The aircraft was transported out through the gate of the Tiangong Ship. After passing along the main road that stretched nearly ten kilometers, they reached the area where the Palace District's nobles, great and small, lived.
It had to be said that although Angel Civilization had entered the Gene Era, there were no science-fiction structures here such as overpasses or giant skyscrapers. Most of the Palace District consisted of traditional Roman-style castles, every brick and stone giving off an ancient, solemn air.
Within the Palace District, the nobles all had fiefs of their own. Their distribution followed the hierarchy of official rank, with varying sizes and layouts that emphasized their respective centralized designs. The fiefs surrounded the heart of the Palace District.
Between the various fiefs, towering mountains and great rivers could be seen everywhere, as could breathtaking scenery. This showed just how vast the floating island on which the Palace District stood was—far beyond anyone's imagination. That was also the true reason Hua Zhen had been drawn in by the sight when he came to celebrate the Old Angel King's birthday.
His Bedroom Palace was located on the western side of the Palace District. By the time he returned by aircraft, twenty minutes had passed. As he stepped out and looked at the maidservants tending to their duties and the Angel guards standing watch, a warm feeling quietly rose in his heart. He was finally home~
He did not know why he felt that way, but upon thinking about it, he understood. Here, he could do whatever he pleased. Everyone revolved around him. There was none of the scheming aboard the Tiangong Ship, much less the constant anxiety he had felt around Consort Xin Yao.
Overall, Hua Zhen was quite satisfied with this trip to celebrate the Old Angel King's birthday. Setting Consort Xin Yao aside, the Old Angel King had not noticed his "abnormality." Better still, he had obtained a Silver Blade-class weapon from that sucker Hua Tuo. Things could not have gone any better, could they?
Thinking of this, Hua Zhen took the Dark Sacred Silver Dagger from his robes and held it in his hand, admiring it beneath the sunlight. Its silver-white blade reflected the radiance of the star, gleaming brilliantly and leaving him intoxicated by its beauty. Though it lacked any unnecessary decoration, its pure streamlined design possessed flawless proportions, as graceful as a young girl's figure.
"From what I learned from those extra memories, Dark Sacred Silver is an extremely rare material in the universe. That Hua Tuo really was generous~~ Hehe..." After saying that, he carefully tucked the dagger back into his robes, grinning like a little fish that had stolen a cat's meal.
The maidservants and guards working outside the Bedroom Palace castle had known their prince had returned the instant the aircraft appeared. They all set aside their work and came over to greet him. Hua Zhen waved at them, looking smug as a warrior returning in triumph.
Compared to before he had left, there were many new faces here. Hua Zhen was not surprised, because Gus had told him that the emergence of Micro Wormhole Transportation Weapon technology was largely thanks to him, the Third Prince. Naturally, the delighted Angel King had to reward him.
After sweeping his gaze over them, Hua Zhen suddenly frowned. Huh? Why was Lian Xi nowhere to be seen? He had only been gone for ten days, but honestly, he rather missed that little girl.
As though answering his summons, the beautiful little Lian Xi ran out of the castle like an elf. The instant she saw Hua Zhen, delight flashed through her eyes. Then, realizing she had forgotten her manners, she quickly bowed respectfully. "Your Highness~"
Her adorable appearance amused Hua Zhen. After walking over to her, he habitually reached out and rested his hand atop her little head, smiling as he said, "Lian Xi, did you miss me?"
Honestly, he preferred pretty little girls like Lian Xi. Her heart was clean and clear, like a crystal without a speck of dust.
In contrast, those high-born beauties he had seen in the Tiangong Hall had been influenced from childhood by parents obsessed with profit and power. In their pursuit of what they wanted, Hua Zhen could not see even a trace of the so-called restraint in them.
They were either fluttering around that beyond Hua Ye, trying to seduce him, throwing flirtatious looks at the sucker Hua Tuo, or chatting intimately with other Male Angels. A perfectly good birthday banquet had been turned into a damn shoe market. Hua Zhen was not someone who liked fooling around, so he looked down on it immensely.
Being given a head pat by His Highness in front of so many people made little Lian Xi's cheeks flush red. She lowered her head, clenched the corner of her clothes, and did not dare speak. Her shy, bashful appearance was unbearably adorable.
"Gus!" Hua Zhen snapped his fingers. Once Gus came to his side, Hua Zhen took an exquisite box from him and handed it to Lian Xi with a smile. "Here, these are pastries Consort Xin Yao made herself. They're quite tasty. Lian Xi, you should have some too~"
"How could I..." Lian Xi jumped in fright and hurriedly waved her hands. "These were given to Your Highness by the Royal Consort... This servant..."
Hua Zhen lightly tapped her forehead and cut her off. "How many times have I told you? Don't call yourself a servant around me. We're family~"
"B-But..."
"No buts. What I say goes here!" Hua Zhen said with a smile. "Lian Xi is different from everyone else. You should know that I've already decided you're my little cook. In the future, you'll have to take care of your prince's stomach~"
The little girl blinked and asked cutely, "Your stomach?"
"Haha, that's what it means~ I'm not used to the food in the Tiangong Hall, so I'll be relying on you then~"
"Is Your Highness talking about teaching me to cook?"
"That's right!" Hua Zhen curled his lips. "I may not know much, but teaching you will be more than enough. So make sure you study hard, understand?"
"Oh, I understand, Your Highness!" Though she agreed aloud, Lian Xi still harbored doubts in her heart.
After giving the pastries to the girl, Hua Zhen turned his gaze toward his castle. He had not forgotten that an important matter was still waiting for him. Turning back, he called to Gus, narrowing his eyes as he said, "Let's go, Gus. Take me to meet that good brother of yours!"
Gus nodded. "Please follow me, Your Highness!"
The moment Gus led him into the castle, Hua Zhen froze on the spot. His eyes went wide, and his open mouth could have swallowed a fist.
A person stood in the hall, well over two meters tall and built like an iron tower. He had broad shoulders, a thick waist, and a face full of fierce flesh. His golden hair was flamboyantly draped behind him, his beard stood out strand by strand like steel bristles, and his thick arms were solid and powerful—more Schwarzenegger than Schwarzenegger.
Th-This is Xuan Ji? A scientific researcher? Hua Zhen could not help roaring inwardly once he came to his senses. In his subjective impression, those engaged in scientific research were all refined and gentle people. How was this even remotely the right style?
He turned to look at Gus. Seeing no reaction from him, Hua Zhen suddenly remembered that Xuan Ji had once served alongside Gus as an Angel Warrior in the Sixth Legion. The star region under the Sixth Legion's charge was constantly at war. Anyone who could serve there and survive was undoubtedly extraordinarily powerful.
Damn, I never expected the instructor Old Stick found for me to be such a philosophical powerhouse. It would have been one thing if his limbs were well developed, but even his brain was developed... What a talent~
After confirming his thoughts, Hua Zhen quickly put on a smiling face. As he walked into the hall, he said, "You must be Instructor Xuan Ji, right? One truly cannot judge a person by appearances!"
To his surprise, not only did the other party fail to respond, he merely lowered his head and looked down at Hua Zhen coldly, snorting out a puff of white air through his nostrils. His expressionless face was arrogant beyond belief.
"..."
Hua Zhen's brow twitched, and dissatisfaction inevitably rose in his heart. This was their first meeting, yet Xuan Ji's first impression score had already fallen to rock bottom.
Damn it! Was he acting so high and mighty just because he was the Chief Disciple of the Chairman of the Scientific Research Council? Who did he think he was?
"Um... Your Highness, you have the wrong person..." Gus's voice suddenly came from beside him. "Xuan Ji is over there~~"
"Huh??" Hua Zhen stared blankly. "That's not him?"
Following the direction of Gus's finger, Hua Zhen finally noticed there was another person in the hall. The moment he saw that person's appearance clearly, a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes.
Her tender, flawless face wore not a trace of makeup. She was neither dressed up nor adorned, wearing only the plainest, simplest clothes. Yet as she stood there, every man with eyes could not help but have four words rise in his heart: beauty capable of toppling kingdoms!
That person had thick, seaweed-like golden hair, slightly curled. Her large eyes, framed by long fluttering lashes, shone with life. She was as beautiful as a princess from some foreign legend, as though she had stepped out of a painting—mysterious and pure. Her skin was ivory white, and her whole body gave off a soft, delicate impression.
A fluttering feeling rose in Hua Zhen's heart. He felt as though he had fallen in love. Of all the women he had seen in this world, perhaps only Consort Xin Yao and Hua Xiong's mother could compare with her... Uh...
?!!
He abruptly stopped his wild thoughts and stiffly turned his neck toward Gus. "...She... she is Xuan Ji?!! Your brother?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Xuan Ji, Chief Disciple of Andy, Chairman of the Scientific Research Council!" Gus answered with certainty.
"Xuan Ji greets Your Highness!" At that moment, the "beauty" also approached him and respectfully performed a hand-to-chest salute. His voice was neutral, with a hint of softness.
Hua Zhen fiercely rubbed his eyes twice. When he saw the stubborn little Adam's apple on the "beauty's" neck, he staggered back several steps. His eyes were full of alarm and disbelief, and his expression changed several times in a spectacular display. A man... He was actually a man?!
"Your Highness, what is wrong?" Xuan Ji stepped forward two paces and asked in a sweet, delicate voice, his beautiful brows slightly raised.
Hua Zhen's expression changed. Damn it, this guy even had body fragrance! He hurriedly assumed a defensive stance. "Y-You... don't come any closer. I-I-I..."
Thud! At that moment, a tremendous sound suddenly rang out, startling everyone.
"Damn it!!"
Turning back to look at the philosophical powerhouse kneeling on one knee, Hua Zhen could not help swearing. What the hell was going on now? The floor had cracked from his kneel!
"Uh, Andre... I swear upon my life that I am... willing to dedicate everything to Your Highness! My... my sword is here. Until I fall, it and I shall protect you... After I die, my soul shall guard your land as well. My... my loyalty is my armor... I shall shed every drop of my blood for you... Umm... I am willing to draw my sword and fight for you, never leaving nor abandoning you... until eternity!"
"..." Hua Zhen was dumbfounded. Gus and Xuan Ji were no better off. He had stumbled through that for so long—what was he even doing?
Only after quite a while did Gus come back to his senses. He gave Andre a strange look, then leaned close to Hua Zhen and said uncertainly, "Y-Your Highness, he... he seems to be reciting the Knight's Oath to you..."
"...Huh?"
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