In the palace, in front of the landscape lake, a figure is standing in the pavilion, spreading fish food into the water.

The koi in the lake were attracted by the fish food and gathered around him. Under the leadership of the middle-aged general, Lu Qiu walked to the pavilion.

"Your Majesty, my subordinates have brought him here." The general said, cupping his hands.

The figure was wearing an indigo gold silk gown, with his back to Luqiu, and his face could not be seen clearly.

But needless to say, we can also know that this person is one of the most powerful people in the Tianlu Dynasty today, the third prince and younger brother of the Tianlu Emperor.

"It's Lu Qiu, you're here." When he heard the voice, he turned around, but he was a middle-aged man who was only in his thirties based on his appearance. His expression and temperament seemed kind and peaceful, calm and mature.

He doesn't look like a prince, but more like a bachelor from the Hanlin Academy.

"Fifteen years have passed, and I thought you were dead." He put down the bowl of fish food in his hand and walked out of the pavilion with his hands behind his back: "I didn't expect that you are still alive and well. You really gave me a

surprise."

Whether it was his appearance or his tone of voice, the third prince seemed to be a peaceful man, and there was no trace of malice or coldness in Lu Qiu's expression.

But Lu Qiu knew that the third prince was far from what he seemed on the outside. He was extremely powerful in both skill and scheming. Among the many princes in the dynasty, he was also the most ambitious.

His people never show mercy.

And he is not a middle-aged man. Among the princes of the same generation as Emperor Tianlu at that time, the youngest one was hundreds of years old. This third prince was already over a thousand years old, but he only looked young in appearance.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Qiuyi cupped his hands and said, "Greetings to the third prince. I haven't seen you for fifteen years. I'm glad that the prince is still as charming as ever."

The Third Prince looked at Lu Qiu and the corner of his mouth curved slightly: "To me, fifteen years is nothing, but Lu Qiu, you are much older. I recall that when you were young, you were in the square in front of the palace.

When you look at your heroic appearance, it really makes me sigh."

Lu Qiu said calmly: "Lu Qiu is just a mortal, he will naturally grow old."

"Yes, you are already old." The third prince smiled slightly and suddenly said: "Lu Qiu, do you know why I didn't kill you directly back then?"

Lu Qiu did not speak, but the third prince continued: "It is precisely because you are a mortal. A mere few decades is not enough for me to retreat several times, but it has been more than half or even a lifetime for a mortal like you.

Letting you live for more than ten years or killing you right then and there will not make much difference to me."

He looked at Lu Qiu and his eyes flashed: "Even if you are talented, don't you feel it is a pity that in twenty years there will only be one tombstone left?"

"For mortals, birth, old age, illness and death are natural. This is the law of heaven." Lu Qiu said lightly: "As a cultivator of immortality, the prince seizes the creation of heaven and earth, takes the mysteries of the sun and moon, and lives for a long time. Naturally, he cannot understand it.

Mortal thoughts.”

"Understand the thoughts of mortals?" The third prince laughed: "Lu Qiu, as a human being, have you ever thought about understanding the thoughts of ants on the roadside?"

Lu Qiu shook his head: "No."

"The life of a mortal is no different to me than that of an ant. How can I understand the thoughts of an ant?"

Lu Qiu did not answer, but asked: "The third prince summoned me today, shouldn't it just be to say these things to Lu Qiu?"

The Third Prince shook his head and said with a smile: "You are still so direct. I just want to catch up with you after not seeing you for a long time. Why, do you think I talk too much?"

Lu Qiu shook his head and said, "I don't dare."

"In that case, I will tell you the truth." The third prince smiled lightly and said: "Since you dare to come back, you should be mentally prepared, right?"

He stared at Luqiu: "Mortals are just ants in my eyes, but as a mortal, you were able to frustrate me back then."

"And I will never be frustrated by an ant. Therefore, I can give you the opportunity to escape from the ants. With your talent, you have such qualifications."

"As long as you agree to be loyal to me, the things that happened back then will be wiped out. I will never make things difficult for you again. Instead, I will grant you unimaginable benefits."

Lu Qiu was silent for a moment and did not answer directly: "What will happen if Lu Qiu refuses?"

The third prince did not answer directly, but put his hands behind his back and said calmly: "As I said just now, I will never be frustrated by an ant, so there are two possibilities. One is that the ant is no longer an ant.

The second type is that the ant disappears from the world."

"I see, Lu Qiu understands what the prince means." Lu Qiu looked as usual and cupped his hands and said, "The prince is a talented person and has a noble status. It is an honor for Lu Qiu to be loyal to the prince."

Hearing this, the third prince nodded, showing a look of satisfaction. Before he could speak, Lu Qiu changed the topic: "But unfortunately, Lu Qiu has promised to work for other people before. It seems that

I have no chance to be loyal to the prince, I hope you will forgive me."

The third prince paused in his words, and his expression slowly became gloomy; "I see, Lu Qiu is indeed Lu Qiu, and you are still the same Lu Qiu as before. I am really curious, as a mortal, aren't you afraid of death?

"

Lu Qiu showed a smile for the first time, cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness may not understand, but there are many things in the world that are much scarier than death."

The third prince nodded, closed his eyes, and turned around: "I understand."

As he spoke, he turned his back to Luqiu and waved his right hand gently.

The general who had been standing by the side walked up and slowly drew out the long sword from his waist.

Lu Qiu was smiling and motionless.

At this moment, an urgent voice sounded.

"Your Majesty, please show mercy."

Several people looked for the sound and saw a middle-aged man wearing a python robe and official uniform coming eagerly. It was none other than Xue Cheng, who had just left the Lu Mansion.

"Well, Xue Cheng?" The third prince frowned: "What are you doing here?"

Seeing Lu Qiu standing aside, Xue Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he had finally caught up.

He originally thought that even if the Third Prince wanted to attack Lu Qiu, he would not come so quickly. Who knew that just after he left the Lu Mansion, he received information that the Third Prince had sent someone to escort Lu Qiu to the Prince's Mansion.

If Lu Qiu died, there would be no hope for his treasure. In desperation, Xue Cheng rushed over without any care.

Seeing Xue Cheng, Lu Qiu's smile grew even brighter.

"Just in time, Xue Cheng, you are here too."

His eyes swept over the two of them.
Chapter completed!