Refusing Again and Again! Xue Qinghe's Dilemma

Ning Chengyi followed the man in silence, thinking about how to handle Xue Qinghe.

He also needed to secure the Moonlit Perching Butterfly Flower and strengthen his Second Martial Soul without adding a Soul Ring.

Neither spoke on the way to Nightglow Tower. The moment they entered, the manager spotted the man with the snake mark on his forehead and hurried over, bowing as though he had seen his own father.

Then he caught sight of Ning Chengyi behind him. Surprise flashed through his eyes before he concealed it and gestured to lead them to a private room.

"Wait. I need to wash first. I can't meet anyone like this." Ning Chengyi pointed at his clothes, which were covered in blood and even bits of brain matter. The man glanced at them and nodded.

The manager took the hint at once. "This way, honored guest."

Ning Chengyi followed him to a separate room. One glance at the lettering on the door made him smile to himself. They were certainly sparing no expense.

He entered the Heaven-Class Room, where warm water had already been prepared. Nightglow Tower prided itself on the most advanced approach to service, after all.

There was nothing strange about having warm water ready in advance.

"Would you like their services, sir?" The manager gestured toward two women standing nearby in nothing but their underclothes. Ning Chengyi gave them a glance, then looked away.

Both women had smooth skin and alluring figures. Their underclothes did little to conceal their charms, and they stood there looking ready to do whatever he wished.

"No need. I'll manage on my own." The women's eyes dimmed at Ning Chengyi's reply. At the manager's signal, they quickly dressed and left.

"If you need anything, sir, just let me know. I'll be waiting outside."

The manager said this as he prepared to close the door.

Ning Chengyi grunted in acknowledgment and climbed into the tub. He washed away the Sword Venerable's blood and the other filth left on him. Revolting as it was, staying alive mattered far more.

When Ning Chengyi finished and called out, it was one of the women, not the manager, who came in. She set down a set of fine clothes and withdrew without a word. As she closed the door, she stole another glance at him, her eyes lighting up with admiration.

He gave his inner armor a quick wash and shook it once. It was clean and dry. The clothes they had prepared fit perfectly. "Money really is wonderful. And this armor is remarkable—it dries faster than quick-dry clothing." With that, he opened the door.

The two women stood straight on either side of it. They lowered their heads as soon as he emerged, but their admiring eyes gave them away, and the tips of their ears turned pink.

Ning Chengyi had known hardship from a young age. At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, unable to increase his Soul Power, he had trained his body relentlessly. His clothes now set off his lean muscles and sharp features. Paired with his handsome face and the faint air of nobility about him, the effect was captivating.

"This way, sir."

Suppressing their delight, they gestured for him to follow and led the way.

Before long, they reached the top floor of Nightglow Tower.

Heaven-Class Number One.

That was the room number on the door.

An attendant opened the door and bowed Ning Chengyi inside. Once he entered, the door closed behind him.

His gaze swept slowly across the room. It was enormous, more lavish than any presidential suite.

Wisps of sandalwood incense rose through the air. Beyond the transparent glazed tiles, the nightscape of much of Heaven Dou City spread out before him.

He turned his attention to the center of the room. A young man sat there drinking tea and studying him. There was no one else present. At least the invitation seemed sincere.

When their eyes met, each took the measure of the other.

Distinguished. Noble. Aloof. That was Ning Chengyi's impression of him.

"My name is Xue Qinghe, the Heaven Dou Crown Prince. I invited you here tonight for a simple reason: I'd like us to be friends. What do you say?"

Xue Qinghe set down his cup and spoke gently, a smile on his face.

"Why?" Ning Chengyi pulled out a chair and sat across from Xue Qinghe without ceremony, not the least bit restrained by his status as crown prince.

Xue Qinghe's eyes brightened at the gesture.

"Azu. Is that reason enough?" A faint smile touched Xue Qinghe's lips as he poured Ning Chengyi a cup of tea and motioned for him to drink.

"Too bitter. Do you have wine? Food?" Ning Chengyi ignored the question. With someone like Xue Qinghe, the best approach was to wear down his patience.

Xue Qinghe appeared gentle and benevolent, a man devoted to affairs of state. But within the Heaven Dou Imperial City, he had long been forced to suppress his feelings. Lying low was only part of his burden; countless other ties pulled at him.

"Hahaha... Straight to the point. I like your style, Brother Ning." It had been a long time since Xue Qinghe had met anyone so interesting.

Outside, everyone feared him because he was the crown prince. At home, he lived under pressure from Xue Ye.

Even in private, Spirit Hall watched and urged him on. His life was stifling.

How could Xue Qinghe not be pleased to meet someone so uninhibited for once?

"Come." Xue Qinghe rose and led him into another room, where wine and a feast were already waiting.

Ning Chengyi paid him no mind and dug straight into the food. Chances to eat a Heaven-Class meal were rare enough, especially one paid for by the Heaven Dou Crown Prince.

Whether the person before him was Xue Qinghe or Qian Renxue could wait. First, he would fill his stomach.

"I haven't seen you before. Are you from out of town?"

"Mm... You could say that."

"Would you like to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

"No."

Xue Qinghe's eyes dimmed, then quickly brightened again.

"Unless I had a Moonlit Perching Butterfly Flower. Then I might consider it."

"A Moonlit Perching Butterfly Flower?"

"That's right."

Ning Chengyi kept eating as he spoke.

"I'll get one for you if you join the academy. How about it?"

"No."

Another refusal.

Xue Qinghe was momentarily speechless.

Was Heaven Dou Royal Academy really that unappealing?

"Then I'll get you the flower, and you can spend some time at the academy. Consider it a favor to me. What do you say?"

Xue Qinghe tried to coax him, but Ning Chengyi gave no answer. He just ate meat and drank wine, leaving Xue Qinghe sitting there in awkward silence.

"I'll give you the Moonlit Perching Butterfly Flower if you go to the academy and teach a few people a lesson. How about that?"

"No."

Xue Qinghe: "..."

By now, he was close to losing his temper.

He was the crown prince, yet this fellow had rejected invitation after invitation without the slightest regard for him.

"But I'll agree to teach them a lesson. Besides the Moonlit Perching Butterfly Flower, though, you must provide any resources I ask for over the next month, as long as you can get them. No conditions."

"Agreed!" Xue Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief. Where had this oddball come from?

The man kept stopping and starting, making him think the deal was lost before suddenly turning things around.

"One more thing. If they come looking to die, it's fine if I kill them, right?" Ning Chengyi abruptly looked up at Xue Qinghe.

"Well..." That gave Xue Qinghe pause. Those people were all fairly well-known talents. If something happened to them, wouldn't the cost outweigh the benefit?

As he weighed the risks, Ning Chengyi said, "Why so serious? I was just asking. Come on, have a drink." He filled a cup with wine and turned the table's rotating tray until it reached Xue Qinghe. Xue Qinghe stared at the wine, hesitant.

It was his first time facing a cup of wine.