Are You a Wu Family Member?! (Seeking Reads, Seeking Monthly Votes)

The Crown Prince's Residence was the center of the empire's power struggle, and all major factions had stationed people outside it to gather intelligence.

After Xue Qinghe invited Wu Qi and Qian Gu Changkong into the Crown Prince's Residence, many forces had already begun secretly investigating their identities and backgrounds.

To prevent their younger family members from offending someone they could not afford to provoke, the nobles had posted portraits of the two throughout their households.

Wu Hao and the other two stood there with blank expressions, unable to help but fall into self-doubt.

Did we not look enough like spoiled playboys?

Ordinary people would not have been able to spot any flaw in their performance. It was simply that Wu Qi knew the Wu family far too well.

Before long, a deep voice rang out from behind the crowd.

"Don't make things difficult for them. I was the one who came looking for you."

The three men's lackeys hurriedly made way. Wu Qinan lightly rolled a jade orb between the fingers of his left hand, his right hand held behind his back, as he passed through the crowd and stepped forward.

"Greetings, Lord Marquis."

As Soul Masters, they did not need to kneel when meeting nobles, but the proper courtesies still had to be observed.

Qian Gu Changkong unwillingly gave a bow, then turned and stepped aside.

"Father, he—" Wu Hao wanted to make excuses for his failure, but a glare silenced him.

Wu Qinan waved his hand, and the Three Young Masters of the Wu Family left with their men without looking back.

He did not put on airs, speaking gently instead. "Young friend, would you care to move elsewhere? I find you somewhat familiar. Perhaps we might even be relatives."

Wu Qi responded calmly. "It would be my great honor to become a relative of Lord Marquis."

"But unfortunately, I fear I must disappoint Lord Marquis. I was merely born in a small city. How could I possibly reach so high?"

Wu Qinan caught the dissatisfaction in his words and merely smiled. "Won't you have a proper chat with me? Perhaps we really are relatives."

There was no need for Wu Qi to avoid him. Since he had already severed ties with the Wu family, he naturally would not be fooled by a few words from the other party.

Turning his head, he gave Qian Gu Changkong a few instructions by his ear before leaving with Wu Qinan.

Inside the teahouse.

Earlier, Wu Qinan had secretly observed Wu Qi's every move.

When spoiled young masters came looking for trouble, Wu Qi had remained composed and calm, proving that he had someone backing him. The rumors were most likely true—Wu Qi had won the favor of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

Yet the coldness and disgust in Wu Qi's gaze left him puzzled.

The possibility of hostility arising at their very first meeting was very low. Moreover, Wu Qi had accurately grasped the temperaments of Wu Hao and the other two, making it clear that he knew the Wu family very well.

How could Wu Qinan not know about the family's dirty dealings?

Thus, he suspected that Wu Qi had originally come from the Wu family, but had been forced to leave after suffering exclusion and suppression.

"You are one of the Wu family!" Wu Qinan tested him.

Clap clap clap~

Wu Qi applauded. "Did Lord Marquis merely wish to tell me a story?"

"I have to say, it is indeed a very compelling story. But Lord Marquis, you cannot conclude that I came from the Marquis's Residence merely because of my surname, can you?"

"Don't forget, there are plenty of people surnamed Xue in this world as well."

Wu Qinan had risen in rank through military merit. Such meticulous powers of observation were chilling. No wonder he could see through the course of battle and establish such illustrious achievements.

"Oh? Could it be that I have overthought things? Young friend, why not tell me where you were born?"

The only cities on the continent Wu Qi was familiar with were Heaven Dou City and Spirit City. However, from reading novels in his previous life, he had also learned a fair amount about Notting City and Suotuo City.

"I was born in Notting City, a city on the empire's frontier. It is merely a small city, so I imagine Lord Marquis has never heard of it."

Unfortunately, Wu Qinan had led troops through Notting City two years ago and knew something about the place.

He immediately began asking about various things within Notting City.

Wu Qi answered fluently, shattering the suspicion in his heart.

In a small frontier city, unless it was one's birthplace, no one would deliberately pay attention to the circumstances within the city.

Yet Wu Qi spoke of it with great familiarity, leaving Wu Qinan with no reason to doubt him.

"It seems I truly overthought things. Young friend, please make yourself at home."

Wu Qi did not stay long, taking his leave soon afterward.

Wu Qinan glanced at his departing back and could not help muttering, "If he is not from the Wu family, why does he feel so familiar?"

Having temporarily dispelled Wu Qinan's suspicions, Wu Qi and Qian Gu Changkong purchased sufficient supplies and set off by carriage for Suotuo City three days later.

Inside the carriage, Qian Gu Changkong could not help complaining, "These rumors are too ridiculous. The moment the carriage company heard we were going to Suotuo City, the price immediately doubled."

Wu Qi offered no explanation, but he understood perfectly well.

On Douluo Continent, the importance of public opinion was often overlooked.

The rumors in the city had prompted large numbers of nobles and merchants to visit Suotuo City. Supply and demand determined the price. The carriage company only had so many carriages; with more people going, prices naturally had to rise.

However, Wu Qi had no intention of wasting money. Using the map in his hand, he chose a city near Suotuo City as their destination, with Suotuo City lying along the way.

Though the journey was longer, the carriage rental was much cheaper.

The coachman could not be told of this. Once they reached Suotuo City, they could simply get off midway.

In Heaven Dou City.

Ning Rongrong had already made up her mind to run away from home. Before leaving, she paid a visit to the Crown Prince's Residence, intending to briefly bid Wu Qi farewell.

When she learned of Wu Qi's destination from Xue Qinghe, she could not help but feel secretly delighted.

That way, they would run into each other in Suotuo City.

Without Ning Fengzhi's excessive protection, she could associate with whoever she wanted!

Next, Ning Rongrong found someone to cover for her, successfully shook off the guards Ning Fengzhi had assigned to her, and boarded a carriage bound for Suotuo City.

What she did not know was that the coachman was a hidden guard sent by Ning Fengzhi!

After all, she was the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. If she ran away from home alone, Ning Fengzhi would naturally make proper arrangements.

Otherwise, if she were kidnapped, it would undoubtedly be a disaster for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Inside the carriage, the coachman spoke to Ning Rongrong with a kindly expression. "Miss, you're traveling far alone. Didn't your family arrange for a powerful Soul Master to accompany you?"

Having left home, Ning Rongrong became more vigilant and did not answer the coachman's question.

"Sir, what fun places are there in Suotuo City? It'll be my first time going there."

Ning Fengzhi had already explained this matter to the coachman. Since Ning Rongrong had taken the initiative to ask, it saved him the trouble of saying more.

"Not to boast, but this old man is very familiar with everything in Suotuo City. Miss, at your age, you should have just graduated from a junior Soul Master Academy, right?"

"There is a rather good academy in Suotuo City. If you decide to settle there, attending that academy would be a fine choice."

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had long since secretly investigated Shrek Academy's background.

The coachman repeated Flender's usual self-promoting spiel, successfully arousing Ning Rongrong's interest.

Ning Rongrong was a genius of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so she naturally wanted to see the continent's geniuses for herself.

Without realizing it, she had already stepped into the "trap" Ning Fengzhi had carefully laid, yet she was still celebrating her escape from the sect's clutches.