Chapter 437: Getting a Free Protector

Under Li Luo's sympathetic gaze, Instructor Cao Sheng entered the room with some restraint; his usual wild and unrestrained demeanor had vanished completely. Seeing this, Li Luo sighed inwardly—love truly is something that makes people humble.

Fortunately, I am too outstanding; there is simply no way for me to experience Instructor Cao Sheng's inner journey.

In the first-floor living room, Yu Hongxi and Lu Qinger entered. Bai Meng, who had just finished her cultivation, came over to help host, serving tea and water with a pure and cute smile.

Yu Hongxi nodded to thank Bai Meng, yet her gaze held a hint of appraisal. Only after Bai Meng turned and left did she say to Lu Qinger in a casual tone, "Li Luo, that brat, certainly has good fortune, living in the same room every day with such a pretty and cute little girl."

Her words carried a hint of sowing discord. She, of course, knew that her daughter was full of affection for Li Luo. Although Yu Hongxi acknowledged Li Luo's excellence, regardless of the circumstances, the boy was already betrothed. Not to mention whether that betrothal was merely a formality or true affection, Yu Hongxi was not keen on letting him provoke Lu Qinger.

But young girls are always rebellious, so Yu Hongxi understood that if she directly opposed it, it would not only be useless but would actually have the opposite effect.

Therefore, Yu Hongxi could only take the opportunity to gently nudge and remind Lu Qinger in her daily life.

Yu Hongxi was so clever, and as her daughter, Lu Qinger was naturally sharp and perceptive. She understood her meaning immediately, but her expression did not change. She simply replied in an equally soft voice, "Mother, you are overthinking it. Choosing teammates is not something Li Luo can decide."

Yu Hongxi said, "It is clear that this Bai Meng should also have a bit of affection for Li Luo."

"Mother, there are many girls in the academy who have a crush on Li Luo."

"Then this Li Luo has the potential to become a heartless playboy."

"Mother, that is slander, defamation."

"Heh."

While the mother and daughter were speaking in low voices, Li Luo welcomed Instructor Cao Sheng in and sat him down opposite Yu Hongxi.

"Instructor," Lu Qinger said with a smile.

Cao Sheng hurriedly nodded with a smile.

Yu Hongxi also looked at Cao Sheng at this moment, and under her gaze, Cao Sheng visibly straightened his back, though his eyes wandered, not daring to meet hers.

"Instructor Cao Sheng, thank you for taking care of Qinger during this time. I had wanted to visit earlier, but I never had the time," Yu Hongxi said with a smile.

"It's no trouble, no trouble at all. Qinger is exceptionally gifted; she truly has your flair," Cao Sheng said, waving his hands hurriedly.

Li Luo and Lu Qinger exchanged a secret glance, both seeing the strange look in the other's eyes. It was likely the first time they had seen Instructor Cao Sheng looking so nervous.

"Instructor Cao Sheng, would you like some wine?" Li Luo asked, wanting to ease the atmosphere.

Cao Sheng was startled, gave a dry cough, and said, "Li Luo, I don't really like to drink. Just bring me a cup of hot tea."

What the hell?

Li Luo was a bit stunned. Instructor Cao Sheng, doesn't your conscience hurt when you say that? Who in the academy doesn't know you love wine like your life? And now you're here pretending to be a teetotaler? Are you kidding me?

Of course, he wouldn't say this directly, otherwise, Instructor Cao Sheng might get embarrassed and angry and hold a grudge against him. So, he could only let Bai Meng serve Instructor Cao Sheng a cup of tea with a complex expression.

Lu Qinger was also a bit embarrassed. After all, she knew Instructor Cao Sheng's temperament and hobbies. What could she say when he denied it all right in front of her? Should she expose him directly? That would be too cruel.

How could she not see that Instructor Cao Sheng was completely aiming for her mother? He probably received the news the moment Yu Hongxi entered the academy and then manufactured a seemingly coincidental encounter.

It was just that the coincidence was so stiff that even Lu Qinger felt awkward.

After all, Lu Qinger knew Yu Hongxi's methods and shrewdness all too well. In Yu Hongxi's eyes, such a cliché encounter plot was probably as childish as watching children play.

Fortunately, for her sake, Yu Hongxi did not truly ignore Cao Sheng and even had a brief conversation with him. But the indifference in her tone made it clear even to Lu Qinger that her mother really had no feelings for Instructor Cao Sheng at all.

Yet Instructor Cao Sheng still looked completely satisfied.

Sometimes Lu Qinger couldn't help but want to tell him: Instructor, forcing things really won't yield results. Don't hang yourself on her mother's tree, because even if you really did hang yourself, she wouldn't bother to take a second look.

"When are you starting?"

Just as Lu Qinger expected, Yu Hongxi didn't care whether Cao Sheng liked wine or not; she turned her gaze to Li Luo and asked directly.

"Uh..."

Li Luo was startled and glanced at Instructor Cao Sheng, unsure if it was appropriate to discuss this in front of him.

"I have already told Instructor Cao Sheng about your refining. Since Instructor Xi Chan and I will be assisting you, we will likely be unable to attend to anything else. Although the academy is considered a safe place, this kind of refining still requires caution to avoid interference."

"So Instructor Cao Sheng volunteered to help guard you from the outside," Yu Hongxi said.

Li Luo was stunned again. Is it really this easy to get a free guard who is a Marquis-level powerhouse?

He had paid the price of two portions of "King Essence" to secure the assistance of Instructor Xi Chan and Yu Hongxi, and now this Instructor Cao Sheng, with whom he had no prior relationship, had just volunteered?

This pie falling from the sky left Li Luo feeling a bit dizzy for a moment.

After a long while, Li Luo cast a complex look at Instructor Cao Sheng and said, "Instructor Cao Sheng, you really are a good person."

Instructor Cao Sheng gave a hearty smile, waved his hand, and said, "It's a small matter. Student Li Luo, there's no need to be so polite. You could have just told me about this earlier; would I not have helped you?"

Li Luo put on a moved smile, while inwardly he was extremely amazed. Instructor Cao Sheng, you can even say such barefaced lies? Do you really think I don't know what your personality is like on a daily basis? In the past, when I had repeated clashes with Shen Jinxiao, I never saw you step up to support me.

It wasn't that he hadn't thought about getting closer to other Purple-Emblem Instructors, but no one had ever given him the opportunity.

However, Li Luo held no grudge about this. After all, they were Marquis-level powerhouses, top-tier existences across the entire Great Xia Kingdom. His status as the Young Mansion Master of the Luolan Mansion probably didn't even catch their eye, and since they were neither relatives nor friends, there was no reason for them to help him.

The fact that Instructor Cao Sheng was so easy to talk to now was entirely because Yu Hongxi carried a targeted "intelligence-lowering" aura.

But regardless, getting a Marquis-level powerhouse to guard for free meant today's refining would undoubtedly go much more smoothly, so Li Luo was in a very good mood.

Afterwards, he chatted with Yu Hongxi for a while longer, and as the sky grew dark, Instructor Xi Chan finally appeared.

Instructor Xi Chan was not the least bit surprised to see Instructor Cao Sheng there, as if she had expected it, but she was not the type to gossip, so she simply greeted Yu Hongxi and Cao Sheng briefly.

"Since everyone is here, let's set off."

Seeing this, Li Luo finally stood up.

The refining of the Little Formless Divine Wheel was finally about to begin.