"Why does it feel like Qian Ran is the real core of both the Holy Spirit Cult and Spirit Hall?" Jing Hongchen's frown deepened.
It sounded absurd, yet...
The more Jing Hongchen thought about it, the more he felt he couldn't grasp the shifting power dynamics of the continent. In the past, the combined forces of the Holy Spirit Cult and Mingde Hall could have easily upended the entire continent. But now, the cult's unpredictable stance had thrown everything into chaos. Jing Hongchen no longer dared to dream of the Sun Moon Empire unifying the continent.
Moreover, Xu Tianran seemed increasingly unreliable.
Without the support of the Holy Spirit Cult, Jing Hongchen could no longer place much faith in the crown prince. Xu Tianran's performance today had been particularly disappointing.
Was one Qian Ran enough to leave Xu Tianran so shaken?
"Grandpa, what are you thinking about?"
"Why did you call me here?"
A beautiful girl with wine-red hair sat in a chair, absently twirling a strand of her hair. She wore a black jacket over her school uniform, paired with black stockings and fur-lined ankle boots.
Lately, Meng Hongchen had been avoiding her grandfather, fearing he might once again try to interfere in her hard-earned relationship with Qian Ran.
She was now certain—she would never leave Qian Ran for the rest of her life.
If her grandfather refused to let her be with Qian Ran, she would choose to leave with him and flee to Shrek Academy.
Meng Hongchen, though often playful and carefree, had a strong will when it came to matters of the heart.
"Mengmeng, you're just in time," Jing Hongchen said, scrutinizing her.
Meng Hongchen had always been beautiful, but her casual style of dress had changed noticeably since Qian Ran arrived as an exchange student. She seemed to be getting more and more radiant.
It was true what they said—women dressed for the ones they loved.
Previously, Jing Hongchen might have felt a pang of bitterness. Now, he found a sense of relief instead.
Perhaps he would have to rely on this granddaughter of his in the future.
The world was unpredictable. While he still controlled Mingde Hall for now, the future was far from certain. Not every family could be as fortunate as the Dai clan in the Star Luo Empire, whose hereditary dukedoms were guaranteed. Betting the entire family's future on Xu Tianran might have been a mistake.
"Hmm. Mengmeng, your body…"
Jing Hongchen's eyes narrowed slightly. Meng Hongchen's cultivation level had advanced again—a frequent occurrence these days. But what truly shocked him was her condition.
The poison in her body…
The Hongchen family's martial spirits were all toad-based. Jing Hongchen's martial spirit was a Toad, Xie Hongchen's was a Golden Toad, and Meng Hongchen's was the Scarlet Ice Toad.
The Scarlet Ice Toad was an ice-attribute venomous soul beast, known as the "King of the Margins" in the Extreme North. It inhabited the outskirts of the frozen region, near the human world, as it was poorly suited to the Extreme North's deeper icy terrain. Its unique venom was derived from alternating its ice and fire attributes, making it deadly yet difficult to control.
In the Hongchen family's history, while their martial spirit granted tremendous power, it also brought significant risks. The venom generated during cultivation could backfire, poisoning the soul master and leading to a painful death. This was why few members of the family ever rose to great strength.
For years, the poison accumulating in Meng Hongchen's body had been Jing Hongchen's greatest concern. And now, it seemed… resolved?
"Grandpa, I was just about to tell you. Qian Ran has already taken care of the poison in my body. You don't need to worry about it anymore!" Meng Hongchen said with a blissful smile.
"Qian Ran again…" Jing Hongchen froze in place.
Ever since Qian Ran had arrived in the Sun Moon Empire as an exchange student, his name had come up constantly.
Could this boy really be that extraordinary? Was there anything he couldn't do?
"Grandpa, Qian Ran is a good person," Meng Hongchen quickly added, sensing her grandfather's skepticism.
"You silly girl… When did I ever say you couldn't be with Qian Ran?" Jing Hongchen sighed. He knew exactly what his granddaughter was thinking.
His granddaughter was too naïve.
He had seen with his own eyes how Qian Ran had "captured" Meng Hongchen. No, it wasn't even accurate to call it a capture—she had practically given herself to him.
There had been no resistance, no hesitation—she had fallen into his hands effortlessly.
Sigh…
Why did his granddaughter have to be so hopelessly lovestruck?
Qian Ran's other companions weren't to be trifled with either, especially Juzi. If Mengmeng was destined to follow Qian Ran, Jing Hongchen had no choice but to start considering her long-term future.
To him, Juzi alone posed a significant threat to his granddaughter.
Juzi had once been Xu Tianran's trusted confidant. If she ever decided to plot against Mengmeng, how could she possibly hold her own?
"Dean Jing, please rest assured. I will never allow Mengmeng to suffer any grievances while she's with me."
A voice came from the doorway as Qian Ran stepped inside.
"Qian Ran!" Meng Hongchen was caught off guard by his sudden arrival, her face flushing as she stuck out her tongue in embarrassment.
Before she could think further, she instinctively leaned against Qian Ran's shoulder. His hand slid under her short skirt and shamelessly groped her, his rough fingers exploring the smooth, firm curves of her backside. Occasionally, he gave her soft, pliant flesh a gentle squeeze.
Meng Hongchen's face turned bright red with shame, her entire body trembling.
"Hmph. No grievances? Do you really think she won't feel aggrieved watching you with other women?" Jing Hongchen snorted coldly.
Qian Ran seemed oblivious to his own womanizing tendencies.
Though Jing Hongchen had come to acknowledge Qian Ran's extraordinary abilities, he couldn't overlook his unrestrained flirtations.
"Grandpa, Qian Ran didn't mean it that way! I… I'm not upset," Meng Hongchen interjected, flustered.
"Qian Ran treats me very well. And I even enjoy spending time with Juzi and the others," she added, trying to defuse the tension.
Jing Hongchen's face darkened.
They said women in love had no sense—he now understood that sentiment all too well. Didn't Mengmeng realize that he was trying to secure better terms for her?
Qian Ran was a goldmine—a treasure even the Holy Spirit Cult greatly valued. To have such a goldmine by her side and not seize the opportunity to secure her future was sheer foolishness.
Seeing his granddaughter's infatuated and naïve expression, Jing Hongchen was at a loss for words.
She had given herself away so readily—how could he negotiate with Qian Ran now? Without bargaining power, was he supposed to let his naïve granddaughter end up at a disadvantage?
Men quickly grew tired of women, no matter how enamored they seemed at first. If Mengmeng remained a naïve "sweetheart," she would eventually be cast aside.
As a man himself, Jing Hongchen knew this all too well.
(End of Chapter)
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X