After absorbing the Eight Spider Lances, Li Qinglian headed toward Heaven Dou City.
He traveled and enjoyed himself along the way.
It was not until a month later that Heaven Dou City finally came into view.
The blazing sun hung high overhead.
A figure clad in a moon-white robe, with an icy aura, appeared outside Heaven Dou City.
Li Qinglian had recently grown fond of wearing white, as it could suppress some of the deathly stillness around him.
If he wore black robes, the aura he gave off was far too oppressive.
Even though his features appeared gentle, he occasionally frightened children into tears.
"What a prosperous Heaven Dou City."
"Compared to Spirit City, its scale of construction is a little less grand, but it doesn't have that oppressive feeling either."
Spirit City was a holy city, and only the most devout believers resided there for long periods.
Even tourists who merely visited from time to time maintained a solemn demeanor.
Along the way, no one caused Li Qinglian any trouble.
Li Qinglian's bearing and appearance made it obvious at a glance that he came from a top-tier family, and even the guards he encountered treated him warmly.
Li Qinglian always felt a little regretful about this.
After rebuilding himself as a human, the only person he had encountered who dared provoke him was Yan.
He had never encountered any of those brainless fools otherwise.
In a fantasy world where the strong devoured the weak, how could there possibly be so many brainless people?
"Tang San and his group met so many villains because they dressed too casually and lacked the bearing of nobles, so people targeted them."
"Someone like me, even if I truly wore nothing but coarse clothes, probably no one would dare bother me."
With this joking thought in mind, Li Qinglian entered Heaven Dou City.
The moment he stepped into Heaven Dou Imperial City, noise and prosperity rushed at him head-on.
Li Qinglian stood at the street corner and took a deep breath.
The autumn breeze carried the sweet fragrance of osmanthus cakes, the toasted aroma of baked flatbread, and a faint scent of wine into his nose, relaxing his entire body.
"What a wonderful place."
He walked and looked around, his mood growing more pleasant by the moment.
Compared to a place like Spirit Hall, where even the air carried solemnity, Heaven Dou Imperial City was where the living ought to be.
Before he had gone far, he found an exceptionally bustling restaurant.
Just as Li Qinglian was about to enter, a sharp-eyed waiter spotted him from afar. The waiter immediately draped the white cloth over his shoulder and hurried over with a broad smile.
"Young master, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first time in Heaven Dou City? Would you like me to introduce the place to you?"
Li Qinglian smiled as he examined the restaurant's interior furnishings.
The first-floor hall was spacious and bright, with a carved caisson ceiling overhead and calligraphy and paintings by famous figures hanging all around. There was even a stream of living water flowing in at the corner, complete with artificial mountains, flowing water, and koi swimming about. It was truly extravagant in every detail.
"Mm, I'm from outside the city," he said casually. "Bring out all your signature dishes, and warm up two pots of your strongest wine."
"Right away!"
Li Qinglian swept his gaze over the lively crowd, a faint smile rising at the corners of his lips. He casually took out several Gold Soul Coins and tossed them into the waiter's palm.
"Thank you, sir. Would you like me to find a few young ladies to drink with you?"
"The girls at the Spring Fragrance Brothel next door are truly exceptional."
The waiter looked around in both directions. Seeing that no one was watching him, he carefully tucked the Gold Soul Coins into his waist.
"No need."
Li Qinglian shook his head.
At present, he could not stir up the slightest interest in ordinary girls.
It was not that Li Qinglian was incapable.
Rather, having seen more beautiful and wonderful things, it was difficult for anything mundane to catch his eye anymore.
Even a woman like Xiao Wu had failed to catch his interest.
This showed just how high Li Qinglian's standards had become.
"Really no need?"
"There are several peerless beauties in the Spring Fragrance Brothel, all deeply favored by the nobles. Does the Holy Son truly feel nothing?"
A warm, clear voice came from beside him, carrying a hint of amusement and teasing.
Li Qinglian's hand paused, and he looked up.
At some unknown point, a young man had taken a seat opposite him.
The man wore a moon-white brocade robe. His face was as gentle as jade, and his brows carried an innate nobility.
He was handsome, composed, and wore a barely discernible smile as he looked at Li Qinglian with great interest.
Xue Qinghe.
Or rather, Qian Renxue!
Li Qinglian recognized those eyes at a single glance.
No matter how her appearance was disguised, the coldness and pride hidden within those golden pupils could never be concealed.
He set down his teacup, the corners of his lips curling slightly.
"So it's you. Your Highness the Crown Prince is occupied with countless affairs every day. How do you have time to sit idly in a place like this?"
Qian Renxue did not rush to answer. She picked up the teapot on the table and poured herself a cup, her posture elegant and composed, as though she were sitting in her own backyard.
She lowered her head and inhaled the fragrance of the tea before speaking unhurriedly.
"Someone dawdled along the way, sightseeing and enjoying the scenery, and took an entire month to reach Heaven Dou City. I counted the days and waited and waited, yet I never saw anyone come looking for me."
She raised her eyes, a faint and indistinct grievance in her golden gaze.
"I had no choice but to come myself."
Li Qinglian felt somewhat guilty beneath her gaze. He gave a dry cough and looked away.
"I just... got delayed by some matters on the road."
A chill ran through Li Qinglian's entire body.
Although he knew Qian Renxue had feelings for him, seeing her stare at him resentfully while wearing a man's face was still more than he could handle.
Li Qinglian's sexual orientation was perfectly normal. He had no such preferences.
"Sister Xue, can you not..."
"Look at me like that. It's a little frightening."
Li Qinglian hurriedly stopped Qian Renxue.
Otherwise, he feared he would suffer internal injuries from holding it in.
"Pfft."
Seeing Li Qinglian's embarrassed expression, Qian Renxue, seated opposite him, burst into laughter.
She had not expected Li Qinglian, with his noble bloodline, to be afraid of this.
For a moment, countless mischievous ideas arose in Qian Renxue's heart.
She stood up, sat directly beside Li Qinglian, and grabbed the hand that had been resting close to her.
For a moment,
Countless gazes in the tavern turned toward Li Qinglian and Qian Renxue.
Even the waiter whom Li Qinglian had just sent away stared in astonishment.
No wonder that young master had no interest in the girls at the Spring Fragrance Brothel. So he was...
"Sister Xue, stop it. So many people are watching."
"And you're still wearing Xue Qinghe's face. If someone recognizes you, do you still want to remain in Heaven Dou City?"
As Qian Renxue drew closer and closer, Li Qinglian could even smell the woman's body fragrance and feel her ample chest.
Clearly, Qian Renxue had neither applied medicine to conceal her unique fragrance nor used binding cloth around her chest.
"What is there to fear?"
"Even if someone discovers that I am the Crown Prince, I won't be afraid."
"For so many years, not a single one of the consorts in my harem has conceived a child. If word spreads that I prefer men, it would actually be a good thing for me. It would save me the trouble of explaining..."
Qian Renxue's lips curved upward.
That made perfect sense.
As a woman, Qian Renxue naturally could not possibly bed Xue Qinghe's former consorts.
A preference for men truly could provide Qian Renxue with some cover.
But Li Qinglian could not laugh.
He had no interest in becoming Qian Renxue's male consort.
He had even refused when Gu Yuena asked him to call her Mother. Qian Renxue's male consort... Li Qinglian realized that he was doing worse with each passing day.
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