.Chapter 120: If the Flowers Bloom, the Butterflies Will ComeAfter traveling for several days, Dai Youheng finally arrived at the capital of the Star Luo Empire under the escort of the Star Shattering Douluo and the Nebula Douluo.With the magnificent city gates in sight, the Star Shattering Douluo slowed down and asked, "Youheng, are you going back to the White Tiger Duke's Mansion first, or will you come with us directly to the palace to have an audience with Her Highness the Xu Jiujiu?"Dai Youheng did not hesitate at all. To maintain his "infatuated" persona, a look of deep-seated obsession, mixed with urgency and heat, immediately surfaced on his face. With a perfect performance, he blurted out, "Naturally, I must see Xu Jiujiu Jiu Jiu first! A single day apart feels like three years. While I was away these past few days, I haven't stopped thinking about her for a single moment."This unmasked confession caused even the two well-traveled Titled Douluo to look at him sideways.Nebula Douluo couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head, her tone carrying a hint of elder-like teasing, "You... there's no need to be in such a rush. You've traveled a long way and are covered in dust; do you really intend to see Her Highness looking like this? I'm afraid before you even get close, the palace guards will stop you, thinking you're a refugee."Hearing this, Dai Youheng pretended to realize his state and looked down at his dust-stained robes. A bashful, silly smile appeared on his face. "What Your Excellency says is true. I was inconsiderate and almost offended the Xu Jiujiu. Then I shall return to the Duke's Mansion first to wash up and tidy myself, so I can visit the Xu Jiujiu in my best state.""Mm, go then," the Star Shattering Douluo nodded.Dai Youheng turned around, and that silly look vanished, replaced by a faint, cold sneer.Watching Dai Youheng's retreating figure, the Star Shattering Douluo and Nebula Douluo exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of complex emotion in the other's eyes."His talent and Heart-Nature are both top-tier, and what's even rarer is this infatuation," the Star Shattering Douluo spoke slowly, his voice tinged with sentiment. "With such a talent, as long as Xu Jiujiu Jiu Jiu can firmly hold his heart, it is equivalent to the royal Family holding a future sharp sword. The Dai Family is a thing of the past after all; they should have let go of those ambitions long ago!"Nebula Douluo looked into the distance and picked up the conversation, "Indeed. Although the White Tiger Lineage surrendered the throne back then, the military power and foundation they possess have always been a thorn in the royal Family's side. Both sides appear harmonious on the surface but are secretly wary and obstructive of each other. In the long run, this is definitely not a blessing for the Empire. If Dai Youheng can truly become a bridge between the royal Family and the Dai Family, or even completely integrate the remaining power of the Dai Family into the Empire's system in the future, making Star Luo truly unified, that would be the greatest capital for opposing the Sun Moon Empire."The conversation between the two Douluos clearly revealed the political landscape of the Star Luo Empire's upper echelons and their deep expectations for Dai Youheng. He was not just a pursuer of Xu Jiu Jiu, but a key pawn that could potentially break the internal power balance and achieve central authority.The two then entered the palace to report back to Xu Jiu Jiu, recounting everything they had seen and heard in the Star Dou Great Forest, especially Dai Youheng's true Rank and the "truth" that he "hid his strength just to return to her side sooner."Inside the palace, after Xu Jiu Jiu finished listening to Nebula Douluo's report, her jade-like hand, which had been leisurely playing with an exquisite spirit tool, suddenly stopped."Peak Rank Fifty-Two? He... he has actually been hiding such strength?" Her voice carried an unmistakable shock.This news surprised her even more than Dai Youheng absorbing a thirty-thousand-year spirit ring beyond his level. This meant that his stunning performance at the tournament was actually far from his full strength!And when Nebula Douluo, with a tone full of sentiment, said that Dai Youheng was willing to give up the unlimited resources of Shrek's Inner Court and the promise of a hundred thousand year spirit ring just to hide his strength—avoiding being forced to stay so he could successfully return to Star Luo and to Her Highness's side—Xu Jiu Jiu fell silent.She waved her hand, asking the two Douluos to withdraw first.In the empty, magnificent palace, she was left alone. She walked slowly to the window, looking toward the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. In those beautiful eyes, which were usually calm, wise, and calculating, a hint of complex fluctuation appeared for the first time.An indescribable emotion quietly sprouted in her heart. Was it surprise? Was it being moved? Perhaps it was a bit of both.She couldn't help but recall that concubine-born youth from the past, who only knew how to follow her around, offering trivial concern, with mediocre talent, whom she had regarded as a nuisance. It formed an extremely sharp contrast with this current young man—exquisitely talented, deep-thinking, and able to resist the temptation of a hundred thousand year spirit ring just to return to her side."Did he really endure so much for me?" This thought surfaced uncontrollably.Reality is often ironic.Back then, the hundred percent sincerity offered by his predecessor was worthless in her eyes, only worthy of the label "simp."But now, this young man's carefully designed "deeply affectionate performance," mixed with countless calculations, was automatically given a thick filter of true feelings because she saw his immense value.His strength made his "infatuation" precious; his potential made his "sacrifice" touching.Xu Jiu Jiu sighed softly, a trace of softness in that sigh that even she hadn't noticed. She touched her smooth cheek and actually felt it was slightly hot."Dai Youheng..." she whispered the name. Her gaze was no longer entirely one of scrutiny and utility; it held a subtle curiosity and perhaps a tiny throb of excitement that even she hadn't realized.If the flowers bloom, the butterflies will come.Such is reality.When you have no value yourself, even pouring out your entire heart will only be trampled upon. But when you possess enough strength and value, even a performance of false feelings can be interpreted as a deep affection that moves heaven and earth.If the long-dissipated Soul of the predecessor knew of this scene, one wonders what he would think.Perhaps he would only leave behind a bitter sigh; it turns out he was wrong from the beginning. The road to the Xu Jiujiu's heart was never paved with sincerity, but bolstered by strength and one's own value.At this time, Youheng returned to the Duke's Mansion, following the familiar path.The atmosphere of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion was even more oppressive and gloomy than when Dai Youheng had left. The Family that was once the Empire's number one military power was now shrouded in an invisible haze.Not long after Dai Youheng entered the gates, he encountered his two most familiar "older brothers" in the corridor.Dai Yueheng stood in the courtyard, his right palm empty, his once handsome face carrying a trace of lingering gloom and unwillingness.A person in researcher's attire was beside him, using various tools to measure the dimensions of his severed hand, seemingly preparing to make a Spirit Tool Prosthetic. Sensing Dai Youheng's gaze, Dai Yueheng looked up and gave him a complex look—there was scrutiny, jealousy, and a hint of unmistakable loneliness in that gaze.He was once the Genius of Shrek's Inner Court and the future heir to the Family, but now his future was ruined, and he could only rely on cold spirit tools to compensate for his incompleteness.In a nearby pavilion, Dai Huabin was more like an empty shell that had lost its Soul. He sat slumped on a stone bench, his eyes staring blankly at the swimming fish in the pond. His former arrogance and domineering nature had long since vanished, replaced by a deathly decadence.Because his Soul Origin was damaged, his cultivation not only found it difficult to progress but even showed signs of regressing. In his decadent state, he didn't even want to return to Shrek Academy.Zhu Lu silently stayed by his side, draping a coat over him, her eyes filled with heartache as she looked at him.Unlike Dai Youheng's calculating "infatuation" for Xu Jiu Jiu, Zhu Lu's companionship for Dai Huabin was truly through thick and thin.
