I am the snake demon!

"Young master."

Noticing Bai Xuan's unusual behavior, Hongxiu looked at him in surprise.

"It's nothing. I just looked around and found that our Hongxiu is indeed a beauty of unparalleled grace and charm. Not to mention finding someone who can compare to you, Hongxiu, we can't even find half of you," Bai Xuan said with a light laugh.

The source of the spying was in the direction of the imperial city, presumably because the court wanted to spy on him.

But it doesn't matter.

If the other party can really spy on him, that would be a good thing.

This indicates that the other party is an expert.

Bai Xuan had never encountered such a master before.

The last time he swept through the demon city, he sensed a similar spying, and then nothing happened.

The demon who spied on him suffered a backlash and killed himself.

If there really is such a powerful person, Bai Xuan would really like to meet him and discuss things with him.

"Young master."

Hearing Bai Xuan's praise, Hongxiu lowered her head slightly, two blushes appearing on her cheeks, feeling shy and happy.

Bai Xuan was even more delighted. He opened his folding fan naturally, adopting the air of a spoiled young master, and said with great magnanimity, "Let's go, whatever you like on this street, I'll buy it for you."

Unable to withstand Bai Xuan's relentless challenges, Li Daoyan handed Bai Xuan over to Xu Yushuang and Leng Qinghan, two outstanding disciples of the Lingbao Sect.

Bai Xuan was happy to accept it.

Given the choice between playing chess with an old man and playing chess with two beautiful women, Bai Xuan would naturally choose the latter.

Putting everything else aside, this is very good for his eyes.

Although Bai Xuan was highly talented and had strong mental strength, he was still far inferior to Leng Qinghan and Xu Yushuang, who had been cultivating formations since childhood. Without using the Nine-Bend Formation, he was destined to lose.

After a series of failures, Bai Xuan finally chose to find some satisfaction by bullying weaker opponents.

To be honest, he's been in Xuanwu for four months now, but he hasn't even left the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion much.

"This servant dares not delay your important business, young master. Please wait until you win the game at Zhenlong Pavilion before rewarding me," Hongxiu said with a faint smile.

These days, she has witnessed Bai Xuan's losing streak firsthand.

"I feel like you're thinking something very rude." Bai Xuan glanced at Hongxiu and chuckled as he tapped her head with his fan.

Hongxiu exclaimed "Oh dear!" and touched her head, whispering, "No way! You're overthinking it, young master. Besides, it's only February, you don't need to bring a fan, do you?"

"That's called the elegance of a scholar. Besides, it's only natural for someone playing chess to carry a fan," Bai Xuan chuckled. Chu Ying carries a fan every day, after all.

Anyway, he was immune to heat and cold, and for him, fans were only for decoration, regardless of the season.

"A scholar's elegance is all about winning," Hongxiu muttered.

"Hmm?" Bai Xuan glanced at Hong Xiu.

Hongxiu blinked immediately, appearing innocent, trying to get away with it by being cute.

Bai Xuan snorted and strode forward. He couldn't beat Li Daoyan, one of only three Tongyou Realm array masters in the Northern Territory, nor could he beat Xu Yushuang, one of the two Lingbao Sect disciples. But he couldn't beat these people who had no sect or school.

If you push me too far, I'll smash a chessboard over someone, you believe me?

Hongxiu smiled and strode forward to catch up with Bai Xuan.

After four months of getting to know each other, she gradually figured out Bai Xuan's personality, which was much gentler and kinder than she had imagined.

To have such a master is a blessing beyond measure.

Before long, Bai Xuan and his companion arrived at a magnificent chess academy.

An antique-style plaque hangs in the air, bearing the three characters "Zhenlongxuan" in a flowing, elegant style, exuding a rustic charm.

This clearly shows that the person who wrote these three characters must be a grandmaster of martial arts.

Zhenlongxuan, the premier chess academy in Liangzhou.

The Xu family of Shanyang funded the project and even hired a formation master at the Zuozhao realm to oversee it.

The area is vast, covering several tens of acres.

"Come on, young master, let me show you the array masters of the Northern Territory." Bai Xuan arrived at the door, full of pride.

Having just entered, they discovered that the grand chess academy was completely empty.

Bai Xuan was taken aback and looked at Hong Xiu in confusion. Wasn't this supposed to be the largest chess academy in Xuanwu City?

Hongxiu was also puzzled, so she immediately went to summon a servant to ask Bai Xuan what was going on.

"Young master, are you unaware that the Zhenlong Chess Tournament is in three days? There are no restrictions on status; any chess player under the age of thirty can participate. Our Zhenlong Pavilion will be closed for the next three days for renovations to prepare for the tournament." The attendant at the chess academy did not dare to be careless. Although he did not know Bai Xuan's identity, as an attendant of the chess academy, he could judge the approximate value of Bai Xuan's clothes at a glance. Even the pendant on the folding fan in his hand was worth a thousand gold pieces, not to mention the incomparably beautiful Hongxiu behind Bai Xuan. He immediately judged that Bai Xuan was a nobleman.

"The Zhenlong Chess Tournament in three days? That sounds pretty good," Bai Xuan said, his eyes lighting up.

"Indeed, the champion of the Zhenlong Chess Tournament will receive three thousand taels of silver and will be able to purchase goods at 20% off at all shops under the Xu Family Trading Company. If you are interested, young master, you can pay a registration fee of one tael of silver and come to participate in three days," the attendant said.

"Come and participate in three days."

Upon hearing this, Bai Xuan raised an eyebrow, looked at the names written on the board with numbers below them, and asked with considerable puzzlement, "What are these?"

"These are all popular candidates for this competition. Jia Huaien and Xue Zhaoliang are both seventh-level array masters," the attendant replied.

"Is that so?" Bai Xuan's lips curled up slightly upon hearing this. "So, after I register, I can also bet on myself?"

"Of course, I'll trouble you to test my bone age, then tell me my name and pay the registration fee. Your name will be posted tomorrow, and the odds will be determined before you place your bet," the servant replied.

"Okay." Bai Xuan readily agreed. It was a good idea; he could practice chess and win money at the same time, killing two birds with one stone.

Speaking of which, the Xu family really has a knack for business. They put up a gimmick of three thousand taels of silver, but with gambling and entrance fees, their income is probably far more than that three thousand taels of silver.

"Please follow me, young master." The servant led the way, bringing Bai Xuan to the counter and asking him to place his hand on a compass.

Bai Xuan did as instructed. His body was under his own control, and there was absolutely no problem with his bone age.

The compass flashed, confirming the final diagnosis.

The attendant smiled and said, "Please leave your name and registration fee, young master. You can come to participate in the Zhenlong Chess Tournament in three days."

Bai Xuan nodded slightly, wrote the two characters "Bai Xuan" in a graceful and elegant style, paid the registration fee, and then left the chess academy.

"I don't even have a chance to play chess, Hongxiu. Is there anything fun to do in Xuanwu?" Bai Xuan asked.

"At this hour, the entertainment venue probably hasn't started yet. Why don't you go to the restaurant to listen to the storytelling, young master?" Hongxiu suggested.

"It's boring," Bai Xuan said.

"Miss Ruoyu of Tingyu Pavilion plays the zither exceptionally well, comparable to a national master. If you go at this time, you may have to wait, or Your Highness may order her to perform earlier," Hongxiu said.

"Wait? No way," Bai Xuan said. He wasn't particularly interested in playing the piano, and there was no need to force her to do so; waiting for her would only waste more time.

"Young master, wouldn't you like to visit the Hundred Flowers Pavilion?" Hongxiu asked.

"Are the girls in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion prettier than you? I don't have to pay to look at you, but I have to pay to look at them. Are you bored?" Bai Xuan said.

Hearing that Bai Xuan wasn't going to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, Hongxiu was relieved and subconsciously delighted. But then, thinking that Bai Xuan wouldn't even go to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, she said with a bitter face, "Then Xuanwu City probably really doesn't have anything suitable for you, young master."

"Alright then, let's walk around Xuanwu, take a look at my city, and I'll accompany you shopping. Buy whatever you like, and then we'll go back," Bai Xuan said, shaking his head. Entertainment here is rather scarce.

Forget it, I'll just have to make do for now. When I get back, I'll have someone dig a bigger pool at home, and then when summer comes, I'll have the maids in the yard dress more lightly, and then we'll have a pool party at home.

As he spoke, Bai Xuan stepped forward again, and Hongxiu followed suit, her heart filled with joy.

Bai Xuan strolled around, stopping occasionally to admire his own city.

All industries are thriving, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, creating a prosperous scene.

Although these achievements were not due to Bai Xuan, as the master of this city, Bai Xuan still felt a sense of accomplishment.

"With all industries thriving, and everyone following the established practices, and with Hongxiu around, don't you think I've done a very good job as the Prince of Zhenbei?" Bai Xuan said with a great sense of accomplishment.

"Of course, Your Highness is the best prince in the world." Hongxiu replied without hesitation, but in her heart she was thinking to herself, "Haven't the eldest princess been handling the government affairs these days? Your Highness, apart from learning formations and teasing me, it seems you haven't done anything serious."

Bai Xuan nodded with relief and continued forward, but this joy did not last long before a faint sobbing sound came from behind.

Bai Xuan frowned slightly and curiously followed the sound. Before long, he saw a girl of about twelve or thirteen years old hugging her knees and crying next to a restaurant.

Seeing this, Bai Xuan frowned even more deeply. He had just been marveling at the peace and tranquility under his rule, and now a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl was crying. He immediately forced a smile and looked at the girl, saying, "Why are you crying, little girl?"