When they reached Lingdou City, Chu Qing gazed at the magnificent jade towers and palatial halls lining the streets, full of admiration.
"It's this prosperous?"
"All show, just painting a picture of peace and prosperity."
Xue Lingyi voiced her complaint, visibly displeased.
Only after dressing Chu Qing in an embroidered black-and-teal python robe and looking at her talented, handsome son did her mood improve. She then led the family to Ease Pavilion.
Chu Jiazheng explained:
"It's a business under your mother's name. She and your aunt Lingxun started it together when they were young."
Chu Qing recognized the name his parents had mentioned quite a few times.
"Oh, that genius Xu Sanshi you told me about. I remember."
Chu Jiazheng nodded and cautioned him:
"Mind your manners later."
They went inside, where Xu Sanshi and his family, who had arrived two days earlier, were already waiting.
The sisters Xue Lingxun and Xue Lingyi looked quite alike around the eyes and brows. As soon as they met, they embraced each other with delight.
"Sister, counting it up, it's been a whole year since I last saw you."
"This time, we'll spend a few months together before I let you go back."
"Lingyi, come sit down. I was starting to think you weren't coming."
Chu Qing's mother, Xue Lingyi, and Xue Lingxun were sisters born of the same mother.
Ever since the Heaven Dou Empire had split apart, the Dou Ling Imperial Family had grown weaker and weaker, becoming more dependent on clans and sects.
Both sisters had married into sects, but the Mysterious Nether Sect was a reclusive sect. A sect that contributed nothing like that naturally wasn't on the list for marriage alliances, so Xue Lingxun had eloped.
Xue Lingxun's original arranged match had been with the Heavenly Sun Clan, and Heavenly Sun Douluo was the Dou Ling Empire's Guardian Douluo. As a result, the affair had dragged on until the present, leaving all three families in an awkward position.
At one point, the imperial family had even wanted Chu Qing's mother to marry into the Heavenly Sun Family in her place. Heavenly Sun Douluo, however, was so angry that he refused to marry anyone from the imperial family, which worked out in favor of Chu Qing's parents, who had already been in love.
"Greetings, Uncle and Aunt."
Chu Qing and Xu Sanshi spoke in unison.
Chu Qing was quite puzzled. How did Xu Sanshi look so respectable? He felt the other boy shouldn't have been so well-behaved.
Both sets of parents, however, were very pleased with the boys, each praising the other's fine son.
Xue Lingxun asked curiously:
"I heard Little Qing has an unusual-colored Soul Ring. Could you let your aunt have a look?"
Xue Lingyi smiled proudly, making no attempt to hide it, and said:
"Go on, son, show them."
Xu Sanshi and his father's eyes lit up as they waited expectantly.
Chu Qing could tell that the families were very close.
He released his Soul Rings, and one cyan and one purple ring immediately rose up, radiating an intense pressure that left the three of them marveling.
Sensing the fluctuations of power from the cyan Soul Ring, Xu Sanshi's father was utterly perplexed. This shouldn't be possible!
Xue Lingxun, meanwhile, smiled with satisfaction:
"It seems my half of that Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum didn't go to waste."
Chu Qing noticed a flicker of realization in Xu Sanshi's eyes.
Xu Sanshi was indeed grumbling to himself.
You little brat, so you're the one who ate my half of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Don't let me catch you alone later, or I'll make you pay.
But because her parents had long since told him that the two families' relationship wasn't one of empty courtesies, he didn't show it.
Chu Qing smiled sweetly and said:
"Thank you, Aunt."
"Hahaha, what a good, sensible child. If my Sanshi were half as easy to look after as you, I'd have so much less to worry about. Come, sit down."
Xu Sanshi couldn't help letting out a soft snort, clearly unconvinced.
Xue Lingyi simply shook her head and sighed:
"If only he really were easy to look after."
The two families sat down. Xue Lingyi and Xue Lingxun hadn't seen each other in a long time, and they chatted away warmly.
The fathers and children, on the other hand, were somewhat ill at ease.
Xu Sanshi stood up and said:
"Mother, I'll take Cousin Chu Qing out for some air."
Xue Lingxun nodded.
"All right. You young people get along well, so go have some fun together. Remember to come back early."
Xue Lingyi also instructed Chu Qing:
"Little Qing, don't be naughty. Listen to your older cousin."
Chu Qing was unconvinced. The other boy looked no older than he was, and it was still hard to say which of them was older.
Even so, he simply stood up and said pleasantly:
"All right. I think we'll get along splendidly."
The two boys went out, leaving the adults behind. There were things the adults could discuss more easily without the children present.
The moment they stepped outside, Xu Sanshi dropped the act. Curling his lip, he said, a little sourly:
"Hey! You little brat, don't think you're so great just because your Soul Rings are different. I'm a man destined to stand at the pinnacle of the continent someday. I'll show you what I can do!"
Chu Qing couldn't help smiling, putting on an understanding air.
"It's fine. I'll give you time to catch up, until... you can no longer see me in the distance."
"Oh, come on!"
It was the first time Xu Sanshi had met someone thicker-skinned than himself. For now, though, he knew he was no match for Chu Qing; he had heard about Chu Qing's Martial Soul Evolution long ago.
"Fine, fine, fine. You're better at showing off than I am, all right, Cousin?"
He glanced at the sky and said:
"Let's each go do our own thing. We still have to enter the imperial palace tonight, so let's meet back here at seven."
Chu Qing was happy to oblige.
"All right, it's a deal."
He turned and began wandering around on his own.
Neither of them expected to run into each other in the same brothel half an hour later.
"Enemies really do meet on a narrow road!"
Xu Sanshi exclaimed.
"All right, neither of us tells anyone when we get back. We're both highly virtuous young Soul Masters, after all."
Since there had never been any grudge between them, Chu Qing naturally didn't mind. He sat down with Xu Sanshi and asked with considerable interest:
"Xu Sanshi, do you know someone named Jiang Nannan?"
"Is she a famous entertainer from somewhere?"
Xu Sanshi looked completely bewildered.
Chu Qing thought perhaps the two hadn't met yet, so he said casually:
"No. If you still remember later, keep an eye out for her for me. If you forget, never mind."
Xu Sanshi rubbed his chin and chuckled.
"I heard you were shut away on a mountain too. This Jiang Nannan wouldn't happen to be the daughter of someone from a passing merchant caravan, would she?"
"I can help you, no problem. Just give me something in return."
As he spoke, he held out his hand.
Chu Qing stared at him, considering.
He remembered clearly that Xu Sanshi's relationship with the Dou Ling Imperial Family hadn't begun to improve until all the men in the imperial family had died.
After all, Xu Sanshi's mother was his own mother's elder sister.
Xu Sanshi found his stare a little strange.
"Hey, what's with that concerned look? What are you playing at?"
Chu Qing smiled meaningfully.
"If someone beats you up at tonight's banquet, I can reluctantly step in and help you."
Xu Sanshi's expression froze. For a moment, he rather resented how close his mother was to Chu Qing's. How could she tell her everything?
A few seconds later, he was snorting angrily.
"I only came for my mother's sake."
"Do they really think everyone is eager to curry favor with their Dou Ling Imperial Family?"
"Ridiculous. They're practically reduced to mascots."
He covered the grief and indignation in his heart with a smile, changed the subject, and began teasing Chu Qing.
"Instead of worrying about me, you'd better worry about yourself."
"I heard that, barring any surprises, you'll probably be betrothed to Princess Xue Li while you're still children."
"Your Martial Soul is powerful, you're exceptionally gifted, and you're extraordinarily handsome, just like me! But your Spirit Rhinoceros Sect is a level below our Mysterious Nether Sect. Your parents can't refuse outright."
"Of course, I hear Ning Tian, the young sect master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, will be coming too."
"Hehe, if you can get to her first, you'll at least have a chance to choose between the two."