Chapter 100 Can You Give Her Highness the Princess an Autograph?
"Xue Ke?"
Hearing Dugu Yan's startled exclamation, Zhou Chen's heart stirred. Xue Ke seemed to be the little princess of the Heaven Dou imperial family in the original storyline, the only daughter of Emperor Xue Ye.
Recalling this, Zhou Chen carefully looked toward the group of young girls.
Most of them were around fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in bright yellow academy uniforms. From the jewelry they wore, it was clear they were either wealthy or noble.
However, this was normal, because Heaven Dou Royal Academy was itself a noble academy and did not admit commoners.
In the center of the girls stood a young girl with a particularly distinctive temperament.
She was beautiful, with a long and fair neck like a swan. Her skin was white and smooth without the slightest flaw, and her golden hair draped neatly over her fragrant shoulders, while her clear blue eyes were almost transparent to the bottom.
Most importantly, beyond her beauty, she emitted a delicate and fragile aura.
That gentle softness inspired pity and made one instinctively wish to protect her.
"Xue Ke, why is it you?"
Seeing the delicate girl surrounded at the center, Dugu Yan stepped in front of Zhou Chen and said irritably.
"You should address her as Her Highness the Princess, Dugu Yan. Have you no manners at all?"
Beside Xue Ke, a slender girl with long fiery-red hair placed her hands on her hips and scolded sharply.
"Was I speaking to you?"
Dugu Yan cast a disdainful glance at the red-haired girl, instantly making her flush with anger. Her pretty face turned red, and a faint red shadow even appeared behind her.
"Enough, Huo Ling. Yan Zi always speaks like this. Don't be angry."
Xue Ke extended a snow-white jade-like hand to stop Huo Ling, who was about to release her martial spirit. Then she looked at Dugu Yan and said softly, "We just wanted to come and see Young Master Zhou Chen. Please don't misunderstand."
As soon as Xue Ke spoke, the girls around her immediately chimed in.
"Yes, we really admire Young Master Zhou. What he said about respecting girls truly touched my heart."
"Exactly, Dugu Yan. Young Master Zhou isn't yours alone."
"Young Master Zhou is so powerful. I want him to teach me how to cultivate and improve my strength."
"You all…"
Hearing their overlapping voices and strange tones, a hidden flame rose instantly in Dugu Yan's heart.
However, she did not show anger. Instead, she stared at Xue Ke and said calmly, "Xue Ke, my Zhou Chen is only one person. There are so many of you. How would you divide him?"
After speaking, Dugu Yan actually reached out and patted Zhou Chen on the shoulder, then turned around and went back inside to change clothes.
She left Zhou Chen alone to face a group of girls staring at him like tigers watching prey.
In an instant, Zhou Chen was surrounded.
"Zhou Chen, give me an autograph. Sign it in my palm."
"Zhou Chen, are you interested in being a teacher? We want to learn from you how to cultivate soul power and soul skills."
"I want to know what level you are exactly. That day you confronted Teacher Qin Ming and didn't fall at all into a disadvantage. He is a Soul Emperor."
The girls chattered nonstop around Zhou Chen like thousands of ducks, making him extremely irritated.
"Alright, everyone, please quiet down."
Xue Ke, who had remained silent just now, spoke softly. With a single sentence, all the girls fell silent.
Clearly, she held high prestige among them and was not as fragile as she appeared.
"We only wanted to see you up close and ask for an autograph. We've troubled you."
Xue Ke lowered her eyes and did not dare look at Zhou Chen as she spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito.
"Where should I sign? In your palm?"
Zhou Chen blurted out instinctively.
After saying it, he immediately regretted his slip of the tongue.
"Wow, Young Master Zhou is going to sign in Her Highness the Princess's palm. How romantic!"
"I want one too!"
"…"
Amid the teasing, Xue Ke lowered her head shyly. A blush spread from her tender earlobes to her cheeks, making her look extremely adorable.
"Young Master Zhou, please don't misunderstand. I want you to sign here."
As she spoke, the blushing Xue Ke took out a one-foot-long scroll tied with a red string from her spatial bracelet. She pulled the string free and held it in her fair hand.
Without the binding, the scroll immediately unfurled into a long ink painting.
Within the painting was a portrait of a handsome youth in purple robes—it was clearly Zhou Chen.
Seeing this portrait, Zhou Chen was stunned.
Even the Spirit Hall and the Ye family had failed to obtain his current portrait, yet she had managed to do so.
The girls beside them began teasing again.
"Young Master Zhou, I asked a court painter to draw this from memory. I hope you will sign it." Xue Ke said softly, her face flushed red.
"Alright."
Zhou Chen nodded. He was not unreasonable.
The young lady only wanted an autograph; refusing would be too cold.
Seeing him agree, Xue Ke immediately took out a feather pen and handed it to him, then produced a bottle of ink from her spatial bracelet and opened it.
Zhou Chen dipped the pen into the ink and wrote his name in bold strokes across his own portrait.
After that, the other girls clamored for him to sign their clothes and even their arms. Zhou Chen found it difficult to refuse and satisfied each of their requests.
Once he had signed for all the girls, Dugu Yan emerged gracefully, already changed into the academy's bright yellow uniform.
"Xue Ke, so you were just asking for autographs. I thought you were going to swallow Zhou Chen alive."
Dugu Yan stepped forward, linked her arm through Zhou Chen's, and looked at Xue Ke with a half-smiling gaze.
"I… we…"
Rendered speechless, Xue Ke's face flushed again as she looked away, not daring to meet Dugu Yan's eyes.
"Alright, Zhou Chen is going to class with me. Are you still following?" Dugu Yan said with a smile.
"No, no, we only wanted an autograph."
Xue Ke quickly waved her hands and stepped back. Seeing that even Her Highness the Princess was retreating, the other girls did not dare confront the granddaughter of the Poison Douluo and made way.
"Young Master Zhou, Yan Zi… goodbye."
After saying farewell, Xue Ke lowered her head shyly again.
"Goodbye."
Zhou Chen returned the courtesy politely, only to feel a sharp pinch at his waist.
"Hurry to class. I'm going to be late."
Dugu Yan leaned close to his ear, her warm red lips almost touching it.
"Alright."
Zhou Chen quickly summoned the Xuanyuan Sword, wrapped an arm around Dugu Yan's slender waist, and turned into a streak of golden light as he flew away on the sword.
Such a handsome scene triggered screams from the girls again. Xue Ke slightly raised her pretty face, gazing at the departing golden streak, her eyes shimmering.
(End of this chapter)
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