A Favor Diminished with Every Use

The Prince Manor.

Prince Xue Xing listened to the report of the guard kneeling before him on one knee. A headache brewing, he rubbed his brow, a trace of helplessness in his eyes.

"Sigh..."

"I understand what happened."

"Come. We'll go clean up Xue Beng's mess."

Prince Xue Xing rose from his seat and headed toward the door.

The guard who had been kneeling rose as well and walked ahead to lead the way.

But they had only just reached the door when another guard, a handprint on his face, came running over in a panic.

"Terrible news! Terrible news, Your Highness!"

The guard stopped before Prince Xue Xing, panting heavily.

"I'm perfectly fine."

Prince Xue Xing's expression darkened, and he fixed the guard with an unfriendly stare.

"Your Highness, among the people the Fourth Prince offended is a nine-ring Titled Douluo. The Second Prince is there now too..."

The guard gave Prince Xue Xing a brief account of what had happened.

"A nine-ring Titled Douluo?"

"Has Xue Beng lost his mind?"

"He actually dared to harass someone accompanied by a Titled Douluo?"

Prince Xue Xing stood where he was, his expression shifting uncertainly.

Titled Douluo. Just two words, yet they represented power at the very pinnacle of the continent.

Although the Heaven Dou Imperial Family also had a Guest Elder at the Titled Douluo level, they knew their own situation best. Strictly speaking, that Guest Elder did not belong to the imperial family. They had merely secured his temporary support through a favor.

But a favor diminished with every use.

Once that favor was exhausted, there was no telling whether he would still be willing to serve as the imperial family's Guest Elder.

More importantly, could someone with a Titled Douluo at their side possibly have an ordinary background?

Absolutely not.

Prince Xue Xing took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his tangled thoughts, and changed direction, heading toward the western side of Heaven Dou City.

Now that the other party had revealed the presence of a Titled Douluo, there was no way he would go alone. The safest course was to enlist someone's help first, then check on Xue Beng.

They were still in front of the same stall.

Having eaten and drunk their fill, Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan took out the handkerchiefs they carried and elegantly dabbed the corners of their mouths.

Moxiong withdrew his martial soul and oppressive aura as well.

Xue Luochuan, who had remained standing in place, secretly breathed a sigh of relief at the sight.

Judging by the situation, he should be able to approach now.

But after giving it some thought, Xue Luochuan first walked over to the stall owner, took out several Gold Soul Coins, and placed them before him.

"I'll cover that table's bill. Keep the rest as a tip."

Xue Luochuan pointed toward Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan, then walked over to them.

"I am Xue Luochuan, Second Prince of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. My respects to Your Eminence and to both young ladies."

Xue Luochuan bowed slightly to Moxiong.

His every word and gesture conveyed courtesy.

"You know how to behave."

Bai Wanwan looked Xue Luochuan up and down, then quietly exchanged a glance with Qian Renxue.

Whatever else could be said of him, at least Xue Luochuan's attitude was entirely proper.

"Here for him?"

Qian Renxue pointed at Xue Beng, who lay unconscious on the ground.

"Yes."

"My fourth brother has always been unruly and has offended you both. As his second brother, allow me to apologize on his behalf. Once we return, I will report every detail to Father Emperor and let him decide his punishment."

Xue Luochuan bowed slightly once again in apology for Xue Beng.

"Your Highness, you're welcome to report this to Emperor Xue Ye, but you cannot take the Fourth Prince away just yet."

"He started pestering us as soon as we arrived in Heaven Dou City. If we hadn't had someone protecting us, who knows what might have happened? We're not unreasonable, but if you think a few words will let you take him away, that's impossible."

"If you don't believe us, you're welcome to try. See whether you can take him away right under our noses."

Qian Renxue crossed her legs, her tone perfectly calm.

Xue Luochuan lowered his gaze to Xue Beng on the ground, then looked at the silent Moxiong beside them.

Try?

That was definitely out of the question.

He had no doubt that if he dared to try, there would be one more person lying on the ground.

He could try to save Xue Beng, but he absolutely refused to take a beating for him.

Xue Luochuan brought over a chair and sat down, then asked tentatively, "Young ladies, what would you have us do?"

"Your Highness, you should already know what happened. If you're going to offer compensation and an apology, you should do it properly. Wouldn't you agree?"

Bai Wanwan tapped her fingers against the tabletop with a series of light clicks.

"Of course."

"My fourth brother was at fault. Offering you both compensation and an apology is only right."

Xue Luochuan nodded lightly in agreement, while also picking up on the key point in Bai Wanwan's words.

Compensation and an apology.

The emphasis was naturally on compensation. As for the apology, once the compensation satisfied them, that would merely be a formality.

Exactly what compensation would satisfy them required some careful discussion.

Just then...

Four more people slowly approached the stall.

Of the two men in front, one wore imperial attire and carried the authority of someone long accustomed to a position of power.

The other was tall and thin, with dark green hair and beard. His eyes glittered like jewels, but his face was utterly expressionless.

The two behind them were dressed as guards, each carrying an exquisitely crafted gift box.

Upon seeing the newcomers, Xue Luochuan immediately rose from his seat and bowed slightly to them.

"Greetings, Imperial Uncle."

"Greetings, Your Eminence Poison Douluo."

Hearing Xue Luochuan's words, Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan immediately recognized who they were.

The only person the Second Prince, Xue Luochuan, would address as Imperial Uncle was Prince Xue Xing.

And Poison Douluo was naturally Dugu Bo, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's Guest Elder.

Arriving at the stall, Dugu Bo surveyed the surroundings before fixing his gaze on Moxiong, his brow creasing almost imperceptibly.

He could clearly sense the soul power fluctuations coming from Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan. One was a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, while the other was a Five-Ring Soul King.

Yet he could sense no soul power fluctuations whatsoever from Moxiong.

There were only two possible explanations. First, he was an ordinary man without any soul power. Second, his soul power level was so far above Dugu Bo's that Dugu Bo could not sense his soul power fluctuations at all.

Considering why Prince Xue Xing had sought him out, along with the situation at the stall, the second possibility was almost certainly the truth.