Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

“Why should I help you?”

Mr. Beihai looked at Xu Ming, puzzled. “What benefit can you offer me?”

Xu Ming clasped his hands and bowed. “If Senior is willing to help me, then I will naturally owe you a favor. As for what I can offer in return, that depends on what Senior wants and whether I am capable of fulfilling it.”

His words were straightforward.

And indeed, this was the truth.

He had no idea what the other party might want, nor was he certain he could provide it. So all he could do was wait and see what conditions the other party would set.

“Hahaha!”

Mr. Beihai laughed heartily. “You’re quite a straightforward one, aren’t you? If you owe me a favor, I won’t be polite when it’s time for you to repay it.”

Xu Ming said calmly, “As long as it is within my ability.”

“Are you planning to go to the Southern Demon Kingdom?” he asked.

“What?” Xu Ming looked up, momentarily stunned, wondering if he had misheard.

But no—he had heard correctly.

Mr. Beihai repeated his question, “I’m asking you—are you going to the Southern Demon Kingdom?”

Xu Ming nodded. “If nothing unexpected happens, I do plan to make a trip there.”

“Oh?”

Mr. Beihai seemed intrigued. “And what business do you have in the Southern Demon Kingdom?”

“I have a friend there. I want to see her,” Xu Ming answered vaguely.

The Southern Demon Kingdom was already on his itinerary.

Even though he hadn’t heard any news about Xiaobai for a long time, and even though she was no longer the same Xiaobai he once knew, she was still his friend.

No matter what had changed, he couldn’t just let her go. He had to see how she was doing.

Xu Ming’s answer was deliberately ambiguous, but Mr. Beihai didn’t press him further.

He was merely curious. Whatever Xu Ming’s real purpose in the Southern Demon Kingdom was, it wasn’t his concern.

However, if Xu Ming was already heading there, things would be much simpler.

Mr. Beihai nodded. “In that case, since you’re going to the Southern Demon Kingdom anyway, you might as well do something for me while you’re there.”

“If you complete this task for me, I’ll help you.”

He laid out his condition.

Xu Ming nodded. “Please, Senior, speak freely.”

Mr. Beihai looked up at the sky—or rather, what passed for the sky down here—and let out a long sigh before speaking slowly.

“Go there and offer a tribute for someone.”

Xu Ming: “???”

Mr. Beihai chuckled.

“You should understand—offering a tribute doesn’t just mean burning incense. If you agree to help me, I’ll be honest with you. The level of danger involved in this task is comparable to that of the Northern Sea Abyss.

“Of course, you don’t have to go immediately. You have three years.

“Use this time to strengthen yourself.”

Xu Ming furrowed his brow, thinking carefully before bowing once more.

“I agree, Senior.”

Mr. Beihai smirked.

“Don’t be in such a hurry to agree. You still have some time before you head to the Northern Sea Abyss. Think it over carefully.

“Or, if you find a better solution, you might not need to accept my request at all.”

He waved his hand.

“If there’s nothing else, Young Master Xu, you may take your leave. I’m going to take a nap—I don’t like my afternoon rest being disturbed.”

“In that case, I shall take my leave. Apologies for the intrusion.”

Xu Ming bowed once more before departing.

Leaving the Coral Sea, he made his way toward the imperial palace.

Upon entering the palace, he headed straight for the inner hall.

Of course, while he did have a jade token personally bestowed by the Dragon Empress, he did not use it.

Having it and using it were two different things.

Just because you owned something didn’t mean you had to use it.

At the very least, by handling things this way, Xu Ming could maintain a certain distance from the Dragon Empress. If he ever needed to extricate himself in the future, it would be much easier. Otherwise, if he became too entangled with her, leaving would become significantly more complicated.

“Would you kindly inform Her Majesty that Xu Ming of the Wu Kingdom requests an audience?”

Standing at the entrance of the inner hall, Xu Ming addressed the palace maids guarding the door.

One of the maids glanced at the jade token hanging from his waist and smiled. “Since Young Master Xu possesses the jade token personally bestowed by Her Majesty, you may proceed directly—there is no need for us to announce your arrival.”

Xu Ming hadn’t expected the palace maids to recognize him simply by the jade token.

This suggested that very few people had been granted such an honor.

“I am, after all, a man. Entering directly may not be appropriate. I would still ask the two ladies to inform Her Majesty on my behalf.”

The two maids exchanged a glance before nodding.

“Since Young Master Xu insists, we shall comply. Please wait here for a moment while we inform Her Majesty.”

“Many thanks, ladies.”

One of the maids curtsied slightly and entered the inner palace.

About the time it would take to burn a stick of incense later, she returned and bowed.

“Young Master Xu, please follow me. Her Majesty is awaiting you in her bedchamber.”

“The bedchamber again?” Xu Ming was taken aback.

Why was he, an outsider, always meeting the Dragon Empress in her bedchamber? This didn’t seem right at all.

The palace maid blinked. “Pardon, Young Master Xu? What did you just say?”

“Nothing. I’ll trouble you to lead the way, then.”

Xu Ming followed the maid, but he couldn’t shake his unease.

Truthfully, he had been hoping the Dragon Empress would summon him to the imperial study instead.

Meeting her in the palace like this always left him with an inexplicable sense of anxiety, as if she had ulterior motives.

And even though he still had no idea what exactly she was after, he was certain that she wanted something from him.

“Young Master Xu, Her Majesty is inside. You may enter directly.”

Upon reaching the palace doors, the maid turned to him respectfully.

“Much obliged, young lady.”

“You are too polite, Young Master Xu. I shall take my leave now.”

The palace maid gave a small bow and withdrew.

Xu Ming pushed open the doors and stepped inside.

The moment he entered, the doors shut behind him.

A faint, soothing fragrance lingered in the air.

Xu Ming stepped forward and bowed.

“Xu Ming greets Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

The Dragon Empress’s voice drifted lazily from the bed.

“I have an important matter to report.”

“What important matter could you possibly have?”

The Dragon Empress yawned, her relaxed posture faintly visible through the sheer silk curtains.

Even just looking at her, Xu Ming felt his temper rise slightly.

“It concerns the Crown Prince of the Eastern Sea.”