Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

Chapter 154 Nonsense
……

"That's it..."

Hearing Arou's explanation, Tang Yuehua felt embarrassed. She seemed to have really misunderstood the relationship between the two.

But after the initial embarrassment, she became even more worried.

"What's wrong?" Arou couldn't help but ask.

Tang Yuehua sighed, "You don't know, he never gets close to girls who take the initiative. When I saw you, I thought he had a special attachment to older women, which is why he acted that way. But if you two don't have that, perhaps he..."

Tang Yuehua hesitated, looking very conflicted.

"Don't you like women?" Arou subconsciously asked, recalling what Ning Rongrong had mentioned about the strange relationship between Xuanming and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

But she regretted it as soon as she said it.

Tang Yuehua looked at Arou with a complicated expression and nodded, "I am indeed a little worried."

The strange atmosphere between Xuanming and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe made her unable to help but suspect something!
Although such things do happen, and she had heard of some, she simply couldn't accept that Xuanming's mind could be so twisted!

Even if he's interested in older women, that's fine, but why would he be interested in men!

……

Meanwhile, Xuanming had already arrived at the Crown Prince's residence.

"Are you calm?"

Qian Renxue sat in the pavilion, two cups of tea on the table still steaming.

"Is there something you need?" Xuanming walked over and sat down.

"I apologize for what happened before. I didn't know you were injured in Wuhun City," Qian Renxue said.

Xuanming frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He stared at Qian Renxue for a moment before slowly saying, "It's nothing. I wasn't in a good mood at the time. I'm sorry."

Qian Renxue was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised that Xuanming did not refute her in a sarcastic manner.

Being so easy to talk to actually shut down all the lines she had prepared.

"Is there something you need?" Xuanming asked.

"There's a problem." Qian Renxue picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

"The next All-Continent Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies is less than two years away. You were too young last time, so I need you to participate this time."

“Yes, is there any more?” Xuanming asked.

Qian Renxue's expression was somewhat unnatural. "Also, the rumors about you and Xue Qinghe are getting a little out of control."

"Rumors?" Xuanming looked puzzled.

"What rumor?"

Qian Renxue, holding her teacup, turned her head away. "Just some rumors between two men."

The bigger the tree, the more the wind blows. Xuanming's reputation in the Great Soul Arena brought him great prestige, but at the same time, it magnified many of his problems.

For such influential figures, what people are most interested in is always the gossip.

Xuanming spends most of his time focused on cultivation and has virtually no social life or outings, so even if people wanted to find something to talk about, they really couldn't.

It's like nitpicking; the somewhat strange relationship between Xuanming and Xue Qinghe has been blown out of proportion by everyone.

At first, everyone just took it as a joke, but now, due to the lack of a definite "clarification" for a long time, even the Heavenly Dou Royal Family has begun to worry.

If it were just an ordinary member of the royal family, this wouldn't be a big deal, but Xue Qinghe is the crown prince, the heir apparent of the country, and he cannot be involved in such a scandal!

Especially since Xuanming has grown up in the past two years, his cold and domineering image has become deeply ingrained in people's minds. In comparison, Xue Qinghe seems rather petite and dependent.

Even Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi approached Xue Qinghe one after another; this wasn't a hint, it was an explicit statement!
Ning Fengzhi said that if Xue Qinghe really liked men, she could do it privately, but not openly like this!
Xue Ye said that as the crown prince of a country, even if Xue Qinghe likes men, he can only take the initiative and cannot be passive!
"So?" Xuanming's expression remained unchanged, as if these rumors had nothing to do with him.

Qian Renxue put down her teacup with a wry smile. "I know this is all nonsense, but the rumors are rampant and have already affected the reputation of the royal family and Xue Qinghe's position as crown prince. If it is not handled properly, it may cause even greater trouble."

"I think you need to maintain an appropriate distance from Xue Qinghe in public. More importantly, you need to show your interactions with other men to dispel people's speculations."

"Aren't Dugu Yan and the others enough?" Xuanming asked.

"What do you think?" Qian Renxue's eyes twitched slightly.

If Xuanming had shown even the slightest initiative or willingness to cater to her, given his romantic history, there would have been absolutely no way such a thing could have been rumored!
The problem is, no matter how proactive Dugu Yan and the others are, Xuan Ming remains unmoved! If it weren't for the fact that she is Xue Qinghe, she would have questioned Xuan Ming's sexual orientation!
“But wouldn’t that just make it seem like an attempt to cover something up?” Xuanming said.

"Everyone knows what kind of person I am."

"Besides, why don't you let Xue Qinghe showcase his talents? Wouldn't it be simpler to just arrange a Crown Princess for him?"

“He… isn’t feeling well,” Qian Renxue said.

The choice of the Crown Princess is either the successor of a powerful Soul Master faction or a princess from one of the other major kingdoms. Ultimately, however, it must be in accordance with the arrangements of the Heaven Dou Royal Family. It cannot be decided by Xue Qinghe's words alone. Moreover, if a Crown Princess were to be chosen, the trouble would be immense.

"It's not convenient for me either," Xuanming said.

"Why?" Qian Renxue couldn't help but ask.

"You're not interested in any of them?"

"I'm barely able to take care of myself, I really don't have the mood for this." Xuanming picked up the hot tea on the table and took a sip.

"Moreover, I don't want to create any weaknesses for myself, lest I become a target for certain people."

"Maintaining a proper distance is good for everyone."

Qian Renxue's expression froze, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes. "Do you think I would use them to threaten you?"

Xuanming took another sip of tea. "I didn't say it was you. Why are you so agitated? Maybe it's someone else."

Qian Renxue took a deep breath to calm her fluctuating emotions and said, "Even if it wasn't my intention, the current situation and the persistent rumors are a hidden danger. Even if you don't consider the royal family, you should think about yourself. Being entangled in these rumors will make things difficult for you in the future."

"I don't care." Xuanming looked calmly at the flower branches swaying in the wind outside the pavilion.

"That's perfect, this misunderstanding will save us a lot of trouble."

"You!" Qian Renxue was speechless for a moment.

"Fine, if you don't want to, I won't force you, but this matter can't be allowed to escalate any further. Since you don't care about these rumors, I suppose you wouldn't mind if I used other rumors instead?"

"Other rumors? What rumors?" Xuanming asked.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Qian Renxue said.

Xue Qinghe wasn't the only one whose relationship with the cold and aloof Xuanming seemed strange!
Yuexuan, Tang Yuehua!

Such rumors do exist, but Tang Yuehua rarely goes out, and she has a high reputation in aristocratic circles, especially among the young nobles. Even if they have doubts, they would not spread such things that would have a negative impact on Tang Yuehua.

However, for now, she can only let Tang Yuehua divert attention.

If these rumors continue to circulate, the Tian Dou royal family, under pressure, might actually have to arrange a crown princess for Xue Qinghe.

She'll be in trouble then.

"Whatever you want." Xuanming put down his teacup.

"Any thing else?"

"The Pope is coming to Tiandou City," Qian Renxue said.

Xuanming was taken aback. "What's she doing here?"

"How would I know? But it's most likely because of you," Qian Renxue said.

"Moreover, she came here under the pretext of visiting the Spirit Temple of Heaven Dou City, so she will probably stay for quite a while. She might even stay until the Spirit Master Competition begins."

"Why...did you end up fighting with her?"

Xuanming frowned slightly, and Qian Renxue quickly spoke up, "I was just asking casually, I didn't force you. You don't have to say if you don't want to."

Xuanming glanced at Qian Renxue, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "It's nothing, just because of some rumors."

"You should know, right? It's related to her, like these rumors I'm spreading now."

"Her?" Qian Renxue frowned.

What rumors are circulating about her?

"Just ask around, everyone in the Spirit Hall who's a bit older knows." Xuanming stood up.

"Farewell."

(End of this chapter)