Douluo: Why is Qian Renxue not in love anymore?

Chapter 41: Spirit Debate (1)

At Tiandou Royal Academy, the morning light is just breaking. The golden sunlight shines through the sparse clouds, sprinkling on the quaint academy buildings, casting a layer of warm glow on this historic institution.

Students walked in groups of three or four on the boulevard, some talking in whispers, some hurrying to the classroom. The air was filled with the scent of youth and thirst for knowledge.

Li Muyun and Xue Qinghe walked side by side on the path leading to the exchange venue. Their steps were a little heavy. Last night's episode was like a dark cloud, gently shrouding their hearts.

Xue Qinghe occasionally glanced sideways, with a barely perceptible worry flashing in his eyes, while Li Muyun seemed a little absent-minded, as if thinking about how to resolve this misunderstanding. After all, Xiao Ai had a very strong imagination.

Xiao Ai stood under an old locust tree not far away, her eyes like sharp arrows, fixed on Li Muyun and Xue Qinghe.

With every step they took closer, her uneasiness grew, as if she was afraid that Xue Qinghe's gentle gaze would "seduce" her brother Mu Yun away again.

She adjusted her position from time to time, trying to keep a sufficient distance so as not to be noticed, while also making sure her sight would not be blocked by any obstacles.

Xiao Ai's eyes were filled with complex emotions: anger, anxiety, and a hint of jealousy. Whenever Xue Qinghe smiled or exchanged glances with Li Muyun, she would unconsciously clench her fists, her fingertips digging deep into her palms, but the pain was not as great as the pain in her heart.

Xiao Ai's gaze passed through the crowd, but it seemed to penetrate time and space, and her thoughts drifted far away. She felt mixed emotions, puzzled by Li Muyun's behavior, and deeply missed her missing sister Xiaoxue.

The sunlight shone through the gaps in the leaves, dappled on her face. Between the light and shadow, she seemed to see Sister Xiaoxue's gentle smile. That smile was warm and familiar, and it was the softest part of her heart.

Xiao Ai's eyes couldn't help but turn slightly red. She lowered her head and gently stroked an exquisite pendant hanging on her chest. It was a birthday gift from Sister Xiaoxue. Whenever she missed her sister, this pendant always brought her a little comfort.

She murmured to herself: "Brother Muyun is really something. He has been in Tiandou City for such a long time, but he has not looked for Sister Xiaoxue. Doesn't he like Sister Xiaoxue? Where is Sister Xiaoxue? I only know that she is in this city, but this city is so big, where should I go to find her..."

Xiao Ai's thoughts were like fallen leaves blown by the wind, circling in the air. She pursed her lips tightly, and a look of determination flashed in her eyes. The students around her were laughing or making noises, but she seemed to be in another world. There was only one thought in her mind that became clearer and clearer - I have to help Sister Xiaoxue keep an eye on Brother Muyun.

She moved quietly, trying not to attract attention, but always kept a distance from Li Muyun and Xue Qinghe. Xiao Ai's eyes were sometimes sharp as an eagle, watching the interaction between the two, and sometimes gentle as water, recalling the time spent with Sister Xiaoxue, with complex emotions surging in her heart.

Suddenly, she saw that Li Muyun seemed to respond to Xue Qinghe's smile. Although the smile was faint, it was enough to make Xiao Ai's heart tighten suddenly. She clenched her fist unconsciously, and her nails dug deep into her palms. The pain made her more sober.

Xiao Ai took a deep breath, secretly made up her mind, and involuntarily quickened her pace, trying to approach quietly, but she didn't dare to get too close, for fear that her actions would break this delicate balance.

"I've been following you for so long, why don't you come out?" Li Muyun's voice suddenly sounded, gentle but with a hint of unquestionable power, penetrating the surrounding noise and falling clearly into Xiao Ai's ears.

Her body stiffened, as if she was being pulled by an invisible rope, and she slowly walked out from the cover of the shade of the tree. Her eyes met Li Muyun's. There was embarrassment at being discovered, as well as a bit of stubbornness at being seen through.

"Xiao Ai, I see you, come out." Li Muyun stopped, turned around, and had a gentle but slightly complicated smile on his face. That smile seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, leaving the secrets in Xiao Ai's heart exposed.

The air around them seemed to freeze. Students looked over curiously or unintentionally, but were quickly attracted by other things and continued their daily lives. Only at this moment, time seemed to stand still for the three of them.

Xiao Ai's steps seemed to stagger under the gaze of everyone. She managed to steady herself and slowly walked to Li Muyun and Xue Qinghe. She lowered her head and spoke in a voice as thin as a mosquito: "Brother Muyun, I... I'm just worried about you. Aren't you here to look for Sister Xiaoxue? Why are you entangled with him every day?"

Hearing Xiao Ai's words, Xue Qinghe felt an indescribable sweetness in his heart. The corners of his mouth rose unconsciously. His eyes gently swept over Li Muyun, and finally gently fell on Xiao Ai. His eyes showed tolerance for the girl's pure emotions, but also a hint of imperceptible cunning.

She opened her red lips slightly, her voice soft and magnetic: "Xiao Ai, you misunderstood. Mu Yun and I were just discussing the exchange of college matters, and we had no other intentions. As for the sister Xiao Xue you mentioned, who is she?"

Xue Qinghe asked knowingly, wanting to learn more about himself from Xiao Ai.

Xiao Ai looked up, her eyes sparkling with innocence, yet mixed with a bit of anxiety that was hard to conceal. She explained eagerly: "Sister Xiaoxue is... the person that Brother Muyun likes. She is gentle and kind, and her smile is like the warmest sunshine in spring. Brother Muyun remembers every word she said. They have explored every corner of the Spirit Hall together. That friendship is irreplaceable by anyone." Li Muyun's eyes flashed with complex emotions when he heard this, as if the soft corner of his heart was touched by Xiao Ai's words, and he seemed to be trying hard to hide something.

"So you should stay away from Brother Muyun. Brother Muyun doesn't like men. Don't bother Brother Muyun anymore."

Xiao Ai's words were like a gust of cold wind in early spring, inadvertently creating a subtle rift between the three people. Her words were childishly serious and resolute, and her eyes were shining with an unquestionable light.

Xue Qinghe's lips curled up into a faint smile, which showed tolerance for Xiao Ai's innocence and ignorance. She did not refute directly, but gently raised her hand and tidied the hair on her forehead. Her movements were so gentle and elegant that it seemed that even the air froze.

Xue Qinghe opened her red lips slightly, her voice was gentle but carried a dignity that could not be ignored: "Let's go, the three education committee members should have arrived."

She turned gently, with graceful and firm steps, leading Li Muyun and Xiao Ai towards the conference room deep in the college.

Along the way, students cast curious glances, and some whispered, guessing the subtle relationship between the three figures walking side by side.

Li Muyun followed beside her with a complicated expression. Sometimes he looked at Xiao Ai, his eyes full of tenderness and helplessness, and sometimes he looked at Xue Qinghe, but his heart was surging with emotions that even he could not fully understand.

"..."

In the conference room, sunlight shines through the high windows, and dust particles dance lightly in the beams of light, adding a touch of softness to this solemn place.

A huge round table was placed in the center, its surface as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the mottled light and shadows outside the window. Beside the round table, three carved wooden chairs quietly waited for their owners.

At this moment, Bai Baoshan was already sitting in the first seat, wearing an elegant grey robe, with silver hair hanging down and deep eyes, as if he could see through everything in the world. He held a delicate teacup in his hand, stroking it gently, as if he was savoring the fragrance of tea, or thinking about some important decision.

Meng Shenji sat on Bai Baoshan's left, closing his eyes and tapping the table with his fingers, making a rhythmic sound, which formed a sharp contrast with the quiet atmosphere in the room and revealed his inner unrest.

Sitting on Bai Baoshan's right was the extremely intelligent Soul Douluo Zhilin. He was wearing a dark green robe with intricate totems embroidered on the collar and cuffs. His eyes were slightly narrowed, as if he could see into the deepest secrets of people's hearts.

In his hand, he was playing with a rosary made of unknown gemstones. Each gem emitted a faint light. As his fingers moved, the light appeared and disappeared, adding a bit of mystery to this quiet meeting room.

Zhilin had a calm expression and a faint smile on his lips, but his deep eyes flashed with a sharp light, as if he was confident about the upcoming discussion, and seemed to be secretly observing everyone's subtle reactions.

At the side was Qin Ming, the instructor of Tiandou Royal Academy. He was wearing a sky blue instructor robe with his lapels fluttering in the wind, as if carrying the freshness and loftiness from the sky.

Qin Ming held an ancient book in his hand, and gently stroked the pages with his fingertips, as if he was savoring the wisdom in it, or brewing the opinions he was about to express. His deep eyes sparkled with wisdom, as if he could see through every subtle academic problem.

He looked around, nodded slightly to Li Muyun, Xue Qinghe and Xiao Ai, then found a seat at the round table and sat down slowly.

His arrival added a touch of academic and communicative atmosphere to this already solemn conference room, as if foreshadowing that the upcoming discussion would be a feast of wisdom and strategy.

Bai Baoshan gently put down the teacup, his eyes gently swept over Li Muyun and Xiao Ai, and finally fell on Qin Ming who had just sat down.

"Let me formally introduce to you a new partner who has just joined us - Instructor Qin Ming."

"Teacher Qin not only has unique insights into martial spirit research, but is also a strong man with rich practical experience. His arrival will undoubtedly inject new vitality into our teaching and research."

(End of this chapter)