"Really not going?"
Xiao Wu pouted her lips, her eyes faintly tinged with surprise.
The hotel's dishes weren't all spicy.
Clearly, the words Ye Tian had just spoken were mere excuses.
His refusal of her invitation likely had another reason.
"Can this even be faked?" Ye Tian's drowsy face broke into a slight smile as he waved his hand.
"Alright, I'm guessing Dai Mubai and the others are already waiting for you to join the feast. Hurry along."
"I'd like to sleep in a bit longer."
"Fine then."
Xiao Wu sighed lightly, shrugged helplessly, and stopped insisting.
She turned around, clasped her hands behind her back, and walked away.
Ye Tian watched Xiao Wu's retreating figure for a moment.
Yawning, he reached out and closed the door again, ready to go back to sleep.
"Ye Tian, don't close the door!"
Just as the door shut, a loud voice called from outside.
This made Ye Tian frown slightly. He exhaled softly and reopened the door.
Looking outside, he saw that a group of armed guards had appeared on the road ahead at some point.
There were quite a few of them—around twenty or so.
Xiao Wu, who had been passing by, also noticed this scene.
She quietly returned to Ye Tian's side, covering her hands as she whispered, "Why are there so many Heaven Dou soldiers here?"
"You're asking me? I'd like to know too."
Ye Tian responded with a bitter smile.
As soon as he finished speaking, a slightly portly middle-aged man emerged from the group of guards.
Ye Tian instinctively looked up and realized the visitor was Prince Xue Xing.
Now aware of his identity, Ye Tian's heart tensed.
Prince Xue Xing was likely here because of his daughter's injuries.
"Ye Tian, it's been months. Do you still recognize this prince?"
Prince Xue Xing approached with a warm smile.
Yet beneath that amiable expression, his anxiety was barely concealed.
"So it's Prince Xue Xing. My apologies for not welcoming you properly."
Ye Tian politely bowed in greeting.
"Prince Xue Xing?" Xiao Wu's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly beside him.
She had met Prince Xue Xing before—but that was seven or eight years ago.
Back then, the prince hadn't been as portly as he was now.
Moreover, Xiao Wu clearly remembered the significant conflict between the Seven Monsters and Prince Xue Xing at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
It had led to the collapse of Shrek Academy's merger with the Heaven Dou Royal Academy at the time.
Seeing Prince Xue Xing again, Xiao Wu's expression darkened slightly.
But given his status as a prince, basic courtesy was still necessary.
So she bowed alongside Ye Tian.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Prince Xue Xing glanced at Xiao Wu briefly, then looked back at Ye Tian in surprise.
He hadn't expected Ye Tian to have changed companions again in just a few months.
Waving his hand lightly, Prince Xue Xing said, "No need for formalities among old friends."
"And this is…?"
His voice trailed off as he studied Xiao Wu's beautiful face, waiting for an introduction.
Ye Tian smiled faintly. "She's an acquaintance. I'm sure you'll recognize her name—Xiao Wu."
"Ah, a member of the championship team from the last Soul Master Tournament!" Prince Xue Xing's eyes widened as he pointed at Xiao Wu and laughed heartily.
"We've even met before! Truly, a girl changes so much as she grows up. It's been years—I almost didn't recognize you!"
"Your Highness flatters me." Xiao Wu bowed again modestly.
Once the pleasantries were over, Prince Xue Xing's smile faded slightly.
"Ye Tian, to be frank, I've come here today to ask for your help."
Prince Xue Xing sighed and bowed solemnly to Ye Tian.
Wearing a faint smile, Ye Tian said, "I already know why you're here, Your Highness. In fact, I anticipated your visit."
"Oh?" Prince Xue Xing's brows rose at this.
"How so?"
Though he feigned confusion, inwardly, the prince was already grumbling.
Ye Tian clearly knew that Xue Lanlan was his daughter.
Yet he'd had the audacity to demand a million gold soul coins!
How could something as serious as a life be treated so lightly?
If it weren't for his daughter's need for treatment, he'd have thrown Ye Tian out of Heaven Dou City long ago!
Ye Tian smiled calmly. "I've known for a while that Xue Lanlan is your daughter, Your Highness. I can indeed treat her injuries, but…"
He deliberately paused.
Prince Xue Xing stepped forward and thumped his chest. "Don't worry about the money. As long as my daughter recovers safely, a million gold soul coins will be yours!"
"Yours without question?"
Ye Tian nearly laughed out loud.
Even as a prince, Xue Xing's total assets couldn't exceed five million gold soul coins—and that included real estate, shops, and other physical properties.
A prince's liquid funds would be lucky to amount to two or three hundred thousand gold soul coins.
Only super sects like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could produce a million gold soul coins on the spot.
Ye Tian knew full well that if he actually extorted a million from Prince Xue Xing, he'd never leave Heaven Dou City alive.
The reason he'd demanded such a sum yesterday was twofold:
First, it was a stopgap measure—his condition had been too poor to treat Xue Lanlan at the time.
Second, he wanted Prince Xue Xing to realize that his medical skills weren't worthless.
To make the prince owe him a major favor.
Now, seeing Prince Xue Xing bring up the million gold soul coins, Ye Tian shook his head with a wry smile.
"Your Highness, forget a million—I wouldn't dare ask for even a single gold soul coin from you."
Hearing this, Prince Xue Xing's expression visibly softened.
"How could I let you take a loss…?"
This Ye Tian knew his place—aware that a prince's favor was worth far more than gold.
"It's nothing more than a trivial effort." Ye Tian remained exceedingly polite.
"Then please, treat my daughter as soon as possible."
Prince Xue Xing gestured urgently.
Yet Ye Tian shook his head again. "Your daughter's injuries are complicated. Not only is she poisoned, but the bones in her right leg are completely shattered."
"Without medicinal aid, even if she survives, her right leg will be crippled."
"What?!" Prince Xue Xing's eyes bulged. "Her leg can't be crippled!"
"What kind of medicine is needed? I'll get it, no matter what!"
"Alas, this medicine is exceedingly rare. I can refine it, but I lack the necessary rare ingredients." Ye Tian feigned difficulty.
The medicine he referred to was, in fact, the Soul-Restoring Pill.
He already had a bottle of it in his storage space.
But why treat her for free?
If there was wool to be sheared, why not take it?
"Name the ingredients. I'll provide whatever you need!"
Prince Xue Xing's face was etched with urgency.
"My daughter's leg must be saved! Otherwise, her life is ruined!"
As a father, he had to do everything in his power.
Seeing the prince's distress, Ye Tian leisurely took out paper and a brush from his storage space and wrote down a list of rare ingredients, handing it to Prince Xue Xing.
"These are twenty-seven rare ingredients. Half a catty of each is needed, all at least a thousand years old—the older, the better."
"Gather them within two days, or even I won't be able to save her."
These ingredients were enough to refine a hundred Soul-Restoring Pills.
Moreover, collecting them would take time—time enough for Ye Tian to recover fully.
Prince Xue Xing took the paper, glanced at it, and handed it to a subordinate.
"Take this and scour every auction house in the city!"
Then, his voice turned icy.
"You have one day. If you fail, don't bother coming back alive!"
"Yes!"
Those serving as Prince Xue Xing's guards were undoubtedly loyal warriors raised from childhood.
Faced with such an unreasonable order, none questioned it—they all accepted with steely determination.
After issuing commands, Prince Xue Xing's expression remained tense.
Anxiously, he asked, "Ye Tian, will my daughter be in danger during this time?"
"No. I've sealed Xue Lanlan's right leg with the Divine Taiyi Needles. She'll be stable for three days."
Despite Ye Tian's reassurance, Prince Xue Xing remained uneasy.
"Ye Tian, come with me to the auditorium and check Lanlan's pulse again."
"If anything unexpected happens, we can act immediately."
"Very well."
Ye Tian didn't refuse. He knew the prince would keep pressing if he didn't go.
Truthfully, Ye Tian admired Prince Xue Xing. Few fathers cared for their children as deeply as he did.
...
After being carried back to Shrek Academy by other students, Xue Lanlan had remained in the auditorium.
It wasn't that the academy lacked a proper infirmary—but her leg was nearly pulverized.
Moving her again would be unwise.
When Ye Tian and the others arrived, the auditorium had already been sealed off.
Only a few guards stood at the entrance.
Inside, the vast hall was eerily quiet.
Just two female teachers tended to Xue Lanlan.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Approaching the teachers, Prince Xue Xing bowed slightly in gratitude.
"...Father."
Xue Lanlan was conscious but deathly pale. Only her head could move slightly.
She tried lifting her hand, but the effort proved too much.
Prince Xue Xing quickly stopped her.
"Your injuries are severe. Don't move."
"I know." Xue Lanlan forced a pale smile. "Have I caused you trouble, Father?"
"Not at all. How could you trouble me?"
Suppressing his tears, Prince Xue Xing held her hand and smiled through his distress.
Then, he turned and pointed at Ye Tian.
"This is the healer who treated you yesterday. His name is Ye Tian."
Following her father's words, Xue Lanlan strained to look at Ye Tian.
She was surprised to see that the handsome youth before her wasn't much older than herself.
"...Thank you."
Her gratitude was genuine—but her tone was stiff.
Apologies weren't something she was accustomed to.
Ye Tian didn't mind her tone. Stepping forward, he smiled gently.
"No need for thanks. Let me examine you again."
Though his skills allowed him to diagnose her at a glance, he performed a thorough check to reassure Prince Xue Xing.
As expected, aside from her right leg, Xue Lanlan was in good health.
"The poison hasn't spread," Ye Tian announced, withdrawing his hand.
Relief washed over Prince Xue Xing's face.
"I owe you a great debt. If you ever need anything, just ask."
The prince bowed deeply once more.
...
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace of Heaven Dou Imperial City.
It was common knowledge that the Eastern Palace was the crown prince's residence.
But neither the officials nor the emperor of Heaven Dou could have guessed that the "prince" living there was an imposter—Qian Renxue, the young master of their rival faction, the Spirit Hall.
At this moment, Qian Renxue reclined leisurely on a garden flowerbed, dressed in a plain white fitted gown.
Years ago, she had replaced all the Eastern Palace's servants with her own people.
Only here could she shed her heavy disguise and be herself.
A decade had passed since this life began.
What was once unbearable had long since become routine.
"Your Highness."
As Qian Renxue basked in the sunlight, a voice called out to her.
She sat up slightly and glanced over.
It was She Long, the Snake Spear Douluo.
"Have you gathered new intelligence again?"
Her tone was indifferent, carrying a lazy cadence.
Since joining her, She Long had taken charge of intelligence operations.
"Yes." She Long nodded, stepping forward to hand her an envelope.
"There was a major disturbance in Spirit City recently. Rumor has it that the Clear Sky Douluo attacked the Elder Hall, resulting in the deaths of two elders."
Heaven Dou's capital was far from Spirit City, and news traveled slowly.
Moreover, Bibi Dong had suppressed word of the coup, so Qian Renxue remained unaware that the Elder Hall had nearly been wiped out.
"The Clear Sky Douluo could already fight three titled Douluo twenty years ago. It seems he's grown even stronger."
Qian Renxue's expression was pensive. She didn't doubt the report.
The deaths of the elders didn't sadden her much.
After all, she'd been undercover in Heaven Dou since her teens.
She'd spent more time here than in Spirit City.
Her attachment to the elders was minimal.
"Any noteworthy news from Heaven Dou recently?"
Qian Renxue stood, brushing off her gown absently.
Compared to distant, untouchable events in Spirit City, she preferred local intelligence that could aid her rise to power.
"There is one rather noisy matter." She Long recalled. "Yesterday, Prince Xue Xing's youngest daughter was severely injured."
"A healer named Ye Tian treated her."
At this, She Long couldn't help chuckling.
"I wonder if this Ye Tian is the same one from East Sea City—the one who never wanted to leave."
(End of Chapter)