Like ordinary people in the Blue Star world catching sight of a superstar, Xue Hen became the center of attention as he walked through the streets of Heaven Dou City after taking off his mask.
With so many people watching him, he felt his truth rate suddenly rise a little. His heart leaped with joy, but he furrowed his brow and put the silver mask back on. Then, with a sudden flash, he vanished again.
When he reappeared, he was already at an inn.
He paid, rented a room, and went inside.
Xue Hen strode straight to the bed and dropped onto it.
"That Emperor Xue Ye... He's got a decent way with words, but his acting is terrible. So over-the-top. I nearly lost it and punched him just now." Xue Hen took off his mask, a look of distaste crossing his face as he grumbled.
"My child," and "Hen'er"...
Did he really think that just because they shared a little blood, he could take advantage of him?
You old bastard, you're so damn cunning. You said the Heaven Dou royal family would always be your family, and that my name had been put back in the family records forever. So why did you have to put it back again? What happened to the name that was there before?
"Hmph!" Xue Hen snorted, disgusted by the face of a politician.
But then, thinking it over, he could understand.
After all, he came from the Balaque Royal Family and had Xue Family blood. Now he was also a Titled Douluo. Wanting to win him over and strengthen the Xue Family's forces to stand against Spirit Hall was only natural.
And simply offering him benefits probably wouldn't be enough to win him over; the odds weren't good. The version of himself on the Sky Screen didn't seem like an ambitious man. Even after fighting his way back into the Balak Kingdom, he hadn't tried to seize the throne. So the only way to get through to him was to appeal to feelings and blood ties.
"Go ahead and talk. Talk all you want. For the sake of appearing more convincingly on the Sky Screen and raising my character's truth rate, I'll put up with you for a little while longer." Xue Hen took a deep breath and told himself.
Then, with a thought, he brought up his status panel.
[Name: Xue Hen Age: Twenty-one Soul Power: Level 97 Martial Soul: Imperial Power Sword/Emerald Swan Soul Ring Configuration: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Red, Red/Red, Red, Red Fused Role: Super Douluo—Xue Hen Truth Rate: 99.2% Available Role to Fuse: Descendant of the Sun God—Yuan Qi (Truth Rate: 46.3%)]
"It's over ninety-nine percent. I'll have to push harder to get that last little bit." Xue Hen nodded, his gaze lingering on the line for his truth rate.
He had already appeared at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and when he left, he had been in such a hurry that he'd "forgotten" to put his mask back on. He had shown his face and what he was wearing to plenty of people. So even though Xue Hen had later vanished in a flash and checked into an inn some distance away, his whereabouts were still discovered by people who were paying attention.
Less than half an hour later, at Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Emperor Xue Ye had only recently returned from the Imperial Ancestral Temple when the head of his informants—also his Chief Attendant—brought him a piece of intelligence.
He opened the report and read it over, then smiled. "Just as I thought, he hasn't left. My nephew still thinks of home."
"Your Majesty is wise. Prince Xue Hen must be just as you said: he only needs a little more time to think it over. Once he understands, he'll accept the position of heir you've offered him and stay to assist you wholeheartedly, helping our Heaven Dou Empire defeat Spirit Hall and the Star Luo Empire, and rule the continent!" the Chief Attendant said with a smile.
"Well said, well said. Hahaha!" Those words went straight to Xue Ye's heart, and he burst into laughter.
"Report!"
Just then, a guard from outside the hall hurried in and bowed to Xue Ye. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has returned."
"Qinghe is back? Let him in." Emperor Xue Ye stopped laughing, but the smile remained on his face as he gave the order.
"Yes, Your Majesty." The guard withdrew.
Before long, a handsome young man with short golden hair, dressed in ornate gold-and-red robes, walked into the hall.
"Your son pays his respects to Father." Qian Renxue placed her right hand over her left chest and bowed to Emperor Xue Ye.
"Mm, rise. Qinghe, let me guess: you went to Balak, but didn't manage to bring Xue Hen back for me, did you?" Emperor Xue Ye returned to his throne and asked Qian Renxue with a broad smile.
"Please forgive me, Father. Now that the Sky Screen has revealed scenes of the future, the future really can be changed. My younger brother didn't go to the Balaque Royal Palace. Instead, he guessed in advance that Uncle's beloved concubine and my younger brother Xue Tian would flee, so he went to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and fought Bone Douluo there. No, 'fought' isn't quite right. I heard they only exchanged a few moves before Bone Douluo was defeated. And he had been boosted by many Soul Masters with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"Surely you received that information too, Father?" Qian Renxue looked up at Emperor Xue Ye and asked.
That old bastard. Heaven Dou City was so close to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He must have heard about Xue Hen wreaking havoc there before she did.
Since Xue Hen had gone to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he couldn't possibly have appeared in Balak at the same time. Xue Ye knew that, so why ask if she'd returned empty-handed?
"Hmph. They only exchanged a few moves? If that child Hen'er had been serious, he could have defeated Bone Douluo in one. So much for the Number One Defense Douluo. He's impressive compared with those mediocre Soul Masters, but he's nowhere near the peerless prodigy of my Xue Family." Xue Ye waved his hand dismissively.
Qian Renxue's lips twitched faintly. She lowered her head and said, "You're right, Father."
"You're right that I received word that Hen'er went to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. That's how I knew you'd come back empty-handed. But don't lose heart, Qinghe. Even if you came back without him, with your father here, we can still make this work!" Emperor Xue Ye suddenly changed his tone, speaking with confidence and pride.
Qian Renxue's eyes flashed with shock.
"Father, you mean...?"
"Mm. I've already met that child, Xue Hen. He's such a good boy—he even knew to address me respectfully as his uncle."
At that, Xue Ye couldn't help but speak up for Xue Hen. "That bastard Kundera only had women on his mind. He actually cast aside his lawful wife and abandoned his child for a pretty face. Back then, he even sent me a memorial claiming Hen'er was unfilial and deserved to be expelled from the royal family. The nerve of him! Thankfully, Hen'er was blessed with good fortune and stayed safe all these years. Otherwise, he would truly have been a sinner against the Heaven Dou royal family!"
"Father, Uncle wasn't doing it just for a pretty face. He also wanted to win over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. That's what you said back then. Have you forgotten?" Qian Renxue quietly reminded Emperor Xue Ye.
Xue Ye's face stiffened. The next second, he hurriedly waved his hand. "Nonsense! I never said that. I opposed Kundera abandoning his wife and child from the very beginning. He was determined to do it, and he even deceived me to get his way!"
Qian Renxue: "..."
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