Barely Becoming a Titled Douluo, and the Counterattack System Arrives

Although Tian Dou Restaurant only had three floors, it covered a large area.

Here, people could enjoy fine delicacies from all over the empire.

It was also a frequent venue for banquets hosted by nobles and officials.

Lin Fan followed Snake Lance up to the second floor and was led into a private room of about thirty square meters.

Inside, there weren't just dining tables, but also tea tables.

As soon as he entered, Lin Fan saw Qian Renxue—disguised as Xue Qinghe—standing with her hands behind her back, facing away from him.

Next to the door stood another guard clad in silver armor, just like Snake Lance.

Hearing movement, Qian Renxue turned around and greeted him with a faint smile, "Welcome, Mister Lin. It wasn't easy to invite you for a meal."

"Snake Guard, summon the staff to bring up the dishes."

"Mister Lin, please take a seat."

Qian Renxue acted very warmly, treating Lin Fan as an honored guest.

"I've only met Your Highness once and didn't even exchange words. I wonder why Your Highness has invited me so persistently," Lin Fan asked calmly as he stepped inside.

Qian Renxue immediately responded with smooth words, "I must apologize for my earlier lack of manners. After I returned, I specifically investigated Mr. Lin's background, and I was amazed by what I found. Truly, I was blind before."

"You investigated me?" Lin Fan's expression darkened slightly, clearly displeased.

Qian Renxue smiled and explained, "Mister Lin is the beloved of Madam Yuehua, and as you know, Madam Yuehua's status in the empire is not ordinary. The Yuexuan Tower is also known as the Royal Palace Etiquette Academy, and Madam Yuehua is its headmistress."

"I knew Madam Yuehua was no ordinary woman, and I wanted to learn what kind of man could win her heart. To my surprise, I found Mr. Lin to be a remarkable individual."

"It's only someone like you who could win Madam Yuehua's favor."

Qian Renxue cleverly framed her investigation as a royal duty to protect Yuexuan, making her curiosity sound justified.

"So even though I've kept such a low profile, I still couldn't avoid Your Highness's notice." Lin Fan's expression grew serious.

"Well then, since Your Highness already knows, I won't hide it anymore. I'll lay it out."

"Actually… I am a seer. I can glimpse certain significant events in people's futures."

Lin Fan shrugged nonchalantly as he revealed himself.

"Haha! I enjoy meeting extraordinary people like Mr. Lin. Please, sit down and have some tea—the food will be here shortly." Qian Renxue gestured graciously and personally poured tea.

Lin Fan walked over and sat down opposite her.

"What an incredible soul bone skill… It can completely transform a person into someone else without a flaw." Lin Fan quietly examined Qian Renxue's disguise as Xue Qinghe—it was utterly flawless, as if some magical spell had been cast.

"I wonder what Mister Lin thinks of the current state of the continent?" Qian Renxue asked, sipping her tea.

"Three-way standoff," Lin Fan calmly replied after taking a sip himself.

"I'd like to hear more," Qian Renxue's eyes lit up with interest.

"In the last two years, the continent has been relatively peaceful compared to ten years ago. The Star Luo Empire holds firm with its powerful military forces, whereas the Tian Dou Empire's soldiers are slightly weaker. However, with the Upper Three Sects and Lower Four Sects rooted within Tian Dou territory, it holds a huge advantage in terms of spirit masters."

"And of course, we must mention the Spirit Hall, which controls nearly seventy percent of all spirit masters on the continent. Through sheer force, Spirit Hall maintains a subtle balance of power against the two empires."

"This three-way stalemate has allowed the common folk some temporary peace."

"Unfortunately, balance never lasts forever. After calm seas comes a raging storm." Lin Fan described the situation in a deliberately superficial manner, just to mislead Qian Renxue.

Naturally, Lin Fan knew Qian Renxue already understood the overall political climate. However, his goal was to subtly confuse her with vague, surface-level analysis.

"Mister Lin, your insight is remarkable—you summed up the entire situation in a few sentences. Indeed, there is no eternal balance. The only question is—who will be the one to break it first?" Qian Renxue followed up curiously.

"Whoever loses patience first will be the one to break it. A single move will affect the whole board." Lin Fan replied meaningfully.

Qian Renxue was just about to press further when several waiters arrived with dishes.

"Mister Lin, shall we continue our discussion over dinner?" Qian Renxue was invited with a smile.

"Sure. For the sake of the royal family's long-standing support for my beloved Yuehua, I'll chat with you a bit longer." Lin Fan agreed.

Soon, all the dishes were served. The waiters left, and Snake Lance and Porcupinefish closed the door, standing guard on either side.

Qian Renxue poured wine and raised her glass. "Mister Lin, thank you for accepting my invitation. I toast to you."

She drained the cup in one go.

"Your Highness, if you have questions, just ask. There's no need for such formality." Lin Fan downed his wine and got straight to the point.

"Mister Lin, I'll ask directly since I'm truly curious—after all, you're a seer."

"I wish to know—will I ascend to the throne?" Qian Renxue asked calmly after sitting back down.

"You're already the crown prince. Unless something unexpected happens, it's only a matter of time before you ascend. Why ask me?" Lin Fan answered calmly.

"Unexpected? Are you suggesting something might go wrong?" Qian Renxue stared intently.

"Ah… Everyone wants to know their future. But the future is full of uncertainty. Even if I said you wouldn't take the throne, would you believe me?"

"It's better to focus on the present, to do what you can for your people now." Lin Fan replied with a helpless expression.

"Well then, Your Highness, I've had my tea, wine, and meal. I'll take my leave. I mainly came to tell you—don't bother looking for me at Yuexuan anymore. Right now, I just want to focus on learning music." Lin Fan stood up.

"Mister Lin, I truly don't understand—with your insight, why focus on etiquette and music?" Qian Renxue asked as she stood.

"Cultivation isn't just about the body—it's also about the mind. Music soothes the heart."

"Your Highness, I think you, too, need to calm your heart a bit." Lin Fan advised lightly before heading for the door.

However, Snake Lance and Porcupinefish blocked the exit, clearly displeased by Lin Fan's evasive words.

"Mister Lin, these two guards of yours are quite strong. But good dogs don't block the road. What's the meaning of this?" Lin Fan asked coldly, glancing back at Qian Renxue.

"Hmph! Our highness went to such lengths to invite you, and you expect to just leave after spouting a few vague words?" Porcupinefish sneered.

"That's right. You need to speak clearly," Snake Lance followed.

"Enough! Do you two think it's your place to speak here? Apologize to Mr. Lin immediately," Qian Renxue scolded, displeased.

The two had no choice but to step aside.

Qian Renxue quickly approached and asked, "Mister Lin, could we not talk a little longer?"

"You lack sincerity. There's no point in further discussion." Lin Fan replied flatly and left without looking back.

"Your Highness, you should've let me pin him down and beat him. I guarantee he'd have started talking!" Porcupinefish muttered angrily.

"Your Highness, did you learn anything from him?" Snake Lance asked.

"Let me think," Qian Renxue replied, sitting back down at the table, deep in thought.