Ouyang Xun was once again the first one to react as he asked in a shaky voice, "Bet? Your highness, what do, do you mean by a bet?"
Yang Xi Ruo just casually said, "It's very simple, a bet is a bet. I'll make a bet that Jun Xie will be able to beat any one of your followers at next week's ranking exam."
Ouyang Xun deeply knitted his brows when he heard this as his mind began racing, trying to figure out what Yang Xi Ruo's goal in doing this was.
But no matter how fast his mind turned, he wasn't able to figure out a single thing…
After all, this seemed just too willful and too nonsensical to actually have a goal.
Jun Xie was someone who came from a merchant family. Even if his family did well for themselves, they didn't have any status or influence like the nobles did. There was
nothing about his family that made it worth standing up for him.
As for Yang Xi Ruo, she was the only daughter of Duke Yang, the apple of his eye. He was famous for doting on his daughter, so he had made sure that his daughter had received the best that anyone could get.
If one were to marry Yang Xi Ruo, it was certain that they would be set for life. They wouldn't ever have to lift a single finger since they would be the future duke, ruling above all others.
So there really wasn't anything that Yang Xi Ruo would gain from doing something like this…
But here she was standing in between him and Jun Xie…
Could it be that there really was something special about this weakling?
However, since he wasn't able to think of anything, Ouyang Xun had no choice but to play along.
After all, it was too late for him to back down now and if he were to publicly back down from a bet with Yang Xi Ruo over this merchant family brat, it would bring shame to him. They would say that he was so scared that he didn't even dare face someone in the Fragmented Soul Realm.
His pride would never allow these kinds of rumours to spread, even if he was beaten to death.
So after glaring at Jun Xie for a bit, he turned back to Yang Xi Ruo and said, "What are we betting?"
Yang Xi Ruo looked up as if she was thinking about something before saying, "How about that little blade of yours?"
When Ouyang Xun heard this, he deeply knitted his brows as he looked at Yang Xi Ruo with a trace of hostility, but that quickly faded as he asked, "Then what does he have that will be worth trading that blade for?"
It had to be known that the little blade that Yang Xi Ruo was referring to was Ouyang Xun's special artifact. This was a Child Soul Realm Artifact, something that wouldn't have been easy to get if one wasn't a noble. But for Ouyang Xun, it was his most precious item because this was the only Child Soul Realm Artifact he had been given.
Even if they were nobles, it wasn't as if he would be given artifacts that were far above his level for no reason.
Of course, he had also never shown off this blade before, so he couldn't help being shocked by the fact that Yang Xi Ruo knew about this. He even suspected that she was plotting against him by requesting this.
Yang Xi Ruo said with a smile, "He also has one too, so he'll bet that with you."
Everyone revealed shocked expressions when they heard this, especially Jun Xie.
That was because Yang Xi Ruo was right, Jun Xie did indeed have a Child Soul Realm Artifact.
Unlike the other children, he was actually someone who was pampered by his family, so they spared no expenses in protecting him. They even gave him this Child Soul Realm Artifact just so he could protect himself when he was in danger.
But he had absolutely never told anyone about this, let alone taken out this Child Soul Realm Artifact.
Just how did Yang Xi Ruo know about this?
When this was exposed, Ouyang Xun couldn't help taking this seriously.
That was just how enticing the Child Soul Realm Artifact was.
If he could win, he would be able to get another Child Soul Realm Artifact and he was certain that he would win easily.
After all, even if that Arctic Lynx was powerful, it was still only in the Fragmented Soul Realm.
As long as he sent one of his stronger subordinates, it was impossible for Jun Xie to achieve any good results on the exam.
But he also had a vague bad feeling about this bet. After all, he had never heard of this Jun Xie before and he suddenly showed up with this powerful Arctic Lynx one day…Just where did this person come from?
He even doubted that this was all an elaborate trap that had been set up by Yang Xi Ruo…
However, the enticement was just too strong for him and he couldn't help taking it in the end. So he said, "Alright, it's a bet."
Then without saying anything else, he waved his hand and led his subordinates away.
His subordinates also picked up Chen Ru's group and the subordinate that had lost to Jun Xie. It was clear that they wouldn't have a good fate waiting for them, but it was what they deserved.
After Ouyang Xun was gone, everyone headed off with their own thing and left Yang Xi Ruo alone with Jun Xie. After all, Yang Xi Ruo's status was there and she wasn't someone that could be easily offended.
Since it was clear that she had some business with Jun Xie, it was better to leave them alone.
Jun Xie just awkwardly stood there since he really didn't know what to say.
He also knew Yang Xi Ruo's status and normally he wouldn't be qualified to even talk to her. Now that she was standing here in front of him, it was hard for him not to feel awkward.
Luckily for him, Yang Xi Ruo took the initiative to start the conversation. However, the words that she said completely shocked him.
"Hello, my name is Yang Xi Ruo, can we be friends?"
Jun Xie's chin dropped to the ground and he couldn't close it for a long time as he just stared at her.
This beautiful and noble girl wanted to become his friend?
Just how much luck did he have in his past life for this to happen?
Now that everything had settled, he was able to get a better look at her. She was a beautiful girl with skin as fair as snow, features as delicate as a doll, and hair that was long and sleek like a waterfall. This was definitely a girl that could only be described as a nation collapsing beauty and yet she wanted to become friends with him?
Seeing that Jun Xie was just standing there in a daze, Yang Xi Ruo couldn't help revealing a smile as she teased, "What? You can't be friends with someone like me? That hurts…"
Before she could finish the rest of her words, Jun Xie quickly waved his hand and said, "No, no, it's nothing like that! It's an honour that you would ask me to be your friend, but…" After a hesitant pause, he said, "I'm not really qualified, am I?"
Yang Xi Ruo slightly knitted her brows when she heard this before saying, "Who says that you're not?"
Jun Xie awkwardly said, "Well, I'm not a noble and I'm not strong. Someone like me who is at the bottom of the class, how could I match someone as beautiful and noble as you?"
Yang Xi Ruo revealed a smile again as she said, "You think I'm beautiful?"
Jun Xie was about to panic again, but after a moment, he just gave a nod.
Yang Xi Ruo was a bit surprised by how direct Jun Xie was, so she couldn't help laughing. This laughter was like the beautiful singing of a nightingale, making one's heart jump when it rang out.
But then she revealed a serious look and said, "I'm the only one who can decide who is qualified to be my friend, no one else can ever decide this. If I want to be your friend, then you are qualified to be my friend."
Jun Xie still had an awkward look as he said, "But…"
Yang Xi Ruo raised a hand to cut him off before saying, "No buts. Unless you really don't want to be my friend."
Jun Xie once again panicked and said, "No, no, it would be my honour. But…"
Yang Xi Ruo raised her hand again to cut him off, "I already said no buts." Then she said with a smile, "Since you're honoured, then it's already done. We're friends now."
Jun Xie couldn't follow how direct and frank she was, but since she had already made a decree, there wasn't anything that he could do. So this was the aura of a duke's successor and a princess, it really was something else…He really couldn't say anything when facing it.
After settling this matter, Yang Xi Ruo changed the topic by saying, "Since we're friends now, I have something that I want to ask you."
Jun Xie was surprised by this, but he quickly said, "Please ask anything you want. As long as it's something that I know, I'll be happy to answer."
Yang Xi Ruo turned her eyes to the Arctic Lynx and asked, "Where did you find this pet?"
Jun Xie was taken aback at first, but then he suddenly revealed a look of understanding.
If she knew about his Child Soul Realm Artifact, she naturally knew about what level he was at before. So naturally she would be curious how Xiao Han had suddenly become so powerful.
Naturally, she would also want the same thing for her own pets.
Jun Xie just said, "I've always had Xiao Han."
Yang Xi Ruo nodded before saying, "So did something good happen with Xiao Han lately?"
Jun Xie hesitated a bit, but he figured that she would be able to find out about Lin Fan's store in the end, he would just tell her. At least he would be able to earn some favorability with her by being direct.
So Jun Xie told Yang Xi Ruo all about Lin Fan's store, but he also made sure to tell her about how strange it was.
Yang Xi Ruo nodded along as she listened to this before she suddenly said, "Alright, let's go to the store together tomorrow?"
"Eh?" That was the only thing that Jun Xie could respond with.
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