Di Hong's Unease

Before departure, Di Yang saw them off and deliberately repeated yesterday's instructions to Di Hong in front of Di Ming.

Di Ming was immediately displeased.

"Big Brother, do you distrust your little brother that much?"

"Am I that kind of person?"

Di Yang looked him up and down, then put on a deliberately disdainful expression.

"What do you think?"

"Heh." Di Ming was unhappy.

"Just watch. This time, when we go to Heaven Dou City, I won't even touch a drop of wine."

Since his eldest brother did not believe him, he was determined to prove himself. To make his words more credible, he turned to Di Hong beside him.

"Fourth Brother, keep an eye on me."

With that, he turned and boarded the carriage.

Di Hong helplessly spread his hands before boarding as well. Inside, Di Ming sat there with an indignant expression, with a huge platter of roasted meat beside him.

"Second Brother, are you planning to turn your anger into an appetite?" Di Hong teased.

"Go, go, go. What do you mean, turning anger into an appetite? Your Second Brother is punishing himself," Di Ming said unhappily, then began eating on his own. Clearly, he was still angry.

For this tribute visit to Heaven Dou City, the treasures prepared by the Silves Kingdom were even more precious and rare than those of previous years. Di Yuan had even taken out a three-thousand-year-old Spirit Bone from the treasury for the occasion.

It could be said that this was no longer merely a tributary kingdom offering tribute to its suzerain state. It was also an expression of support for Xue Ye. The Royal Family's internal conflict had nearly reached its peak, and the Old Emperor's indulgence of Xue Yu had made him almost completely unrestrained.

This struggle within the Royal Family was even fiercer than the previous internal conflicts.

This time, the subordinate kingdoms had also been drawn in. The four great kingdoms had inevitably become entangled in the succession struggle between the two princes.

Sitting in the carriage and watching the scenery steadily recede outside, Di Hong asked, "Second Brother, do you think anything exciting will happen when we get to Heaven Dou City this time?"

Di Ming, who was stuffing roasted meat into his mouth, did not seem to care.

"What could possibly be exciting? We offer the tribute, pay respects to the emperor, hold a banquet, and then everyone goes home."

"Hasn't it always been like that?"

"Could this year be any different?"

Although he had never gone to offer tribute before, he still knew the basic procedure.

Di Hong shook his head. He had a feeling that this time would be different. Father King had arranged for him to accompany the tribute delegation. Although Crown Prince Xue Ye was involved, Di Yuan could have refused outright. Yet he had not.

"Why do you think Father King agreed to Crown Prince Xue Ye's request and allowed me to come along?"

Di Ming glanced at him.

"What else could it be? News about your spirit battles in New City got out."

Di Hong was even more puzzled.

"The spirit battles?"

He did not understand. Even if it was because of the spirit battles, the news should not have reached Heaven Dou City. Besides, he believed he had concealed himself well.

Di Ming gave a derisive snort.

"Fourth Brother, do you really think wearing a mask means you hid yourself well and no one could recognize you?"

"You're too naive."

"They found out?" Di Hong was somewhat startled. He had participated in the spirit battles in New City, and it had not even been three days.

"What do you think?" Di Ming explained. "Although your spirit battle took place in New City, those nobles investigated you immediately after it ended."

"They all know that Ling Guang is actually Di Hong, the fourth prince of the Royal Family."

"Fourth Brother, you must never underestimate those nobles. Looking down on them is dangerous."

"You think you hid yourself well, but in reality, every move you make is under their watch. Besides, everyone knows you were cultivating there."

"People unfamiliar with you might not have recognized you right away, but the nobles all know you—especially that head of red hair and those distinctive red eyes. A mask cannot conceal those."

Di Hong was stunned. He then took out a mirror from the Soul Tool at his waist and looked at the handsome face reflected within it, those ruby-like red eyes, and the long red hair gathered beneath his hair crown.

All right, they really were too distinctive. It would have been hard not to investigate him. As expected, he had been too naive. But thinking about it, that made sense. In his previous life, he had only been an ordinary person. Although he had become a noble after transmigrating here, he had never received much noble training.

Nor had he interacted much with nobles, especially after his Martial Soul Awakening.

During the six years since his Martial Soul Awakening, he had been cultivating constantly and rarely dealt with nobles. He never attended banquets, tea parties, or other gatherings meant to foster exchanges among the nobility.

No matter what, cultivation had always seemed like the most important thing to him. But he had overlooked one issue: this was the Douluo Continent.

Seeing Di Hong's expression, Di Ming actually felt a trace of smugness.

"Father King is sending you to Heaven Dou City this time so they can see what a true genius is."

"But don't worry. No one will think you're a super genius with Innate Level 20 Spirit Power. After all, we're the Royal Family, and we have plenty of cultivation resources."

"Besides, you've been cultivating in the volcano all these years."

"Will that work?" Di Hong was somewhat worried. What he feared most now was someone discovering that his talent far surpassed that of ordinary Innate Full Soul Power geniuses—especially if Spirit Hall found out. Innate Level 20 Spirit Power, and already a Spirit King at twelve years old.

"There was no question of whether it was okay or not. Besides, Xue Ye was there."

After saying that, Di Ming opened the carriage window and called to the soldiers outside, "Go get me some more fruit."

"Yes." The soldier clasped his fists, then rode off.

Before long, a plate of grapes was delivered.

As he ate the delicious grapes, Di Ming looked thoroughly content.

"If only there were two—no, three—beautiful women here right now. I'd rest my head on one, have another massage me, and let the third feed me grapes. Then all three of them could call me 'Prince' in those sweet, sultry voices."

"That would be absolutely wonderful."

"Now that would be real enjoyment."

"Unlike you, Fourth Brother. Other than cultivating every day, you do nothing else. You're boring to death."

Di Hong's mouth twitched fiercely.

"Second Brother, strength is the foundation of everything in this world. Without strength, how can you enjoy anything?"

"Look at you. You were already a Soul Elder six years ago, and after all these six years, you're still a Soul Elder."

Di Ming did not care in the slightest.

"Who cares? Your Second Brother's talent is just like this. If I can cultivate to become a Soul Emperor in this lifetime, I'll already be thanking the heavens."

"To me, Soul Power levels aren't that important. I'm already level thirty-eight now, and with my status, that's enough for me to enjoy myself out there. Besides, even if I run into a Spirit Master I can't beat, don't I still have you?"

"As my younger brother, you need to grow strong and have your Second Brother's back."

"When the time comes, I'll tell everyone I meet that my Fourth Brother is invincible in the World."

What kind of logic was that? Di Hong was completely dumbfounded. Why did he feel like his Second Brother might end up screwing him over? Did he need to start following the principle of cherishing life and staying away from his brother too?

"Second Brother, you'd better not set me up."

To be safe, he still had to say it in advance, lest Di Ming really did screw him over.

"How could I? We're real brothers. Your Second Brother might set anyone up, but never you. Don't worry."

Patting Di Hong on the shoulder, Di Ming gave him a reassuring look that was anything but reassuring.