After that night, Li Dixian and Qian Renxue traveled for several more days, finally arriving at Heaven Dou Imperial City.
The majestic city stood at the end of the official road.
Qian Renxue stood silently for a long time, looking at Li Dixian beside her, and said softly:
"Li Dixian, the escort mission is complete."
She paused, as if there were words left unsaid, but in the end, they transformed into a single phrase.
"...Until we meet again."
Li Dixian nodded.
"Until we meet again."
He watched Qian Renxue's figure turn into another fork in the road and disappear at the end of his sight.
Li Dixian tilted his head and took a big gulp of wine.
Tsk.
There was no sadness.
Qian Renxue hadn't left.
She had merely changed her identity.
She had become his good brother, with whom he could be shoulder to shoulder.
"Heaven Dou City, this young master is back!"
A hint of joy truly surged in Li Dixian's heart.
He genuinely missed his small courtyard.
He wondered if the fruits on the plum tree in the courtyard were already ripe, and if the several clumps of winter sweet at the base of the wall had put on new buds... Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Crown Prince's bedchamber.
Xue Qinghe strode into the hall.
Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish, who had been waiting for a long time, greeted her with smiles.
"Young master is finally back. I trust your ten days of travel were enjoyable?"
The words had just left their mouths.
The two of them read the answer from Xue Qinghe's frost-covered face.
Xue Qinghe said nothing, walking straight to the window.
The morning light unfolded its branches and leaves in the glow.
She raised her palm slightly.
Gentle light energy flowed, meticulously watering and nourishing this immortal flower.
After a while.
Xue Qinghe turned, a storm brewing beneath her calm tone.
"How many of that woman's spies are in the palace?"
Porcupinefish and Serpent Spear's expressions changed drastically.
With just that one sentence, they had already guessed that the young master must have encountered Spirit Hall's Spirit Master during this trip.
The worries they had before had, after all, come to pass.
After a moment of silence.
Serpent Spear said in a deep voice:
"Currently, thirty-six people have been identified."
"Kill them all."
Xue Qinghe's voice was devoid of any ripple.
She knew.
Besides these thirty-six people, there were bound to be some who had slipped through the net.
But it was just right... Between Xue Qinghe's delicate brows.
A killing intent that startled even the two Titled Douluo suddenly surged.
"The remaining spies, just happen to deliver a message from me to that woman..."
"If she dares to touch Li Dixian..."
"I will not hesitate to go all out, even if it means mutual destruction, to make her Supreme Pontiff Palace disappear from the Douluo Continent."
Porcupinefish and Serpent Spear's hearts throbbed.
If these words came from anyone else's mouth, they might be a joke.
But they knew... Given Qian Renxue's unparalleled importance in the Hall of Offerings.
If she were truly to perish with Supreme Pontiff Palace, the one to pay the painful price in the end would undoubtedly be Supreme Pontiff Palace... The small courtyard was tranquil, with plum shadows dancing.
Li Dixian was nestled in a sandalwood chair under the plum tree, helplessly looking at the seven people in front of him.
"Sigh..."
"I haven't even been home for a day, how did you all know I was back?"
The arrivals were none other than the entire Royal Fight Team.
Several days of arduous training had made Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling a little thinner, and they looked at Li Dixian, their pretty faces full of joy.
Yu Tianheng pouted.
"The whole Heaven Dou Royal Academy knows that you are Sword Wine."
"Just as a student saw you enter the city, we came over as soon as we heard the news."
"Sword Wine, do you consider us brothers? You didn't even notify us when you returned?"
Yu Feng, Oslo, and the Shi Brothers followed suit, grumbling indignantly.
"Exactly, exactly!"
"Do you consider us brothers?!"
"That's enough, all of you."
Looking at Li Dixian's handsome face, which had darkened a bit, Dugu Yan's beautiful eyes flashed with a hint of distress, and she frowned:
"Little Brother Dixian has just returned, aren't you going to let him rest properly?"
Ye Lingling's palm glowed, and a pure white Nine Heart Begonia bloomed.
The healing light shone on Li Dixian.
The continent's number one healing Spirit, at this moment, was only to help him brush away a trace of fatigue.
Ye Lingling controlled her Spirit and echoed:
"Li Dixian must have traveled day and night to return, don't disturb his rest."
The two girls protected Li Dixian with such tacit understanding.
Yu Tianheng and the other five were dumbfounded.
No!
What about the shared animosity they had agreed upon on the way here?
The direction of the wind had changed too quickly!
With his weariness dispelled by the "luxurious" Nine Heart Begonia, Li Dixian immediately felt refreshed.
He stood up tall, smiling:
"Oh, since you've all come, saying I'm not friendly enough would be unfair."
"Let's go, let's go! The usual, Shanxiang Workshop!"
Smiles appeared on the faces of Yu Tianheng and the other five.
"Hey, now that's being a good buddy!"
"But we're not going to Shanxiang Workshop today!"
As they said this.
The storage Soul Tools of Yu Tianheng and the other five simultaneously glowed faintly.
On the sandalwood table, dishes began to appear, and several jars of fine wine were lined up.
Yu Tianheng and the other five each picked up a jar of wine and, laughing, handed them to Li Dixian.
"Come! To welcome Sword Wine / our idol back!"
"Welcome Sword Wine back to Heaven Dou City!"
Li Dixian also boldly picked up a jar and clinked it heavily with the five.
"Tonight, we drink until we drop!"
The night breeze was cool, and the fragrance of plums wafted.
The six of them exchanged toasts and chatted merrily.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling also occasionally interjected a few words.
As the wine flowed freely, Yu Feng suddenly asked curiously:
"Idol, did you gain anything from your trip to Wind Sword Sect?"
Everyone's gaze focused on Li Dixian.
Li Dixian picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and swallowed it with wine.
"Not bad."
Yu Tianheng sighed.
"When you say 'not bad,' it means your wishes have come true."
"Actually, we also feel that we've made quite a bit of progress these days."
"Sigh, if your sword wasn't so intimidating, and sparring inevitably led to bloodshed, I'd really want to experience it again."
The more he spoke, the more he felt inferior in skill, so Yu Tianheng simply cast aside his distracting thoughts and raised his jar, shouting:
"Drink, drink! Why think about those things!"
After a few more rounds.
Yu Tianheng and the other five, their steps unsteady, helped each other as they bid farewell and left.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling helped Li Dixian clean up the messy courtyard.
As they were leaving.
A rare hint of embarrassment appeared on Ye Lingling's usually cool face, and she twisted her fingers on her clothes, whispering:
"Li Dixian..."
"My... my mother invited you to our house for a chat..."
"She said it was to apologize to you... for what happened last time..."
Li Dixian tossed a ripe plum from his own tree into his mouth.
His movements paused slightly at her words.
"Go back and tell Ye Family Head."
"I didn't mind, so there's no need for an apology."
He wasn't bothered by the test of his strength that day.
It was just that the Ye Family Head had placed that almost obsessive family burden heavily on Ye Lingling's shoulders, which he found displeasing.
Ye Lingling pressed her lips together tightly, thinking of her mother's repeated admonitions in recent days, and her eyes couldn't help but redden.
"Li Dixian... you... just go once... okay...?"
"I promise... there won't be anything like last time again..."
Seeing the cool and gentle girl look so pitiful.
Li Dixian sighed, a headache forming.
"Alright, then, tomorrow night."
Ye Lingling broke into a smile, her eyes curving.
"Hehe, thank you, Li Dixian!"
Dugu Yan, who was beside them, also said at the opportune moment:
"Little Brother Dixian, you can't be partial!"
"You must also come to my mansion these two days, Grandpa has been thinking about you!"
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling left Li Dixian's small courtyard.
After they had walked a little further.
Ye Lingling suddenly leaned close to Dugu Yan's ear.
"Yan Yan, didn't you say last time..."
"That when Li Dixian came back, you definitely wanted to try...?"
"Why did you chicken out?"
Dugu Yan was stunned at first.
Then she realized what Ye Lingling was referring to, and a blush flew to her charming cheeks.
"You, Lingling!"
"You don't pay attention to other things, but you remember this clearly!"
She playfully made to hit her in annoyance.
"Asking for a beating!"
The two girls laughed and chased each other.
Gradually disappearing from Li Dixian's sight.
Li Dixian shook his head and chuckled, then turned and went back inside.
The sky had already grown dark.
He could only see Xue Qinghe tomorrow.
Thinking of Qian Renxue, who had accompanied him for these ten days.
Li Dixian couldn't help but want to laugh.
Heh... He wondered what his good brother had to tell him.