Choice Was Already Over at the Start!

"I've always believed that time is something that depends on how you use it... When facing a wonderful person like Your Highness, even if I really don't have time, I can always find it, can't I?" Ye Qingcang smiled and nodded to Xu Jiujiu, then looked at Xuan Zi beside him. "Speaking of which, Xuan Zi, you shouldn't mind if I leave now, right?"

"Heh... you're joking." Facing Ye Qingcang, whose strength was already above his own, Xuan Zi didn't dare to be negligent just because the other party was young. Realizing that he couldn't participate in what was to come, he smiled and teased, "Our Shrek Academy still needs to repair these ruins, so we won't keep you here for dinner."

Many words have a double meaning.

Just like many things are hidden in excuses.

Ye Qingcang asked Xu Jiujiu Xu Jiujiu she had time and if it was convenient for her, implying that they should talk somewhere else. He wondered Xu Jiujiu would be willing. Xu Jiujiu replied that it all depended on whether Ye Qingcang was available. If Ye Qingcang was available, she would naturally be available. If Ye Qingcang was not available, she could wait until Ye Qingcang was available. She only hoped that Ye Qingcang would handle things in the order of arrival.

Ye Qingcang's opinion was fully respected.

Unconsciously, they placed themselves in a subordinate position.

Breaking down Ye Qingcang's reply, the first half means that you are a wonderful person, the kind that is very interesting. I like talking to interesting people. Even if I am really busy, I will prioritize between one thing and another. This fully expresses that I feel respected by you and that I am willing to communicate with you.

The second half of the sentence, asking Xuan Zi, is a direct translation.

Can we leave?

Are you alright?

Don't let Shrek Academy cause trouble again while I'm away discussing business, like trying to shift the pressure from the Dou Ling Empire onto me and catch me off guard.

Xuan Zi's answer was also a direct translation.

Shrek Academy still needs to clean up the ruins.

That's basically like wiping your butt.

In any case, given the strength of the Dou Ling Empire, it's unlikely they would hold Ye Qingcang accountable.

Of course, we're not considering probability right now. Whether it's possible or not, you can just leave. Not inviting you to dinner is the same as not talking to you about these trivial matters, which is essentially Shrek Academy taking the blame.

"In that case, I really do need to find a place to eat..." Ye Qingcang chuckled, continuing the conversation amicably with the excuse thrown out by Xuan Zi: "Your Highness, I wonder if you mind having a few more mouths to feed?"

Xu Jiujiu, he finally understood Ye Qingcang's metaphor.

She glanced at Sheng Cai'er and Jiang Nannan, who were standing behind Ye Qingcang.

Then, his gaze shifted.

His gaze swept over Hu Liena and the others one by one.

Finally, he glanced at Tang Ya and the others.

He hesitated for less than a second before making a decisive decision. "When I was very young, my father taught my brother and me a saying: 'Dragons do not dwell with snakes...' Those who have been chosen by you, the God Trial Taker, must be exceptional individuals. I will certainly welcome them with open arms. However, my identity and position are rather special, and sitting with me might indeed be misunderstood by some... I hope to form a gentlemanly friendship with everyone. Therefore, I can only presume to speak these unpleasant words upfront!"

"How about this, let's compromise," Ye Qingcang suggested, glancing at Huo Yuhao and the others. "Those who trust me will listen to me and come with me to eat out. Those who don't trust me can do whatever they want, but they'll have to bear the consequences themselves. What do you all think?"

"I have no objection." Jiang Nannan nodded.

Sheng Cai'er remained silent.

It means that it was accepted as default.

"We have no objections either." Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Huo Yuhao exchanged glances, reached a consensus, and Tang Ya gave the reply.

"We are too." Hu Liena tilted her head, not discussing it with Xie Yue and the others, because she could make the decision on her own and speak on behalf of the Spirit Hall.

"Me too, me too."

Xiao Xiao raised her hand, not wanting to be left behind.

He was the only one among these people without teammates.

If Wang Dong were still alive, he could keep me company.

But Wang Dong has already settled down in the Dou One World.

Xiao Xiao could only muster her courage and speak up.

"Since everyone has agreed, I won't stand on ceremony with you all." Ye Qingcang glanced at Tang Ya and the others around him who had all agreed, and then called out by name, "Yuhao, come here. Nan Nan and Cai'er are fine, either Na Na or Xie Yue come here. Whoever is the last one, please appease Yan and the others... That's the general arrangement. If you have any objections, please keep them to yourself."

To put it bluntly, Ye Qingcang will take responsibility if anything happens to those who have been named.

Those who voluntarily go along will not be covered by Ye Qingcang if anything happens to them.

So, having said that, Ye Qingcang didn't waste any more words. Speaking is different from writing. A letter that can be written in twenty minutes can often be read aloud in four or five minutes, and often only in one or two minutes. Therefore, what sounds like a very complicated conversation actually lasted less than two minutes from the Xu Jiujiu appeared until now, which wasn't too long. "Speaking of which, although Nan Nan showed me around the Outer Court and the city last time I came to Shrek City, I really don't know much about the restaurants outside. I wonder if Your Highness knows anything about them and could give me some pointers?"

"Then shall I make a fool of myself?" Xu Jiujiu smiled and readily agreed, "Speaking of which, it's too troublesome to always address me by my title. If you don't mind, just call me Jiujiu."

"Oh well..."

Ye Qingcang accepted good advice.

He was getting a little numb from always being called "Your Highness".

If it weren't for his principle of reciprocating kindness tenfold, and the consideration that addressing a woman by her first name would be impolite, he wouldn't have lingered on the title "Your Highness" for so long.

However, Jiujiu, it was still a bit too intimate.

So he added a suffix.

He gestured and said, "Please, Princess Jiujiu."

Xu Jiujiu pause, he glanced at her and nodded.

He didn't dwell on the seemingly respectful but actually distancing form of address, returned the greeting with a wave of his hand, and then walked to the front to lead the way.

Ye Qingcang followed closely behind.

Walking side by side with Xu Jiujiu.

Sheng Cai'er, Jiang Nannan, and the titled Douluo of the Star Crown Sect were in the second batch, while Hu Liena followed after explaining the mission to Xie Yue, leaving Xie Yue and the others behind.

Huo Yuhao then clasped his hands in a fist salute to Tang Ya and Bei Bei.

Then, he jogged after him.

Immediately, looking at Xiao Xiao who had also caught up, he asked with a surprised expression, "Wait, Xiao Xiao, Brother Qingcang didn't say you had to come, did he?"

"You know nothing!" Sky Dream Ice Worm was still in a half-dead state, especially after seeing Bingbing sitting on Ye Qingcang's shoulder with that look of disdain for everyone, which made him unable to resist. However, the thought that his Bingbing had become Ye Qingcang's Soul Ring made him feel a little hopeless and inexplicably want to give up. Hearing Huo Yuhao's voice, he borrowed Huo Yuhao's perspective and said angrily, "Your classmate is the smart one. Your Grandmaster and Teacher Xiao Ya were scared off by Lord Ye's warning. Little did they know that the first step to seizing an opportunity is to pay the price. If you are not even willing to take the slightest risk, why should a God Trial Taker treat you as one of their own to cultivate?"

at the same time.

From the outside world.

Xiao Xiao was also speaking.

The voice of Sky Dream Ice Worm overlapped somewhat with his.

They just said different things.

"My dear class monitor..." Xiao Xiao secretly rolled her eyes at Huo Yuhao, her stubbornness shining through in that single glance. "Didn't Brother Ye say before that I'd bear the consequences... Well then, I'll bear the consequences!"

"Um... it doesn't seem wrong."

It has been about a year since I first encountered the Sky Dream Ice Worm.

Huo Yuhao had already mastered the ability to multitask, allowing him to simultaneously receive voices from his Spiritual Space and the outside world without experiencing mental confusion.

He touched his chin, hesitating for a moment.

Hesitantly acknowledged Xiao Xiao's answer.

Immediately, a warning came from the Sky Dream Ice Worm.

"Yuhao, I know you're loyal and righteous, but loyalty and righteousness must be based on not sacrificing yourself!" Sky Dream Ice Worm's understanding of Huo Yuhao's character was incredibly profound. Moreover, Sky Dream Ice Worm's access to Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Space Spiritual Space far surpassed Ice Empress's access to Ye Qingcang's. Ice Empress had no right to access Ye Qingcang's memories, but Sky Dream Ice Worm had the right to access Huo Yuhao's. Therefore, he clearly understood the reason for Huo Yuhao's hesitation. "The test ended from the beginning. Even if you go back now and bring your Grandmaster and Teacher Xiao Ya along, they can't interfere with Lord Ye and this princess's next conversation... If you lose your spot because of this, you'll have lost everything!"

Huo Yuhao paused for a moment, then nodded.

He is no longer the little boy he used to be.

His Soul Power also broke through level 20.

Living in this world, everyone has to bear the consequences of their choices, and there are many consequences that outsiders cannot bear on their behalf.

Ye Qingcang turned around and glanced back.

But he didn't say anything.

A hesitant Huo Yuhao is better than the Huo Yuhao in the original novel. In fact, as long as the Poseidon Tang San did not interfere, Huo Yuhao would be a very normal child and a student who was well taught by Electrolux. Unfortunately, even Electrolux did not expect that the Poseidon Tang San would be so ruthless as to use his own daughter as bait to lure Huo Yuhao, just like Lu Meng White Robes Crossing the River.

It's not just malicious, it's shameless.

The kind of shamelessness that even the cunning Jia Xu would have to admit defeat to.

And after he took the initiative to get involved.

After disrupting the original plan of the Poseidon Tang San.

As long as Huo Yuhao can maintain his original intention, he will inevitably stand on the opposite side of the Poseidon Tang San, because a true open strategy can never compare to those shameless petty schemes. If you fall for a shameless petty scheme, you still have a choice, but a true open strategy will only lead to one outcome no matter what you choose, unless you can avoid falling for it.

The meaning of an open strategy is that it will definitely succeed.

You might end up getting a good deal.

But I will never suffer a loss.

Even if you don't fall for this open scheme.

Perhaps this open conspiracy was set up with the intention of preventing you from succeeding.

The reason he brought Huo Yuhao along is obvious to anyone with a brain.

That's right.

It's related to Huo Yuhao's identity.

At most, it was Xiao Xiao who insisted on following, which was something he hadn't expected.

However, the Great Way is fifty, and the Heavenly Cycle is forty-nine. It is normal to occasionally make a mistake in our predictions. As long as it does not affect the planned outcome, it is acceptable. Tolerance is sometimes a good quality.

They left the gates of the Shrek Academy.

Across from the school gate is a commercial street.

On the long street directly opposite the school gate, the shops all looked magnificent.

In this era.

Shrek Academy is recognized throughout the world as the number one Advanced Soul Master Academy.

Although the backbone of today's Soul Master has been broken, and there is no longer the saying that Soul Ancestor and above can be granted titles by the Empire, in this era where nobles also value strength and are all Soul Master, Shrek Academy, which requires students to have recommendation letters from city lords in various regions to enroll, can be said to have gathered the most distinguished young people in the Douluo Continent.

Going back further, there are descendants of Title Douluo.

Further down the line, they all have illustrious ancestors.

That's why Huo Yuhao, who had fallen to the point of selling grilled fish for a living, seemed out of place, and that's why Xu Sanshi threw out Gold Soul Coin without hesitation.

Money is no object.

They really don't lack money.

And these shops are located opposite the school gate.

There are restaurants, hotels, and jewelry stores.

That's why it looks so magnificent and resplendent today.

To put it bluntly, everyone's involved.

The rent must be exorbitant.

These shops are located in prime real estate.

The rent for one square meter per day is no less than one Gold Soul Coin. Restaurants that are hundreds of square meters can have a daily rent of several hundred Gold Soul Coin. Moreover, some restaurants have a second floor, which can often cost thousands of Gold Soul Coin. With 365 days a year, that's an annual rent of three to four hundred thousand Gold Soul Coin. If an ordinary family owned such a shop, even if they didn't do any business themselves, just renting it out would provide enough income for their descendants to last ten generations without having to worry about bankruptcy. As long as Shrek Academy doesn't move, there's no risk.

Of course, the current owners of these shops are not fools either.

They dare to rent out land that's so valuable.

It must be profitable.

In fact, the items in these restaurants, hotels, jewelry stores, and some small shops are priced extremely high. While it's not exactly overcharging, and Shrek Academy students wouldn't tolerate such behavior, if it were a case of "you get what you pay for," then the outcome would naturally be different.

Xu Jiujiu led Ye Qingcang and the others.

I chose a restaurant that looked relatively crowded.

Actually, the number of customers at these restaurants is about the same.

They all have well-known signature dishes.

The reason for choosing this restaurant was mainly because its decor style appealed to Xu Jiujiu. Considering that the restaurants were all pretty much the same no matter where they went, both for her and for Ye Qingcang, the world's delicacies were readily available. Satisfaction with food was not important; discussing business was more important. So, they chose the nearest option and led Ye Qingcang and the others into this luxurious restaurant.

Industries in such important locations.

Private rooms are reserved for all.

It will not be used lightly.

But Xu Jiujiu revealed his identity, this rule, which was not easily invoked, could obviously be broken. Fortunately, it wasn't the first time.

After all, this place is very close to the Shrek Academy.

Moreover, these restaurants are all century-old establishments.

Yan Shaozhe and others had dined here when they were young.

They say they won't use it easily, but in reality, it's just a matter of whether the person's status meets the requirements.

Xingluo Princess hosted a banquet for her guests.

It definitely meets the standards.

So...

"The food and wine are all ready, a feast for the senses, and everyone who should be here has arrived..." Ye Qingcang put the bracelet he had just finished playing with back on his wrist and gestured to Xu Jiujiu, "Princess Jiujiu, you may speak freely about whatever you wish to say, and so may I."