Douluo Continent: My name is Lu Mingfei, and my martial soul is Lu Mingze.

Xu Sanshi's face twitched.

He was beaten black and blue by Lu Mingfei in the ring last time, and it took several days for the swelling to go down.

From then on, he avoided Lu Mingfei like a mouse would avoid a cat, and would go out of his way to avoid him.

But we really can't avoid it today.

Beibei watched this scene from the side, a slight smile playing on her lips, clearly finding it quite amusing.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong also came over.

"Hello, Senior Xu. Hello, Brother Bei Bei." Huo Yuhao greeted them politely.

Beibei smiled and nodded, while Xu Sanshi gave a perfunctory reply, his gaze still fixed on Lu Mingfei.

"Sanshi," Lu Mingfei suddenly spoke, his tone earnest.

"Why are you being so polite? We're like brothers, we've fought in the ring together. I feel embarrassed by your politeness."

Xu Sanshi's face twitched again.

You beat me to a pulp in the ring, and now you're talking to me about brotherhood?

He thought this to himself, but dared not say it aloud, and could only manage a dry laugh.

"Master Lu is joking. That wasn't fighting; it was Master Lu teaching me a lesson."

"You're so sensible." Lu Mingfei patted his shoulder, looking very pleased with himself.

Xu Sanshi felt that his blood pressure was about to explode if he continued talking to Lu Mingfei, so he quickly changed the subject and turned to look at Bei Bei.

"Beibei, let's get down to business."

Beibei raised an eyebrow.

"What important matter is it?"

Xu Sanshi rubbed his hands together, his expression changing from aggrieved to obsequious.

"Jiang Nannan's matter."

Beibei's expression stiffened slightly.

Lu Mingfei's ears perked up.

"Jiang Nannan?" He looked at Xu Sanshi. "Are you still pursuing Jiang Nannan?"

"What do you mean I'm still pursuing her? My feelings for Nan Nan are as clear as day and night—" Xu Sanshi puffed out his chest.

"Alright, alright." Lu Mingfei waved his hand.

"Just tell me if you caught up with him or not."

Xu Sanshi's chest slumped again.

"……No."

"How long have you been pursuing him?"

Xu Sanshi was silent for a few seconds, then said in a low voice, "From when I enrolled until now."

Lu Mingfei paused for a moment, then looked at Bei Bei.

Beibei made a gesture without making a sound.

Lu Mingfei gasped.

He's been chasing a girl for so long and still hasn't won her over, yet he's still relentlessly pursuing her.

With that kind of perseverance and dedication, if they had applied it to cultivation, they would probably have become a Title Douluo long ago.

"So what do you want Beibei to help you with?" Lu Mingfei asked.

Xu Sanshi cleared his throat and said seriously, "Nannan hasn't joined a sect yet. I'd like to ask Beibei to help make the connection and bring her into the Tang Sect."

"Then I'll go in too, and wouldn't that naturally lead to developing feelings for each other?"

Beibei frowned slightly.

"Tang Clan is indeed recruiting, but whether Jiang Nannan is willing to join is not something I can decide."

"That's why I asked you for help." Xu Sanshi took a step closer and lowered his voice.

"You are the senior disciple of the Tang Sect, so your words carry weight. As long as you can bring Nan Nan into the Tang Sect, and they spend time together there day and night, and feelings develop over time, I will—"

Before he could finish speaking, Beibei shook her head.

"You don't need to look for me."

Xu Sanshi was taken aback.

"What?"

Beibei turned her head and glanced at Lu Mingfei.

"Jiang Nannan has joined the Tang Clan."

Xu Sanshi was stunned.

Lu Mingfei cleared his throat, puffed out his chest, and his expression could be described in four words—asking for credit and reward.

"Well, it's mainly thanks to me."

Xu Sanshi suddenly turned his head, his gaze as sharp as a knife as he stared at Lu Mingfei's face.

Lu Mingfei continued unhurriedly, "Last time I ran into Jiang Nannan, we chatted for a bit, and I casually mentioned that the Tang Clan was recruiting. She thought it was a good idea, so she joined."

"You—" Xu Sanshi's face turned bright red, his fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly.

He took a step forward, looking as if he was ready to fight Lu Mingfei to the death.

Then he met Lu Mingfei's eyes.

Lu Mingfei stood there, arms crossed, a half-smile playing on his lips, neither speaking nor moving.

Xu Sanshi stopped in his tracks.

The image of the knife on the arena slashing at him involuntarily flashed into his mind.

And those eyes—those eyes that were so cold they didn't seem alive.

Xu Sanshi's anger was like being doused with a bucket of ice water, chilling him from head to toe.

His fist loosened.

Seeing this, Lu Mingfei smiled even more broadly.

"Sanshi, don't look at me like that. It's a good thing that Jiang Nannan joined the Tang Sect. From now on, you'll be fellow disciples. Spending time together will naturally lead to feelings developing. What a great opportunity!"

Xu Sanshi's lips twitched, thinking to himself that these words sounded so familiar.

Didn't he just say that himself?

But he doesn't see this as good news at all.

Since Lu Mingfei facilitated Jiang Nannan's joining the Tang Clan, how could he bring it up in front of her?

"Oh, right, I even put in a good word for you," Lu Mingfei suddenly added.

Xu Sanshi was taken aback.

"What nice things are you saying?"

"I told Jiang Nannan that you were beaten badly by me in the ring, but you didn't utter a sound. You have a lot of backbone," Lu Mingfei said.

Although Jiang Nannan was watching from below the stage at the time.

Xu Sanshi's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Is this what you call a compliment?

Is it considered a compliment to tell Jiang Nannan that he was beaten black and blue?

"Master Lu," Xu Sanshi took a deep breath, "I beg you to mention me less in front of Nan Nan in the future."

Why?

"?"

Lu Mingfei laughed heartily and patted Xu Sanshi on the shoulder.

"Okay, okay, let's not talk about it anymore."

Beibei shook her head beside her, unable to hide the smile on her lips.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong stood to the side, one smiling with pursed lips and the other covering his mouth with laughter, clearly amused by Xu Sanshi's embarrassment.

Xu Sanshi felt that he hadn't checked the Chinese calendar before going out today.

He shouldn't have come to the treasure appreciation event.

Just as he was about to make an excuse to slip away, a clear, cold voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Get out of the way."

Xu Sanshi's body suddenly stiffened.

He knew that voice all too well.

He slowly turned around.

Jiang Nannan was standing less than three steps behind him.

She wore a light blue long dress today, her long hair casually tied up with a hairpin, revealing her slender neck. Her features were exquisitely beautiful, but her expression was as cold as ice.

When Xu Sanshi saw her, he froze in place as if he had been frozen in place.

"Nan, Nan Nan..." His voice changed.

Jiang Nannan didn't even glance at him and walked straight past him.

Xu Sanshi's face went from stiff to ashen.

Then Jiang Nannan walked up to Lu Mingfei and stopped.

She looked at Lu Mingfei, and Lu Mingfei looked at her.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became somewhat subtle.

Then Jiang Nannan spoke, her voice still cold, but with a clear hint of dissatisfaction in her tone.

"What did you say to him?"

Lu Mingfei looked completely innocent.

"He didn't say anything."

"Didn't say anything?" Jiang Nannan frowned slightly.

"Maybe he misunderstood me." Lu Mingfei shrugged.

Jiang Nannan stared at him for several seconds, then suddenly turned around and looked at Xu Sanshi.

Xu Sanshi felt a chill run down his spine from that one look she gave him.

"Xu Sanshi." Jiang Nannan's voice was as cold as ice shards in winter.

"Yes, yes!" Xu Sanshi stood at attention reflexively.

"I'm telling you this one last time," Jiang Nannan said, emphasizing each word.

"Stop bothering me."

Xu Sanshi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but before he could speak, Jiang Nannan's next sentence cut him off.

"I'm afraid Lu Mingfei will misunderstand."

The entire rest area fell silent.

It was truly quiet; even the conversations coming from the next booth seemed to have disappeared.

Everyone was stunned.

Beibei's smile froze on her face.

Huo Yuhao's eyes widened in surprise.

Wang Dong's jaw almost dropped to the ground.

As for Xu Sanshi, his expression was as if he had been struck by lightning, and he was completely petrified.

Lu Mingfei himself was also dumbfounded.

He blinked, his brain working at lightning speed for three seconds, before finally realizing what was happening.

This girl is using him as a shield.

Moreover, it was a double-edged sword—it rejected Xu Sanshi while simultaneously drawing hatred towards him.

Lu Mingfei saw the fleeting despair and pain in Xu Sanshi's eyes, and the raging anger burning behind that despair.

He felt that if he didn't do something, Xu Sanshi might really fight him to the death today.

He chuckled dryly and waved his hand.

"Nannan, what are you saying? We're completely innocent, what are you afraid I'll misunderstand? Don't tease me."

Jiang Nannan turned to look at him, her expression still aloof, but the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

"Didn't you tell me last time to stay away from Xu Sanshi?"

Lu Mingfei's smile froze.

When did he say such a thing?