Second Prince

Second Prince

Dai Yao's heart felt heavy. The slight relaxation that had just risen after his victory in the duel vanished without a trace in an instant.

If someone had not helped him just now, he would not have escaped disaster, and Zhu Zhuqing would have been bullied because of it too.

He had only just entered the academy, yet he had already been bullied by Mouse, one of the First Prince's men. His reputation would inevitably be ruined, and he would become a laughingstock.

It was as if a boulder were pressing down on Dai Yao's chest, leaving him unable to breathe. A yearning for strength surged from the bottom of his heart.

"Strength! Everything, all of it, is because I'm not strong enough. If I were strong enough, how would Mouse dare bully me so recklessly?"

He made up his mind that he had to seize every moment and raise his strength as quickly as possible. Only then could he protect himself and protect Zhuqing.

He reined in the emotions churning inside him and said gratefully to the fat boy who had helped him, "Many thanks, brother, for stepping in. I just don't know what to call you."

"Ah, it's nothing. Just call me Fatty. I've wanted to beat up that Mouse for ages, but I never had a reason. Today I finally caught my chance." Fatty laughed heartily.

But immediately after, he extended a hand in invitation and said, "Someone knew today that Mouse was going to make trouble for you, and specially ordered me to protect you here."

"Protect me? Who?" Dai Yao was somewhat puzzled. Aside from Third Uncle Dai Hengyu, he had no acquaintances in Star Luo Royal Academy. Who would help him? "It was the Second Prince."

"The Second Prince specially instructed me to invite you to meet him," Fatty said brightly, though there was a tone in his voice that allowed no refusal.

The Second Prince, Dai Yaming. He was also a prince, so wasn't he in competition with me? What exactly is his purpose in inviting me over? Dai Yao thought for a moment, but could not figure out why the Second Prince had invited him.

This was the academy, so Dai Yao was not afraid that Dai Yaming would harm him.

Taking Zhu Zhuqing with him, the two followed Fatty and walked several kilometers before entering a great mountain.

They continued along the winding mountain path. After a long while, they passed the final bend, and the view before them suddenly opened up.

Before them lay an enormous lake. Beside the lake stood an exquisite castle, with towers every five steps and pavilions every ten, terraces and halls, waterfalls casting mist, each structure embracing the terrain, interlocking in intricate design. Truly, every step revealed a view, a place where beauty gathered in its essence.

After announcing themselves to the guards outside the gate, they wound through twisting corridors and finally saw a figure from behind in a pavilion near the water.

A breeze swept over the lake, making his robes flutter. The golden hair on his back was as dazzling as the sun. He turned around, set down the teacup in his hand, and wore a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. His eyes were unfathomably deep, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

A feeling came over them, as though he held the winning move in hand and all things in the world were within his grasp.

The first moment Dai Yao saw this person, he felt that he was anything but simple.

"Fourth Brother," Dai Yaming said with a light laugh.

In the Dai Family, hearing such an intimate form of address felt somewhat unfamiliar to Dai Yao, so he replied as well:

"Second Brother."

"Many thanks for helping me, Second Brother. If not for your assistance, I really would have been unable to get out of that situation." Dai Yao cupped his hands and said gratefully.

Although the two of them were competitors, since the other party had helped him, he had to thank him.

"No need for that."

"The First Prince is our common enemy. Since he bullied you, naturally I could not stand by and watch." With a single sentence, Dai Yaming pulled Dai Yao onto the same side as him.

"I heard about the duel long ago. I didn't expect you to actually defeat Dai Mubai. Truly, heroes emerge young, and each generation surpasses the last." Dai Yaming looked at Dai Yao with some emotion. He, too, wanted to be like Dai Yao and defeat Dai Weisi, who was older than him.

"You're far too kind..."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Dai Yao asked Dai Yaming about the purpose of inviting him here. "Second Brother, you invited me here today. May I ask why?"

Dai Yaming laughed, turned around, and looked out at the shimmering lake, leaving Dai Yao with only his back.

"I invited you here to form an alliance with you and deal with the First Prince together."

Before the duel, in Star Luo Royal Academy, Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai were both the Empress's sons. With the two of them joining forces, he had been crushed so badly that he could hardly breathe.

Now that Dai Mubai had been defeated, he had already become the laughingstock of Star Luo Royal Academy and no longer had the spirit to contend with him. From now on, he only needed to deal with Dai Weisi alone.

But Dai Weisi was, after all, a Soul Elder, and also the person with the greatest hope of inheriting the throne. Around him had gathered a large number of noble children and civilian geniuses.

As for Dai Yaming, he only had Fatty, who was of any real use. The difference between the two sides' forces was enormous, and because of that, he urgently needed to find an ally.

Dai Yao already had a blood feud with the First Prince. Moreover, he had just defeated Dai Mubai, and his strength was fairly decent. He was precisely the kind of ally Dai Yaming needed.

It was just that he was also a little worried. After all, Dai Yao's talent was outstanding, and perhaps he might threaten his position.

But on second thought, that was impossible. There was a six-year gap between him and Dai Yao, and he was already a level twenty-five soul master. How could someone who had only just obtained a Spirit Ring possibly threaten him?

"What do you think?" Dai Yaming said with a beaming smile.

Between him and Dai Weisi, the gap in Soul Power Level was not that great. What he lacked was time. Under Dai Weisi's suppression, he simply did not have enough time to cultivate.

As long as Dai Yao could draw Dai Weisi's attention for him, he could cultivate in peace. Only then would he have a chance of catching up to Dai Weisi.

Dai Yao had the same idea in his heart.

Before coming to Star Luo Royal Academy, Third Uncle had already analyzed his situation. He would inevitably suffer Dai Weisi's endless harassment and suppression, leaving him unable to cultivate.

Now, just as he grew sleepy, someone brought him a pillow.

With Dai Yaming standing in front and drawing fire, he could focus on cultivating.

"To form an alliance with Second Brother is exactly what I could wish for."

The two spoke happily, and the pavilion was filled with a peaceful atmosphere.

Just then, a discordant voice rang out.

"Well now, what poor wretch crawled in from somewhere? Here to beg for scraps?"

Her voice was lazy and weak, yet threaded with endless seduction, stirring ripples in the heart.

Dai Yao turned to look and saw a woman leaning against the wall. Her black skintight outfit was unbelievably alluring, and she hid a soft laugh behind a folding fan.

At the sight of this woman, Zhu Zhuqing's delicate body trembled faintly. Terror filled her eyes as she clutched Dai Yao's arm and hid behind him.

"Why hide when you see me? It's not like I'll eat you." The woman came to Dai Yao's side, snapped her folding fan shut, and looked maliciously at Zhu Zhuqing behind him.

"Older... Sister." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was shaking.

It was Dai Yaming's fiancée, the Zhu Family's second young lady, Zhu Zhuyue.

Since childhood, Zhu Zhuqing had been bullied by her older sisters. Zhu Zhuyun hid knives behind her smile, gentle on the surface but dark-hearted within. Zhu Zhuyue, meanwhile, was spoiled, willful, and completely lawless.

Especially after Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul awakened, the two had bullied her even more viciously.