In the Heaven Dou Empire, in Heaven Dou City.
A carriage rolled slowly down the main road of a bustling street. Two burly men sat at the front, waving pedestrians out of its way.
"Wow, so this is Heaven Dou City? It's pretty prosperous. No wonder it's one of the two capitals on the continent. Compared to this place, Spirit City feels a little plain."
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Oscar poked his small head out to look around.
"Brother Zhen, where are we going? Should we visit Sister Xue first?"
Oscar let the curtain fall and turned to Su Zhen, who sat cross-legged inside the carriage.
Su Zhen opened his eyes, lifted one corner of the curtain, and glanced at the streets around them.
"Let's eat first. We'll buy some gifts afterward, then head to the Crown Prince's Mansion. Yang Fan, which restaurant in Heaven Dou City is the best?"
Su Zhen asked Yang Fan, who was driving the carriage. Yang Fan was a native of Heaven Dou. He had grown up in Heaven Dou City, then gone to Spirit City to study at the Spirit Hall Advanced Soul Master Academy after breaking through to Soul Grandmaster. After graduating, he had served the Worship Hall ever since.
"My lord, Green Jade Pavilion in the inner city is the finest restaurant in Heaven Dou City, but you have to book ahead. Heaven Dou Grand Hotel is another option, and you don't need a reservation, but we can only go to the lower three floors. As for Four Seasons Heavenly Mansion, only nobles are allowed inside. We..."
Seeing Yang Fan list several restaurants, all with entry requirements, Su Zhen felt a headache coming on.
"Enough. Let's just grab something at a roadside stall."
"Yes, my lord."
The carriage went a little farther before stopping at a small roadside stall.
"My lord, this is one of my favorite places to eat whenever I'm out on a mission. It can't compare to places like Green Jade Pavilion or Heaven Dou Grand Hotel, but the food tastes just as good."
Yang Fan introduced the stall to Su Zhen.
"Little Ao, what do you think?"
Su Zhen didn't mind either way, but he wanted to consider Oscar's opinion.
"I'll go wherever you say, Brother Zhen."
Oscar answered obediently, putting on the face of a well-behaved child.
Seeing Oscar act that way, Su Zhen couldn't help laughing. He patted Oscar on the head and led him out of the carriage.
"Oh, Lord Yang, you're back! What'll it be this time? A bowl of plain noodles?"
The stall owner greeted Yang Fan warmly. He clearly knew him well. Ordinary people would never dare speak so casually to a Soul Master.
Yang Fan didn't answer, instead giving the owner pointed looks to make him notice the two children beside him.
"Are these your kids? How come you've never brought them before? They're adorable."
The stall owner's eyes lit up when he saw Su Zhen and Oscar. He came over and ruffled Oscar's hair. Su Zhen looked old enough, and he seemed hard to approach, so the owner didn't give him the same treatment.
Watching this, Yang Fan's eyes nearly popped out of his head, and cold sweat poured down his face.
"Old Zhang, these two are..."
"Uncle, we're Uncle Yang's nephews. We heard your food was good, so we came to try it."
Oscar cut Yang Fan off.
Yang Fan could only nod. Oscar's words had left him so nervous he could barely speak.
"O-Old Zhang, four bowls of plain noodles."
"Coming right up!"
Old Zhang replied and turned to make the noodles.
Su Zhen and Oscar sat down on wooden stools. When they saw Yang Fan and the others standing off to one side, they waved for them to sit too.
"Yang Fan, I can tell you eat here often."
"Yes, my lord. Old Zhang's Martial Soul is a kind of spice. His noodles are delicious—more fragrant than the ones at those big restaurants."
Yang Fan gave an awkward smile.
"Four bowls of plain noodles. Enjoy."
Before long, four bowls of plain noodles were set on the table.
Su Zhen picked up his chopsticks and lifted some noodles to his mouth. The moment they touched his tongue, a peculiar aroma spread across it.
"This tastes great. With a Martial Soul like that, why not try working at a big hotel?"
Su Zhen loved the flavor and asked Yang Fan, who was eating beside him.
"Those big hotels require their cooks to be Soul Masters at minimum. Old Zhang's just an ordinary person."
Yang Fan swallowed his mouthful before answering.
"I see. Once we're done eating, take him to Salas at the Martial Soul Branch Hall in Heaven Dou City and have him sent to Spirit City to open a restaurant. Tell him it was my idea."
"Yes, thank you, my lord."
Yang Fan answered with gratitude in his eyes. Old Zhang was his friend, and with Su Zhen's backing, Old Zhang's life would be better than that of ninety-nine percent of ordinary people on the continent.
They quickly finished their noodles. When Yang Fan told Old Zhang what Su Zhen had arranged, the man came straight over and knocked his head against the ground three times in gratitude. Only then did he leave with Yang Fan.
After finishing their meal, Su Zhen and the others walked toward the Crown Prince's Mansion.
"Brother Zhen, what should we bring Sister Xue as a gift?"
Oscar looked at the dazzling array of goods and snacks lining both sides of the street, unsure what to choose.
Su Zhen considered it too. As the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe could get his hands on almost anything in Heaven Dou City.
"Candies for sale! Tasty Blue Silver Candy, sweet and delicious Blue Silver Candy!"
Just then, the hawker's cries at a roadside stall reached Su Zhen's ears.
Su Zhen walked up to the stall and looked at the Blue Silver Candy, identical to the kind sold in Suotuo City. He bought the entire stock for a single Gold Soul Coin.
"Let's bring Sister Xue these. She's been crown prince for so long—she probably hasn't had any of this street food."
Su Zhen handed a piece of candy to Oscar and Li Hao, then unwrapped one for himself. Instead of the sweetness he'd expected, his mouth filled with a burnt bitterness and sourness.
"Little Ao, spit it out. It's gone bad."
"No, Brother Zhen. It's pretty good and sweet."
Oscar mumbled around the Blue Silver Candy in his mouth.
Su Zhen thought he'd gotten a bad piece, so he unwrapped another and ate it, but the same sour bitterness filled his mouth. He asked Li Hao, who said it tasted sweet too.
Su Zhen stood motionless for a long time, crushing the candy wrapper in his hand until it crackled.
"Brother Zhen, what's wrong?"
Oscar saw that something was off and asked with concern.
"It's nothing, Little Ao. Come on, let's go see Sister Xue."
The three soon arrived before a magnificent mansion. A gilded plaque bearing the words "Crown Prince's Mansion" hung high above the gate.
Li Hao stepped forward and handed a token to the guards at the entrance. The guard took it and glanced at it, then turned pale with shock as he stared at the three of them. He hurried inside.
"Brother Zhen, does the guard recognize our token? What if he gets it wrong? Then we won't be able to see Sister Xue."
"He won't. The guards and maids at the Crown Prince's Mansion were all replaced with people from our Worship Hall long ago. That's what our teacher told me before we set out."
Sure enough, before long, the guard who had gone inside came back out with a maid.
"My lords, the crown prince invites you in. Please allow me to show you the way."
The maid came before them and bowed slightly, then gestured for them to follow. After they entered the mansion, she led them this way and that until they reached a side hall.
"Young masters, the young lady is inside."
The maid stopped outside the side hall and indicated that Su Zhen and Oscar should go in. Li Hao stayed outside with her.
Su Zhen gently pushed the door open. A golden figure inside came into view. A man with short, ear-length golden hair, dressed in golden finery, sat at the table sipping tea.
When the golden-haired man saw the two of them enter, he set down his teacup and motioned for them to sit.
"Sister Xue, you look awful like this. There's no one else here, so why don't you return to your real appearance?"
As soon as Oscar sat down, he started teasing the golden-haired man before him.
Thump—
The golden-haired man got up and went behind Oscar, then punched him on the head. A golden radiance burst from her body, revealing a peerlessly beautiful woman in a golden palace gown.
"You little rascal, Little Ao! You've only just arrived, and you're already making fun of your big sister."
Qian Renxue shook her fist in indignation as she spoke.
"Sister Xue!" the two cried in unison.
After so long, they had finally seen their big sister again.
Before you continue