I Have A Clone In Hell/C12 Are You Retarded?
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I Have A Clone In Hell/C12 Are You Retarded?
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C12 Are You Retarded?

The young lady in the bathtub was none other than Hu Nao's fiancée, Pei Zhiyuan, the esteemed daughter of the Keep. Upon realizing her slip of the tongue and inadvertent revelation of her innermost thoughts, she remained composed, simply gesturing for her maid to leave with a wave of her hand.

The maid, Jingxiang, had been attending to her for seven or eight years, well-versed in what could and could not be said. Unfortunately, she had underestimated Pei Le.

Pei Le had promised to help Hu Nao gather information about his sister. Yet, after several days without any news, he grew anxious. When he learned that Qin Feng had arrived at the manor today, supposedly to accompany his sister to Hu Manor for Hu Bugui's banquet for women, Pei Le hurried to his sister's courtyard to wait for her.

At that moment, Jingxiang descended the pavilion steps and exited the courtyard to deliver a message to Qin Feng in the parlor, only to be intercepted by Pei Le.

Noticing her pallor and erratic breathing, Pei Le inquired, "Jingxiang, what's the matter?"

Caught off guard and already on edge from overhearing something she shouldn't have, Jingxiang was startled by Pei Le's presence. She quickly curtsied and replied, "Greetings, young master. I'm fine, truly."

"Are you sure?" Pei Le asked, his eyes twinkling with spiritual energy as he scrutinized her.

Despite being only six years old and still a child, Pei Le was the sole son of Pei Zhan and the heir to the Keep, possessing a presence that could not be ignored. Under his intense gaze, Jingxiang's nerves frayed further, and she stammered, "Young Master, I assure you, there's nothing amiss... Perhaps the chill is just getting to me."

"Mm, make sure to keep warm," Pei Le advised nonchalantly, maintaining his position in front of her like a miniature adult. He then asked pointedly, "Has my sister mentioned anything about Hu Nao?"

Jingxiang shook her head without hesitation, "No, nothing at all."

Pei Le's spirits lifted at her response, though he maintained a serious demeanor, "I'm not asking out of personal curiosity; it's my father who wants to know. You're aware that my sister is exceptionally gifted, having already achieved Spirit Speak, and as the young miss of our Keep, her personal affairs are a matter of significance for all of Egluarsall. However, she is a lady, and there are questions my father cannot appropriately ask, so he has sent me. Please, tell me everything you know."

Jingxiang was initially skeptical of Pei Le's words. It was common knowledge that the City Lord harbored little affection for his son Pei Le, particularly after his wife's death. The name "Pei Le," which suggested a loss, seemed an unlikely choice for someone tasked with inquiring about a young lady's private thoughts. Besides, Pei Le was just a child—wasn't there a risk of him inadvertently spilling secrets?

Yet Pei Le's arguments were persuasive and coherent. Jingxiang found herself convinced after listening to him. With a moment's hesitation, she relayed Pei Zhiyuan's exact words to him, ending with a stern caution, "Young Master, you must ensure this doesn't get out. Remember, these are my words."

Pei Le was delighted upon hearing this, though he concealed his excitement well. "Rest assured," he replied smoothly, "my father simply wishes to be informed. He's already made other plans, and your confidence in me will not be misplaced. You're free to attend to your duties."

"Thank you, Young Master," Jingxiang said, bowing once more before heading to the parlor to deliver a message to Qin Feng.

Pei Le wasted no time hurrying to Hu Manor to share the joyful news with Hu Nao.

Deep within Hu Manor, in Hu Nao's courtyard, he was practicing the Phoenixfire Palm with precision and discipline. Observers would never guess he had only learned this martial art the previous night; he executed each movement as if he had years of experience.

"The Nirvana Pill is truly remarkable," Hu Nao mused, "enhancing my martial arts experience so significantly. Whatever new technique I tackle, I grasp its essence swiftly and make rapid progress. If Zhiyuan had taken the pill herself, her innate abilities would likely have propelled her into the Second Heaven of Spirit Speak in no time. Yet she chose to give it to me... What does that say about her feelings towards me?"

These thoughts left Hu Nao feeling conflicted, agitated, and anxious.

As noon approached, and the ceremony for the women was about to commence, he ceased his training. He decided to make an appearance to offer his support to Nan Xi.

"Brother Hu Nao..." Pei Le suddenly appeared, sneaking into the courtyard with a comical air of secrecy.

Hu Nao burst into laughter, "What's with the sneaking around? You look like a little thief!"

Pei Le approached Hu Nao cautiously, scanning the area to ensure they were alone. Once satisfied, she whispered, "I've got some great news for you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone, okay?"

Despite his youth, Pei Le was exceedingly cautious with matters of importance.

Hu Nao, feeling both perplexed and annoyed, snapped, "Out with it already. Don't beat around the bush." Yet, when he heard the news Pei Le had gleaned from Jingxiang, his demeanor shifted dramatically. In his excitement, he hoisted the diminutive Pei Le into the air, forgetting his own strength, now amplified by his Sixth Heaven Body Tempering and the transformation of vital essence into energy. Pei Le shot upwards like a rocket, soaring dozens of feet into the sky.

"Ahhhh... Brother Hu Nao, what are you doing? Catch me, catch me!"

Pei Le's screams nearly turned to tears as fear took hold.

Elated beyond measure, Hu Nao sprang into the air, effortlessly catching the plummeting Pei Le and gently landing. Without even setting her down, he demanded, "Are you telling me the truth? Did Zhiyuan really say that?"

After catching her breath, Pei Le rolled her eyes and retorted, "Why on earth would I lie to you? Now do you get it? The other day, my sister accepted Qin Feng's dinner invitation to get under your skin and to swindle a valuable item from him. And she succeeded—she got the Nirvana Pill from him."

"Today, she deliberately invited Qin Feng to the Hu Manor for Mr. Hu's daughter-in-law celebration, just to rile you up and get back at you."

"Zhiyuan, Zhiyuan..." Hu Nao murmured the name involuntarily, at a loss for words.

These past few days had been filled with fortuitous encounters and a surge in his cultivation. He should have been overjoyed, yet he was plagued by a persistent sense of emptiness and melancholy, unable to find joy in anything other than his martial arts training.

Pei Zhiyuan was like an intangible thread, subtly and persistently entwining him, binding him tightly.

Some knots cannot be cut or untied.

There's a peculiar taste of worry and longing that lingers in the heart.

But now, he gets it!

He understands it all!

Pei Zhiyuan really did care about him. Her words "it's all your fault... Don't blame me..." meant that if he was to blame for his ambiguity with Nan Xi, then she shouldn't be faulted for growing close to Qin Feng.

In a flash, Hu Nao felt his anger dissipate, his posture straighten, and a renewed sense of vitality!

Most importantly, his mind was no longer clouded with jealousy!

Clutching Pei Le with one arm and pointing skyward with the other, he exclaimed, "To hell with it, you thieving heavens, I'm in too good a mood to curse you today."

But Pei Le hesitantly replied, "Brother Hu Nao, if you're really with the thieving heavens... doesn't that make you a dog?"

Hu Nao: "…"

The ceremony to welcome the new girl was set to take place in the conference hall.

As Hu Nao arrived at the entrance with Pei Le, they coincidentally met another pair approaching from a different direction.

The young woman, about fifteen or sixteen, was in the bloom of youth. She wore a sheer blue gown amidst the snow, yet she seemed unaffected by the cold. Her movements were elegant, and she appeared as if she could ascend to the heavens at any moment, leaving behind the chaos of the mortal world.

Her hair cascaded down like a waterfall, her features were as if painted, and a crescent-shaped mark adorned her brow, faintly glowing blue and casting a dreamlike aura, adding an air of mystery to her presence.

This was Pei Zhiyuan.

Roughly a month prior, Pei Zhiyuan had achieved Spirit Speak. Hu Nao was naturally overjoyed that his fiancée was so remarkable, giving him great pride. However, at that time, he felt inadequate, with his cultivation only at the Fourth Heaven of Body Tempering, which seemed worlds apart from hers. His deep-seated insecurities held him back from approaching her, so he kept his admiration from a distance, relying on Pei Le for updates about her, sharing in her joys and concerns.

Upon catching sight of her, Hu Nao's heart began pounding wildly, his blood surging with an urge to rush forward and envelop her in his embrace, to kiss her passionately and overwhelm her with his desire.

Regrettably, the bustling entrance of the council hall, teeming with people, was no place for such intimate gestures.

Moreover, Hu Nao's skills paled in comparison to Pei Zhiyuan's; he simply lacked the means to overpower her.

Unblinking, Hu Nao's gaze was fixed on Pei Zhiyuan.

They were close, yet Pei Zhiyuan seemed oblivious to his presence, casually engaging in conversation with the young man beside her. Her lips, tinged with a rosy hue, curled into a half-smile that fluttered like petals in a soft breeze – a beauty of its own kind.

Despite knowing that Pei Zhiyuan's behavior was intended to provoke him, Hu Nao struggled to contain the fury within. He shot a fierce glare at the young man beside her, suspecting him to be the detestable Qin Feng.

Qin Feng was the epitome of suave, adorned in his ornate attire. His sword-like eyebrows complemented his sharp demeanor, and his eyes, even more piercing than his brows, flickered with lightning. It was clear he had mastered a formidable lightning technique, exuding an intimidating presence that made others avert their eyes.

"Who are you? Why do you glare at me with such hostility?" Qin Feng, sensing Hu Nao's antagonistic stare, reacted with anger. In a flash, he closed the distance to a mere ten meters from Hu Nao, his eyes crackling with electricity as he scrutinized him.

In that moment, Hu Nao felt the overwhelming pressure of a mountain bearing down on him, grand and heavy, nearly bringing him to his knees. The sharpness in Qin Feng's gaze was almost tangible, causing a slight pain in his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Hu Nao circulated his breath through his body, finding some relief.

Hu Nao was inwardly alarmed.

Qin Feng's arrogance, dominance, and strength were truly formidable.

Hu Nao shot him a glare, and he immediately lost his temper, as if a mere question about his identity would provoke a brawl. He utterly disregarded the fact that he was a guest in someone else's home, displaying such arrogance and lack of manners.

Hu Nao was acutely aware of Qin Feng's distinguished origins, representing the Snowlands' Northwind Keep. He knew better than to provoke him.

But he was irked, extremely irked!

Especially with his fiancée, Pei Zhiyuan, standing right there!!!

Hu Nao blurted out in anger, "Have you lost your mind? You barge into my house and have the nerve to question who the owner is. I don't like you, and I glared at you. So what? Now, I'm telling you to leave Hu Manor. Scram! Scram!"

He was seething.

At the entrance of the hall, everyone was taken aback.

Just then, a fierce wind howled, and snow began to drift down.

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