ulterior motives, in your heart, he would always be one of your own, right?" Xun Yu smiled. "My Lord, you do not need to worry. No matter what choice you make, I, Xun Yu, will plan a new path for you."

"Please remember, my Lord, that my existence is not to change you, but to assist you. I, Xun Yu, swear that as long as I am alive, I will never let anyone scheme against you. You may always maintain your original heart and keep that three-part kindness for your own people; if so, I shall be comforted!" Xun Yu knelt and spoke with great solemnity.

He was not comforting him, nor was he joking, because he had once died after being betrayed by the person most important to him.

There is no fruit in the box; please decide for yourself.

The last gift Cao Cao sent him, that empty fruit box, was his eternal pain. Therefore, he did not want Nan Feihuang to become a cold-blooded person who would strike hard even at his own people to achieve his goals. He hoped Nan Feihuang would always maintain his original heart—being ruthless to enemies and hypocritical to outsiders was fine, but at least towards his own people, he should properly preserve that three-part kindness.

"Thank you, Wenruo!" Nan Feihuang smiled. Every time they spoke heart-to-heart, he found that his own state of mind improved slightly.

Having made up his mind, Nan Feihuang did not hesitate and sent the letter out again.

It was just that She Long had only just taken one letter back, so he would probably not be able to take this one until tomorrow at the earliest.

The next day, having packed their gear, the seven members of the Imperial Fighting Team gathered at the academy gate. Having already been granted leave, they prepared to head to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for the Fourth Soul Ring for Nan Feihuang, Dugu Yan, and Yu Tianheng.

These three were all pivotal figures within the academy.

Not only were they geniuses ranked in the top three, but more importantly, their backgrounds all involved Title Douluo.

Therefore, even Meng Shenji was not at ease letting Qin Ming, who had just advanced to a Soul Emperor, take them to hunt Spirit Beasts alone.

Watching the carriage gradually move away, Meng Shenji said, "Old Bai, Old Lin, you two follow them secretly. If nothing happens, do not appear and leave it to them to gain experience, but you must ensure their safety."

"Alright, rest assured," Bai Baoshan nodded. He was a Defense-Type Soul Master, and compared to fighting and killing, what he was best at was protecting others.

"No need, you all just stay in the academy. I will be there with them," just at this moment, a figure appeared silently behind the three.

To have such strength that three Spirit Douluo were completely unaware was, of course, a Title Douluo, and it was none other than Dugu Bo.

"Greetings, Duduoluo Mianxia!" Meng Shenji immediately bowed. "Are you willing to follow them secretly to protect them?"

"That goes without saying. Don't forget, my granddaughter and my good friend Xiaofeijiang are there. How could I let them be harmed? Do you not trust my strength?" Dugu Bo said.

"That is truly wonderful. With you accompanying them, how could I not be at ease?" Meng Shenji was overjoyed. Compared to a Spirit Douluo, the secret protection of a Title Douluo increased safety by at least several times.

Just as Nan Feihuang and the others had set off, another carriage also departed from the palace. It was Xue Qinghe, who had already asked the Great Emperor Xue Ye for leave to go out for a "private visit" and to "inspect the public sentiment."

She had to go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect first, then return to the Spirit Hall to get the thing Nan Feihuang had always wanted.

It must be said that she had gradually begun to understand Nan Feihuang, just like Xun Yu. Just by observing Nan Feihuang's cultivation daily, she knew what he wanted now.

"Young Master, I just went to check the mailbox where Feihuang usually leaves his letters and found that he sent you another one this morning. Here!" She Long, this courier, was very competent; before leaving Tiandou City, he did not forget to check again.

"Feihuang wrote to me again? This little guy, every time he faces me, he seems to have endless things to say. What he couldn't think of once, he sends a second time." Qian Renxue appeared very happy. Anyway, having left the royal city, she had returned to her original appearance outside.

But this letter made her beautiful brows knit together, and there were even bursts of cold air on her body.

She Long and Ci Xue, who were driving the carriage in front, felt a chill all over. "What is it, Young Master?"

"Feihuang says in the letter that when we meet in the future, he wants to introduce his friends to me. I know Gou Huo and Nan Feiling; one is a friend who came to Tiandou to study with him, and the other is his own older sister. As for Dian Wei, that must be the big man who absorbed a Spirit Ring in the Star Dou Great Forest last time; he is indeed a genius."

"But who is this Lv Lingqi? Feihuang says she is a silver-haired female general and can be considered a close friend who grew up with him."

Qian Renxue was very concerned about the name Lv Lingqi, mainly because of her characteristics—a silver-haired female general. Wasn't this one of the two types of girls Nan Feihuang had said he liked most back then?

She didn't even know that such a woman existed by Nan Feihuang's side.

Even Xue Ke, who had a marriage contract with Nan Feihuang, had never made her feel this concerned, but the name Lv Lingqi just made her feel uncomfortable in her heart.

"That, Young Master, don't mind it. In my opinion, Feihuang and that Lv Lingqi should just be ordinary friends. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so open about wanting to introduce her to you," She Long said.

This was also the psychology of a normal person; who would introduce another love interest to the person they like? Isn't that foolish?

"That is indeed the case. In the letter, Feihuang was afraid I would misunderstand and specifically explained that because Lv Lingqi's martial soul is also a Halberd, she was taken as a disciple by his mother. They just grew up together as childhood sweethearts. He does not deny that he thought Lv Lingqi was cute when he was young and was slightly moved, but ever since experiencing life and death together with me in the Star Dou Great Forest, he realized the difference between liking and love. There is only one woman in his heart now." Qian Renxue squeezed the letter. "Well, since Feihuang wants to introduce her to me, then when there is a chance, I will see this Lv Lingqi with my own eyes, see what the girl who once made this little guy move besides me looks like, and by the way, teach her a principle: 'once' is only 'once'!"

(End of chapter)