Far away from the Hei Dian Sect, in one of the immortal realms, a black cloud of smoke appeared and formed the figure of a young man. He wanted to hurry up the stairs in front of him but the guards lazily glanced at him and extended their weapons to stop him.
"Let me through."
"This is the king's palace. Not everyone can just come and go as he wants."
Xiao Li gritted his teeth. "I have important information for His Majesty."
"Sure. I also have some important information. Maybe I should go and tell him?" The guard looked at the one stationed on the other side and smirked.
"I wouldn't try it if I were you. His Majesty has such a bad temper. Well, it might work if you were handsome. Hahah."
The guard stopped smirking. "I am handsome."
"Sure. You're as handsome as a langur." The two of them looked at each other.
"That … What's that supposed to mean?" The first guard frowned and gripped his weapon tighter.
The other guard and Xiao Li both gave him a measuring look. He had tanned skin and a head full of silvery-white hair. Did he really have to ask?
Xiao Li coughed. "So, can I see His Majesty now?"
"Of course not!", the guard snapped at him before turning to the side once more. "What did you mean with that, huh?"
"What are you talking about? I just agreed. You're handsome. Isn't that great? And you should leave!", he said to Xiao Li to divert the topic.
"I'm a spy from the human realm. I have to tell His Majesty what I found out."
The guards stopped their dispute, even though the guy with the white hair didn't look happy about it. They both turned to Xiao Li. "Did His Majesty call for you to report?", asked the first one, his tone lazy. He really had enough of these guys trying to curry favor with His Majesty. Who would get the trouble if His Majesty felt disturbed? That was certainly him! He certainly wouldn't risk that.
"He didn't but this is about the dragons. He'll certainly want to know." Xiao Li lowered his head. "Why don't you just ask if he's interested in what I have to say? If he isn't, I'll leave at once. And if he is … wouldn't it also be to your advantage?"
"Hmph." The second guard snorted. "Do You have any idea how many people already tried to use that on us? And a lot of them were more handsome."
The first one furrowed his brow, though. He'd think exactly the same, normally, but if this was indeed about the dragons … His Majesty would probably be interested. After all, he hated the dragon king with passion. The guard smiled at Xiao Li. "Alright. I'll go and see what he says. Wait a bit." He turned around and entered the palace while the other guard watched him in confusion. He couldn't help asking himself if he hadn't thought of something important and thus wasted a chance right now.
"Your Majesty." The white-haired guard knelt down in the hall and cupped his fists.
"What is it?"
"There's a man at the gates claiming to be a spy stationed in the human realm. He said he has information regarding the dragon race. Should we let him in or …?"
"The dragon race?" The demon king furrowed his brows. Why would there be any information on them from someone in the human realm?
"Mn. He said so."
"Alright. Show him in."
"As you wish." The guard stood up, bowed and left the hall. With a smug smile, he waved at Xiao Li. Even if the king hadn't said anything he probably would have remembered him. "You were better saying the truth or His Majesty will certainly kill you."
Xiao Li nodded and went inside. He took one look at the man on the opposite side of the hall before he hurriedly knelt down. He had never before seen the king but he knew that this man wasn't one he could just blatantly stare at if he liked.
"You said you had information on the dragon race?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I'm stationed at the human realm's Hei Dian Sect. Yesterday, they took in a new disciple that turned out to be from the dragon race."
"Mn. I see." The king didn't seem interested at all. Indeed. What did he care for some dragon? Maybe that guy was taking his stay in the human realm as some kind of vacation. It wasn't anything he wanted to concern himself with. "You may go now."
Xiao Li smiled. He had expected as much. "Your Majesty, that person wasn't just anyone."
"Oh?" The king leaned to the side, slightly shifting his hand. His patience was already wearing thin.
Xiao Li gulped. If he didn't say it now, he probably wouldn't be able to say anything ever again. "That person was actually Qiu Ling, the dragon race's king."
"Qiu Ling?" The king sat up straight and his eyes widened a bit. So it turned out to be that bastard! "What is he doing there?"
"I came as soon as I confirmed it was him so I am unable to say for sure. I only know that he let them admit him and a human boy into the sect. That person with him seemed to be his lover but he isn't very powerful, so the sect didn't take any interest in him. They are only interested in that Qiu Ling."
"Is that so?" The demon king smiled. "Alright. You did well. It was the right thing to do to inform me."
Xiao Li bowed even further. "It is my honor to —"
"Yes, yes. Cut that out. I have something to do for you."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You will go back and find out everything you can about that lover of his. I want to know who he is, where he came from, what kind of strengths and weaknesses he has and I want to know everything about their relationship."
Xiao Li nodded. He hadn't expected that it would be easy to get back into the court. Getting this kind of outcome was already really good. If he provided the king with all that information, then his dream might be achieved.
"Alright. Go now."
Xiao Li nodded but didn't go. "Then about what I was doing before …"
"Concentrate completely on this assignment. Whatever you were doing before, it isn't as important as this. Here." He threw over a badge for a mission. "Find someone to take over what you were doing before. If you need further help, then come and get it."
"Yes." Xiao Li stood up, bowed and left the hall with a grin. This had really gone way better than expected.
Inside, the demon king stood up and paced around in front of his throne.
"So it turns out you have gone to the mortal world and gotten yourself a lover. And here I thought you were so much in love with the son of heaven." Jin Ling smiled. "Well, whoever it is, I'll make sure you won't be happy with him for long."