Under Xue Qinghe's insistence on accompanying them, they successfully arrived at the snack street of Heaven Dou City.
Tom and Jerry drifted back and forth, noses twitching at the fragrant scents in the air, while Shen An and Xue Qinghe hurriedly followed behind, paying for their endless snacks.
Originally, Shen An had planned to head straight back. However, the moment Tom and Jerry laid eyes on the delicious food, their feet refused to move. The pastries they had eaten at Moon Pavilion seemed like mere appetizers.
And so, under the relentless eating spree of Tom and Jerry, they ended up lingering until dusk.
Even with Xue Qinghe and Shen An's stamina, beads of sweat had formed on their foreheads—this was way too exhausting.
"Sorry, Brother Xue. I didn't expect us to take up so much of your time," Shen An said, rubbing his nose sheepishly.
Xue Qinghe chuckled. "It's nothing. I had no other plans today anyway. Haha, this was actually my first time experiencing the feeling of frantically paying for someone else's snacks. It was quite refreshing."
"But these two little guys really can eat. How do their tiny stomachs hold so much?" Xue Qinghe marveled.
Tom and Jerry had devoured an entire street's worth of food, yet their bellies didn't even bulge.
Shen An was equally baffled. Sometimes, after just one meal, their stomachs would puff up like balloons. Other times, no matter how much they ate, there was no visible change. Truly mysterious.
As Shen An and Xue Qinghe walked and chatted, a pair of hidden eyes silently watched them from the shadows.
'Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou… and the man Bishop Salas specifically ordered to kill. What incredible luck. If I eliminate both of them, I'll be promoted at least three ranks!'
The black-clad man's heart swelled with excitement. Normally, Xue Qinghe was always surrounded by guards. Yet today, he was completely alone.
All he had to do was wait until they left the bustling streets—then he would strike with lightning speed and finish them off.
As for the order within the Spirit Hall to avoid provoking Xue Qinghe? The assassin scoffed.
What does it matter if he dies? With Heaven Dou's crown prince gone, the empire will plunge into chaos—the perfect opportunity for the Spirit Hall to expand. Yet the higher-ups are telling us to hold back?
The man shook his head in disdain. Those in power are short-sighted fools. If only I were the Pope…
Shen An's residence was located in a quiet, secluded area. By now, night had fallen, and the two men—along with their two tiny companions—walked through the tranquil darkness.
Ever since leaving the busy streets, Shen An had sensed something off—as if an unseen gaze was fixed on them.
He considered mentioning it to Xue Qinghe, but remembering that Xue Qinghe's cultivation was unremarkable, he decided against it. No need to alert the enemy prematurely.
"Whoosh—"
A faint sound sliced through the air. A shadow lunged forward at an impossible speed, striking like a bolt of lightning.
Xue Qinghe's expression changed abruptly. Damn it. Today, he had been so engrossed in enjoying Shen An's company that his guard had slipped. His attention had been entirely on Shen An, leaving him oblivious to the hidden threat.
But Xue Qinghe was, after all, the possessor of a divine-grade martial soul. The moment the attacker moved, he sensed it. Golden soul power surged in his palm, ready to counter—but after a moment of hesitation, it dissipated.
No. I can't reveal my strength. Right now, I am Xue Qinghe, not Qian Renxue.
"Boom!"
In the dim twilight, Shen An's lips curled into a cold smirk. I was already prepared for you.
A flash of cyan light erupted, intercepting the ambush with blinding speed.
A glint of steel arrived first, followed by a sword strike like a sweeping rainbow.
The attacker was clearly hostile, and Shen An had no intention of waiting to die. Using his "Sword Control" soul skill, he directed the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass to parry the strike before charging forward, blade flashing.
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"
In the span of a single breath, Shen An and the mysterious assailant exchanged multiple blows. Yet, with each clash, Shen An was forced into retreat. The enemy's strength was terrifying—the most formidable opponent Shen An had ever faced.
(Of course, excluding someone like Sword Douluo. If this were a Titled Douluo, Shen An would've been crushed instantly, with no chance to retaliate.)
Shen An's three soul rings blazed to life, their radiance illuminating the night. In that fleeting moment, his mind and body merged—his focus narrowed solely to the faceless enemy before him.
Tom and Jerry watched as Shen An clashed with the mysterious figure. One pulled out a hunting rifle, the other a miniature cannon—but neither dared fire recklessly, afraid of accidentally hitting Shen An.
The two little creatures turned their pleading eyes to Xue Qinghe, scampering over and gesturing frantically, begging for help.
Xue Qinghe's mind was in turmoil. He could intervene—but after years of infiltration in Heaven Dou, exposing his true strength now would undo all his efforts.
Should I act or not? Is Shen An really worth throwing away years of planning?
"Boom!"
Shen An was sent flying back by a claw strike, landing near the group. A deep gash marred his chest, blood flowing freely.
Seeing Shen An injured, a flicker of guilt flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Shen An leaned in and whispered:
"Brother Xue, this guy is way too strong. I'll hold him off—find a way to get out of here."
Xue Qinghe's guilt deepened. While he had been weighing pros and cons, Shen An was willing to stay behind and face this unknown powerhouse alone.
"Escape? You make it sound so easy." The black-clad man sneered. "Today, neither of you will leave here alive."
Despite his taunts, the assassin's heart was in turmoil. A Soul Elder… actually managed to exchange blows with me, a Soul Sage?!
He hadn't held back at all. Though he hadn't used any soul skills, he had poured his full soul power into those strikes—enough to kill an ordinary Soul King instantly.
No wonder Bishop Salas specifically ordered this kid's death. If he's allowed to grow, he'll become a monster.
Killing intent surged within the Soul Sage. His seven soul rings—two yellow, two purple, three black—flared to life, their oppressive aura bearing down on the group.
Shen An's eyes darkened with tension. Who the hell did I piss off to warrant a Soul Sage's assassination attempt?
The Shrek Academy? Impossible. They didn't have the resources or the guts.
But aside from them, Shen An had no conflicts with any major factions.
Unless… my talent is just too damn eye-catching, making certain people desperate to eliminate me. Damn it, the moral standards in this Douluo Continent are rock-bottom.
Countless thoughts raced through Shen An's mind as he analyzed the situation.
Stepping forward, he positioned himself protectively in front of Xue Qinghe, sword raised. The indomitable will of a blade forged from grass surged within him—no mere pressure or aura could shake him.
At the same time, he kept shooting urgent glances at Xue Qinghe, urging him to leave. A Soul Sage? If I use my Strength and Speed Potions, I might still have a fighting chance.
But doing so in front of Xue Qinghe was risky—how would he explain such a sudden power boost?
It'd be best if Xue Qinghe left first.
Yet Xue Qinghe seemed oblivious to Shen An's signals. He simply stood there, his expression shifting between emotions, lost in thought.
Shen An's lips twitched. Are you kidding me? A deadly enemy is right here, and instead of fighting or fleeing, you're just spacing out?
No longer hesitating, Shen An channeled his soul power into his palm and delivered a precisely calculated push against Xue Qinghe's chest, shouting:
"Brother Xue, go get reinforcements!"
But the moment his hand made contact, Shen An froze.
Huh? Why does it feel so… soft?
In fact, he almost wanted to try patting it again.