In a luxurious hall all made of gold, a man dressed in black and gold robe covered in snow white fox fur was sitting on a golden throne, looking poised and dignified as he watched his subordinate walk forward to him and bowed as a sign of outmost respect.

The emperor leaned on his golden throne and looked down on his subordinate as he spoke with a deep and loud voice full of authority and power. the emperor said, referring to his loyal dog nobles that were all hugging his thighs to gain power and wealth.

The subordinate bowed. the subordinate then turned around and walked out of the luxurious hall made of gold.

Liu Xiao yelled at the imperial guard standing infront of him, looking anxious as he invited the two of them to the royal banquet.

Liu Xiao snapped at the guard and started to yell non stop.

The guard anxiously replied.

Liu Xiao yelled and grabbed Wu Qingge's hand.

The guard chased them from behind and his other comrades followed.

Liu Xiao looked back and replied,

Liu Xiao grabbed some small crackers served on the jade plade on the wooden table as he stared at the nobles who were praising the emperor who was sitting on the golden throne non stop.

"His majesty is rich!"

"His majesty is handsome as ever!"

"His majesty is so kind to invite us!"

"His majesty is looking younger and younger as the day passes!"

"His majesty is so talented and powerful!"

"His majesty——"

This banquet is dedicated for us?! That's nonesense! We looked like a shadow here and no one didn't even know we existed!!! Liu Xiao glanced at the noble women grouped infront of them as they stared at Wu Qingge beside him while they giggled and whispered to each other. Liu Xiao rolled his eyes and grabbed another small crackers. No, it was actually just me. I'm just a shadow.

He glanced at his pale white robe with a golden belt and butterflies embroidered on the hem below. The emperor gave them two sets if clothes just in case they have no clothes to make them look presentable. Since the pale white robe was smaller, he decided to wore it since it looks like it was perfect for his size.

Wu Qingge wore the black robe with a golden belt and golden satin leaves embroidery all over. For some reason, black and red is the color that suited Wu Qingge the most because it goes well to his handsome features and sharp jawline that makes him shine even more. It was the protagonist after all, the most handsome and coolest of them all.

Liu Xiao's gaze subconsciously stared at the emperor sitting on his golden throne at the front while countless dogs——i mean nobles surrounding him with their compliments. Even though he is old and his face was covered with a long beard, his features were sharp and handsome. His eyes were like phoenix, his brows were thick, his nose were sharp and pointed, his lips were wide and thin and his deep brown hair that was tied in a bun with a crown looked smooth and noticable in the crowd.

Wait.... It feels like he look like someone.... Liu Xiao made his two soft hazel eyes shrunk even more to examine the emperor while his hand is resting on his chin and the other hand was holding a small cracker.

After a while, the emperor sat on the throne and glanced at Liu Xiao and Wu Qingge with a courteous smile.

This is a simple banquet you say?! Just look at those beautiful dancers! Those extravagant musicians! Those jewelries that were decorated everywhere and the red carpet on the floor! Are you saying this is such a simple banquet?! How fucking humble huh, old geezer.

Liu Xiao hid the bitterness in his face and replied to the emperor with a friendly smile. he said with a slight sarcasm on his voice.

The emperor's dignified appearance showed a slightly shocked expression and all the nobles who heard it looked at the two of them with their wide eyes and slightly opened mouth.

"T-THEY WHAT?!"

"They said they defeated two demon cult in a row!"

"No wonder i heard that the ocean's color was going back to normal and all the water demons disappeared!"

"The giant Sea Serpent?! They defeated that thing?!"

"How powerful....trully..."

"Then what about the other one?"

"I heard from the black market that the unnamed town had been fine now."

"Is it the poisonous butterfly? Or the Man in the golden dragon robe?! Which is it?!"

"No. But i heard none of them showed up anymore."

"WHAT?! THEY DEFEATED THREE?!"

"How inspiring..."

"Do you think i should go apply in a peak too?"

"Don't even think about it you suck."

"How offending! How can you say it like that?! Have you no manners?!"

"But i was only saying the truth!"

with such a few words that echoed throughout the golden luxurious hall from the emperor, the nobles immediately shut their mouth and fixed their behaviors.

The emperor glanced at them with a smile as he spoke.

Of course! Do you think we were just showing off shitty skills and sweet talking to Mortals?! Liu Xiao faked a smile and replied back,

The emperor smiled even wider.

The young noblewomen giggled as they stared at him with their lovely fans covering half of their faces. Wu Qingge didn't let out a smile but he still answered. "

Liu Xiao:

The young noblewomen's lovely faces turned devastated as if they were struck by a lightning as they lowered their gazes and whispered at each other while they frowned. The emperor looked amused as he asked.

Wu Qingge moved closer to Liu Xiao and his other hand grabbed his waist as he answered,

Liu Xiao snapped and immediately closed his eyes to stop himself from turning the table and yelling at Wu Qingge. WE'RE NOT MARRIED! IT'S NOT—WE'RE NOT!!! IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!!!!! (|||ﾟдﾟ)

The emperor was surprised and nodded as he stared at Liu Xiao while his hand stroke his chin.

The young noblewomen stared at Liu Xiao while they whispered again. Liu Xiao opened his eyes and glared at them with his bloodshot eyes. The young noblewomen trembled in fear and lowered their gazes immediately.

Liu Xiao cleared his throat and forced a friendly smile as he shift his gaze to the emperor.

Wu Qingge grabbed his left hand and raised them and also raised his left hand, showing everyone their pair of black and purple ring. Liu Xiao shoved him away and glared at him as he stop himself from walking out of the luxurious banquet hall. The emperor laughed and spoke,

Liu Xiao became flustered and immediately shook his head. he glanced at the emperor and the noble who were grinning from his flustered look. He immediately fixed himself and cleared his throat.

The emperor leaned comfortably on his golden throne and looked at a the people present at the banquet and his gaze stopped at Wu Qingge.

The emperor glanced at his subordinate on the corner of the hall and waved his hand. the subordinate bowed and started to walk away. A few moments later, two imperial guards were holding a large portrait that was covered in clear white fabric that made everyone present in the banquet looked curious. Liu Xiao raised his brows as he munched on the small crackers and Wu Qingge remained unbothered beside him.

The emperor gestured the imperial guards to remove the cover of the white silk and a beautiful portrait of a woman greeted everyone's sight. The woman had light brown long straight hair, her jawlines were sharp and refined as she raised her chin in the pictured with a face full of confidence and superiority. Her deep brown eyes were sharp and a bit slanted and her heart shaped lips was small and thin. Her brows were thin and arched and her nose were slim and pointed. She clearly looked like someone.

The nobles who were staring at the beautiful portrait of the woman turned their gaze to Wu Qingge's direction who was slightly bewildered as he stared at the portrait. Liu Xiao was also looking back at the portrait then looking at Wu Qingge repeatedly, his frowned more and more.

The emperor spoke in the midst of the confused people inside the hall.

The hall was very quiet. Even the extravagant musicians and the beautiful dancers stopped moving as they stared at Wu Qingge who was still staring at the portrait with a frown. The emperor started to talk again as he stared at the crowd.

Liu Xiao felt like he was watching a drama movie. What the fuck is this plot?! The protagonist is the disciple of the Legendary Former Mount Hua Peak Master, The current Demon king of the underworld.... And now you're saying that he's a prince of the richest empire of the mortal realm?! Just how peerless can you be, Wu Qingge?!

No! That's not what i should be thinking about! So this old geezer—no, this emperor father knew that he was his son all along?! Then why did he only said it now?! And why would the empress hid him to this emperor?! Aaaaaaaaa my mind is like a mess right now!

The emperor laughed and stood on his golden throne.