Chapter 149: The Heaven Dou Crown Prince "Xue Qinghe," Qian Renxue's Astonishment
In the bedroom.
Dugu Yan leaned her back against the door.
The chill of the wood seeped through her clothes, cooling her overheated mind a little.
She took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
Then she raised her head and looked ahead.
That pale green translucent light screen was still hanging there, floating in midair about 1.8 meters above the ground.
Its edges emitted a faint glow, like ghost fire on a summer night.
Text scrolled in the center of the screen, blurry and indistinct.
Dugu Yan stared at it for a full minute.
When did this thing appear?
Just a few seconds before Yu Tianheng confessed.
It suddenly popped up, blocking her direct line of sight.
At the time, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her or that she had hallucinated from overtraining.
But it never disappeared, and it was still there now.
"What exactly are you?!"
She spoke, her voice sounding somewhat abrupt in the quiet bedroom.
The light screen gave no response.
The text continued to scroll, still blurry, as if it were behind frosted glass.
Dugu Yan stepped closer.
Now that she was nearer, she could make out that the text seemed to be some kind of… conversation?
...
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Emperor Xue Ye leaned against the dragon couch.
His face was as pale as paper, with dark circles under his eyes.
Even though it was only noon, he was already wrapped in a thick fur robe, holding a hand warmer.
His voice was weak and unsteady, needing a pause to catch his breath after every few sentences.
He looked terminally ill.
"Fengzhi."
He lifted his gaze toward the man seated opposite him, Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Fengzhi wore a moon-white long robe today, the crisp fabric with subtle embroidered patterns of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda at the cuffs.
He sat upright, a gentle and refined smile on his face as usual, but upon closer look, there was fatigue hidden in his eyes.
"Your Majesty."
His voice was clear, like jade chimes lightly struck.
"Spirit Hall…"
Emperor Xue Ye began coughing again, his shoulders trembling with each cough.
"Recently, their movements have been increasing. Spirit Hall Branches in the Balak Kingdom and the Sylves Kingdom are both being expanded."
"I've heard… the subsidies for soul masters have increased again."
Ning Fengzhi did not respond immediately.
He picked up the teacup beside him, lifted the lid, and steam rose, softening his features.
He blew on it, then took a sip.
It was fine tea, Snow Peak Silver Needle, supplied exclusively to the Heaven Dou royal family.
But in his mouth, it still tasted bitter.
"They have increased."
He set the teacup down, the porcelain lightly tapping against the wooden table.
"The monthly subsidy is thirty percent higher than that of our Heaven Dou Empire. Low-level soul masters only need to register with Spirit Hall to receive it."
"They're poaching our people!"
Emperor Xue Ye raised his voice, triggering another fit of coughing.
An attendant hurried forward with a handkerchief. He waved him off and took it himself, wiping the corner of his mouth.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
Ning Fengzhi's tone remained steady.
"Spirit Hall has immense wealth and deep foundations. With such resources, they can indeed attract a large number of independent soul masters."
"Then what about us?"
Emperor Xue Ye stared at him.
"What is the Heaven Dou Empire supposed to do? Just watch?"
...
Ning Fengzhi fell silent.
The hall grew quiet.
Only the suppressed breathing of Emperor Xue Ye remained, along with the faint sound of the palace guards changing shifts outside the window.
"Unity."
Ning Fengzhi suddenly spoke two words.
"What?" Emperor Xue Ye did not catch it.
"Unite all forces that can be united."
Ning Fengzhi raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping toward the young man standing respectfully at one side of the hall.
"For example, the Upper Three Sects. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Clear Sky Sect."
...
The young man standing there had not spoken all this time, only watching everything with a cold gaze.
Xue Qinghe.
The Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Emperor Xue Ye's most valued son, and also Ning Fengzhi's disciple.
He wore a white robe with golden patterns befitting his status, his posture upright, his appearance handsome and refined—the very image of a crown prince.
From the moment he entered the hall, he had listened quietly.
Occasionally, pouring tea for his father and handing snacks to his teacher, every movement proper and flawless.
Until Ning Fengzhi mentioned the Upper Three Sects.
Xue Qinghe's fingers paused almost imperceptibly.
His hand, which was about to reach for the teapot, stopped midair for a brief moment before naturally lowering again.
The smile on his face did not change; even the curve of his lips remained perfectly measured.
"The Clear Sky Sect…"
Emperor Xue Ye gave a bitter smile. "Ever since that incident with Tang Hao, they have sealed the mountain and closed the sect for so many years. Not even an outer disciple can be seen. How can we unite them?"
"We still have to try."
Ning Fengzhi said.
"And the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. The grandson of Yu Yuanzhen, Yu Tianheng, is also at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy."
"Yu Tianheng?" Emperor Xue Ye thought for a moment.
"The one who confessed today in the academy square to Poison Douluo's granddaughter?"
"Yes." Ning Fengzhi nodded.
"I heard he publicly confessed to Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan, but was rejected."
Emperor Xue Ye shook his head. "Young people…"
Before he could finish speaking.
Xue Qinghe, who stood at the side, suddenly changed expression.
It was a very subtle change.
The gentle smile was still on his face, but the calm lake in his eyes seemed struck by a stone, ripples surging instantly.
His eyelashes trembled slightly, and his back stiffened for a moment before relaxing again.
So fast it seemed like an illusion.
"Father, Teacher."
Xue Qinghe suddenly spoke, his voice still as warm and proper as ever.
"I suddenly feel a bit unwell. I would like to take my leave and rest for a while."
Emperor Xue Ye was startled.
"Unwell? Weren't you fine just now?"
"Perhaps I handled too many affairs last night and feel a bit dizzy."
Xue Qinghe raised a hand and rubbed his temple naturally.
"It's nothing serious. I just need some rest."
"Then go rest quickly." Emperor Xue Ye waved his hand.
"Your health is important. Do you need the imperial physician?"
"No need to trouble them." Xue Qinghe bowed.
"Your son takes his leave."
He turned and walked out.
His steps were steady; even the way his robe brushed the ground was orderly.
But Ning Fengzhi noticed that the hand hanging by his side had its fingertips slightly curled inward.
That was an unconscious habit his disciple had when he was nervous.
Emperor Xue Ye withdrew his gaze and sighed. "Qinghe works too hard, always staying up late handling state affairs. No matter how much I advise him, he won't listen."
Ning Fengzhi smiled gently. "Qinghe is indeed a diligent child."
...
Xue Qinghe did not return to the Eastern Palace.
He went straight out of the imperial palace and boarded the crown prince's carriage.
The moment the carriage curtains were drawn, the gentle and weary expression on his face peeled away instantly.
His gaze turned cold, like a layer of ice forming.
"Return to the residence."
He ordered outside, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Take the fastest route."
The coachman acknowledged, and the carriage wheels rolled over the stone road, moving thirty percent faster than usual.
...
Xue Qinghe—or rather, Qian Renxue—leaned against the inner wall of the carriage.
Her fingers pressed against her brow so hard her knuckles turned pale.
In front of her, that light screen was still there.
It had appeared suddenly in the hall earlier and had not disappeared since.
Floating in midair, translucent.
Qian Renxue's heart pounded in her chest, again and again.
She had infiltrated the Heaven Dou Empire for so many years, living under this face and identity in the heart of her enemy.
Every day was an act, every word weighed, every smile carefully calculated.
She had experienced assassination attempts and dealt with suspicion.
She had even personally eliminated several close royal officials who had suspected her identity.
But never had she felt such scalp-numbing fear as now.
What kind of soul skill was this?
An illusion? Mental interference? Or some ability never recorded before?
It seemed that neither Emperor Xue Ye nor Ning Fengzhi had noticed it.
End of Chapter