Phi-Fic The Purpose Behind Chapter 94
The Purpose Behind Chapter 94
After seeing Ao Nanxi off, Chu Qiuchi finally relaxed completely. She should have felt proud and excited to have just made two friends—both princesses of high status—but her mood was surprisingly heavy.
Princess Mu Yunman, a self-proclaimed foodie, only makes friends for the sake of food; she's simple-minded and straightforward. She doesn't need to overthink things or worry about any conspiracies.
But Onanxi was different. When they first met, Onanxi looked down on them completely. Even if they had achieved some success now, it was probably insignificant to the imperial princess who was used to seeing geniuses.
But now, Ao Nanxi has actually come over on her own initiative, insisting on befriending them, and acting so friendly—a stark contrast to her usual self. This is highly unusual. She says she was sent by the royal family to offer condolences, which sounds like a reasonable excuse, but upon closer examination, it inevitably raises suspicions.
Ao Nanxi is currently undergoing training in the Third War Zone, and there aren't many people who can send her here. Chu Qiuchi couldn't help but think of the First Prince, who was also in the Third War Zone—that low-key and intelligent man, deeply favored by His Majesty, decisive in his actions, and skillful in his methods. If he really orchestrated all of this behind the scenes, his purpose wouldn't be simply to make friends.
“If it’s the Crown Prince…” Chu Qiuchi’s heart sank slightly. “Would he know about my initial mental value? Could it be that Aonanxi came here purely for me?” Her doubts gradually rose, and she could not ignore this possibility.
"Qiu Chi! Qiu Chi!"
Just as she was deep in thought, she suddenly felt a gentle poking on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Puyang Minghui lying next to her, blinking and poking her repeatedly.
"Minghui, what's wrong?"
Chu Qiuchi looked completely bewildered and asked in confusion, "Why did you poke me?"
Puyang Minghui smiled mischievously, her eyes curving into crescent moons. "I called you for ages, why didn't you respond? What were you thinking about?"
Chu Qiuchi smiled mysteriously, a hint of amusement in his eyes, and looked at her earnestly: "I was just contemplating life. I've made friends with two princesses today, I feel like I'm incredibly popular! Ugh, this damn, irresistible charm is really a nuisance!"
Upon hearing her words, the others couldn't help but roll their eyes and exchange bewildered glances. Here it comes again, that familiar feeling, it's back again.
Puyang Minghui smiled helplessly, the corners of her mouth curving up: "You, your narcissism is truly unmatched."
Nalan Xingyao, standing beside her, shook her head with a smile and pursed her lips, "Alright, stop showing off. Do you think we didn't see that you're actually deep in thought about something?"
Chu Qiuchi's eyes flashed, then he smiled and said, "Guess what I'm thinking?"
The group of people all looked puzzled and shook their heads, indicating that they did not know.
Chu Qiuchi said casually, "Actually, I've been wondering what Ao Nanxi is here for today." She paused, then chuckled, "I don't really believe she's just here to make friends with us; that's not like her at all. I suspect she has ulterior motives."
Chu Yichen glanced at her with some concern, silently adding in his mind: Her target is probably you! He frowned, then said, "I don't think our team has anything that would make a princess like her come all the way here to make friends."
Ji Moyu seemed to be deep in thought, and said calmly, "It might be the eldest prince."
Nalan Xingyao thought for a moment and nodded in agreement, "Yes, I also think it could be the First Prince. But, is the First Prince sending someone over at this time to win us over? It feels a bit sudden!"
Puyang Minghui stroked her chin and muttered, "Could it be that we've become so outstanding that even the First Prince has taken a liking to us?"
The group fell silent for a moment. Although Puyang Minghui's words were meant as a joke, they all had a feeling that things were not so simple.
Chu Qiuchi's gaze darkened slightly. Others might not know the truth, but she herself was perfectly clear: the First Prince's true target was her. Indeed, being too outstanding easily attracts unwanted attention. Although Ao Nanxi's current behavior didn't reveal anything, she was mentally prepared. Since it was unavoidable, she could only face the challenge head-on and wait and see.
Having made up his mind, Chu Qiuchi coughed lightly twice, breaking the silence with a hint of unease.
"Sigh, whatever her motives may be, since she hasn't said anything explicitly, let's just treat her as someone who's trying to make friends and deal with her as usual. Do what you're supposed to do, stay calm, and don't panic. As for the eldest prince, he's probably just trying to curry favor with us. Anyway, we don't have much of a chance to get close to him right now, so let's ignore him for now."
The others nodded in agreement, no longer questioning Ao Nanxi's motives. The atmosphere eased slightly, except for Ji Moyu, whose gaze subtly swept across Chu Qiuchi's face, a barely perceptible flicker in his eyes, as if he were deep in thought.
Puyang Minghui smiled sweetly and spoke again: "Qiuchi, now that we've become friends with the princess of the Tianling Clan, will we have a continuous supply of magic potions? The Tianling Clan is naturally skilled in cultivating magic potions. I wonder if we'll have the chance to visit the Tianling Clan's territory, the Yougu Great Forest, which is said to be a paradise for alchemists!"
Chu Qiuchi was also excited, his eyes sparkling: "Yes! We should get more good food for Mu Yunman in the future, and ask her to get us some affordable magic potions. The magic potions of the Tianling Clan are famous. If we can get one or two rare magic herbs from her, it might help our potion research."
Upon hearing this, Ji Moyu's eyes lit up slightly, clearly showing his interest as well. Compared to Ao Nanxi, gaining Mu Yunman's friendship was more meaningful to them.
The group discussed excitedly for a long time, and although it was already late at night, none of them felt sleepy.
"Since no one is sleepy, let's cultivate together. It's quiet at night, which is good for concentration. What do we care about any schemes or tricks? They're nothing in the face of absolute strength. Let's get stronger as soon as possible!" Chu Qiuchi smiled and suggested.
Everyone nodded in agreement, then sat down on their beds and entered a meditative state. The night deepened, the air grew cooler, and their presence almost completely blended into the silent night sky, with only their soft breathing echoing around them.
Moonlight spilled like water outside the tents, accompanied by a gentle night breeze. Occasionally, the chirping of insects drifted in, as if providing accompaniment for their cultivation.