Heading to the Star Dou Forest (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Collections)

Liu Lin watched as Xu Jiawei and Eunuch Liu departed, then closed the heavy doors and turned back to sit in the pavilion.

He picked up the History of the Star Luo Empire from the desk and flipped through two pages, only to suddenly find his stomach growling unhelpfully.

It was then he remembered that he hadn't eaten for several hours, not since the meal Dean Zhang had prepared for him at the orphanage.

"Xiao Xue," Liu Lin called out toward the side hall.

Xiao Xue, who had been resting in the side hall, heard Liu Lin's voice and hurried out, making her way toward the pavilion.

"Lord Liu, is there something you need?"

"I'm feeling a bit hungry. Could you bring me something to eat? Anything to fill my stomach will do."

Hearing Liu Lin's slightly embarrassed tone, Xiao Xue pursed her lips to hide a smile, nodded in agreement, and hurried out of the courtyard.

About twenty minutes later, Xiao Xue arrived at the pavilion carrying a food box.

"My Lord, I had the Imperial Kitchen Hall prepare this specifically for you. Please, have a taste."

As she spoke, Xiao Xue placed the food box on the stone table, opened it, and set out all the dishes inside.

"Thank you. Also, please don't call me 'My Lord' anymore; I'm not used to it. Just call me Liu Lin or 'brother' will do."

After saying this, Liu Lin picked up his chopsticks and began to sample the food Xiao Xue had brought back.

Xiao Xue looked hesitant upon hearing Liu Lin's request. She wanted to say something, but seeing that Liu Lin was eating, she silently stepped aside, intending to wait until he finished.

Soon, Liu Lin had cleared everything from the stone table.

Standing to the side, Xiao Xue saw that Liu Lin was full and began packing the dishes back into the food box.

"My Lord, this servant feels that calling you by your name is inappropriate. It is better if I continue to call you My Lord."

Seeing Xiao Xue's somewhat anxious expression, Liu Lin sighed and nodded.

"Then this servant will take her leave." Xiao Xue said gratefully, then carried the food box away.

As time passed, the sky had turned completely dark. Liu Lin glanced at the sky, left the pavilion, and headed toward the palace.

On the other side, in Xu Jiujiu's bedchamber.

After discussing the hunting of soul beasts with Liu Lin, Xu Jiawei had brought Eunuch Liu to Xu Jiujiu's quarters.

The palace maid standing outside the door bowed respectfully when she saw Xu Jiawei approaching. Just as she was about to announce his arrival, he waved his hand to stop her.

Xu Jiawei then signaled for Eunuch Liu to wait outside while he went in alone.

Xu Jiawei pushed open the door and entered Xu Jiujiu's bedchamber, only to find his younger sister burying her face in her pillow, her two short legs kicking incessantly.

Hearing the palace doors open, Xu Jiujiu lifted her head from the pillow, ready to speak, only to see her imperial brother, Xu Jiawei, walking in.

"Imperial Brother, why are you here?" Xu Jiujiu sat up, trying hard to make her tone sound normal, though the blush on her cheeks betrayed her true feelings.

"Well, I just heard that you only just returned from Liu Lin's place, and that you even climbed over the wall to get in." Watching his sister try to act as if nothing had happened, Xu Jiawei couldn't help but tease her.

"So what if I did..." Xu Jiujiu muttered softly upon hearing her brother's words.

"I also heard from Eunuch Liu that you ran back from Liu Lin's place with a flushed face. Jiujiu, why is that?"

"Eunuch Liu said that?" Upon hearing this, Xu Jiujiu looked up in shame and annoyance, catching Xu Jiawei's amused gaze, and whispered a defense:

"That was just because it was too hot today, and climbing walls is exhausting, so it's normal for my face to be red."

At that moment, Eunuch Liu, standing outside the hall, suddenly let out a sneeze.

"My, why is it suddenly so cold? It seems I should take a day off tomorrow."

Xu Jiawei didn't expose her, merely smiling and shaking his head. He fell silent for a moment, then said with a hint of guilt, "Jiujiu, do you blame your brother for suddenly arranging this marriage for you?"

Xu Jiujiu was stunned, clearly not expecting her imperial brother to ask such an abrupt question.

"At first, I was indeed unhappy—not because of him, but because you, Imperial Brother, didn't tell me before doing this," Xu Jiujiu said after a moment of silence.

"That was my fault. I was too impatient and didn't consider your feelings."

"However, after meeting him, I understood your choice. Twin Martial Souls, both with ultimate attributes—doing this is undoubtedly the right choice."

She paused, a smile appearing on her face: "He is also quite interesting, so I agree to this arrangement."

Xu Jiawei fell silent upon hearing his sister's words. He looked at his nine-year-old sister and felt a complex mix of emotions.

At her age, she should be playing, yet she had to bear so much because of her status as a princess.

Xu Jiawei patted her head and said solemnly, "If Liu Lin treats you poorly in the future, or if you find someone you truly love, your brother will revoke this imperial decree. No one can force you."

Xu Jiujiu looked at Xu Jiawei's firm gaze and buried her head back into her pillow.

"Alright, I know, Imperial Brother. I want to sleep now, please leave."

Watching his sister in this state, Xu Jiawei shook his head helplessly and left her bedchamber.

Xu Jiawei walked out of the palace with a smile; he could sense that his sister felt differently about Liu Lin.

Two days later, early morning.

Before dawn had even broken, a caravan was already waiting at the north side of Star Luo City.

A middle-aged man with the cultivation of a Soul Emperor sat on horseback at the very front. Behind him, five Soul King experts stood guard around three carriages.

Outside the gates of Star Luo City, Xu Jiujiu and Liu Lin stood side by side, followed by an old man in grey robes.

The old man was Elder Lin, sent to protect Xu Jiujiu and Liu Lin on this trip; he was a level 92 Power Attack System Titled Douluo.

Liu Lin looked at Xu Jiujiu, who had come along with him, feeling quite helpless.

Two days prior, when Xu Jiujiu heard that he was heading to the Star Dou Forest to obtain a soul ring, she had insisted on tagging along to see it for herself.

She had then gone to speak with her brother about it, and after Xu Jiawei heard the request, he nodded and gave his consent for Xu Jiujiu to go to the Star Dou Forest.

After all, with a Titled Douluo leading them to hunt for a soul ring, and only in the outer perimeter at that, how could they possibly encounter any danger?

Xu Jiawei had remarked that if they could run into danger under such circumstances, perhaps it was time for him to hand over his throne to someone else.

The middle-aged man in front of the carriages saw Xu Jiujiu and Liu Lin approaching, dismounted, and came to their side.

"My three lords, please board the carriages. We are about to depart for the Star Dou Forest. My surname is Wang; you may call me Old Wang."

Xu Jiujiu nodded upon hearing this. She boarded one of the carriages with Liu Lin and Elder Lin.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Old Wang said to the five men behind him, "Let's go, we are heading to the Star Dou Forest."

With that, Old Wang swung back onto his horse. The others nodded in turn, took their seats at the front of the carriages, and cracked their whips against the horses. The carriage horses let out a whinny before slowly pulling the carriages into motion.

The caravan set off toward the Star Dou Forest in a grand procession.