By Bright Moon Bridge, Reunited with Crimson Dragon

In the blink of an eye, Su He had spent dozens of days in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. Over those ten days, he had carefully observed every minister, imperial relative, and noble listed in Qian Renxue's plan.

He had marked four people as priorities.

The Third Prince, Deputy Commander of Border Defense Forces Xue Haicang. This man possessed exceptional military talent and had great potential to inherit the throne. He was someone who had to be eliminated in the Usurpation Plan.

Next was Marshal Gelon, known as the Nine-Life Divine Dragon. He was a peak Rank 89 Battle Soul Douluo, and his martial soul was Yazi, one of the Nine Sons of the Dragon—a dragon-type Beast Martial Soul. His frontal combat ability was no weaker than that of an ordinary Titled Douluo.

The third person was rather special. There had been no description of him in the original work.

His name was Lin Xinyuan, the Imperial Tutor of the Heaven Dou Empire, and his martial soul was the Star Chessboard. Those with this martial soul were born with extraordinary intelligence, but the drawback was that their cultivation speed was exceptionally slow. Furthermore, after the age of seventy, all aspects of their bodily functions would rapidly deteriorate, and they would generally return to dust within three to five years.

Fortunately, Lin Xinyuan was already seventy-four, and his physical condition had weakened to the point where he could no longer attend court. Otherwise, Qian Renxue's plot to murder Xue Luochuan might not have escaped his discerning eyes.

Then there was the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng. When Qian Renxue saw Su He mark Xue Beng's name, she was extremely shocked.

In her eyes, Xue Beng was an incompetent, good-for-nothing prince, perfectly matching her stereotypical impression of the filthy nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire.

But Su He, who remembered the original work, knew that Xue Beng was no worthless wastrel prince. Xue Beng possessed insight far beyond that of ordinary people and had long ago sensed that there was something suspicious about the First Prince Xue Luochuan's death. He had merely adopted such outrageously debauched behavior to preserve his own life.

After Su He told Qian Renxue what he knew about Xue Beng, she was deeply shocked, yet she still chose to trust Su He's words without reservation and listed Xue Beng as a key target to be removed from the plan.

As for that brainless fool Xue Xing, Su He could not even be bothered to waste thought on him. Even if he knew the truth behind Xue Beng hiding his abilities, his intelligence made it difficult for him to offer any real help. It was worth mentioning that Su He had seen Prince Xue Xing once more during those ten days. When the latter saw Su He, he merely snorted coldly and did not trouble him again.

Clearly, after His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had explicitly stated that he would protect Su He, Xue Xing was not foolish enough to hand "Xue Qinghe" leverage against himself.

Ever since Su He had come to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Qian Renxue's personality had also become more lively. Whenever it was not an important occasion and she did not need to disguise her appearance, Qian Renxue would immediately bring out her double to remain in the Crown Prince's residence, while she herself went on dates with Su He at famous sights around Heaven Dou City.

The handsome pair attracted attention wherever they went, and praise followed them endlessly. Of course, in a place like Douluo Continent, where strength was respected above all else, there were also plenty of arrogant street thugs who thought themselves capable. Coveting Qian Renxue's beauty, they would come looking for trouble.

And Qian Renxue, a Rank 59 Battle Soul King, selectively forgot that she possessed Soul Power, while Su He cooperated perfectly by playing the hero saving the beauty several times.

That evening, Su He accompanied Qian Renxue to the area around the famous Bright Moon Bridge in Heaven Dou City. Small boats passed one after another beneath the bridge, while the vendors on both sides enjoyed brisk business.

The two bought roadside snacks and ate as they walked, crossing the bridge while admiring the night view. At that moment, Su He was drawn to a familiar figure by the roadside. Unsure whether he had seen correctly, he pulled Qian Renxue over.

The man was making pancakes at his stall. His business was not bad, and customers occasionally came by to buy some.

"We've run into someone I know." Su He exchanged a glance with Qian Renxue and prepared to go over and ask. Qian Renxue had watched Su He's battle against Crimson Dragon in full while acting as the Crown Prince. Crimson Dragon truly was a highly talented Soul Master.

Su He walked over but did not greet him directly. Instead, he asked for two pancakes.

The man at the stall froze upon hearing Su He's voice. How could he fail to recognize the man before him? This was the one who had defeated him across a ten-rank gap in Soul Power at the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena!

He slowly raised his head and looked at Su He and Qian Renxue. A friendly smile appeared on his resolute face, making it impossible to connect the Pancake Stall Owner before them with the Crimson Dragon who had once dominated the Great Spirit Arena.

"Why did you start making pancakes?" Su He asked with a smile.

"After I lost to you, Prince Xue Xing blamed everything on me. Not only did he take all the wealth I had saved over the years at the Great Spirit Arena, he also confiscated all my cultivation resources and threw me out. Soul Ancestors can no longer receive subsidies from Spirit Hall. I have to make a living somehow." Crimson Dragon smiled helplessly as he explained his situation.

"You really won't consider returning to your sect?" After hearing this, Su He said something that drastically changed Crimson Dragon's expression.

"This is my mother's stall. Don't say such things here. Let's go somewhere else." Crimson Dragon spoke in a low voice. Then, he led Su He and Qian Renxue to a garden not far from Bright Moon Bridge. There were no lights there, and it was pitch-black beneath the night sky, forming a stark contrast with the bustle nearby.

"Let me introduce myself again. My name is Fang Xing. My original name was Tuoba Xing." Crimson Dragon lit a cigarette and offered one to Su He. Su He glanced at Qian Renxue's murderous stare and calmly said that he did not smoke. Fang Xing continued, "My mother was called Fang Su. She had no Soul Power and was the daughter of an ordinary innkeeper. She was once forcibly abducted and violated by Tuoba Wang, the Son of Holy Dragon Sect Leader, after he got drunk. Then she gave birth to me."

Su He and Qian Renxue quietly listened to Fang Xing, their hearts filled with complicated emotions.

Seeing their expressions, Fang Xing continued, "When I was nine, my mother died after catching a cold. After that, I cultivated alone and buried my hatred for that man deep in my heart. That was also what drove me to cultivate." He took a deep drag from his cigarette and paused. "Until I was fourteen, when the Holy Dragon Sect found me. The one leading them was my father, a Rank 76 Battle Spirit Saint whose martial soul was the White Armored Earth Dragon. That was the real reason Xue Xing did not dare deal with me after I lost the spirit battle."

"So you refused to return to the sect and chose to join the military." Su He said, "With your talent, if you had returned to the sect to cultivate, your current achievements would definitely not be below Rank 55."

"I don't regret it." Fang Xing said, "I will smash that man's face in myself." His face was filled with hatred for his biological father and an unwavering determination to achieve his goal.

Su He said nothing. Instead, he took out a Dragon Whisker Sunflower from his Soul Tool. It was one of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures obtained from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and it would be of great benefit to the cultivation of a fire-attribute Soul Master.

"Take it if you trust me. If you are willing to follow us, your path of cultivation will be smooth sailing from now on." Su He patted Fang Xing on the shoulder, gave him his promise, then turned and left with Qian Renxue.

Su He was not making empty promises.

First of all, the Holy Dragon Sect, one of the Lower Four Sects, had already lost its battle against the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan for territory and had no choice but to withdraw from the Heaven Dou Empire. In the original work, it had also been gradually swallowed up by the Spirit Hall led by Bibi Dong, eventually becoming subordinate to Spirit Hall.

Second, if Fang Xing consumed the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures Su He had given him, then based on Su He's understanding of his character, Fang Xing was someone who repaid kindness. Once his strength improved, he would certainly repay Su He for this favor. That was Su He's judgment of his character.

What major force would not want such a gifted high-level Beast Martial Soul Master? Even if Fang Xing were kept at their side as a subordinate in the future, he would greatly benefit Qian Renxue's Usurpation Plan—and he could also disgust that old bastard Xue Xing while he was at it.

Fang Xing stared at the backs of the two as they departed, then looked at the spirit herb in his hand, which emitted an enticing aura. He fell into thought.