By the time She Long and Zhang Fei returned to the Crown Prince's Residence, night had fully fallen.
The two made their way to the Crown Prince's study.
Xue Qinghe still sat behind his desk, holding a book, but his gaze kept drifting toward the window. Clearly, his mind was not on the pages.
Hearing footsteps outside, he immediately raised his head.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Zhang Fei followed She Long inside.
Xue Qinghe's gaze landed on Zhang Fei at once. He looked him up and down, and seeing his clothes intact and his complexion healthy, silently breathed a sigh of relief.
"Uncle She, how did it go?" Xue Qinghe set down his book, stood, and came around the desk.
"Young master, everything went smoothly," She Long said, cupping his hands. "Little Fei absorbed the Soul Ring of a thirty-five-hundred-year-old dark gold terrorclaw bear, and his soul power reached rank twenty-two."
"A dark gold terrorclaw bear?" Shock crossed Xue Qinghe's face. "There was actually a top-tier soul beast like that in Sunset Forest?"
Zhang Fei chuckled. "Your Highness, that's not all."
Xue Qinghe looked at him questioningly.
Zhang Fei raised his right hand and willed it into action.
Shing!!!
Five claws as black as ink, their edges gleaming with a cold, dark-gold light, abruptly sprang from his fingertips, radiating a heart-stopping sharpness.
Even the air in the study seemed to freeze for an instant.
Xue Qinghe stared fixedly at that hand. After a long silence, he slowly spoke. "Is that... an external soul bone?"
"You have a keen eye, young master," She Long said with a smile. "It's a dark gold terrorclaw bear right palm bone. Little Fei named it the Sky-Rending Claw."
At those words, Xue Qinghe's expression filled with shock and delight.
"You little rascal... you never stop surprising me."
He looked at Zhang Fei, his gaze brimming with affection.
The three-year-old child who had once put him in a difficult position, whom he had only reluctantly agreed to take into his residence, was now slightly taller than he was-and so ruggedly handsome, too.
The longer Xue Qinghe looked, the hotter his heart felt. He could only cough lightly, suppressing that inexplicable flutter, and turn to She Long. "Uncle She, who else knows about this?"
"Only the three of us," She Long replied solemnly.
"Good." Xue Qinghe nodded, his expression growing serious. "An external soul bone is no small matter. Not a word of this must get out. Little Fei, unless absolutely necessary, never casually show the Sky-Rending Claw to anyone before you've fully fused with it."
"Understood." Zhang Fei retracted the claws, his right palm returning to normal, and nodded earnestly.
"All right, it's getting late. Get some proper rest tonight." Xue Qinghe returned to his desk and sat down. "There's a banquet at the palace tomorrow. Since you're back, Little Fei, come with me."
"Sure!" Zhang Fei answered, turning to leave.
She Long also cupped his hands and took his leave.
At noon the next day, at the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
The midsummer sun blazed bright and fierce, bathing the entire palace complex in golden splendor.
Glazed roof tiles reflected dazzling golden light, while the painted decorations beneath the sweeping eaves and interlocking brackets shone all the more vividly in the sun.
Long rosewood tables were laden with exquisite delicacies, and fine wine glowed amber in white jade cups.
Strings and flutes filled the hall amid perfumed robes and elegantly coiffed guests. Nearly every notable dignitary of the Heaven Dou Empire was present.
Xue Ye had hosted this victory banquet to celebrate the empire's great triumph on the northern frontier.
For all its billing as a victory banquet, not a single general or soldier who had actually fought on the northern frontier was present. It was merely an excuse these nobles had found to gather.
Zhang Fei had long since grown accustomed to such things, and he scoffed at them.
Following Xue Qinghe, he entered the magnificent hall.
Today, Zhang Fei wore a dark blue-green brocade robe that Xue Qinghe had personally chosen for him. The fabric was superb, accentuating his broad shoulders, long legs, and straight back. His hair was tied up, revealing his smooth forehead and clear, keen eyes. The moment he entered, he drew plenty of attention.
"Is that the child His Highness the Crown Prince adopted? What a handsome boy."
"I hear he's exceptionally gifted. His Highness treasures him..."
The quiet murmurs reached Zhang Fei's ears, but he kept his gaze straight ahead and simply followed quietly at Xue Qinghe's side.
With a python embroidered in gold thread on his robe and a jade belt around his waist, Xue Qinghe walked calmly toward his seat. Wherever he passed, the officials rose to bow.
"Qinghe, you're here." From the seat of honor, Xue Ye smiled and beckoned.
"Father." Xue Qinghe bowed, and Zhang Fei hurriedly followed suit behind him.
"No need for ceremony. Sit." Xue Ye seemed to be in a good mood and waved a hand.
Zhang Fei sat down with Xue Qinghe, discreetly sweeping his gaze across the hall.
At the seats on the left, Ning Fengzhi wore blue-green robes and held an emerald-green scepter, smiling as he spoke quietly with Chen Xin beside him. Behind him, Ning Rongrong wore a little pale-yellow dress and swung her legs in utter boredom. When she looked up and spotted Zhang Fei, her eyes instantly lit up.
Farther back on the right, an old man in gray-green robes sat alone. Who else could it have been but Dugu Bo?
His face was much rosier than it had been two years ago, and his eyes were no longer sunken. He actually looked considerably younger.
A thought stirred in Zhang Fei's mind. It seemed the old poison master really had followed his advice and forced the toxins into his Soul Bone. Now that the poison had been cleared from his body, even his appearance had recovered somewhat.
He clearly had not recognized Zhang Fei, however. After all, Zhang Fei had been wearing a mask back then.
"Qinghe, is this the child you adopted, the one I so often hear about?" Xue Ye looked at Zhang Fei with a kindly gaze.
"Yes, Father. His name is Zhang Fei." Xue Qinghe turned slightly and rested a hand gently on Zhang Fei's shoulder, the gesture intimate and natural.
"Mm, a fine-looking young man." Xue Ye nodded and asked no further questions.
The banquet began, with song and dance celebrating peace and prosperity.
Zhang Fei bent over the delicacies before him. He was eating happily when he suddenly felt someone lean close to his ear.
"Hey, Little Feifei~"
The syrupy voice carried a teasing note.
Zhang Fei's hand jerked, and he nearly spat out the venison in his mouth.
He turned to look. Ning Rongrong had slipped over at some point, her large, limpid eyes curved into smiling crescents.
"What are you doing over here?" Zhang Fei asked in a low voice.
"I'm bored." Ning Rongrong pouted and pointed toward the center of the hall. "Listening to all that stuff the adults talk about gives me a headache."
Zhang Fei rolled his eyes. "If you're bored, go find your dad. Don't bother me while I'm eating."
"Oh, come on, we're old friends. Why are you so wary?" Rather than leave, Ning Rongrong leaned even closer, a faint fragrance drifting from her. "You have no idea how handsome you are now."
Zhang Fei shifted away. "Keep your distance. I'm afraid you'll set me up."
"Hmph, stingy." Ning Rongrong pursed her lips, but then her eyes darted, and she sidled up to him again. "It's too stuffy in here. Come outside with me for some air? I heard the palace gardens are gorgeous."
"No."
"Come on, come on!" Ning Rongrong reached out and tugged his sleeve, looking determined not to stop until she got her way. "If you don't come, I'll keep bothering you right here. You won't get to eat in peace!"
Zhang Fei: "..."
He glanced at Xue Qinghe, who was discussing something with Ning Fengzhi, then reluctantly set down his chopsticks.
"...Just for a little while."
"Yay!" Ning Rongrong cheered, tugging his sleeve as she slipped toward the exit.
The two quietly left the hall, passed through a covered corridor, and arrived at the Imperial Garden behind the palace.
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