It had to be said: when it came to winning over powerful people, Xue Beng had a good grasp of the bigger picture.
Since Xue Hen was a Super Douluo with royal blood, and a source of support the Heaven Dou Imperial Family had to win back, Xue Beng could act as if Xue Hen had never sent him flying. Not only that, he could show goodwill, offer explanations, and try to get closer to him. He was willing to do all of it.
That was exactly what he had done in the original story when Tang San had grown into a force to be reckoned with. He had taken him as his master and treated him with constant respect, never once bringing up how the Shrek Seven Devils had beaten him senseless back then.
Hearing Xue Beng's promise, Prince Xue Xing nodded in satisfaction.
His nephew still knew how to put the bigger picture first. Now all they had to do was wait until evening, when he could take Xue Beng to visit Xue Hen.
On a street in Heaven Dou City.
Xue Hen was still wandering around, unaware that Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng planned to visit him that night.
After Emperor Xue Ye had drawn him out, "Xue Qinghe" had paid him a visit, and he had made a scene at the Martial Soul Holy Temple and killed Platinum Bishop Salas, he no longer had any reason to wear a mask. He could now show his face openly in the Soul Master World, regardless of how many people stared at him.
On the Sky Screen, Xue Hen was someone who hated trouble.
But now, so many people and factions knew where he was. Wearing a mask wouldn't help; it would only be like covering his ears while stealing a bell. So he might as well take it off and let everyone curious about him get a good look. That was perfectly normal, wasn't it?
No one would find it strange.
Besides, the "Semi-Fictional Character—Xue Hen" was now only 0.5 percent short of reaching a hundred percent reality rate. It was the perfect time to make himself more visible and push that number higher.
So, taking advantage of this opportunity to stop hiding and show his face, he wandered all over the city, getting a better feel for the local customs and letting the people of Heaven Dou City sense his presence more clearly.
He would let them know that what the Sky Screen showed was all true!
Super Douluo Xue Hen really existed!
At dusk, Xue Hen stepped out of the building, after the Great Soul Arena's manager had respectfully escorted him to the door.
Back on the street, Xue Hen called up the System Panel with a thought.
[Semi-Fictional Character: Super Douluo—Xue Hen Reality Rate: 99.5% → 99.76%]
Looking at the information, a trace of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
He was getting closer and closer.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he reached a hundred percent reality rate for this character and entered the Level 98 Soul Power realm.
He closed the panel, looked up at the sky, and started back to the inn where he was staying.
Along the way, the citizens who passed him continued to look at him with excitement and nerves. Xue Hen paid them no mind and kept walking.
After returning to the inn and finishing dinner, he went upstairs to his room.
He didn't cultivate or read. Instead, he moved a chair to the window, sat down, and admired the moonlight outside.
Almost twenty-one years.
He had been in this world for so many years. Before, he had only had the Emerald Swan as his Martial Soul, and had cultivated steadily, step by step, until he reached the Soul Emperor realm. Then, in just over a month, he had suddenly risen from Soul Emperor to Level 97 Titled Douluo. To be honest, the feeling was extraordinary.
So much had changed.
It felt as if time had flown by and the world had turned upside down, yet only a little over a month had passed...
Xue Hen shook his head. People always tended to overthink at night. What was the point of thinking so much?
His life was getting better and better. That was enough!
"Knock, knock, knock." Just then, someone rapped on the door.
Xue Hen's thoughts came to a halt. He turned toward the door and released his spiritual power to sense who was outside. He recognized the aura from a previous encounter.
Xue Beng.
"Qian Renxue came yesterday, and he's here today. Those two sure know how to compete," Xue Hen muttered inwardly.
He waved a hand. A gust of air lifted the latch, and the door swung inward on its own.
Prince Xue Xing was about to knock again when the door suddenly opened by itself. He froze for a moment, then saw the figure sitting in the chair by the window inside.
Xue Hen.
By blood, Xue Hen was his nephew, too. But this was the first time he had met him in person. Thinking of Xue Hen's frightening power on the Sky Screen, as well as his rampage through the Martial Soul Holy Temple that morning and his killing of Salas, Prince Xue Xing suddenly felt a rush of fear. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
"Royal brother, may we come in?" Fortunately, Xue Beng broke the awkward silence. With bandages wrapped around him, he poked his head out from behind Prince Xue Xing and asked Xue Hen politely.
"Yesterday it was Xue Qinghe, and today it's you. I told you, I'm not your royal brother," Xue Hen said coolly.
Xue Beng stepped out from behind Xue Xing. His right hand was bandaged and slung across his chest, while his left held a bag of fruit. He said earnestly, "We share the same ancestors and the same clan, and you're younger than me. Naturally, you're my royal brother."
"Heh." Xue Hen let out a derisive chuckle.
At that, Prince Xue Xing plucked up his courage. His face took on the same warm, kindly expression Emperor Xue Ye had worn when they met. "Xue Hen, I'm your uncle, Xue Xing. I heard you were staying here, so I brought your royal brother over to see you. Um... may we come in?"
Xue Hen looked at them. Seeing that Xue Beng was carrying a bag and Prince Xue Xing had his hands full, he frowned and said, "Guests are welcome. Come in."
"Ha, good, good," Prince Xue Xing said with a hurried smile.
Then he and Xue Beng came inside and set the things they were carrying on the table. He introduced them to Xue Hen. "These are some pastries unique to Heaven Dou City. We didn't know if you'd tried them before. And here's some fruit, all very fresh. Try some later."
None of it was especially expensive, but it was clear that they had chosen everything with care. The fruit was large and clean, and the pastries were still steaming.
Xue Hen stood up, glanced at the gifts they had brought, and said, "Have a seat."
"Ah, good." Prince Xue Xing nodded repeatedly, then sat down on the sofa with Xue Beng.
"Did you two come here to persuade me to serve His Majesty, or do you have some other purpose, like the Crown Prince?" Xue Hen returned to his chair and asked them.
Some other purpose?
Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng exchanged a glance, surprised by Xue Hen's words.
Hadn't Xue Qinghe come to strengthen his relationship with Xue Hen on the emperor's orders, then persuade him to return to the family? What other purpose could there be?
The two couldn't make sense of it, but they didn't intend to ask. They had to take care of their own business first.
Prince Xue Xing shook his head and said, "That's not it. I brought Xue Beng here today mainly to clear up the misunderstanding between you brothers. As for whether you're willing to put aside your grievances and return to the royal family, of course we hope you'll come back. But we can't, and don't dare, force you."
"A misunderstanding?" Xue Hen turned his gaze to Xue Beng.
"Xue Beng, hurry and explain what happened to your royal brother," Prince Xue Xing said to the nephew beside him.
"Mm, royal brother, actually..."
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