Douluo Continent: Qian Renxue's Simulated Life After Becoming a Demigod

"..."

The light in Xue Qinghe's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by an urge to hit someone.

Is this guy playing me?

If it weren't for the fact that this was Jixia Academy's territory, she really wanted her guards to beat this guy to a pulp.

She took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and patiently asked, "So, what does Brother Lu Ming mean?"

Lu Ming tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his expression inscrutable.

"Didn't you want the two houses to have a competition to learn from each other?"

"I have a way to arrange that for you."

Xue Qinghe was taken aback, looking at him with some suspicion: "You? Didn't you just say you were just a nobody and didn't know the dean? How could you make decisions about such an important matter as the exchange between the two academies?"

If they can't even meet with the dean, how can they arrange for the two academies to have a friendly exchange?

Lu Ming smiled slightly, but did not answer directly. Instead, he waved to Xue Qinghe.

"Your Highness, come closer."

Although Xue Qinghe was puzzled, he couldn't resist his curiosity and leaned forward slightly to put his ear closer.

Lu Ming leaned close to her ear, deliberately lowering his voice, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe.

"Because... I'm good at horseback riding!"

"Equestrianism?"

Xue Qinghe was taken aback and subconsciously repeated it.

What does this have to do with arranging the competition?

Do the higher-ups at Jixia Academy have a fondness for horse racing?

But the next second, when she met Lu Ming's eyes, which held a hint of mockery and deep meaning, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck her.

Equestrianism...horseback riding...riding...

As a "crown princess" who grew up in the corrupt environment of the palace, she was self-disciplined, but she was quick to understand certain bawdy jokes and veiled codes.

What equestrianism!

This is clearly implying that he has a secret "riding" relationship with a certain high-ranking female figure in the academy!

In other words, it's what's called... living off a woman!

boom!

Xue Qinghe's face instantly turned red to the roots of his ears; his originally fair and refined face now resembled a ripe tomato.

"Dirty!"

She cursed inwardly.

So this is how Lu Ming rose to power!

No wonder Gongsun Li and Cai Wenji treated him like that just now; no wonder he said that being handsome was useful.

After all that, it turns out this guy is just a gigolo kept by a rich woman!

"Cough cough..."

Xue Qinghe coughed awkwardly twice, his eyes darting around, not daring to look at Lu Ming at all.

"So...so it's about horsemanship! Brother Lu Ming is indeed...a man of hidden talent."

Seeing her so ashamed and indignant, Lu Ming was overjoyed.

He deliberately moved closer, looking at Xue Qinghe's face, which was so red it was almost bleeding, and asked with feigned concern, "Your Highness, why is your face so red?"

"Is it heatstroke?"

Xue Qinghe quickly took a half step back to create some distance, and somewhat flusteredly fanned himself with his hand.

"It's hot! At midday, the sun is scorching, it's really too hot."

Lu Ming's gaze swept over her tightly wrapped brocade robe, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

"Since it's hot, why doesn't the Crown Prince take off his outer garment?"

As he spoke, he reached out and placed his hand on Xue Qinghe's shoulder very naturally, as if he wanted to help her undress.

"Look how bundled you are up, even your neck is covered. No wonder you're hot."

The moment his fingertips touched Xue Qinghe's shoulder, Lu Ming could clearly feel her body stiffen abruptly.

"Huh?!"

Xue Qinghe was shocked and jerked his hand away from Lu Ming as if he had been electrocuted.

Are you kidding me!

She was wearing women's clothing underneath; if she took off her outer garment, wouldn't she be exposed on the spot?

And why is this guy getting handsy?!

"No...no need!"

Xue Qinghe stammered, "I...I have a special constitution, I'm sensitive to cold! Yes, I'm sensitive to cold, I can't take off my clothes."

To cover up the embarrassment and to escape this ambiguous and dangerous topic as soon as possible, Xue Qinghe quickly took a deep breath and forced his expression back to serious.

"Brother Lu Ming, since you have a way... even if it's that kind of way."

She gritted her teeth; although she felt contempt, she had no choice but to endure it for the sake of the bigger picture.

"Then I'll trouble Brother Lu Ming to arrange a competition between the two academies. If you can make this happen, I'll consider it a favor I owe you."

Lu Ming sat back down on the stone bench, crossed his legs, and the smile on his face instantly vanished, replaced by a listless expression.

"I didn't agree to that."

"you!"

The snow cleared and the river was filled with air.

You were the one who brought it up just now, and now you're saying you didn't agree?

"Brother Lu Ming, are you trying to play a trick on me?" Xue Qinghe's voice carried a hint of anger.

She was genuinely angry.

As the crown prince, how could he have been mocked like this time and time again?

Lu Ming remained completely calm. He extended a finger and waved it in front of Xue Qinghe.

"Your Highness, please don't be anxious. There's no such thing as a free lunch, especially not something as important as this."

"You want me to use my... 'equestrian' connections to do things for you? That's going to be very physically demanding."

Lu Ming looked at Xue Qinghe and said calmly, "That depends on His Highness the Crown Prince's sincerity."

Xue Qinghe looked at the finger and frowned slightly.

"One thousand gold soul coins?"

She asked tentatively.

For an ordinary person, one thousand gold soul coins is already a huge sum of money.

Lu Ming scoffed and shook his head: "Your Highness, you're really not being fair. Asking someone to do a favor, are you trying to pay a beggar with this little bit of money?"

Xue Qinghe took a deep breath and spoke again: "Ten thousand gold soul coins!"

Lu Ming shook his head again.

Xue Qinghe gritted his teeth: "One hundred thousand!"

Lu Ming shook his head again, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.

Xue Qinghe's heart sank.

Ten thousand gold soul coins is not a small amount. Does this guy have such a big appetite?

"Could it be one million?"

Xue Qinghe's voice trembled slightly.

One million gold soul coins are enough to equip an elite legion of soul masters!

However, Lu Ming still shook his head.

He slowly withdrew his finger, looked at Xue Qinghe, and calmly uttered a number.

"Ten million gold soul coins!"

"What?! Ten million gold soul coins?!"

Xue Qinghe's eyes widened suddenly, his voice rising eight octaves in an instant, completely losing his composure.

"Are you crazy?!"

Ten million gold soul coins!

What does this mean?

One gold soul coin is enough for an ordinary family of three to live comfortably for a year.

Even Bibi Dong, the Pope of the Spirit Hall and the most powerful woman on the continent, only received a nominal annual salary of 100,000 gold soul coins.

This ten million is equivalent to Bibi Dong working for a hundred years without eating or drinking!

This amount of money is even enough to buy several extremely rare, ten-thousand-year-old soul bones!

Ten million just to arrange a friendly match?

This is outright robbery!

"Why don't you just rob me?!" Xue Qinghe trembled with anger.