Qinghe's Meeting

"Haotian offers his respect, your highness" Haotian said politely towards Qinghe while quickly analyzing him. He seemed to be some seventeen or eighteen years old, with a handsome face with a straight nose and square mouth. Wearing blue robes, he gave a cool and fresh impression, however, it didn't hide his noble bearing and strong presence that screamed royalty.

Haotian wanted to make a good opinion to Qinghe, but it wasn't due to his position as the crown prince of Heaven Dou Empire, it was due to his knowledge of the original novel. Following his other life's knowledge, Xue Qinghe had been killed years ago, being supplanted by Qian Renxue, the daughter of the Supreme Pontiff and considered to be the princess of Spirit Hall.

Qian Renxue was one of the main antagonists of the novel, trying to take control of Heaven Dou Empire, killing the imperial family and making herself crown prince and had an immense strength to back her up. She had one of the strongest spirits, the Seraphim spirit, and was incredibly talented, being one of the very few people that ascended to godhood in the novel.

"I'm happy to meet you, and if you don't mind, call me big brother Xue. Both are uncle Ning's students, so there's no need to formalities, so avoid Your Highness or Crown Prince" Qinghe said with a bright smile that confused Haotian a little.

Haotian was really interested in Renxue, being in his top list of spirits for his spirit rings. However, seeing Qinghe in front of him, he needed to hide his frown. It didn't matter how Haotian saw Qinghe, sight, smell, instinct and even his spirit, all of them made the same conclusion, Qinghe was a man.

'Could it be that this Qinghe is not Renxue? Me being here already demonstrate that this is different from the novel, so it could be that this Qinghe is the real one or another replacement' Haotian thought.

"Let's sit down and talk. The green tea is especially good here" Fengzhi said indicating the table and chairs.

Haotian recovered from his thought, the three of them sitting over, Qinghe personally pouring the tea to Haotian and Fengzhi.

'It doesn't change how I must act now, better cause a good impression anyway' Haotian decided 'Anyway, even if Qinghe was Renxue, it wouldn't be so strange that I'm unable to discern her. While my spirit is a little overpowered in it, we are talking about someone that wasn't discovered at the imperial palace with titled douluo like Dugu Bo roaming around. My senses might be too weak to discover her disguise.'

After some pleasantries, Haotian turned serious "It's not like I'm having a bad time, but could I know the reason for this meeting, senior Ning?"

"Youth" Fengzhi smiled "Always rushing at everything, you should learn to wait and be more patient."

"Don't be so serious, uncle Ning" Qinghe answered "He is far better than me at his age. When I was fourteen, I only lazed around, being an ignorant boy."

"Haotian, what do you think this reunion's main purpose is?" Fengzhi asked, like always wanting the test the others.

"I suppose that to meet each other and become closer, ultimately wanting me to join Qinghe's side as I suppose you already are, senior Ning." Haotian answered, Fengzhi nodding at him "Could it be that there's a struggle over the imperial family?"

Qinghe opened his eyes wide in surprise before quickly smiling "You are truly bright as uncle Ning had told me. You are completely correct. My imperial father is no longer young and that had caused some fissures to be created for his succession. While I am the crown prince, my imperial uncle and brother are gathering their own forces, making possible a future civil war."

"Is really correct to inform me of the imperial family secrets?"

"You had gained uncle Ning's trust, and I trust him" Qinghe nodded before turning serious "We can't afford a civil war, we need to keep our full strength for the future."

'Would Renxue talk like this?' Haotian made a thoughtful face "Spirit Hall, no?"

"So you are aware" Qinghe nodded "For what I was able to recollect, Spirit Hall is growing stronger, quickly preparing for war. It seems that it won't be long before they start a war to take over the continent. In this situation, we can't allow weakening the power of the empire."

"I understand" Haotian nodded "However, I don't know how could I help you. While I would say that I'm quite strong for my age, I'm only a Spirit Ancestor, needing much time before attaining true strength, my help not really making any difference facing against Spirit Hall."

"You are selling yourself too low. I would be honored to have you under me, protecting you and giving you support as I'm sure that you would reach the Titled Douluo someday." Qinghe answered, "And you can be of much help in other things."

"Hm!" Haotian hummed, grinning a little "So it's about that? You are interested in my spirit ring configuration. Wanting to discover my secrets."

"You and your teammates have an impossible configuration, being much stronger than average. That had gained a lot of attention to your group, especially over you who has the strongest configuration with three black rings. Some forces would go to any height to obtain such a secret, being able to immensely increase their strength. Of course, I'm also part of this group" Qinghe said sincerely.

"I'm afraid that I can't be much of a help" Haotian answered.

"I've already been informed by uncle Ning about the peculiarity of your spirit, being able to age spirit rings, and about the Dugu Bo's immortal herbs strengthening your teammates that unfortunately were destroyed. However, I'm afraid that not everyone would be convinced by that, some people might attack you and your friends to such information."

"So you are offering me to work under you in exchange for your protection for that 'not everyone'" Haotian lifted an eyebrow.

"Exactly" Qinghe nodded "But this is not everything. Your potential as a future Titled Douluo is enough for it, but I need your help in another matter."

"And what would it be?" Haotian inquired.

"To face Spirit Hall's future attack, we will need to cooperate with a joined front and your help would be incredibly important with your connections."

'Connections?' Haotian's mind went full drive and quickly discovered the main reason for the meeting. He had few connections and Qinghe already had the support of the Seven Treasure Clan, so there was little that he could help. Knowing that his origins of the Tè Clan were unknown, there was only an answer, the girls. "Dugu Yan and Bai Chenxiang."

"You are correct" Qinghe nodded "They are both your teammates and you seem to have a very good relationship with them. Dugu Yan as Dugu Bo's only relative is extremely precious to him. If with your help we convince her and her grandfather to join my side, my little brother would lose his strongest backing, losing most of his strength and no longer being a threat."

"On the other hand, Bai Chenxiang is the little genius and heiress of the Speed Clan. As such, she would have connections with the Clear Sky Clan's previous forces, especially over the four attribute clans. If we join our forces, not even Spirit Hall would be a threat for us."

"I would offer the maximum support of the imperial family, immediately making you a duke of the empire and becoming my right hand" Qinghe stood up "Would you join me?"

Haotian made a thoughtful face, thinking about it 'Joining Qinghe and becoming a duke of the empire? That would consolidate my side too much, becoming the target of the other sides.'

Haotian looked attentively at Qinghe's face 'If I was sure that Qinghe was Renxue, I would join her, having more opportunities with her and at the same time having more possibilities, going for Spirit Hall and Heaven Dou. But what should I do?'

Haotian finally decided, he stood up "I'm really honored by your proposition" Haotian bowed a little "but I'm afraid that I would reject your offer."

"Could I know your reasons?" Qinghe asked.

"While it's true that I have a good relation with Dugu Yan and Bai Chenxiang, I don't really want to influence their decisions, wanting for them to follow the path that they think is correct, chasing after their own objective and happiness. Moreover, the world is too vast and full of experiences and if I were to join you now, I would be limiting myself, acquiring many responsibilities. I would like to travel and see the world before anything."

"I can understand your reasoning" Qinghe made a knowingly smile with a tint of melancholy in it. "I would respect your decision and I would keep my proposition in the future, so you can join me if you change of idea after you travel. I won't force you to convince anyone, be calm. Also, I would give you my protection anyway."

"I'm extremely thankful." Haotian bowing. "I'm part of the Seven Treasure Clan, but anyway, if you someday need my individual help, I would gladly offer to you."

"Great. Even if you don't work under me, I would like to have a good relationship with you, being considered a friend" Qinghe said "Would you accept that, little brother Tian?" Qinghe said smiling while extending his right hand.

"Of course, it would be my honor" Haotian quickly took his hand, shaking it. Fengzhi nodded seeing the scene.

Then, they started talking about unimportant matters until Haotian left the teahouse not without saying to meet Qinghe again at another time.

...

After leaving the teahouse, Haotian started wander over the city while thinking about the reunion "It didn't go so bad, but I need to discover if Qinghe is Renxue, my future acting needing to change dramatically with it. I really don't want to join to intimately to Heaven Dou's side as there nothing much to win from it."

"In the end, the war is nothing important to me. I don't really mind whose side wins, Tang San or Spirit Hall. It's nothing important. The only important is me, my strength and my girls, my sight going over this continent, towards godhood!" Haotian decided "Let's wait how the things develop for now."

Finishing his train of thought, he found that inadvertently he left the city, reaching the near forest. He looked at the sky and the orange sun hiding over the horizon "It's getting late, better retur-"

"BOOOOOM!" A loud sound was heard, followed by a strong shaking that resounded all over the forest, breaking Haotian's thoughts.

Haotian's face turned white, cold sweat falling over his neck as he looked in the sound direction.

"Titled Douluo" Haotian whispered.