Douluo Dalu 3: Legend of the White Fox

"On purpose? What do you mean?" Leng Yaozhu furrowed her brows slightly.

After all, Yun Ming hadn't done anything wrong before.

She couldn't figure out why Yun Ming would deliberately abdicate.

"Is it that whenever it involves Skyrising Douluo, your intelligence automatically drops?" Xia Yi looked at Leng Yaozhu curiously.

There was no way she could be foolish, considering she was the Vice Tower Master of the Spirit Transferring Pagoda.

They were already at this point. How could she not understand such a simple matter?

Seeing herself being looked down on by a little brat, Leng Yaozhu's cheeks flushed. She smacked Xia Yi on the head and said, "You looking for a beating? I was just testing you. Keep talking."

"Alright, I'll pretend you were just testing me," Xia Yi nodded and continued,"Right now, the Holy Spirit Cult is gaining power. By letting Holy Spirit Douluo become the Sea God Pavilion Master, Shrek Academy can ease tensions with the Federation Government to the greatest extent.

Moreover, even if Yun Ming steps up to take the blame today, Shrek Academy's reputation will still be affected. If Holy Spirit Douluo inherits the position of Pavilion Master, she can use her sacred status among commoners and ordinary soul masters to smooth things over."

"Makes sense." Leng Yaozhu nodded. She would never admit she'd been slow-witted. Stubbornly, she added, "You've passed my test."

She looked at Xia Yi a bit longer this time.

Not only had he predicted Yun Ming would step forward to take the blame, but he also analyzed the situation so clearly.

Leng Yaozhu even suspected that Xia Yi understood Yun Ming's motives better than Yun Ming himself.

The thought startled her.

She quickly reassured herself, "No way. Brother Ming must have calculated everything. He must've thought through every possibility."

Xia Yi didn't expose her delusion. Smiling, he continued, "This was truly a masterstroke. Your Brother Ming is quite cunning."

Then he suddenly asked, "Do you think there's a possibility that the one who set me up was your Brother Ming himself? Just to give him a reason to abdicate to Holy Spirit Douluo?"

If there wasn't a good excuse, Yun Ming wouldn't have been able to give up his role as Sea God Pavilion Master. Even if he managed to step down, the other Pavilion members wouldn't have chosen Yali as his successor.

Even though Yali was well-respected, she wasn't originally from Shrek Academy. Some Pavilion members would inevitably have opinions about her becoming the Pavilion Master.

But using Xia Yi's situation as a reason would be perfect.

"Impossible! Skyshroud Douluo would never stoop to such underhanded tactics." Leng Yaozhu immediately denied Xia Yi's speculation. She firmly believed Yun Ming wouldn't do something like that.

"You're right. There are plenty of legitimate ways to abdicate without tarnishing Shrek Academy's reputation." Xia Yi nodded in agreement.

"Sigh!" Leng Yaozhu sighed softly.

"What's wrong now?" Xia Yi asked curiously.

"What if I said I really wanted to take you as my disciple and fully train you? Would you agree?" Leng Yaozhu looked at Xia Yi seriously.

"That hurts my feelings. Just because we don't have that official title, you'd refuse to mentor me?" Xia Yi feigned a look of hurt.

"So, are you rejecting me?" Leng Yaozhu asked again, still serious, without a hint of joking. She continued, "Titles might just be labels, but they make all the difference. Right now, because you're not officially my disciple, no matter how good our relationship is, the first person I think of when I have something valuable will always be Gu Yue. Not because of favoritism, but because she's my student."

"So, if I acknowledge you as my master, I'd be stealing Gu Yue's opportunities... So Uh..." Xia Yi chuckled sheepishly.

But before he could finish laughing, Leng Yaozhu suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace, even tighter than before. She held him so firmly that he almost couldn't breathe.

This time, Xia Yi didn't resist. He could feel the overwhelming warmth coming from her.

"Thank you for rejecting me!" Tears welled up in Leng Yaozhu's eyes. She even planted a gentle kiss on the top of his head.

Xia Yi was utterly baffled by her emotional outburst. Seeing her so moved, all he could do was return the embrace as best as he could.

Leng Yaozhu's body was soft and full of mature charm, but for once, Xia Yi had no impure thoughts.

"I want to ask you something. Promise to answer me truthfully." Still holding him, Leng Yaozhu spoke.

"Since you put it that way..." Xia Yi hesitated before replying, "Maybe you shouldn't ask."

He already knew she must be thinking about Leng Yulai again.

Even though he didn't know why, he was certain she was about to bring her up.

But he couldn't give her any answers.

Other than knowing Leng Yulai was inside him, Xia Yi had no other information about her.

"No, I have to ask." Her eyes grew misty as she asked, "Is my sister... alright?"

"The last time I saw her was three years ago. Other than that, I know nothing about her," Xia Yi shook his head.

"Alright, next question. You refuse to acknowledge Yali as your master because of my sister, right? Are you worried she'll be jealous? Or did she forbid you from doing so?" Leng Yaozhu's voice grew heavier.

Xia Yi finally understood why she got so emotional about his refusal.

In her eyes, his refusals—whether to Yali or to her—were all for Leng Yulai's sake.

It was true that Xia Yi was unwilling to acknowledge anyone as his master, but it had nothing to do with Leng Yulai.

He simply resented the idea of serving anyone.

Even back in Eastsea Academy, though he knew becoming Yali's disciple would only benefit him, he still found an excuse to refuse.

Later, with Zhen Hua, the situation was the same. He'd gone to Tian Dou City specifically to apprentice under him, yet he was relieved when Zhen Hua refused.

He couldn't understand why, but he knew deep down he could never truly serve under anyone.

Maybe when he regained his memories, he'd find out why.

Leng Yaozhu had misinterpreted his intentions, but this time, it filled Xia Yi with guilt.

He hadn't meant to deceive her, but she misunderstood anyway.

For the first time, Xia Yi felt remorse.