Meeting Vielvi for the first time! (Please invest! Please bookmark! Please vote!)

White Lotus Merchant Association, Yongdu Branch.

This merchant association had been founded by the Wei family of the Heavenly Soul Royal Family. Its main business was medicinal herbs, and its signature product was a supreme healing remedy—Snow Lotus!

Qin Xu had heard that the royal treasury held a hundred-thousand-year-old Snow Lotus Divine Medicine. He did not know whether the rumor was true, but he was very interested, and wondered if he would ever have a chance to see it.

The White Lotus Merchant Association had few customers that afternoon, and the VIP section was even quieter.

Qin Xu and his two companions wandered past rows of display cases, looking this way and that, then pointing things out and commenting as though no one else were around.

"So this is what whale rubber looks like. It really doesn't look like much." Qin Xu noticed an interesting product and walked over. Looking at the large, irregular lump of gelatinous material in the display case, yellow tinged with black and dark all over, he spoke.

The display case held a piece of ten-thousand-year whale glue. Ugly as it looked, it was of excellent quality, a superior specimen with potent medicinal properties. If used to strengthen the body, it would at least help with absorbing soul rings below the ten-thousand-year level.

"Little Xu, you're still too young. You shouldn't use something with such strong side effects as whale rubber yet. It'll hurt your body!" Seeing that Qin Xu was actually interested in whale rubber, Zhang Lexuan blushed and hurried forward to dissuade him.

"Sister Lexuan, what are you thinking?" Qin Xu looked at Zhang Lexuan speechlessly. "I'm just curious about the body-strengthening effects of ten-thousand-year whale glue. Why would I want its side effects?"

"I-is that so? Good, then. That's good." A little embarrassed, Zhang Lexuan brushed aside a lock of hair hanging over her forehead, her gaze wandering and her lovely face flushed scarlet. She could hardly be blamed for getting the wrong idea. After all, she was fifteen, right in the bewildering bloom of adolescence.

"Ahem, let's take a look up ahead." Qin Xu felt a little uncomfortable too. He cleared his throat, pointed ahead, and hastily fled the scene as he spoke.

Zhang Lexuan lightly bit her red lip with her pearly teeth and took a deep breath. Once her cheeks no longer felt quite so hot, she hurried after him.

After the two left, Ge Nie stepped forward and bought the ten-thousand-year whale glue outright. Although His Highness's current medicinal baths did not require it, it would come in handy eventually. He needed to prepare in advance and add it to the royal treasury's stock once they returned.

Rather than spoiling Qin Xu and Zhang Lexuan's mood, that little interlude made them feel even more relaxed and cheerful.

While Qin Xu and his companions were browsing, the hall downstairs suddenly grew noisy. Then a group of people wearing White Lotus Merchant Association uniforms came upstairs, surrounding an old woman and a young girl.

Both wore luxurious clothes and carried themselves with extraordinary poise. With the association's staff clustered around them, they were clearly people of considerable standing.

They passed in front of Qin Xu, allowing him to see their faces clearly.

The old woman had snow-white hair and a kind, gentle face. Yet her eyes were not clouded at all. Instead, they shone as brightly as a young person's, brimming with spirit. One glance was enough to tell that she possessed formidable mental power.

The little girl astonished Qin Xu even more, because her hair actually had two colors: golden brown on one side and deep green on the other. The colors were sharply divided, yet exceptionally harmonious. Her features looked as though they had been carved from jade and dusted with pink, while her large eyes, shaded from pink to white, darted about lively and inquisitive, making her look spirited and adorable.

She was a beauty in the making, Qin Xu silently judged. Once this little girl grew up, she would surely become a stunning beauty who rivaled Zhang Lexuan.

Behind Qin Xu, Ge Nie's eyes widened when he saw the old woman's face, and he looked visibly shocked. The old woman also noticed the three of them. A smile actually appeared on her face, and she turned to walk toward them.

"Your Highness, that's Her Eminence Wisdom Douluo of the royal family!" Just as confusion appeared on Qin Xu's face, Ge Nie's voice sounded behind him, adding a measure of surprise to his bewilderment.

Why had a Titled Douluo of the royal family suddenly appeared in Yongdu City? And who was the little girl she was holding by the hand, to have a Titled Douluo accompany her?

"Ge Nie, chief steward of the Black Dragon Duchy's royal palace, pays his respects to Your Eminence Wisdom!" While Qin Xu was still puzzling over this, Ge Nie had already stepped forward from behind, subtly shielding him and Zhang Lexuan as he called out respectfully.

His words were meant not only for Wisdom Douluo, but also for Qin Xu and Zhang Lexuan—and, more importantly, for the Royal Palace Secret Guards nearby.

"Hehe, I remember you. You're the captain of A Zhu's personal guard, aren't you?" Wisdom Douluo chuckled. She saw straight through Ge Nie's little maneuver but did not reproach him. After all, she had not come to make enemies. Her gaze passed over Ge Nie and settled on Qin Xu. "You must be little Xu. You've grown so much. Very good, very good."

Qin Xu stepped forward and bowed to her. "Qin Xu pays his respects to Your Eminence Wisdom Douluo."

Zhang Lexuan followed immediately and bowed. "Zhang Lexuan pays her respects to Your Eminence Wisdom Douluo."

"Mm, good child. By seniority, I'm of your great-grandfather's generation. Just call me Grandma Ya." Wisdom Douluo smiled. She saw through Qin Xu's soul power at a glance—rank twelve—and nodded in satisfaction. When she looked at Zhang Lexuan, however, a flash of shock appeared in her eyes. A rank fifty-nine Soul King!

"Grandma Ya." Qin Xu knew exactly how to respond.

"Vielvi, this is your little brother Qin Xu. Come say hello." His response pleased Wisdom Douluo even more, and she gently nudged the little girl beside her as she spoke.

The little girl had been staring at Qin Xu all along, her large eyes full of curiosity and a blush tinting her pretty little face. She was utterly adorable. Yet when Wisdom Douluo asked her to greet him, she shyly shrank behind her instead, poking out only her little head as she said bashfully:

"L-little brother Qin Xu, h-hello. I'm V-Vielvi!"

The little girl's bashful manner was so sweet and adorable that Qin Xu inwardly cried, I can't take it!

"Hehehe, the little lass is getting shy." Wisdom Douluo smiled kindly, finally setting her heart completely at ease. Good. At least Vielvi has a favorable first impression of this boy. "Little Xu, she's Vielvi, a princess of our royal family. She's a few days older than you, so you should call her big sister."

"Big Sister Vielvi," Qin Xu called, though his heart was full of confusion. Why has a royal princess suddenly come to Yongdu City? Could she be here to become my wife? He felt that this guess was both absurd and reasonable.

"Mm, mm!" Hearing Qin Xu call her big sister, Vielvi's eyes immediately lit up, and a smile bloomed on her face. No longer shy, she stepped straight out from behind Wisdom Douluo and asked in a clear, sweet voice, "Little brother Qin Xu, aren't you a boy? Why are you prettier than me?"

"..." Qin Xu had no idea how to answer. His appearance in this life truly was exceptional: red lips and white teeth, eyes like morning stars, brows like distant mountains. Calling him peerlessly handsome would not have been an exaggeration.

"Hahaha, little Ya Yun, long time no see!"

Just then, a hearty laugh rang out, accompanied by the arrival of an old man with a fierce gaze.

"Third Great-Grandpa!" "Your Eminence Army-Breaking!" "Grand General!" Qin Xu, Zhang Lexuan, and Ge Nie called out simultaneously, each addressing him differently.

The old man was none other than Bai Jian, Army-Breaking Douluo and grand general of the Black Dragon Duchy!

"Tsk, tsk. After all these years, you're still so fussy. No fun at all." Hearing Ya Yun's words, Bai Jian curled his lips dismissively, then said, "I'm here to take little Xu home, and to pass along a message from my eldest brother. He wants you to come to the palace for dinner tonight."

Still angry, Ya Yun agreed. "Understood."

"Little Xu, let's head back to the palace. Your maternal great-grandfather has come again," Bai Jian then told Qin Xu.

Hearing this, Qin Xu waved goodbye to Ya Yun and Vielvi. "Grandma Ya, Big Sister Wei'er, I'll be heading back now. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye, good child!" Ya Yun's expression changed instantly as she spoke kindly.

"You still haven't told me why you're so pretty!" Vielvi remained caught up in that question, one that would follow her throughout her life.

Bai Jian led Qin Xu and his companions out of the White Lotus Merchant Association. They boarded a luxurious carriage drawn by six finest dragonblood horses and returned to the palace.

"Third Great-Grandpa, what happened?" Qin Xu asked inside the carriage. "Why did a Titled Douluo and a princess from the royal family suddenly come to our Yongdu City? And didn't my maternal great-grandfather only just leave? Why has he suddenly come back?"

"Hahaha, well, let your great-grandfather tell you once we're back at the palace." Bai Jian laughed heartily. "All your Third Great-Grandpa can tell you is that it's good news!"

"Your Eminence Army-Breaking, is the royal family preparing to bow its head and extend goodwill to our Black Dragon Duchy again?" Zhang Lexuan asked thoughtfully, a gleam flickering in her eyes.

Bai Jian smiled. "Hahaha, more or less, more or less. Little Lexuan really is sharp. No wonder my second brother keeps praising you. Very good, very good. You'll certainly become little Xu's right-hand woman in the future, a virtuous wife and loving mother!"

"You and His Eminence Balance flatter me!" A rare hint of shyness appeared on Zhang Lexuan's face.

Qin Xu immediately threw himself against her and teased, "Oh! Sister Lexuan, you're blushing!"

Amid their laughter and playful banter, the carriage entered the royal palace. Bai Jian then brought Qin Xu and Zhang Lexuan to a side hall of the Offering Hall, where only Qin Tianji and Zhao Yong were present.

"Eldest Brother, I've brought little Xu back!" Bai Jian shouted. "Hahaha, guess who I ran into? Ya Yun!"

Qin Tianji was long accustomed to Bai Jian's rough-and-ready ways. Ignoring him, he looked straight at Qin Xu and Zhang Lexuan. "Little Xu, Xuan, does that mean you've seen that little girl from the royal family?"

"Yes, we saw her," the two answered.