105: Chapter 105: The Smiling Tiger

Xiao Ran

White Bone Scholar opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing through them.

A few days ago, he had sent people to secretly spread rumors about Xiao Ran; he hadn't expected the counterattack to come so quickly.

And to be done in such a manner.

"Good, very good."

He stood up, his surrounding aura as cold as frost.

The Disciple was so frightened that he took a step back.

White Bone Scholar ignored him and walked straight out of the main hall.

Standing at the peak of the mountain, he gazed into the distance.

In that direction lay the Eternal Night Palace.

"Xiao Ran..."

He whispered the name, his eyes full of gloom.

Just then, a streak of light flew in from the distance.

It was Ghost Shadow.

He landed beside White Bone Scholar, his expression also quite unsightly.

"You've heard?"

White Bone Scholar nodded.

Ghost Shadow was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked.

"Is it you?"

White Bone Scholar was stunned, and then his face grew even darker.

"What did you say?"

Ghost Shadow looked at him with a complex expression.

"The things being spread outside... are they true?"

White Bone Scholar almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

"You fucking believe it too?"

Ghost Shadow remained silent.

White Bone Scholar took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

"What do you think?"

Ghost Shadow thought for a moment and shook his head.

"Probably not, but even if it is, don't drag me into it."

White Bone Scholar: "..."

He suddenly felt like killing someone.

But Ghost Shadow was telling the truth.

He was the Second Demon Son, always known for his resourcefulness and strategy; how could he possibly have that kind of... fetish?

"It's Xiao Ran."

White Bone Scholar gritted his teeth.

Ghost Shadow raised an eyebrow.

"Xiao Ran? Why him?"

"Because I sent people to spread rumors about him, and now he's counterattacking."

White Bone Scholar didn't hide it.

Upon hearing this, Ghost Shadow turned his head and looked at White Bone Scholar in surprise.

"Why on earth did you provoke him?"

"Don't you know he's a madman? I've kept an eye on him; since he debuted, anyone who has offended him has met a bad end."

"You know about Lu Qing, right? He's dead, died shortly after the Sect's minor competition with Xiao Ran, silently and without a trace."

The more White Bone Scholar heard, the more irritable he became.

"You think I wanted to?"

"The Heavenly Pride Competition is approaching. If someone like him doesn't cooperate with us, he will eventually become an enemy."

"If we don't set a trap to deal with him now, should we wait until his strength surpasses ours?"

Ghost Shadow fell silent.

"Then what do you plan to do?"

White Bone Scholar looked at him and suddenly asked.

"What do you think I should do?"

Ghost Shadow's pupils dilated.

"I'm asking you, and you're asking me back?"

"It's called brainstorming!"

Ghost Shadow thought again.

"How about... you also spread scandalous rumors about him?"

White Bone Scholar shook his head.

"He's already on his guard, and with Poison Lady helping him, they spread news faster than we do."

Ghost Shadow fell silent.

White Bone Scholar was also thinking.

After a long time, he spoke again.

"You're right, it's indeed not suitable to deal with him for the time being."

"We need to plan this carefully."

He turned around and looked into the distance.

"Since he likes to play, then I'll play along with him."

Ghost Shadow looked at him again, once more speechless in his heart.

Weren't you just about to deal with him?

Now it's back to planning carefully.

Damn it, you're the one saying both the good and the bad.

"What exactly is your plan?"

White Bone Scholar didn't answer.

He simply said calmly, "Let's go, let's pay a visit to Junior Brother Xiao."

Ghost Shadow was stunned.

"Go now?"

"Now."

Two streaks of light soared into the sky, heading towards the Eternal Night Palace.

...

Eternal Night Palace.

Xiao Ran was sitting in the courtyard, leisurely sipping spiritual tea.

Poison Lady sat opposite him, looking at him with a half-smile.

"Guess what White Bone Scholar is doing right now?"

Xiao Ran thought for a moment.

"He's probably cursing me."

Poison Lady laughed.

"Just cursing you? I think he probably wants to kill you."

"After all, that man cares about his reputation more than anything."

Xiao Ran shrugged at those words.

"There are plenty of people who want to kill me, where does he even rank?"

A flash of admiration passed through Poison Lady's eyes as she looked at him.

"Xiao Ran, that move of yours was truly ruthless."

Xiao Ran smiled and was about to speak when his eyebrows suddenly shot up.

Outside the palace gates.

Two auras were approaching.

One was cold, the other eerie.

It was precisely White Bone Scholar and Ghost Shadow.

"They arrived earlier than I expected."

Xiao Ran stood up.

Poison Lady also stood up, moving to his side.

In the next second, the palace gates were pushed open.

White Bone Scholar and Ghost Shadow walked in side by side.

Both had faint smiles on their faces, as if they were just neighbors dropping by for a visit.

White Bone Scholar was dressed in a white robe, holding a bone fan, looking elegant and poised.

Ghost Shadow remained hidden in the shadows, revealing only a pair of dark eyes.

"Junior Brother Xiao, I hope our sudden visit isn't an intrusion?"

White Bone Scholar cupped his hands and smiled.

Xiao Ran hurriedly returned the gesture: "Senior Brother White Bone, what are you saying? Please, have a seat."

He stepped aside and pointed to the stone table in the courtyard.

"I just happened to brew a pot of spiritual tea. If Senior Brother doesn't mind, why not have a taste together?"

White Bone Scholar nodded with a smile.

"That sounds wonderful."

"I'll take the opportunity to taste Junior Brother's fine tea."

The four of them sat down around the stone table.

Poison Lady sat beside Xiao Ran, while Ghost Shadow sat by White Bone Scholar's side.

Xiao Ran lifted the pot and poured the tea, his movements smooth and flowing.

"What brings Senior Brother to my small courtyard today?"

He asked casually.

White Bone Scholar picked up his teacup and took a light sniff.

"Good tea."

He praised before looking at Xiao Ran.

"It's nothing major, I just wanted to see Junior Brother Xiao. After all, we haven't had a good chat since returning from the Ancient Battlefield."

"I invited you several times, but you never came."

Xiao Ran immediately cupped his hands upon hearing this.

"I hope Senior Brother can be magnanimous. I've been in seclusion for many days and only came out yesterday; I simply didn't have the time."

The two looked at each other and both smiled.

Poison Lady watched from the side, inwardly marveling.

These two clearly knew what the other was thinking, yet their faces showed smiles more sincere than the next.

They were both smiling tigers!

White Bone Scholar took a sip of tea and suddenly sighed.

"Junior Brother Xiao, there have been some rumors about me in the Sect lately. Have you heard them?"

Xiao Ran put on a look of total bewilderment.

"What rumors? I've been in seclusion this whole time and rarely go out."

White Bone Scholar looked at him, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Oh? That's a pity then."

"The Sect has been abuzz with rumors lately; people are saying all sorts of things."

Xiao Ran asked curiously, "What are they saying?"

White Bone Scholar didn't answer directly, but just shook his head and smiled.

"It's all nonsense, not worth mentioning."

He paused and looked at Xiao Ran.

"But Junior Brother Xiao, what do you think the person spreading these rumors is after?"

Xiao Ran thought for a moment.

"Maybe they're just bored."

"Bored?"

"Yeah."

Xiao Ran nodded seriously.

"Or maybe they have a grudge and are trying to disgust you on purpose!"

White Bone Scholar looked at him with a deep gaze.

"Then who does Junior Brother Xiao think would have a grudge against me?"

Xiao Ran laughed.

"Senior Brother, how would I know?"

"You have a wide circle of friends and know far more people than I do."

White Bone Scholar stared at him for three breaths.

"Junior Brother Xiao is right, I was overthinking it."

He picked up his teacup and took another sip.

"By the way, Junior Brother Xiao, how is the digestion of your gains from the Ancient Battlefield going?"

Xiao Ran nodded at the question.

"Mostly digested."

A strange look flashed in White Bone Scholar's eyes.

"It seems you've already mastered the Legacy of the Ten Thousand Poisons Demon Venerable... No wonder Junior Sister Poison has been running to your place so often lately."

He looked at Poison Lady with a half-smile.

"Junior Sister Poison, it seems you've found yourself a Treasure Trove."

Poison Lady's expression remained unchanged as she said calmly.

"Senior Brother White Bone must be joking. I'm only here to ask Junior Brother Xiao some questions regarding the Dao of Poison."

White Bone Scholar nodded and didn't press further.

He looked at Xiao Ran again.

"Junior Brother Xiao, the Legacy of the Ten Thousand Poisons Demon Venerable is no small matter. Since you've obtained it, you should cherish it."

Xiao Ran cupped his hands: "Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother."

White Bone Scholar waved his hand and stood up to straighten his robes.

"Alright, the tea has been drunk and we've had our chat. I won't disturb Junior Brother Xiao's Cultivation any longer."

Xiao Ran also stood up.

"Senior Brother is leaving already? Won't you stay a bit longer?"

White Bone Scholar shook his head.

"No, I'll come to trouble you another day."

He walked to the courtyard gate and suddenly stopped.

He turned back to look at Xiao Ran.

"By the way, Junior Brother Xiao, there's one more thing I forgot to say."

"Please speak, Senior Brother."

White Bone Scholar looked at him with a gentle gaze.

"Junior Brother Xiao, although we are in the same camp, we are ultimately competitors."

"If there were any misunderstandings before, I hope Junior Brother Xiao will be understanding."

Xiao Ran smiled.

"What are you saying, Senior Brother? We are fellow Disciples; if there's a misunderstanding, we can just clear it up."

White Bone Scholar nodded.

"Junior Brother Xiao is right, we'll just clear up the misunderstanding."

He pushed the door and walked out.

The courtyard gate slowly closed.