Heaven Dou Empire, imperial palace.
"Xiao Xuexue, come drink with me!"
Lucien staggered into the palace courtyard early in the morning, already happily drunk.
The reason he was here was simple. Yesterday, he'd heard that the Barak Kingdom delivered another tribute of royal wine. And of course, who gave him that little tip? None other than Princess Xue Ke.
So naturally, he rushed straight to Qian Renxue's disguise—as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
"Brother Lucien, did you really come just to drink?" Qian Renxue asked suspiciously, her sharp eyes narrowing.
"Haha, Xiao Xuexue knows me too well," Lucien grinned, slapping a thick stack of papers on the table from his soul guide.
Qian Renxue frowned, glancing at the messy papers filled with strange marks. "When did Brother Lucien start practicing talisman drawing?"
"These? No charms," Lucien declared proudly. "They're names. People I'll need to invite soon. Help me copy them down neatly."
He rubbed his head. His drunken scribbles looked like a chicken's claw scratching across paper. One day he might not even recognize his own scrawl, so better to have someone neat like Xuexue rewrite it properly.
"Invite… people?" Qian Renxue hesitated, stunned by the odd request.
"Look—your name's here too!" Lucien proudly pointed.
Her scalp went numb when she saw what he meant: three messy characters scrawled for Xue Qinghe.
"…You dare call these words?" she muttered.
But she swallowed her shock and asked gently, "And why exactly are you inviting all these people?"
Lucien's grin widened to his ears. "Because I'm going to be a father! I'll hold a grand banquet soon!"
"…."
The brush slipped in Qian Renxue's hands. Her body froze like she'd been hit by thunder.
He… he's going to be a father?
When? With who? Who was pregnant?
Her mind spun in chaos.
"Xuexue! Xuexue!" Lucien waved his hand in front of her face impatiently. "Why are you dazing off? Start writing!"
"…Oh." She forced herself back, moving her brush.
Lucien's drunk eyes caught something beneath the desk. A map—fresh red marks circled over certain regions.
"Xuexue, been plotting something recently?" His grin curved knowingly.
"No," she said flatly.
"Don't bluff me. I can tell at a glance. This is that operation you mentioned before, isn't it?"
Lucien's blood stirred with anticipation. It had been too long since he'd fought for real. Ever since his Martial Soul changed, he hadn't had a chance to test it. And now—an operation against Tang Hao? The perfect opportunity.
"Really not," she tried again.
But faced with Lucien's relentless questioning—even drunk, his instincts were sharp—she finally broke.
She explained. Scouts she sent had vanished without a trace. Those who followed their trail also disappeared. Clearly, they'd stumbled upon something—and been silenced.
And in that locked mountain range… she was convinced. Tang Hao was there. And with him, the Blue Silver Emperor.
If she could capture that being, Tang Hao's lifeline would be in her hands.
"Lucien, don't go this time," she finally pleaded, her voice firm. Though at first she'd thought to draw on his help, she now realized how reckless it was. Against Tang Hao—the Clear Sky Hammer that once defeated even a Pope—what was a Soul King like Lucien?
But Lucien only downed another gulp of wine and stood unsteadily. "Not go? Impossible! I've drunk this much already—I need to burn it off in a fight!"
Qian Renxue clenched her jaw. "It's too dangerous—"
"No need to say more, Xiao Xuexue. Either I go, or you stay behind and drink with me. Your choice!"
Her lips trembled. She could not reveal her angelic Martial Soul identity here. "Then… when you come back, you must drink with me."
Lucien's grin widened. "That's a promise!"
Qian Renxue: "…"
Half an hour later, she sighed deeply. Persuading him was impossible.
Fine. If he must go, she would load the board in his favor.
"In this mission, two strong defenders will accompany you," she said. "Be careful. If you encounter Tang Hao… retreat. The two Titled Douluo will cover your escape."
Lucien waved away her worry. "Relax. I'm going to be a father, how could I die now?"
"Just be sure to notify me before you act," he added airily. "I'll be in your royal wine cellar, borrowing a few more jars."
And with that, he stumbled off cheerily into the night.
Alone, Qian Renxue remained frozen in thought.
A father? He… he really is going to be a father?
Zhu Zhuqing? Ning Rongrong? Dugu Yan? Meng Yiran?
No, perhaps Shui Bing'er? Scouts had whispered that she often slipped out to see him late at night recently. Very suspicious.
The more she thought, the more her head spun.
Elsewhere, two Titled Douluo muttered as they walked—Snake Lance Douluo and Dolphin Douluo.
"Did the young miss call us to cancel tomorrow's absurd operation?"
"I wish! But dreaming won't save us."
They both regretted ever being coaxed into agreeing. Tang Hao wasn't some random target. He was the monster who once forced even the Pope herself to retreat. Just thinking of that hammer made their heads ache.
"I say, maybe we should suggest cancelation anyway," Dolphin Douluo muttered nervously.
"Don't even dare say that again," Snake Lance snapped. "Our duty is to protect Miss. If Lord Qian Daoliu hears we tried to dodge, even if Tang Hao doesn't kill us, the Hall of Worship will."
They sighed heavily.
"Perhaps it won't be Tang Hao…" Dolphin Douluo muttered, half comforting Snake Lance, half comforting himself. "And even if it is, Miss doesn't want his head—she only wants the Blue Silver Emperor. If we control that woman, Tang Hao won't dare fight at full strength."
Snake Lance gritted his teeth. That sounded nice… but still didn't ease the dread.
And then Qian Renxue appeared before them. Both straightened immediately.
"Lucien will accompany you," she informed.
Both stared in confusion.
Why bring him? Yes, his talent was monstrous, but he was still just a Soul King. Against Tang Hao, he wouldn't last a second.
"I've already told him the plan. If Tang Hao appears, you two entangle him. Lucien will handle the rest. And remember this—if something happens to Lucien, neither of you need bother returning alive."
Their legs nearly buckled. The cold fire in her eyes left no doubt—their lives were forfeit if Lucien came to harm.
"…Yes, Miss."
Masks of bitterness and pain settled over their faces. Not only must they risk Tang Hao—they now had to safeguard Lucien too.
She continued. "One more thing—have our scouts investigate every girl on this list."
She handed Snake Lance a note. He glanced at the names.
Zhu Zhuqing. Ning Rongrong. Shui Bing'er. Dugu Yan. Meng Yiran…
He blinked in confusion. "Miss… with respect, what are we investigating?"
"Check… check… which of them is pregnant."
Snake Lance nearly choked. Pregnancy?
Since when did Spirit Hall expand its duties to this point?!
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