Tang San's brows furrowed slightly.
'Why is there no reaction?'
His thoughts began to waver.
'Can she really maintain her disguise even under such pain…?'
The certainty he had earlier began to erode.
Still unwilling to accept the possibility that he was wrong, Tang San stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he looked down at the trembling Crown Prince.
Before he could press further, Xue Qinghe spoke first.
"I had already instructed my subordinates to handle that matter," he said, his voice strained but controlled. "The national treasure… was lost in an accident three years ago."
Those words struck Tang San like a sudden blow.
For a brief moment, his mind went blank.The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud—
That object was not just any treasure. In his plans, it was the key to obtaining the Sea God's inheritance. It was something he could not afford to lose.
'Dammit…!'
A surge of frustration rose within him.
At that instant, Tang San realized something unsettling.
His actions, his assumptions—everything had been built upon the knowledge of the "future" he believed he possessed. Yet now, reality was diverging from that path, and he had not noticed it in time.
Worse still, he had been so certain of his conclusion that he acted without leaving room for error.
Tang San never knew his thoughts had been subtly guided toward this very outcome.
A sharp and authoritative voice cut through the chamber.
"Preposterous!"
The pressure in the room seemed to shift as the voice rang out with clear displeasure.
"Sect Master Tang, I demand an explanation for your actions."
Looking at Emperor Xue Ye's grim expression, Tang San let out a quiet sigh.
Although he held little regard for Xue Ye's personal strength, he clearly understood one thing—making an outright enemy of the Heaven Dou Empire at this stage would bring more harm than benefit. No matter how confident he was, he was still within the capital, and the forces of the empire were not something to be dismissed lightly.
Suppressing his frustration, Tang San raised his hand and took out a jade box.
When the lid was opened, a rich herbal fragrance slowly spread through the hall, calming yet invigorating at the same time.
Xue Xing, who stood beside the Emperor, narrowed his eyes as he looked at the contents. His expression shifted slightly before he spoke in surprise,
"A purple ginseng… and judging by its aura, it must be more than a thousand years old."
Tang San corrected calmly,
"It is precisely one thousand five hundred and fifty-eight years old."
He lifted the box slightly, presenting it forward.
"Consider this… an apology."
However, Emperor Xue Ye's expression did not soften in the slightest.
"You think that barging into my court and injuring the Crown Prince can be dismissed with such a trivial offering?"
His voice was no longer diplomatic. It carried a clear edge of authority and suppressed anger.
Xue Xing seemed about to speak, but Xue Ye raised his hand slightly, signaling him to remain silent.
At that moment, a heavy pressure began to gather around the throne.
The air grew dense as the armrests beneath Xue Ye's hands let out faint creaking sounds.
Tang San's gaze flickered slightly as he felt a little happy after seeing Xue Ye's condition.
"Father, that is enough," he said.
Tang Hao withdrew his aura without hesitation.
The oppressive pressure vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving the hall in an uneasy stillness. Xue Ye exhaled slowly, taking a few deep breaths as he regained control of himself.
Tang San stepped forward again, his tone steady but firmer than before.
"In that case, I will add another condition. Tang Sect will provide a fifteen percent discount on all hidden weapons supplied to the Heaven Dou Empire for the next ten years."
Before Xue Ye could respond, Xue Xing spoke from the side,
"Twenty-five percent."
Tang San's eyes narrowed slightly.
'Trying to bargain with me! You already have a way to die!'
"Twenty percent—for five years. That is my final offer."
"Accept it, or I will take my leave."
The atmosphere grew tense once more.
After a brief silence, Xue Ye finally spoke.
"…Agreed."
Tang San did not linger. He turned and left the hall without another word, his figure soon disappearing beyond the palace doors.
Xue Qinghe remained where he was, his arm injured, his body still bearing the lingering pain of both the pressure and the humiliation he had endured. His expression was pale, yet beneath that surface, something darker had begun to take root.
Xue Ye looked at him for a long moment.
Later, he attempted to explain his decision—how restraint at the negotiation table, even at the cost of temporary loss, could secure greater long-term benefits.
From his perspective, avoiding open conflict with Tang Sect and Clear Sky Douluo while gaining access to their weapons was the most rational choice.
However, those words did not truly reach Xue Qinghe.
The humiliation of being forced to kneel, the breaking of his arm in front of others, and the Emperor's willingness to compromise rather than retaliate—all of it left a deep imprint on his mind.
Xue Qinghe had already walked a path stained with blood.
Two of his brothers had fallen by his hand in the struggle for power, a truth that remained hidden .
Now, this incident pushed him further along that path.
Emperor Xue Ye only harbored faint suspicions regarding the deaths of his sons. He had never uncovered the full truth, and thus, he continued to treat Xue Qinghe with measured care.
But if he had known everything—Things would have been very different.
From that day onward, a subtle but irreversible change occurred.
The relationship between Emperor Xue Ye and Xue Qinghe began to deteriorate, no longer bound by the same trust as before.
(AN:Now that Xue Ye had the reminiscence of the meeting another summary cum timeline chapter incoming. Te summary type chapters are for the readers to get an idea of what is happening in the world, where our protagonist makes her move but is very discreet)