The battle between Chen Ming and Yu Tianheng ended rather anticlimactic. However, Chen Ming knew that the repercussions of this encounter were far from over; the situation was rely beginning to fernt.
On the afternoon of the duel, Chen Ming boarded a carriage and headed to Heaven Dou City. He checked into an inn there, spending the night ditating instead of sleeping. Early the next morning, he set off for the Seven Treasures Restaurant located in the city's luxurious district.
What defines a luxurious district?
This particular street catered exclusively to soul masters and nobles. Ordinary people were often stopped at the entrance. The ground floors of shops were generally open to all, but access to the upper floors ca with various requirents.
Although the district wasn't large, the people who shopped there were either imnsely wealthy or influential—often both. Even those working in the shops typically had notable backgrounds.
These workers might be mbers of a prominent family, illegitimate offspring of influential figures, or loyal attendants trained from childhood. Absolute loyalty was the standard here.
In short, this district was renowned even within Heaven Dou City. Owning a store here implied substantial influence, and this single street significantly boosted the city's average inco.
At Chen hour (equivalent to 7–9 a.m.), the city was still waking from its slumber, despite being the imperial capital. Chen Ming arrived at the Seven Treasures Restaurant with an invitation just before this ti. Under the guidance of the staff, he was led to the eting place with Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
Chen Ming assud he had arrived early, but upon entering the room, he saw a young man with white hair and red eyes sitting in the main seat, smiling at him. Judging by the crumbs on the man's lips and the unfinished pastries on the table, it seed he hadn't expected Chen Ming to arrive so early.
"Brother Chen Ming, you're here quite early," said Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, with a smile. Gracefully, she picked up a silk handkerchief to wipe her mouth and gestured for Chen Ming to sit beside her.
Although it was their first eting, Qian Renxue addressed Chen Ming as "brother," as though they were close acquaintances. For most people, this sudden familiarity might have been startling—either causing them to feel honored or leaving them flustered.
"I greet Your Highness," Chen Ming replied with a noble's courtesy and then took the seat beside Qian Renxue. A faint smile played on his lips, and his gaze remained calm and composed.
He neither showed excessive excitent nor seed overly reserved, which made Qian Renxue regard him with higher esteem. Having interacted with many of the new-generation nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire, Qian Renxue was well-acquainted with their usual deanor.
"The pastries here at the Seven Treasures Restaurant are a signature delicacy of Heaven Dou City, even surpassing those in the royal palace. My daily responsibilities often leave little ti to enjoy them. Since Brother Chen Ming is here, why don't we…"
Qian Renxue clapped her hands lightly, and a figure dressed in black appeared beside her.
The black-clad individual moved with uncanny speed and precision. Though their sudden appearance seed abrupt, they left no trace, nor did they emit any soul power fluctuations.
Ordinary people would likely have been startled, but Chen Ming quickly detected spatial fluctuations emanating from the person. In an instant, he deduced the truth: this individual was not a spatial soul master but had been transported here by another soul master with spatial abilities or soul skills. The intent was likely to surprise Chen Ming.
Judging by the lack of soul power fluctuations from nearby rooms, Chen Ming suspected that a spiritual-type soul master was observing their eting from a lower floor, with additional soul masters stationed nearby.
Qian Renxue clapped her hands, signaling for the spatial soul master to use their soul skill and transport the black-clad individual.
One had to admit, this little act was rather unique.
Spiritual soul masters were rare, and spatial soul masters even rarer. Most people wouldn't have the ans to pull off such a spectacle.
"Go and order another serving of pastries," Qian Renxue instructed.
"Yes," the black-clad individual nodded and vanished from the room.
Chen Ming noticed that the spatial fluctuations this ti were even less stable than before. It seed the spatial soul master responsible for this atmosphere-setting act wasn't particularly skilled at transporting individuals over short distances.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Chen Ming responded politely to Qian Renxue.
"Oh? You don't seem particularly curious about what just happened," Qian Renxue remarked, intrigued by Chen Ming's calm deanor.
This atmosphere team was sothing Qian Renxue had rehearsed years ago. First-ti guests were almost always taken aback by it.
While the act itself held no real significance, seeing the astonished expressions of her guests had beco one of Qian Renxue's rare sources of amusent.
Except for her teacher, Ning Fengzhi, or occasionally Bone Douluo by his side, no one had ever seen through the trick—until now.
"All actions leave traces in the environnt," Chen Ming began. "Although the man's appearance seed mysterious, it was far from the level of a Title Douluo's incomprehensible abilities."
"Even a Soul Douluo-level expert, moving at high speeds, would inevitably stir the air. If it wasn't a high-speed movent, then it must have been soul power. Yet, I saw no signs of him using soul power."
"Once could be an oversight on my part. However, when he disappeared, I paid close attention. His disappearing act wasn't sothing he perford himself.
"If I may be so bold, Your Highness likely has both a spiritual soul master and a spatial soul master working in tandem to achieve this effect."
"What remarkable insight," Qian Renxue said, clapping lightly as a smile spread across her face. She couldn't help but regard Chen Ming with even greater respect.
Although the chanics were simple, most people either couldn't figure it out or wouldn't dare consider such a possibility. For soone of Chen Ming's relatively modest rank as a Grandmaster to see through the act in one attempt spoke volus about his intelligence and observational skills.
Just as Qian Renxue was about to speak again, the black-clad individual suddenly reappeared behind her with a whoosh. The unexpected appearance made her words catch in her throat.
A single clap triggered the teleportation; another clap sent him back. But… she hadn't clapped for a second teleportation this ti!
Wasn't using clapping as a signal proving to be a bit problematic?
What had originally been an arrangent to amuse herself by observing others' reactions now ended with her becoming the source of amusent instead.
"Enough, enough. Brother Chen Ming, forgive for the spectacle," Qian Renxue said, covering her forehead with her hand. She waved dismissively at the black-clad individual, signaling for him to leave through the door.
Although he didn't fully understand what had gone wrong, the black-clad individual could sense from Qian Renxue's deanor that sothing had gone awry. Panic crept into his heart as he bowed deeply and exited the room.
Once he returned to the lower floor, he stord into the room where his two companions, both drenched in sweat, were waiting. Grabbing them by their collars, he snapped, "You two have caused so much trouble! The crown prince didn't order a second teleport, and now we've botched the entire act!"
PS: Lol
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