"650 Gold Soul Coins, at 1:50 odds. By rights, you should give me 32,500 Gold Soul Coins."
Murong Ci lightly tapped the table and looked at the staff member with a beaming smile.
The staff member was dumbfounded too. In all his eight lifetimes, he'd never seen odds like these. A newbie had made thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins on his very first day in the Soul Arena!
As the three of them were leaving, the staff member muttered "lunatic" under his breath. Huo Wu heard him and shot him a glare. He shuddered and hurriedly shut his mouth.
[She brought all 500 Gold Soul Coins she had and bet them on you just like that. Where do you think she got the confidence?]
The system clicked its tongue twice, sounding a little envious?
That evening, the three of them went to the best restaurant in Heaven Dou City.
The meal cost 300 Gold Soul Coins, not even a fraction of what they'd earned. Huo Wushuang felt a bit pained by it, but he couldn't very well say anything.
After three rounds of drinks and five courses.
The three of them chatted to their heart's content.
Or rather, it was Huo Wu and Murong Ci doing the chatting. Huo Wushuang really didn't want to be the third wheel.
"Ci, why is your third Soul Skill called Hundred Years in an Instant?"
"It's a domain-type skill. Although only an instant passes in the outside world, the enemies inside the domain truly experience a hundred years. Their actual age, however, doesn't change."
"That's terrifying... and so romantic..."
"Romantic? What makes you say that?"
"If we got trapped inside, wouldn't that mean we'd be together forever?"
At those words, not only Murong Ci but also Huo Wushuang, who'd been idly loitering nearby, froze.
Murong Ci didn't answer her. He only took a swig of liquor.
It tasted salty.
But he still pretended not to care.
"It's not that simple. Every second of those hundred years, you'd suffer both mental and physical torment."
Huo Wu shivered. "That's too awful. Don't ever use it on me."
"Okay. Let's head back. We'll come again tomorrow night."
For the next seven days, Murong Ci and Huo Wu appeared at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena right on time.
No matter who they faced, the outcome was a foregone conclusion, and not a single fight lasted more than five seconds.
The name Yongzhen had become synonymous with the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena. The gamblers frantically wagered on Murong Ci, but the odds had long since fallen to 1:1.01. There was practically no money to be made, yet people still flocked to place bets every day.
The name Yongzhen had even spread to the surrounding cities, and challengers came in an endless stream every night.
But Murong Ci had promised to take only two matches a day, since he had plenty of time at night to spend with his girlfriend...
On the seventh night, Murong Ci and Huo Wu left the restaurant still holding hands, their fingers intertwined, inseparable.
Suddenly, someone wearing a hood stopped them.
The person was tall and thin, with a hoarse voice. "The young master wants to see you."
He handed Murong Ci a gold-embossed invitation. A Swan Emblem was stamped on the seal.
As Murong Ci took it, his fingertips brushed the paper. He sensed a faint but exceptionally pure aura of light.
[Light attribute detected. Extracting... Host's light-attribute affinity increased by 1%.]
At the system's notification, Murong Ci's lips curved into a smile.
"Tell your young master," Murong Ci said, tucking the invitation into his robe, "tomorrow night at eight, at the Moon-Gazing Tea House in Heaven Dou City. My treat."
With that, Murong Ci led Huo Wu away. The man in black froze for a moment but didn't pursue them. He sighed, murmured "Interesting," and left.
"Ci, I couldn't read that man. Who is he?"
[Target: Snake Lance Douluo, She Long. A level 93 Power Attack System Titled Douluo. He's interested in the host and poses little threat, but it's best to stay cautious.]
"I don't know him. He must be pretty strong."
After saying that, Murong Ci opened the envelope. It contained only four characters:
"Long admired."
It was signed Xue Qinghe.
Huo Wu's eyes went wide when she saw Xue Qinghe's name. "Ci, the Crown Prince wants to meet you! You're amazing."
Murong Ci ruffled her hair. Ever since that night, Huo Wu seemed like a different person.
Her domineering, bewitching ways didn't seem to work on Murong Ci anymore. On the contrary, this side of her was what he liked best.
Though, only when it came to him.
"The Crown Prince sent this because he sees something in me that he can use. We can't let our guard down."
Murong Ci put the letter away and walked back with Huo Wu's hand in his.
"I won't be able to keep you company tomorrow. Have Brother Wushuang go with you."
"But I'll miss you."
"Then take a good look at me tonight."
"Then I won't hold back!"
The Moon-Gazing Tea House was one of the quieter teahouses in Heaven Dou City. Its most famous feature was a small pavilion where guests could drink tea and admire the moon, which was how the teahouse got its name.
On the first floor, there was a space set aside for storytellers. The learned master spoke with great eloquence, drawing in many ordinary folk and raising the teahouse's renown.
As soon as Murong Ci entered, he saw a man in a moon-white robe already seated and pouring tea.
It was Xue Qinghe.
"Brother Murong? Have a seat."
Xue Qinghe gestured to the chair beside him, his tone warm.
"Your Highness is too kind. I'm just wondering why His Majesty asked me to come here today."
"Of course, it's because I've long admired you and wanted to make a friend."
Xue Qinghe smiled. A glint of gold flashed briefly in his eyes.
[Real-time monitoring is now active for the host. A very faint light-attribute aura was just detected, and someone is lurking nearby. Stay alert.]
"Your Highness doesn't trust me?"
"Why would Brother Murong say that?"
"Would our friend in the shadows care to join us for a cup of tea?"
Xue Qinghe made a barely perceptible gesture, a signal for the man in black to leave.
[The target is now at a distance. The host is safe.]
"He's my personal guard. It's remarkable that Brother Murong was able to sense him."
"Your Highness, let's skip the pleasantries. What did you want me here for?"
"Brother Murong is a straightforward man." Xue Qinghe set down his wine cup and interlaced his fingers on the table.
"Then I'll get right to the point. You won seven consecutive matches at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, with two purple Soul Rings and one black one. At level 31, you crushed a level 39 opponent and won every battle over the course of seven days. The Heaven Dou Empire couldn't possibly ignore a genius like you."
"Oh? Your Highness wants to recruit me?"
"I do, but I respect your wishes, Brother Murong. There's no rush."
Xue Qinghe suddenly leaned closer. "It's just that your Martial Soul is quite strange, as is the composition of your Soul Rings. Can you tell me why?"
Murong Ci stood and gazed at the moon from the pavilion as he spoke slowly. "Yongzhen—encompassing all things. I possess every elemental attribute, and my ability to sense the elements around me is slightly stronger than that of ordinary people."
Murong Ci paused, then continued, "I'm afraid Your Highness's Martial Soul is more than just a swan, isn't it?"
Xue Qinghe fell silent for a moment, then slowly stood. Moonlight cast a peculiar glow over him.
[The man in black has returned. Host, prepare to respond.]
"...I bet he won't kill me."
"Good eye, Brother Murong. But those who know too much tend not to live long."
"Your Highness won't kill me either. Otherwise, you wouldn't have invited me to the Moon-Gazing Tea House. You could've simply had your guard kill me."
Xue Qinghe stared at him for a moment, then smiled and turned away.
"Interesting. You're more interesting than I expected. I hope you'll bring me even more surprises next time we meet."
"I'm deeply grateful that the Crown Prince thinks so highly of me."
Murong Ci left the pavilion. At the doorway, he paused and looked back at the moon.
"May I be like the stars, and you like the moon, their clear radiance shining together night after night."
Xue Qinghe was slightly taken aback, not understanding what he meant.
"Oh? Brother Murong writes poetry too? I'd be glad to learn. Please, tell me what it means."
"I hope that you and I will be like the stars and the moon, shining together and always by each other's side. Your Highness, goodbye."
Murong Ci left, leaving Xue Qinghe standing where he was.
"May I be like the stars... and you like the moon... their clear radiance shining together night after night... What a beautiful phrase, 'shining together'..."
[Why are you flirting with people now? Their heart rate's already at 111.]
"I think mine's at 111 too."
[About the same.]