The Crown Prince Comes to the Rescue, and Everything Falls into Place

"What the hell are you?" Su He sneered at the four Soul Ancestors poised to strike. The Black Gold Mask glinted coldly beneath the moonlight, sharp and murderous.

Granted, in terms of raw strength, Su He truly stood no chance against four high-level Soul Ancestors working together. But bowing his head was never in Su He's nature.

How could a lion, a sovereign among beasts, bend its back and bow to the powerful? He lacked neither money nor powerful backing, so what gave Prince Xue Xing the right to forcibly recruit him?

Besides, even a top-tier Soul Master as powerful as Crimson Dragon had been defeated by Su He despite the difference in rank. As for four merely average Soul Ancestors, whether he could beat them or not, he would only know after fighting!

"Abyssal Golden Lion!" Su He completed his Martial Soul Possession in an instant, three soul rings—yellow, purple, purple—floating rhythmically around him.

"Stubborn fool. Kill him." Seeing that Su He had no intention of accepting his charity, Prince Xue Xing spoke indifferently and prepared to leave in his carriage.

To someone who regarded human lives as worthless, the death of a mere genius meant nothing. If he could not obtain him, then killing him would do.

But Xue Xing's stupidity lay in the fact that he had never considered this: with such a powerful martial soul and such a miraculous Soul Ring Configuration, how could Su He possibly lack a powerful force behind him?

Still, judging by Xue Xing's daily routine of frequenting gambling houses, auction halls, and taverns, Su He thought it was perfectly normal for him not to have considered it.

After all, he was merely a prince idling away his life. All he needed to do was indulge in luxury and pleasure—why would he need to think about such things?

After several exchanges in which he fought one against four, Su He remained completely unharmed thanks to his monstrous physique. Even so, he pretended to be losing ground, retreating step by step.

Finally, one of the Soul Ancestors unleashed a charged blow. Su He feigned defeat, flew dozens of meters through the air, and collapsed onto the ground, gasping heavily.

Prince Xue Xing's voice came from the carriage again. "I'll give you one last chance. Your talent is rare, after all."

"Join me, or die."

Yet just then, the appearance of a carriage around the corner made Prince Xue Xing frown.

A refined, jade-like "young man" stepped down from the carriage. His magnificent robes displayed his noble status, and it was not difficult to tell from his attire that he was another member of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

Seeing this, a smile appeared on Su He's face, hidden from Xue Xing's view.

That was right. Everything was proceeding according to his plan. As expected of Sister Xue'er—she had understood his intentions at once.

If Su He had simply appeared at Xue Qinghe's side out of nowhere, it would naturally arouse the suspicions of the court officials and even Xue Ye.

But if Su He were driven to the brink of death by Prince Xue Xing before being saved by Xue Qinghe, then his staying by the Crown Prince's side would be perfectly justified. Everyone would only praise Xue Qinghe's wisdom for saving a genius who had nearly perished at Xue Xing's hands.

"Uncle, what is the meaning of this?" "Xue Qinghe" hurried over to Su He and checked his injuries. Only after confirming that he was not seriously hurt did he feign anger.

"I watched Golden Lion Sir's match today as well. Such a powerful genius Soul Master is the future hope of our Heaven Dou Empire. Why would Uncle seek to put him to death today?" As he spoke, his voice rose several degrees, making him seem genuinely concerned for the nation's future.

"This is my personal business. You need not concern yourself with it." Xue Xing snorted coldly, his tone indifferent, as though the two were not uncle and nephew but sworn enemies.

"Brother Golden Lion, are you all right?" "Xue Qinghe" lowered his head and asked Su He with concern. The two exchanged a knowing blink.

"I'm fine. Thank you for saving me, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Su He "struggled" to his feet and cupped his fists toward the Crown Prince. "Otherwise, my life would have been in grave danger today."

Seeing Su He like this, "Xue Qinghe" grew even angrier and spoke forcefully to Xue Xing. "If Uncle cannot give me a reasonable explanation today, I will certainly report this to Father!"

"Hmph. A genius Soul Master who appeared out of nowhere in Heaven Dou City, and with such an absurd Soul Ring Configuration." Xue Xing said disdainfully, "I had never even heard of such a person before. Who can say whether he is an enemy spy?"

"Your third brother will soon be returning from the front lines as well. You know perfectly well how tense the military situation is right now."

Seeing Xue Xing shamelessly make such claims, Su He decided to pull the rug out from under him today.

"If you are determined to condemn someone, why worry about lacking an excuse? Prince Xue Xing, today I have finally seen the true faces of people like you!" Su He said indignantly.

Then, as though he had thought of something, Su He swore an oath to heaven before everyone present.

"I swear upon my martial soul that from this day forward, I will wholeheartedly assist His Highness Xue Qinghe, repaying him for saving my life today!" Su He declared loudly. A clap of thunder rolled through the sky, signifying that his oath had taken effect.

Prince Xue Xing and his party were left dumbfounded and speechless. If Su He truly were a spy sent by another force, would he make such a poisonous oath to pledge loyalty to the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire? Clearly not.

There was only one exception: the Crown Prince himself could also be a spy from an outside force.

But Su He believed that no one in the Heaven Dou Empire could possibly think of that. Even Ning Fengzhi, clever as he was, had been kept in the dark for a long time.

"Hmph, then I suppose I should congratulate the Crown Prince on gaining such a capable general!" Xue Xing snorted and drove away.

"No need for Uncle's concern." "Xue Qinghe" replied coldly, then looked at Su He with concern.

"Brother Golden Lion, our meeting today must be fate. Qinghe does not yet know your name. Would you tell me?"

"Your Royal Highness, you honor me too greatly. I am ashamed." There were still many commoners gathered nearby to watch the spectacle, so they had to continue the act.

"My surname is Su, given name He. I come from a small village near the Falling Star Mountain Range in Fasinuo Province." Su He readily gave his real name. He was unfamiliar with everyone in the Heaven Dou Empire anyway, and even in Spirit City, only a handful of people knew him.

"So you are Brother Su He." "Xue Qinghe" took Su He's hand and said excitedly, "A genius Soul Master like Brother Su is precisely the talent the Empire seeks with all its strength. From now on, you and I may address one another as brothers. There is no need for so many tedious formalities."

"Your Royal Highness honors me too greatly!" Su He continued exchanging pleasantries with Qian Renxue. As they talked, the two boarded the carriage and headed peacefully toward the imperial palace.

From then on, the Crown Prince's reputation for cherishing talent and refusing to fear the powerful spread even further among the people. Meanwhile, Su He naturally came to Qian Renxue's side. It could be called killing two birds with one stone. The plan had gone very smoothly, and everything was proceeding step by step.

Su He's first step into the Heaven Dou Empire had been thoroughly completed today. Su He and "Xue Qinghe" looked at each other in the carriage, smiled, and lightly high-fived.

Though someone familiar had disguised herself as a stranger, Su He could still recognize from her aura that beneath that disguise was the Sister Xue'er he had longed for over the past four years.

At that moment, even with Su He's composure, he could not help feeling overwhelmed with emotion.

Qian Renxue was the same. Over the past four years, she had been occupied with her infiltration mission and remained under immense pressure for long periods, suffering in silence. Now, the familiar figure from her memories stood before her, and turbulent emotions surged in her eyes.

Just wait a little longer. Once they reached the palace, they could meet in their true appearances!

The two mouthed the words silently at the same time.

"Long time no see. I missed you dearly."