Red Envelope Group of the Three Realms

In a secret conference room in Saint Duke Palace.

A beautiful woman slouched lazily on the table.

She had a flawless face, so beautiful that words were inadequate to describe her.

But her dark glistening eyes were void of any vivacity, looking as if she had lost her zeal for life.

“Little Red, how do you think Xiaobei is doing?” The girl mumbled.

The ‘Little Red’ she was talking to was not human but a red spider the size of a broad bean.

“I already told you a million times! I am not Little Red! I am Crimson Wolf Spider! You never listen! Now I’m angry!” The little spider made angry gestures.

But the girl did not understand zoolingualism. “Little Red, where do you think Chen Xiaobei is? What is he doing? Do you think he’s angry because I haven’t contacted him for so long? Or maybe he’s forgotten me?”

“Ahhh! For the 80,001th time! My name is not Little Red! Not Little Red!” The little spider was gesticulating wildly, shouting at the top of its voice.

Then suddenly, it leaped high into the air and dove into the girl’s pocket.

“Huh?” The girl immediately sat upright.

An icy stillness crept into her eyes, so intense it could repel people ten thousand miles away.

“Puti, you came first.” Luo Qiongcang and Luo Shanhe walked into the conference room, followed by several middle-aged men – core members of Saint Duke.

“Greetings father! Greetings Eighth Uncle! Greetings, to all the other elders!”

The girl gave each of them a slight nod; her tone courteous but nippy.

That’s right!

It was none other than the princess of Saint Duke, and Chen Xiaobei’s ice queen, Luo Puti!

“Come, sit down everyone!” Luo Qiongcang gestured. “Something very interesting happened today. Let’s discuss it!”

Everyone in the room took their seats.

Luo Shanhe was the first to speak. “Huang Xiong*! I don’t understand why you were willing to offend Helian Tulong for the sake of that kid from a low-ranking starfield?”

“Eighth brother, you are too fearful of Helian Tulong! The fact that you’re constantly walking on eggshells around him has affected your judgment!” Luo Qiongcang said. “Could a common person have been able to yield a Two-Star Earth-God material? Would a common man have openly challenged Helian Tulong?”

“That…” Luo Shanhe gasped in realization. “You mean to say that kid may have a powerful man behind him?”

“It’s not ‘may have’ but ‘must have’ for sure!” Luo Qiongcang narrowed his eyes. “Also, he said that he came from a low-ranking starfield, but does that mean it’s the truth?”

Luo Shanhe covered his mouth. “You mean the kid might be from Apocalypse Starfield?”

“Oh, for goodness sakes! Your thinking is too shallow!” Luo Qiongcang said. “Good things don’t happen just like that! I have every reason to suspect that this kid is a mole sent by Tenshou!”

“Ten… Tenshou’s man?!” Luo Shanhe gulped. “That makes sense! The people from Tenshou are not allowed to join the betrothal contest. That’s why that kid lied about coming from a low-ranking starfield! That must be it! He is probably still in the city; I’ll go kill him now!”

“Stay where you are!” Luo Qiongcang shook his head. “Even if he belongs to the Tenshou, there’s no need to kill him now! Don’t forget the real purpose of the second task!”

“What is the real purpose?” Luo Shanhe asked.

Luo Qiongcang shrugged. “Luo Puti is the one who came up with the plan. Let her explain it!”

Luo Puti stood up and said, “The first task’s true intention is to appropriate wealth! With the Earth-God grade materials we receive, we can exchange them for interstellar weaponry sufficient for a brigade of 100 thousand soldiers! The second task is set to take place in the ten-thousand mountains as bait to draw Tenshou and Royal Dome to sabotage the assignment. That way, they will surely offend the other powerful forces joining the betrothal contest! The enemy of our enemy is our friend! The more vicious Tenshou and Royal Dome are, the closer the other powerful forces will grow to us! Even if they cannot help us, we could at least avoid having any of them stabbing us in the back!”

When she was done speaking, she plopped back down into her seat. She made no mention of the final task.

The core members who had been listening intently nodded and gave her a thumbs up.

Luo Shanhe had a sudden epiphany. “So, we are not going to kill that kid so that he can pass the message to Tenshou ensuring that they wreak havoc during the second task!”

“That’s right! Luo Qiongcang nodded. “In the beginning, everyone protested against allowing Royal Dome’s most powerful faction’s young master Ximen Shuoxue to join the betrothal contest. Luo Puti, however, has convinced me to permit his participation so that he could report to Royal Dome!”

“I understand now! Now that everything is ready, we’re just waiting for them to create chaos!” Luo Shanhe grinned. “Puti had a nickname back on earth – ‘Puti the Brainiac’! She really does live up to that reputation!”

“Indeed, I am very lucky to have a daughter like that!” Luo Qiongcang praised. “As long as we follow Luo Puti’s plan, Saint Duke’s suffering would soon be put to an end!”

Everyone at the table nodded enthusiastically, excited at the prospect.

Since no one had any objections, the meeting was concluded.

Everyone left the room, leaving only father and daughter.

“Puti… These few months have been tough for you…” Luo Qiongcang said apologetically.

“Not at all…” Luo Puti shook her head. “I will not watch the thousands of our Luo family members and the people of Saint Duke Starfield die!”

“And your foster parents Luo Bin and Lin Xue!” Luo Qiongcang said. “I promise that once this war is over, I will do everything in my power to bring them back!”

“Mm, I believe that you’ll keep your promise!” Luo Puti nodded, a dim look in her eyes.

“Have you thought about the third step of the plan? Are you really going to marry the victor?”

“I haven’t decided yet…” Luo Puti said. “But don’t you worry. If I really have to, I will marry the person who has helped the most!”

“What about that boy back on earth?” Luo Qiongcang asked. “I heard from Luo Xun’s report that you and the boy are really in love…”

“Don’t worry, father! I haven’t contacted him for months now! For the sake of our family, for the hundreds and billions of innocent people, I believe that he will support my decision!”

“Oh, by the way, what is that boy’s name?” Luo Qiongcang asked.

Luo Puti hesitated for a moment before answering, “His name is Chen Xiaobei!”

“Mm, when an opportunity arises, I will send Luo Xun to send our apologies and compensate him generously!”

“You don’t have to!” Luo Puti said, a pained expression on her face. “The best choice is to let him forget me completely! I don’t wish for him to get dragged into this!”

…

Saint Duke’s portal.

“Zhufeng! Have you thought it through? Apocalypse Starfield is no joke, and capturing the Giant Barbaric Tiger is beyond us!” Ao Liancheng said worriedly.

Chen Xiaobei had a look of resolute determination on his face. “I have already decided that no matter what happens and no matter what demons or freaks I have to face; no obstacle is going to make me give up! I will marry Puti by any means whatsoever!”

Footnote:

Huang Xiong*: 皇兄 in mandarin, literally translated as Emperor Brother. Used by the younger brothers of the emperor to address their older brother, the emperor.