An Invitation from the Crown Prince's Residence

Heaven Dou City, the Crown Prince's Residence.

Yuan Yu looked up at the gilded plaque above the door, then reached out and hid the Wine Gourd behind his waist.

Tang San stood to the side. "You dared to bring wine into the palace, what are you hiding now?"

"When meeting elders, one should always act respectfully."

"The Crown Prince isn't much older than you."

Yuan Yu smiled but didn't reply.

Ning Fengzhi's carriage stopped just then. He got out of the carriage and saw that the two had arrived, so he led them inside. The Crown Prince's Residence did not have the layers of ceremonial guards of the imperial palace, but the guards in the courtyard were very strict, with guards every three steps, and everyone walked very quietly.

After entering the second courtyard, Yuan Yu glanced at the guards standing under the corridor and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Most of the guards at the Crown Prince's Residence's residence had been replaced, but the presence in the shadows felt familiar. A Soul Sage was hiding behind the artificial hill on the left, and an Agility-type Soul Master was on the pavilion on the right; both were trained by the Spirit Hall. When he was a child, he had been caught several times by this method of hiding people while stealing wine from the Worship Hall.

Ning Fengzhi noticed his gaze. "What did you find?"

"This yard is quite big."

Is that all you wanted to say?

Yuan Yu nodded naturally. "A little bigger, suitable for practicing swordsmanship."

Ning Fengzhi smiled without saying a word. Tang San glanced at the artificial hill but didn't press the matter. Since Yuan Yu wasn't going to say anything, it probably had nothing to do with today's important business.

Xue Qinghe greeted him outside the study.

He wore a light gold robe, with gentle features and composed demeanor. When Ning Fengzhi introduced them, he first looked at Tang San before turning his gaze to Yuan Yu.

"Young friend Tang San, young friend Myriad Phenomena, I have long admired your names."

Tang San bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Crown Prince."

Yuan Yu followed suit with a bow, his movements impeccable. "Your Highness is too kind."

A hint of a smile flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes.

He had someone bring tea and snacks. What was placed in front of Yuan Yu was a cup of Green Fruit Tea, with a very mild sour taste, and two dried Golden Leaf pressed at the bottom of the cup. Yuan Yu had drunk it many times in the Worship Hall when he was a child, and not many people in the entire Spirit City knew that he liked this taste.

He picked up his teacup, lowered his head, and took a sip.

Tang San didn't notice anything unusual, only that the Crown Prince's Residence was very well prepared. Ning Fengzhi, however, noticed that Xue Qinghe tapped the edge of the table lightly with her finger while Yuan Yu was drinking tea.

"Young friend Myriad Phenomena, you're not drinking anymore?" Xue Qinghe asked casually.

"Drinking tea during the day and alcohol at night."

"I heard that you carry your Wine Gourd with you early in the morning when you're at the Shrek Academy."

Yuan Yu looked up at him. "Your Highness even investigates this?"

Xue Qinghe picked up his teacup, concealing the smile on his lips, "A twelve-year-old Soul Emperor living in Heaven Dou City, I must keep a close eye on him."

Tang San listened without finding anything wrong. Ning Fengzhi, however, glanced down at the tea. Xue Qinghe's question sounded too familiar, and Yuan Yu's reply was equally casual; the two were definitely not strangers who had just met today.

Xue Qinghe first Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"Uncle Xue Xing is impetuous. I've already heard about the Royal Academy from the Three Education Committee Members. After Shrek left, Uncle dismissed two External Affairs Steward, Cheng Su was also detained in the Prince's Mansion for questioning."

Flender and the others did not complain to the Crown Prince. The Three Education Committee Members were willing to submit the details because Shrek had demonstrated astonishing strength, and also because Dugu Bo had exposed the External Affairs Token on the spot.

Tang San said, "Shrek already has a new campus, so that matter is in the past."

"Your decision not to pursue this is a sign of your magnanimity. The Royal Academy will still investigate the accounts that need to be investigated."

Xue Qinghe spoke gently, but his attitude was very clear. He then asked about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Hidden Weapons orders, Tang San only said that the first batch of parts had already been started, but the core Mechanism was still being assembled by himself.

Ning Fengzhi added from the side, "Hidden Weapons are very useful for support Soul Master. Once the first batch is delivered, His Crown Prince can take a look at them personally."

Xue Qinghe nodded. "I'm looking forward to it."

After circling around the topic a few times, it finally came down to what Tang San most wanted to know.

Xue Qinghe put down his teacup. "My teacher told me that you are the son of Clear Sky Douluo."

Tang San's back tensed slightly.

"Senior Tai Tan has already confirmed it."

"Senior Tang Hao was once renowned throughout the continent. He ascended to the rank of Title Douluo at the age of forty-four and was one of the most outstanding individuals in the Clear Sky Sect in the past century." Xue Qinghe paused, "More than ten years ago, he fought against the previous Pope of the Spirit Hall and left the Clear Sky Sect after that battle. After that battle, the previous Pope died from his injuries, and the Clear Sky Sect closed its gates."

Tang San's fingers slowly tightened.

The father in Holy Soul Village spent his days blacksmithing and drinking, often forgetting to cook. It was hard for him to reconcile that hunched figure with the words he was hearing.

Why did that battle happen?

Xue Qinghe shook his head. "There are many versions circulating. The Spirit Hall was hunting a woman, and Senior Tang Hao protected her as she escaped. Afterwards, the two sides fought. I don't have any reliable records about who that woman was or where she went afterward."

Tang San looked at Yuan Yu.

Yuan Yu was born in Spirit City, so he may have heard more.

Yuan Yu gently shook his head. "This matter is also a taboo subject in the Spirit Hall. When I was a child, I only knew the name Tang Hao; no one would talk about the death of the previous Pope in front of me."

He was telling the truth. Those fragmented images in his mind cannot be used as evidence, much less be used here to definitively settle old scores between Tang Hao and the Spirit Hall.

Tang San remained silent for a long time before finally releasing his fingers. Four faint finger marks were left on his palm.

He originally only wanted to know where his father had gone, but today he heard about the Clear Sky Sect, the Previous Pope, and a woman whose identity he couldn't even trace. Each thread was connected to events from more than ten years ago, and yet the person who should have answered him had disappeared from Holy Soul Village.

Yuan Yu pushed the plate of pastries in front of her over.

"Have one first."

Tang San glanced at him. "I'm not hungry."

"Then take it. Squeeze it a few more times, and the Crown Prince's Residence's teacup will break."

Tang San looked down and realized that his other hand was already gripping the rim of the cup. He took the pastry, took a bite, and his tense shoulders and back relaxed a little.

Xue Qinghe didn't press him. He waited until the man swallowed before continuing, "After the Clear Sky Sect closed its gates, several affiliated clans left one after another. The Strength Clan was willing to acknowledge you, partly due to Senior Tang Hao, and partly due to their own choice. If you want to investigate the past, you can start by asking Senior Tai Tan."

"Even Senior Tai Tan doesn't know much."

"Then we'll investigate slowly. Things that happened more than ten years ago can't be rushed to get answers."

Xue Qinghe glanced at Yuan Yu, her expression unchanged.

"If I find more accurate information, I will have it sent to the Shrek Academy."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Tang San stood up and bowed.

Ning Fengzhi still had sect affairs to attend to, and after finishing his business, he prepared to leave. Tang San also got up, but Xue Qinghe spoke up at this moment.

"Young friend Myriad Phenomena, please wait a moment."

Tang San stopped in his tracks.

"Yuan Yu's Soul Emperor registration is not yet complete." Xue Qinghe took out a form stamped with the Royal Family seal. "Twelve years old, level sixty-two. The imperial archives cannot simply state 'God-given Spirit Ring.' I would like to ask a few questions separately; it won't take too long."

The reasoning is sound.

Ning Fengzhi glanced at Xue Qinghe, then at the Wine Gourd at Yuan Yu's waist. He didn't expose her, but smiled before leaving, saying, "Qinghe, if you finish questioning the file soon, send him back to the academy for me. Uncle Sword is waiting to test his sword against him."

"Don't worry, teacher."

Yuan Yu's eyelids twitched upon hearing this. "Sect Master Ning, Senior Sword has been quite free lately?"

"He wipes his sword three times a day, don't you think?"

Tang San couldn't help but chuckle, and the oppressive atmosphere that had been hanging over the study dissipated considerably.

Yuan Yu patted Tang San on the shoulder. "Go back to the academy first. Tell the Dean that if I miss dinner, remember to save some for me."

Tang San nodded and followed Ning Fengzhi out of the study.

After the door closed, Xue Qinghe did not speak immediately.

The footsteps faded into the distance, and all the servants in the courtyard withdrew. Two deep, resonant voices lingered outside the study, preventing others from probing.

Xue Qinghe raised his hand and turned a Golden Feather Ornament on the bookshelf.

The wall silently slid away, revealing a downward stone staircase.

"Come in."

He turned around, his voice now back to the tone Yuan Yu was most familiar with.

"I'll see today how much skill you've actually learned in the past six months."