The Invitation

"Ah! Don't come any closer!"

Qian Renxue jumped in fright, thinking the old man outside was one of her fans. She leaped behind Chen Qi.

Chen Qi looked at him, frowned, and asked in confusion,

"Who is that?"

The old man smiled at that and produced a royal token.

"I am a messenger for His Majesty Xue Ye. I've come especially to invite Miss Qian Xue to visit the palace."

"Invite me?"

Qian Renxue tilted her head as she asked. She couldn't think of any reason the king of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye, would want to see her.

Surely it wasn't because of the Spirit Hall behind her, too?

The old man looked at Qian Renxue and nodded.

"That's right. Please make your preparations, Miss Qian Xue. We'll see you tonight."

With that, the old man left without looking back.

Chen Qi settled down to consider Xue Ye's intentions. As the ruler of a kingdom, he must have had a reason for inviting a stranger to be his guest.

What that reason was, though, remained anyone's guess.

"Chen Qi, Chen Qi, if we go to the palace, will we get to eat delicious food again?"

Qian Renxue was excited. Last time, she hadn't gotten to eat at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect because she'd had a stomachache, and she'd felt sorry about it for ages. She absolutely wasn't going to miss this chance.

"You've forgotten about your fans again, haven't you?"

Chen Qi said helplessly.

Qian Renxue really had a terrible memory. She'd just admitted her mistake, and the moment she turned around, she'd forgotten all about it.

Qian Renxue in the original story hadn't been like this, had she? Could it be that he, Chen Qi, had spoiled her too much and made her this way?

Qian Renxue stuck out her tongue and smiled playfully.

"Hehe, just this once, Chen Qi. Just this once."

Seeing Qian Renxue plead with him, Chen Qi really couldn't bring himself to refuse. He must have played too much Galgame on Blue Star. All he ever did was agree—he'd forgotten how to say no.

"Fine!"

"Yay! Chen Qi is the best!"

Chen Xin watched them quietly, unable to figure out what their relationship was. Were they master and servant, siblings, or lovers?

The world of young people was just too hard to understand. He might as well go practice his swordsmanship.

Chen Qi looked at Chen Xin, who hadn't moved an inch, then walked over and sat beside him.

"Sword Douluo, there's something I'd like to ask you to do. Would you be willing to..."

"No!"

"I won't make you apologize."

"Deal!"

He should've said so earlier. He could avoid losing face and still owe someone a favor. This deal was a huge win.

Pufferfish Douluo: ?

After hearing Chen Qi out, Chen Xin nodded. A small favor like that was no trouble for him.

After saying his goodbyes, Chen Xin left the room.

Qian Renxue looked at Chen Qi and asked in confusion,

"Chen Qi, do we really need to do this?"

"It's better to be safe. Xue Ye must have used all sorts of methods to take the throne. Dealing with him might be even harder than dealing with Ning Fengzhi."

Night fell before long. The two of them had gotten ready: Chen Qi wore a suit, while Qian Renxue wore a formal dress. They looked quite the fine pair.

Qian Renxue cautiously poked her head out the window and looked left and right, but didn't see a thing.

"Chen Qi, why haven't Uncle Pufferfish and the others come back yet?"

It was strange. They'd been back for half the day, but Pufferfish Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo had vanished without a trace. They hadn't heard a word from them.

"Maybe they went shopping?"

Chen Qi couldn't help imagining Pufferfish Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo walking hand in hand through a mall, shopping.

The thought was downright nauseating.

"Let's not wait. Chen Qi, we'll just go ourselves!"

"We can't. Without anyone to protect us, we'll be helpless in the palace."

Chen Qi said helplessly. What had happened at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been a fluke. They wouldn't be so lucky this time.

Without a powerful escort, who knew what Xue Ye might do?

"No need. I'm no pushover. I've already fought my way through the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so what's the Heaven Dou Imperial Family in comparison? Besides, you'll be there, won't you, Chen Qi?"

Chen Qi looked at her and sighed helplessly. Since Qian Renxue still hadn't learned her lesson, he'd make sure she learned it this time.

The palace in Heaven Dou City was guarded by heavily armed soldiers year-round. The guard captain on duty grew wary the moment he saw Chen Qi and Qian Renxue. Raising his iron sword, he demanded,

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"Don't misunderstand. We're guests personally invited by His Majesty Xue Ye."

Chen Qi smiled and recited the sort of line he'd seen in novels on Blue Star.

After hearing that, the guard captain nodded and sent several men to report inside. Before long, they hurried back.

"We've confirmed it. His Majesty invited Miss Qian Xue here tonight."

The guard captain nodded to his men, then turned to Qian Renxue and Chen Qi and bowed at a ninety-degree angle.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting. Please follow me to the banquet hall."

Qian Renxue nodded and followed the guard captain into the palace.

The palace walls were studded with fist-sized gemstones, which glittered in the candlelight.

The floor was made of sturdy stone mixed with gold. It looked as if a layer of golden sand had been spread over it, and glittered just as brightly.

Looking at the palace's layout, Chen Qi had to admit the royal family really was rich. They gilded everything.

The guard captain opened a door. Beyond it stood several long tables covered from end to end with dishes.

Qian Renxue's nose twitched. The food before her made her mouth water.

"I am Xue Ye, king of the Heaven Dou Empire. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Wearing his Imperial Set, Xue Ye walked step by step toward Qian Renxue from the other end of the corridor.

Qian Renxue looked at him. For some reason, her chest felt tight and deeply uncomfortable.

"Y-hello."

"Come with me. The banquet is waiting for you."

The doors swung fully open. Everyone in the room turned to look at the entrance, gazing at Qian Renxue in bewilderment.

They entered the room, and at Xue Ye's direction, Qian Renxue took the seat beside him. The other guests were envious. Only someone Xue Ye trusted and favored most could sit there.

"Everyone, this is Qian Xue, the powerful Soul Master who has been sweeping through the Great Soul Arena. She earned a Gold Badge before the age of nine. She is the pride of the Heaven Dou Empire, and tonight's banquet is held in celebration of her Gold Badge."

Emperor Xue Ye addressed the other guests. When they learned that this was Qian Xue, all their confusion melted away.

"Welcome!"

"Welcome!"

Qian Renxue greeted almost everyone. The awkwardness of it all made her feel like she could dig out a whole three-bedroom apartment.

Once they were seated, Qian Renxue looked at the food on the table, wishing she could stuff it into her mouth right then and there.

But Xue Ye hadn't said anything yet, so she didn't break the rules. She sat properly in her chair and watched.

"Now that everyone's here, my dear ministers, let's eat."

After saying that, Emperor Xue Ye took the lead, picking up a dish in front of him and putting it in his mouth.

Qian Renxue had been waiting impatiently. She picked up her chopsticks and was just about to taste the food.

Chen Qi hurriedly stopped her and looked toward Xue Ye.

"Your Majesty, I, Chen Qi, would like to propose a toast."