Ge Long

After escaping the bedroom, Di Hong came to the pavilion in the middle of the garden pond.

The pond shimmered with ripples, Di Hong's reflection mirrored on its surface as carp occasionally swam past. The sky gradually darkened, thick clouds spreading overhead, and before long, it began to rain.

Raindrops struck the water, sending rings of ripples outward.

Looking at his reflection in the water, Di Hong slowly closed his eyes. This was a rare place of peace for him. At the very least, he did not have to worry about being pressured into marriage here.

What did it mean to be pressured into marriage at twelve?

When he had been twelve in his previous life, he had still been carrying a schoolbag to class. Yet in this life, he had to face marriage pressure.

Marriages between nobles were far too complicated. He did not want to deal with those people. For him now, increasing his strength was the most important thing. Otherwise, if danger came in the future and he lacked sufficient strength, he might not even be able to escape.

What if Spirit Hall came looking for him? He had no desire to join Spirit Hall, much less be killed by them.

Spirit Hall was extremely powerful now. Many nobles had ambiguous ties with them, and some had even secretly defected to Spirit Hall outright.

Whenever he thought of that madwoman Bibi Dong launching a war several decades later, he felt a little afraid. It would not have mattered if he had not transmigrated here, but now that he had, he had to do something.

He did not consider saving Bibi Dong, nor did he have the ability to do so. Although he had never met Bibi Dong, judging by their current ages, she should be about the same age as him. By his calculations, in roughly fourteen years, she would be violated by the Secret Chamber Douluo, Qian Xunji.

Even now, he could not understand how Qian Daoliu could have a son like that.

Although Qian Xunji had done it to keep Bibi Dong in Spirit Hall, his methods were far too vile.

Qian Daoliu's reputation in the Spirit Master world was quite good.

After all, he was one of the two great pillars of the Spirit Master world and was revered by all.

The unification of the continent was a good thing. As a transmigrator from the twenty-first century, he naturally supported it with both hands and feet.

He certainly could not count on Spirit Hall, and he could not count on the Two Great Empires either.

Perhaps he could give it a try and unify the continent himself.

At that thought, his eyes lit up, and a sharp gleam flashed through them.

"Perhaps it really can be done."

Although his current strength was meager, he still had several decades to work hard. At his current cultivation speed, he was absolutely confident that he could become a Titled Douluo-level Spirit Master within twenty years—perhaps without even needing twenty years.

Innate Level 20 Spirit Power, combined with the traits of his martial soul—if he cultivated in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, perhaps he would only need a little over ten years to reach the Titled Douluo level.

"Your Highness Prince, the child you brought back has awakened." A maid's voice came from beside the pond.

"Understood."

Di Hong left the pavilion and headed for the room where the boy had been placed.

The boy's room was very simple. There were not many furnishings in it, only a bed, a table, a wardrobe, and several pots of flowers. Other than that, there was nothing else.

The boy had already awakened. After treatment from a Spirit Master, his injuries had vanished, and he looked much more energetic, though he was still far too thin.

When he saw Di Hong, he tried to get up. He had learned from others that Di Hong was the one who had saved him.

Honestly, he found it hard to believe. A prince of a kingdom had actually saved him and even brought him back to the Royal Palace for treatment. In the past, he would never have dared to imagine such a thing.

"Prepare some food for him." After stopping the boy, Di Hong instructed the maid.

After the maid left, he casually sat down on the chair beside the bed.

"What is your name?"

"Do you still have any family?"

"If you do, I'll send someone to take you to them."

The boy shook his head.

"Your Highness Prince, my name is Ge Long. I have no family left."

"Oh? Hmm?"

Di Hong looked at the boy.

"What did you say your name was?"

"Ge Long. What is it, Your Highness Prince?" Ge Long was deeply puzzled.

Di Hong raised a brow and stared at the boy in disbelief. He had casually picked up a boy, only to find a treasure.

He knew very well who Ge Long was—the future pillar of the Heaven Dou Empire, the military's foremost figure, the Nine-Lives Divine Dragon.

He had thought Ge Long was already fairly old by now, at least around his own age. Yet unexpectedly, he was still just a child, and he did not even look six years old. But why had Ge Long come to their Silves Kingdom?

And he looked as though he had fled here as a refugee.

"How did you come to the Silves Kingdom?"

Ge Long explained in detail why he had appeared here.

He was the son of a border general. Not long ago, however, the Star Luo Empire had captured the pass defended by his father. His father had died in battle, and his mother had also died while covering his escape. Originally, he had intended to go to Heaven Dou City, but when he escaped, he had nothing with him.

He had no money to buy food, but a kind-hearted person had given him two meat pies.

Di Hong already knew what happened afterward. Ge Long encountered some other refugees who wanted to steal his meat pies. He fought them, but because he was alone, he lost. One meat pie was taken from him, while he protected the remaining one with all his might. With Di Hong's arrival, he had managed to keep it.

After a while, several maids arrived carrying steaming, fragrant dishes.

Looking at the dishes on the table, Ge Long could not help swallowing.

"Alright, eat first," Di Hong said flatly.

"Grrr~~"

Feeling his stomach protesting and smelling the aroma wafting from the food, Ge Long hesitated, glanced at Di Hong, then pounced on the food and began wolfing it down.

Even Di Hong was startled.

"Slow down. Don't choke to death. No one's fighting you for it."

The boy turned a deaf ear and continued devouring the food. He had not eaten his fill in days. Especially while fleeing, forget eating enough—being alive at all had been good enough.

Di Hong took out a book and began reading.

After eating and drinking his fill, Ge Long leaned back contentedly, patted his swollen belly, and let out a burp, his face brimming with indescribable satisfaction.

After resting for a while, he seemed to remember something. He hurriedly got up and knelt before Di Hong.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for saving my life. From this day onward, this life of mine belongs to Your Highness."

Di Hong closed his book and glanced at him.

"What would I want your life for?"

"I saved you simply because I couldn't stand by and watch. I don't need your life."

Although this was Ge Long, that did not mean Di Hong had to take him in so easily.

Ge Long understood that the person before him was likely the only opportunity he could seize. If he lost this chance, it would be difficult to find another—his very survival might even become a problem.

He could not guarantee what his future would be like. He had not yet awakened his martial soul.

"Since you know my identity, then you should also understand that once you stay, you will never have a second choice again."

"You're not even six yet, are you? Can you really make the decision you want?"

"I can." Though young, Ge Long already understood many things. Naturally, he knew what this meant.

"Heh, heh heh heh." Di Hong could not help chuckling.

"Good, good. Ge Long, right?"

"Yes," Ge Long replied.

Di Hong said flatly, "From this day onward, your life belongs to the royal family."

With that, he left.