"Hm? You know who I am?"
Han Yu narrowed his eyes and silently beat his wings, drifting backward.
The Soul Emperor's aged face broke into a smile. He bowed and said, "Your Highness Han Yu, you may not know this, but while you were missing this past year, your sect turned the continent upside down."
Han Yu didn't stop retreating. Suspicion filled his eyes.
He had grown up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He knew what kind of person Ning Fengzhi was. The sect's long-term development mattered most to him. How could he possibly do something like this, putting himself in the spotlight?
The Soul Emperor continued with a smile. "After you disappeared, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo of your sect flew into a rage. They struck one after the other, destroying two Spirit Hall Branches. One of them was the largest branch, in Heaven Dou City. Not a single person survived.
"Bone Douluo repeatedly ambushed Spirit Hall's enforcement squads in various places, hunting down those lower-ranked Soul Masters.
"Your sect master, Ning Fengzhi, even brought the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, and several smaller forces together to form an alliance and jointly resist Spirit Hall's oppression."
"What! And then? What were the casualties at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Han Yu cried out. Warmth rose in his heart, but concern soon clouded his face.
With Spirit Hall's foundations, the two teachers couldn't possibly stand against them. Even though they had taken Immortal Herbs before, they couldn't fight several opponents at once, much less those terrifying beings in the Worship Hall.
Beside him, Ye Lingling reached out and gently patted Han Yu's back.
"Your Highness, rest assured. Spirit Hall did not attack the two Douluo Lords.
"Just as a great battle was about to begin, one of Spirit Hall's peerless experts appeared and stopped the conflict. They admitted that Spirit Hall had been in the wrong first, imprisoned those who had taken action for fifty years, and reduced the authority of Martial Soul Branch Halls over the various forces."
A look of admiration rose on the Soul Emperor's face. He lowered his head a little further and sighed.
He genuinely admired the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's actions. This was a good deed for all the people, one that reduced the struggle for power between the various forces.
He pulled a finely made, illustrated flyer from his waist, lifted it with Soul Power, and sent it floating gently toward Han Yu in the air.
Golden light gleamed in Han Yu's eyes as he studied the approaching flyer, then caught it.
A large image of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was printed on it, beneath several eye-catching lines of gilded text.
A million Gold Soul Coins! Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones! The friendship of a Titled Douluo!
Three moderately sized paragraphs appeared below.
Anyone who provided information about the Holy Son, Han Yu, would receive a million Gold Soul Coins once the information was verified, whether or not he was found.
Anyone who provided his location could receive three Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones.
Any force or Soul Master that offered assistance would earn the friendship of Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, and could request their help free of charge in times of danger.
Han Yu gently traced the marks of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and his two teachers in the lower right corner. A smile spread across his face, and warmth rose in his heart.
He hadn't expected Ning Fengzhi and his two teachers to go to such lengths.
They had kept the peace for decades, yet overturned the table for his sake. It showed just how much they valued and cared for him.
Whatever their motives, they had done it. A gentleman judged deeds, not intentions.
"Your Highness Han Yu, why not return to the empire with us? The Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament will be held in our country soon, and your sect master will be arriving shortly as well," the Soul Emperor said respectfully.
Han Yu glanced over the group. Aside from the Soul Emperor leading them, the rest were only Soul Elders. He brought Ye Lingling down toward the ground.
Just as he landed—
Whoosh—
A dark figure flashed past. Zhu Zhuqing's ample chest pressed against Han Yu's back, while long, slender nails formed around her hand and curled against his neck.
"Let me go! Otherwise, I'll kill him," Zhu Zhuqing shouted.
Han Yu remained calm. A transparent violet glow formed a suit of armor over his body as he stood motionless.
"Hmph. Second Princess, don't do anything foolish. This is the Holy Son of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"The Star Luo Empire has more than a dozen princesses, but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has only one Holy Son. Think carefully." The Soul Emperor sneered, his voice full of mockery.
He had heard all about the Holy Son's feats. He had defeated a Soul Elder with ease without even using his Martial Soul, making a name for himself in a single battle as the Sword Immortal.
As long as the Holy Son didn't want her to, the Second Princess, who was only a Soul Grandmaster, would never be able to get close to him. Why the Holy Son was allowing this was none of his concern. He was merely a lackey of the royal family, and he knew his place.
"Hey, tell him that if they back off, I'll let you go," Zhu Zhuqing said coldly. She eased her grip slightly and pressed herself tightly against Han Yu's back.
Han Yu furrowed his brow and murmured, "It seems a year early."
"What?" Zhu Zhuqing leaned forward, tilting her head to catch what Han Yu had said.
The next moment—
Golden arcs suddenly flickered across Han Yu's body and surged into Zhu Zhuqing from behind.
Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes trembled. Her arm around Han Yu's neck jerked, then went limp against his chest.
A tingling sensation washed over her. Her entire body went slack, and her legs gave way beneath her. As she lost consciousness, she etched the sight of Han Yu turning around into her memory.
"Your Highness Han Yu, I'm sorry for the trouble," the Soul Emperor said apologetically, bowing.
Han Yu smiled and shook his head. He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing on the ground and asked, "How will the royal family deal with her?"
The question made the Soul Emperor's eyes shift. He misunderstood Han Yu's meaning and pondered for a moment before replying.
"Usually, she would be imprisoned. But since she helped Your Highness, the Second Princess has rendered a service. I doubt she'll be punished."
Han Yu nodded, looking doubtful.
He remembered that the Star Luo Empire was supposed to be strict. But now it seemed the Star Luo Royal Family wasn't so lacking in compassion after all.
He smiled. "Good. Let's go."
The Soul Emperor looked as though he had expected this. He nodded repeatedly, ordered his men to carry Zhu Zhuqing, and led the way toward the Star Luo Empire.
Several days later.
A luxurious convoy appeared in Star Luo City. A line of imperial guards marched on either side, drawing the attention of the city's residents.
"Who is that? It's been ages since I saw a procession this grand."
"Heh, my cousin's an officer in the imperial guard. This person's got quite a background."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
One man pulled out the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's reward flyer and waved it in his hand.
"This is the famous Holy Son, His Highness Han Yu. Our Star Luo Empire found him."
"What! He really didn't die? Didn't they say a Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall had attacked him?"
"Please. If His Highness Han Yu didn't have real skill, why would Spirit Hall send a Titled Douluo to ambush him?"
"Doesn't that mean our Star Luo Empire is now even closer to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Wonderful! I want to send my son to take the sect's entrance test too."