Seven days had already passed since Wu Yuan hurriedly left the small courtyard in Heaven Dou City.
During these seven days, life in the courtyard seemed to have returned to its usual rhythm.
Early mornings were dedicated to Spirit Power cultivation and foundational physical training, afternoons were spent on individual comprehension of their martial souls and sparring practice, and evenings concluded with guidance from Fu Shiyan on their daily gains and losses.
Tang Sam's Blue Silver Grass crowd control grew increasingly refined, Dai Tianyu's guidance of the Dark Devilgod Tiger's power was stepping onto the right path, and Oscar buried himself in diligent practice of his two newly acquired Self-Created Spirit Abilities.
Xiao Wu remained the lively and energetic pistachio who frequently pestered Tang San for sparring matches.
However, this tranquility was shattered on the morning of the eighth day.
As usual, Fu Shiyan woke up very early and sat alone by a stone tea table beneath the old tree in the front yard.
The morning mist had not yet completely dispersed, leaving a lingering chill and the freshness of grass and trees in the air.
A cup of clear tea sat before him with wisps of rising steam, but he did not touch it, merely gazing with a somewhat vacant look at the vines climbing the courtyard wall.
His fingertips tapped lightly and unconsciously against the smooth stone tabletop, as if he were deep in thought.
At that moment, a clear and rhythmic knocking sound echoed from the courtyard entrance.
Fu Shiyan's brows furrowed in a manner almost imperceptible.
At this hour: who could it be?
With a slight shift of his intent, the branches beside the courtyard door extended like living things, skillfully sliding the latch open.
The door opened.
Standing outside was a young man clad in moon-white formal attire, with blond hair combed meticulously and a handsome, gentle expression.
Carrying a just-right smile and an air of graceful ease, it was none other than the Eldest Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe.
The instant Fu Shiyan saw him, the corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.
A trace of helpless emotion flashed deep within his eyes.
He genuinely did not wish to deal with this "guest" on such a tranquil morning.
Meanwhile, Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, acted as though she completely failed to notice the host's subtle lack of welcome.
With a composed demeanor, she stepped inside without the usual entourage of conspicuous attendants following her--she was completely alone.
She walked straight to the opposite side of the stone table, let her gaze linger on Fu Shiyan's face for a brief moment, and then gracefully brushed aside her robes, seating herself with dignified poise.
Her movements were as smooth as flowing water, displaying the etiquette instilled by the Heaven Dou royal family over many years to the absolute fullest.
"Forgive this abrupt early morning visit; I hope I am not disturbing Mr. Fu's peaceful cultivation."
Xue Qinghe spoke, the voice warm and mellow, carrying the restrained courtesy unique to royal descendants.
Fu Shiyan did not reply immediately, simply watching her quietly.
Fu Shiyan had no idea which brain circuit of this woman was misfiring again, running over to his place bright and early in the morning.
He certainly had no intention of playing the role-playing game of a virtuous lord attracting talent and undergoing secret evaluations with her.
After all, according to the timeline known to him, the destruction of Spirit Hall was certainly influenced by external factors, but its internal issues--especially this woman before him, her mother Bibi Dong, and that Hu Liena, who formed a serial chain of disastrous blunders dubbed the "Spirit Hall Three Idiots"--were the true keys to its self-destruction.
If even one of these three had possessed a slightly clearer head and acted decisively, many things would never have evolved to an irredeemable state.
Qian Renxue, or rather Xue Qinghe, did not seem to mind Fu Shiyan's silence.
Sweeping her gaze across the stone table and discovering that only Fu Shiyan had a cup of tea before him, the smile at the corners of her lips deepened slightly.
She actually reached out of her own accord, picked up the other clean teacup prepared on the table, and very naturally lifted the copper kettle kept warm on the small portable stove.
With practiced movements, she scalded the cup, added the tea leaves, and poured the water from a height before lowering the pot.
The sequence of actions flowed like water, clearly indicating a deep familiarity with the art of tea.
This was likely one of the fruits of her diligent study throughout her long life of disguise.
Soon, a clear, translucent tea brew with an elegant aroma took shape in her hands.
She gently lifted it to her lips, first inhaling its fragrance before taking a small, elegant sip, maintaining an exceptionally refined posture.
Her visit today naturally had her own reasons.
Yesterday, Serpent Pike Douluo She Long--whom she had planted in the city to monitor the movements around this small courtyard--reported a piece of news to her.
Just seven days prior, an unfamiliar man had knocked urgently on the door.
That man possessed considerable power and claimed to be "Wu Yuan, Head Guard of the Tianxing Prince's Estate," needing an urgent audience to discuss vital matters with the "Young Master."
Serpent Pike Douluo had not dared get too close, sensing a hidden aura within the courtyard that made his heart palpitate.
He had only managed to catch a few self-introducing words from the man in the distance, followed by his swift escort into the courtyard.
It was roughly three hours later when the man named Wu Yuan hurried away.
The four words "Tianxing Prince's Estate" stirred a ripple in Qian Renxue's heart.
As the Heaven Dou Eldest Prince, she was naturally aware of that Tianxing Prince of the Star Luo Empire who had once vied for the throne and ultimately failed, "dying of illness" seven years ago.
Why would a guard commander of a deceased Star Luo prince travel thousands of miles to Heaven Dou City in search of a so-called "Young Master"?
Did this title of "Young Master" imply that the Tianxing Prince still had surviving heirs in the world?
And the master of this small courtyard was Fu Shiyan.
A young man whose effective background she had previously failed to uncover, yet whose strength was terrifyingly formidable.
All the clues seemed to point vaguely toward a single possibility.
This also gave rise to a certain misconception on her part.
Of course, this was merely the surface reason prompting her visit.
The deeper cause was one she herself was unwilling to probe too deeply into.
Ever since their last meeting, when she confirmed that Fu Shiyan possessed at least Spirit Emperor and very likely Spirit Sage strength, the sensation of being left far behind by a peer had deeply stung her.
Upon returning, she had even brokenly subjected herself to doubled, intensive cultivation for a period of time.
Hearing Serpent Pike Douluo's report regarding Fu Shiyan and his possible connection to Star Luo Empire secrets made her instinctively want to use this excuse to observe him up close once more.
There were simply too many mysteries shrouding this person.
Why was his Spirit Power rank so drastically higher when he was only three years her senior?
Could he also be the descendant of a deity? Did he carry a divine inheritance?
Upon returning last time, Serpent Pike Douluo had proposed reporting the intelligence concerning Fu Shiyan to the Consecration Hall, but she had stopped him.
There was a streak of pride deep in her heart; she wanted to try recruiting this person through her own means.
As for those vague and unsettling fragments of "future memories" occasionally flashing through her mind, she planned to personally return to Spirit City after some time to question her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, face-to-face.
Could that be some sort of revelation from the Angel God?
Interweaving these complex thoughts was the exact reason she sat across from Fu Shiyan now, calmly sipping tea.
"His Highness the Eldest Prince."
Fu Shiyan finally spoke, breaking the silence.
His tone was plain, yet a sharp ear could detect a hint of subtle impatience.
Qian Renxue's act of making herself at home and taking charge truly left him somewhat speechless.
"I wonder what urgent matter brings you to visit at this early morning hour?"