"Dai Mubai?"
Upon hearing that the news was about Dai Mubai, the third prince of the Star Luo Empire, Qian Renxue instinctively felt a faint interest.
For some reason, she had become extremely curious about any information that might be related to Dai Chengfeng.
Though she was deeply unwilling to admit it, her defeat at the hands of Dai Chengfeng gnawed at her.
But at the same time, she couldn't deny that the young tiger had earned a small measure of her respect.
Thus, every time Dai Chengfeng's name came up, her emotions were a tangled mess—she wanted revenge, yet she didn't want such a talented individual to simply perish.
"If only he could work for me... if there were a chance!"
After a while, Qian Renxue shook her head. While glancing down at the carriage that was growing closer by the moment, she turned to Porcupinefish Douluo and asked curiously, "Didn't he lock Dai Chengfeng in the death dungeon? What is he planning now?"
"Is he dissatisfied with just having Dai Chengfeng locked away and now wants him dead?"
Porcupinefish Douluo shook his head. "No, not that."
"It's that… he has come to the Tiandou Empire!"
"He's come to the Tiandou Empire?"
A flicker of surprise passed through Qian Renxue's eyes. "Dai Mubai, the third prince of the Star Luo Empire, what business does he have coming to the Tiandou Empire?"
Porcupinefish Douluo shook his head again. "I'm not sure either. After all, Dai Mubai isn't favored in the royal family; he can't compare to Dai Weisi or Dai Chengfeng…"
"All these years, his only notable achievement has been locking Dai Chengfeng in the death dungeon. There's nothing else."
"So no one really pays attention to him."
Qian Renxue nodded. "Mm, I understand."
However, at this moment, her pupils suddenly contracted. She saw the curtain of the carriage below slightly lift, revealing golden hair, a white-gold robe, and a face she often dreamed of beating to a pulp…
Though the person only glanced out before pulling the curtain back down, Qian Renxue recognized him instantly.
"Dai! Cheng! Feng!"
She gritted her teeth lightly, almost spitting out each syllable!
But soon, she paused. "Wait, wasn't Dai Chengfeng imprisoned in the death dungeon by Emperor Star Luo?"
"Although he looks like Dai Chengfeng, there's something… different."
For a moment, Qian Renxue couldn't tell whether the person was Dai Mubai or Dai Chengfeng. The last time she'd seen Dai Chengfeng was from a hundred meters away, and that was two years ago…
"Could it be Dai Mubai?"
"After all, logically speaking, someone who has offended me wouldn't dare set foot in the Tiandou Empire, let alone Tiandou City."
With this thought, a sly smile flickered across Qian Renxue's face. "How interesting—it seems that as soon as I heard about Dai Mubai coming to the Tiandou Empire, I spotted him. Fascinating."
"He and Dai Chengfeng are competing for the throne after all…"
---
---
---
Tiandou City.
Ye Renxin drove a white carriage, slowly entering the city.
"We've finally returned. The Great Star Dou Forest truly is too dangerous!"
Ye Renxin sighed deeply, gazing at the familiar streets of Tiandou City. He felt an overwhelming sense of relief, as if he had narrowly escaped death.
Meanwhile, inside the carriage—
Dai Chengfeng, upon hearing Ye Renxin's words, slowly opened his eyes, ending his meditation. Feeling his current soul power at level 27, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Months of traveling back and forth, yet my soul power continues to grow steadily. Truly remarkable, the Innate Qi Technique!"
He then slightly lifted the carriage curtain, gazing at the bustling streets of Tiandou City.
Filled with emotion, he murmured, "This trip was truly a matter of life and death!"
"The Great Star Dou Forest—I won't be returning anytime soon in the next few years!"
However, when he thought about his recent gains—the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear shoulder bone, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's Evil God Wings, the main ingredient for the Great Restoration Pill, the Youlan Grass, and the future soul rings promised by the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion…
A flicker of excitement still shone in Dai Chengfeng's eyes. 'These rewards are incomparable to anything else.'
But the next moment, Dai Chengfeng abruptly dropped the curtain.
"What's wrong, Chengfeng?"
Ye Lingling looked at Dai Chengfeng curiously, her eyes filled with confusion.
Dai Chengfeng shook his head. Thinking of the familiar figure he had glimpsed on the city wall earlier, he said, "Nothing, I just saw Xue Qinghe."
"The crown prince of the Tiandou Empire isn't staying in the palace but instead wandering on the city walls? Hopefully she didn't see me."
Looking at Dai Chengfeng, and recalling his complicated history with Crown Princess Xue Qinghe, Ye Lingling couldn't help but smirk slightly.
---
"Never thought you'd be afraid?"
After spending nearly half a year together during their two trips to the Great Star Dou Forest, Ye Lingling had grown much more comfortable around Dai Chengfeng.
Occasionally, when prompted by Dai Chengfeng, she would even joke with him.
Like now…
Hearing this, Dai Chengfeng shook his head. "Even if I revealed myself, she wouldn't kill me."
"She'd think of how to recruit me."
When it came to understanding Qian Renxue, aside from Qian Daoliu, no one in the world knew her better than Dai Chengfeng.
In fact, in some aspects, even Qian Daoliu didn't know Qian Renxue as well as Dai Chengfeng did.
However, thinking of the Title Douluo guarding Qian Renxue, Dai Chengfeng shook his head again. "It's just trouble—a lot of trouble!"
"Oh."
Ye Lingling nodded slightly.
Clop clop clop…
Accompanied by the sound of hooves, the carriage soon entered the city and arrived at the Ye Family Medical Clinic, which they had been away from for so long.
Ye Renxin, Ye Lingling, Dai Chengfeng, and Zhu Fan eagerly stepped out of the carriage.
"We're finally back!"
Ye Lingling murmured softly.
"Hurry up and rest properly. Months of continuous travel have left my back aching!"
Zhu Fan stretched lazily, then slung his arm over Ye Renxin's shoulders, leading the way into the clinic.
Having gone through life-and-death situations together in the Great Star Dou Forest, Zhu Fan and Ye Renxin had formed an unlikely friendship—or rather, Zhu Fan had actively ingratiated himself with Ye Renxin.
After all, Ye Renxin was the Saint of Medicine.
And Zhu Fan had favors to ask.
"By the way, Old Ye, I've finished that medicine. I feel energized—it's incredible!"
"But I think I can consolidate my gains further. Can you prescribe me some more?"
Ye Renxin rolled his eyes at Zhu Fan, who clearly treated him like an old friend. "What do you think medicine is? Even the mildest medicine can harm if taken recklessly."
"And besides—"
"This isn't your house. Why are you following me in?"
Zhu Fan shrugged it off. "What's yours and mine? I'm Chengfeng's uncle. Are you still being so distant?"
"Tell me, what kind of spirit would result from fusing a top-tier Beast Soul like the White Tiger with the legendary Nine-Hearted Begonia?"
"Would it still be the Nine-Hearted Begonia or the White Tiger…?"
Cough cough~
Seeing Zhu Fan getting increasingly inappropriate, Ye Renxin quickly cleared his throat. "What nonsense are you spouting? Lingling is still here!"
"Alright, alright, I'll stop. But you should consider it, right?"
Outside the Ye Family Medical Clinic, Zhu Fan and Ye Renxin had already entered, their figures disappearing from sight.
Now, facing Ye Lingling, who stood before him with her head slightly bowed, shyly staring at her toes—
"My uncle is like that. Don't take it to heart."
"Mm~"
Ye Lingling's voice was barely audible as she nodded. Then, blushing, she hurriedly ran into her room.
Her jade-like earlobes were tinged with a faint blush.
Soon, only Dai Chengfeng was left standing outside the Ye Family Medical Clinic.
"My dear uncle, though I know you want our Star Luo Empire to become stronger, have you considered how old I am?!"
Dai Chengfeng shook his head helplessly.
However, just as he was about to enter the clinic, he suddenly paused.
"Prince Dai Mubai, His Highness requests your presence!"
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