“That friend of mine is Han Rui. He’s now in the army. We’ve hardly met over the past couple of years,” Qiao Yanjue explained to Xia Xibei. “But I’ve heard that the Hans are quite a special family.”

“Special as in…”

Xia Xibei was puzzled.

“Well,” Qiao Yanjue nodded, “I’m not sure how special exactly. After all, I was young at that time, and Han Rui never told us about these things. Now that we’re older and preoccupied with work, we don’t bring up topics like that anymore. However, I think the Han family that you just said… They may have something to do with them.”

They would have to find out what the actual relation was for themselves.

“I think that they’re most likely a side line, not the main line of members of the family. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be living away.”

Qiao Yanjue added, “He also has a sister who grew up as lively as a boy. If she’s been through what you’ve just told me… I don’t think life would be that easy for her.”

“Let’s wait till we get it figured out,” Xia Xibei shook her head. “The main thing now is Tang Luo’s growth.”

If Tang Luo remained weak and got captured, they would be in big trouble.

“How’s Tang Luo right now?” Qiao Yanjue asked.

“I taught them the techniques of dual cultivation, so she’s quite alright now. I’m just afraid that the Hans are up to something else.”

“Dual cultivation techniques?” Qiao Yanjue caught the point sharply, his eyes instantly lighting up, “What kind of cultivation is that?”

Xia Xibei’s lips twitched. If he didn’t know anything, why was he so excited?

“Nothing much, just ordinary stuff,” she blurted out. Iit’s not for us.”

“How come?” Qiao Yanjue’s eyes shone, “I’m sure you have many other cultivation techniques in store!”

There was no telling where exactly Xia Xibei had come to learn such things, but what was certain was that she had mastered a diversity of skills that no one else ever could.

That was why Qiao Yanjue had so much confidence in her.

“I don’t, for God’s sake!” Xia Xibei shot him a speechless glance. “I would have shown you if I had them, wouldn’t I?”

Well, she was lying. She did have a solution.

If she told him the truth, however, it would be the end of her. Qian Yanjue would annoy her to death.

“For real?”

“For real!” She justified herself, “Our situation is different from Tang Luo’s, so we certainly have to resort to something else. You’ve gotten all the way here, so what more do you want?”

She made the move before he could, “Don’t tell me you’re still unsatisfied.”

She narrowed her eyes. There was a precarious look in her eyes that frightened him.

Her stare managed to shut Qiao Yanjue up.

“No, I’m very satisfied!”

“That’s good!” Xia Xibei patted his shoulder. “Okay, I gotta go make a phone call.”

As he watched her leave, there was a subtle look in Qiao Yanjue’s eyes.

He really wasn’t sure what the dual cultivation technique meant but… He could ask the others!

That was how Lu Xiaohang opened his door to find Qiao Yanjue, right after he saw Xia Xibei off.

“Dual cultivation?” Lu Xiaohang was equally surprised. “How did you know that?”

“I don’t.” Qiao Yanjue was frank, “I just happened to have heard about it, so I came over to seek an explanation from you.”

“You don’t know?” Lu Xiaohang looked him up and down with suspicion. “Why are you asking then?”

“I don’t know anything about it, and that’s exactly why I’m asking!” Qiao Yanjue gave him a contemptuous look. “Why would I ask you if I knew?”

Lu Xiaohang rolled his eyes. Qiao Yanjue wasn’t a cute nephew at the very least!