Douluo: Martial Soul White Tiger, I am the White Emperor of Heaven

Chapter 548 I am Xiao Wu, the "Wu" of dancing. The Thousand Illusion Fox.

Of course, Dai Chengfeng was suffering inside, but he remained outwardly calm.

He seemed completely oblivious to the almost palpable sourness and scrutiny emanating from him. He casually walked to the campfire, found a spot to sit, picked up a portion of prepared rations, and greeted everyone in a relaxed tone:
Good morning, everyone. How was your rest?

Zhu Zhuqing snorted coldly, still ignoring him.

Hu Liena chuckled softly, her voice carrying a unique magnetism: "Naturally, it can't compare to the Fourth Prince's 'busyness,' he must have had a very good rest."

Ning Rongrong smiled sweetly, her tone of concern sending chills down one's spine:
"Brother Chengfeng, you've really worked hard, having to 'pick up friends' in the middle of the night. Don't overwork yourself."

Xiao Wu lowered her head even further, almost burying it in her knees.

Dai Chengfeng smiled bitterly to himself, knowing that there was no way to avoid it now.

He cleared his throat and decided to take the initiative to defuse this invisible storm.

He looked at Xiao Wu and introduced her in as calm and natural a tone as possible: "Zhu Qing, Nana, Rongrong, this is Xiao Wu, my friend."

Xiao Wu was forced to raise her head, forcing a smile that was more like a grimace, her voice barely audible:

"Hello... I'm Xiao Wu, the 'Wu' in 'dancing'."

Zhu Zhuqing finally raised her eyes, her cold gaze sweeping over Xiao Wu, especially lingering for a moment on her blushing cheeks and uneasy fingers, before turning coldly to Dai Chengfeng.

Her eyes seemed to say, "Keep making things up."

Hu Liena's smile deepened, her eyes sparkling: "Oh? A friend?"

"Little Wu... is so innocent and adorable, she's so pitiful to behold."

Ning Rongrong tilted her head, looking innocent and curious: "Sister Xiaowu, are you also here to hunt for spirit rings? Where are your companions? Why did you come back alone with Brother Chengfeng?"

Xiao Wu was caught off guard by the barrage of questions, her face turning even redder. She stammered and looked at Dai Chengfeng, her eyes filled with a plea for help.

Dai Chengfeng sighed inwardly, knowing that his explanation had clearly failed to convince the three jealous girls.

He maintained his composure, took over the conversation, and roughly repeated what he had said to Zhu Hongye the night before, his tone sincere and without the slightest flaw.

However, Zhu Zhuqing, Hu Liena, and Ning Rongrong were all very intelligent women. They exchanged glances and saw the same disbelief in each other's eyes.

Dai Chengfeng went out in the middle of the night and brought back a stunningly beautiful girl who acted ambiguously towards him, and whose relationship with him was clearly more than just friendship...

Explaining it solely with "friends" and "coincidence" is far too weak.

Especially Xiao Wu's shy and timid demeanor, unable to meet Dai Chengfeng's gaze, yet stealing glances at him every now and then...

These are no ordinary friends.
The atmosphere around the campfire suddenly became somewhat tense.

Zhu Zhuqing's aura grew even colder, Hu Liena stopped playing with her hair, and Ning Rongrong's fake smile faded.

Three pairs of beautiful eyes, each filled with varying degrees of scrutiny, jealousy, and dissatisfaction, all focused on Dai Chengfeng.

Dai Chengfeng felt the gaze that seemed to pierce through him. Although his face remained calm, a chill ran down his spine.

He knew that this matter was probably not so easy to fool.

It seems that enjoying the blessing of having multiple wives isn't so easy after all.

Thinking about it, Dai Chengfeng glanced at Zhu Hongye, who remained silent and seemingly detached from the matter, and a thought struck him.

He coughed lightly, his face displaying just the right amount of helplessness and respect, and turned to Zhu Hongye, bowing slightly as he said:

“High Priest, there was indeed a reason for what happened last night. I was disturbed and I feel uneasy.” “Miss Xiao Wu and her companions were separated. It is truly dangerous for them in the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest. Since I encountered them, I could not just stand by and watch them die. I hope the High Priest will understand.”

His words, seemingly an explanation to Zhu Hongye, were actually meant for the other three...

It not only clarifies the nature of "rescue" but also elevates the high priest's status, implying that this matter is not merely a matter of personal feelings but also concerns safety and morality.

How could Zhu Hongye not see the undercurrents surging inside and outside this small tent?

She didn't want to get involved in the romantic entanglements between these younger generations, but Dai Chengfeng was, after all, the fourth prince of the Star Luo Empire, and his status was special.

Moreover, given her current temperament and talent, she is not willing to let this trivial matter affect her important matters.

So, in the slightly tense atmosphere, Zhu Hongye slowly put down the water pouch in her hand.

Her gaze calmly swept over Zhu Zhuqing, Hu Liena, and Ning Rongrong, finally settling on Dai Chengfeng. Her voice remained flat and even, yet carried an undeniable air of authority:
"The Star Dou Great Forest is fraught with danger. It is only right to lend a helping hand when encountering a lone Soul Master."

“Prince Chengfeng did nothing wrong.”

She paused, then turned her gaze to the food on the campfire. "Eat, everyone. We still need to find a suitable spirit ring for Nana today, so let's not delay our important business."

The red leaves open, and their weight is naturally different.

Although she did not explicitly favor Dai Chengfeng, her words "there was nothing wrong with it" and her steer of the conversation back to "the important matter" undoubtedly extricated her from the awkward situation.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips but ultimately said nothing more.

He simply picked up his dry rations and silently continued eating, but the chill emanating from him did not completely dissipate.

Hu Liena smiled sweetly, as if nothing had just happened, and lazily tossed her hair:

“The High Priest is right, important matters are of utmost importance.”

She resumed eating, but when her eyes occasionally glanced at Dai Chengfeng, there was still a hint of something unfathomable in them.

Ning Rongrong's fake smile faded somewhat, returning to her usual polite demeanor, tinged with a hint of aloofness.

She nodded obediently to Zhu Hongye, then sipped her soup, no longer torturing Dai Chengfeng with that "concerned" gaze.

Xiao Wu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, glanced gratefully at Zhu Hongye, then quickly looked at Dai Chengfeng before lowering her head and eating in small bites, trying to minimize her presence.

Breakfast ended in this atmosphere, seemingly calm on the surface but turbulent beneath.

Although the three girls temporarily stopped talking at each other, the faint jealousy and scrutiny that permeated the air did not truly dissipate.

After tidying up the campsite, the group continued their search in the Star Dou Great Forest.

Zhu Hongye's spiritual power spread outwards from her like an invisible spider web, carefully searching for a suitable soul beast for Hu Liena.

The search was not without its challenges. Spirit-type soul beasts that are over ten thousand years old are relatively rare, and most of them are adept at hiding.

As the sun began to set, the group, led by Zhu Hongye, stopped outside a secluded valley.

Zhu Hongye frowned slightly, sensed for a moment, and then slowly spoke with a hint of joy:

"There is actually a 'Thousand Illusion Fox' in the valley, and its cultivation level is about 20,000 years."

"This beast is adept at creating illusions, and its mental power is unpredictable and ever-changing. Its soul ring should greatly enhance your mental control ability."

(End of this chapter)