Hearing Azure Luan Douluo's words, Snake Lance and Porcupinefish Douluo exchanged glances.
One thought popped into their minds at the same time:
That sounds reasonable… Reasonable your head!
Their young master was the Crown Prince—future Emperor—of the Heaven Dou Empire. Since when had any Crown Prince stolen from his own national treasury?
How was this any different from daytime robbery!?
Snake Lance covered the still-numb half of his face, leaning in cautiously, his voice as soft as a guilty thief.
"Third High Priest, forgive the question, but… is our Spirit Hall perhaps facing… financial difficulties?"
It couldn't have been phrased more tactfully.
Azure Luan Douluo's gaze instantly drifted.
In his mind, he quickly flipped through the ledgers:
Bibi Dong, that bottomless-spending Empress, had emptied a good chunk of the treasury on monthly subscription payments.
And now the High Priest wanted to burn gold coins to forge a God Position for the young master…
That wasn't just spending money.
That was feeding a black hole.
He sighed softly, then answered with a tone full of sorrow, sincerity, and tragedy.
"Yes."
"There is indeed… a tiny bit of a cash flow problem."
Snake Lance and Porcupinefish exchanged glances, both exhaling in relief.
Good. Good!
It was just a tiny bit of a problem. That meant everything was still under control.
Azure Luan Douluo looked at their relieved expressions—faces clearly saying, "See? Spirit Hall is huge; how could it ever go bankrupt?"—and suddenly felt exhausted.
Why was he explaining so much?
He came to deliver a message, not host a Spirit Hall Annual Financial Reports Meeting!
He just wanted to drag Qian Renxue and the Heaven Dou Empire's treasury back home, eat something, and collapse in peace.
Seeing Snake Lance Douluo inhale to ask another question—
Slap!
Slap!
Two crisp, symmetrical slaps echoed.
"What's with all the nonsense?!"
"Take me to the young master—now. Immediately. Right away!"
After each strike, Azure Luan Douluo felt his mood improve.
Indeed—why argue when your hands can solve the problem?
Snake Lance and Porcupinefish covered their reddening faces, their actions perfectly synchronized. Even their expressions matched: aggrieved, confused, and doubting life itself.
But a superior was a superior—especially one leagues above them.
They could only swallow their grievances and obediently lead the way…
Inside the Crown Prince's Bedchamber
Bright candlelight illuminated the study.
Qian Renxue—disguised as Xue Qinghe—sat in a pale gold robe, reviewing memorials with a serene, flawless expression. Her golden eyes were calm and majestic, as though she could see through everything beneath heaven.
As the "Crown Prince" embedded in Heaven Dou, she had long mastered the art of solitude and disguise. Every gesture radiated the gravitas of royalty: refined, wise, unfathomable.
Then the study door opened.
And she saw Snake Lance and Porcupinefish enter with matching pig-head faces.
Even she couldn't maintain her equilibrium—her golden eyes cracked ever so slightly.
"You two…"
Her brows lowered.
"Who hit you?"
In unison, they replied while covering their swelling cheeks:
"Young master, the Third High Priest is here with a message from the High Priest."
A flicker of surprise passed through Qian Renxue's eyes.
Third Grandfather?
Why would he come personally?
"Let him in."
Azure Luan Douluo stepped into the room—still elegant, still refined—but his handsome face looked as green as if he'd been soaked in poison.
Qian Renxue's heart tightened. She stood immediately, worry slipping into her tone.
"Third Grandfather, has the plan changed? Or… is Grandfather—"
Azure Luan Douluo put on immense effort to maintain dignity, and nodded.
"The High Priest said… he misses you."
Qian Renxue's tense shoulders softened. A gentle smile rose at the corners of her lips.
Not bad news, then.
She signaled for him to continue.
Azure Luan Douluo inhaled deeply—like a man preparing to face execution—and delivered the message word by painful word:
"And… the High Priest specifically said…"
"The family… can't make ends meet."
"…"
"…"
The study fell silent enough to hear dust settling.
Qian Renxue's faint smile froze.
Her mind blue-screened the moment she heard "can't make ends meet."
Snake Lance and Porcupinefish stared wide-eyed.
Buddy, that's not what you told us outside!
Spirit Hall—
The number one force on the continent,
with Seraphim inheritance,
land, wealth, power—
Can't make ends meet?
Was this a new kind of secret code?
Just as Qian Renxue wondered if Third Grandfather was messing with her—
GRRRRRRR—
A stomach rumbled pitifully, bitterly, loudly.
Its owner: Azure Luan Douluo himself, whose complexion had shifted from green to pale.
That rumble…
was the final collapse of his defenses.
His elegant façade shattered.
Without warning—
and under the stunned gazes of everyone present—
The dignified Third High Priest lunged toward the desk like a starving beast.
He seized Qian Renxue's exquisite pastries and shoveled them into his mouth with both hands, completely disregarding image, dignity, or humanity.
He ate like he hadn't seen food in eight lifetimes.
They were just ordinary pastries—not the glowing gourmet meals of Feng Ran Pavilion—
But they were still food!
Still edible!
Still capable of quieting the acid pool in his stomach!
Chewing violently, he choked out in a tearful tone:
"Young master… Spirit Hall is really… completely broke…"
Before finishing, he choked on a piece of osmanthus cake and started pounding his chest as his eyes rolled.
Qian Renxue: "…"
At this point, she was certain.
He was telling the truth.
All of it.
Spirit Hall—
the towering behemoth that dominated the continent,
the treasury that overflowed with wealth for generations—
Really.
Couldn't.
Make.
Ends.
Meet.
Qian Renxue closed her eyes, reopened them, and took a steadying breath.
She sat down, poured herself a cup of tea—still graceful, but her trembling fingertips betrayed the storm inside her.
"Third Grandfather,"
her voice soft, dreamlike, bewildered,
"What… exactly happened?"
After a plateful of pastries, Azure Luan Douluo's color finally improved.
He straightened, his tone solemn, grave—like announcing the end of an era.
"Young master, the plan has changed."
"We don't want this Heaven Dou Empire anymore."
He swept his gaze across the luxurious study with open disdain.
"Compared to the great opportunity coming to Spirit Hall… a mere empire isn't even worth a chicken feather."
He looked her dead in the eye.
"You must return to Spirit Hall immediately!"
_____________________
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