Xu Tianyuan

"Could those be reinforcements?"

Xu Lanqing's heart tightened, but when he saw Jing Hongchen and Zheng Zhan beside him, he felt less nervous. With two Rank Nine Soul Masters here, what kind of trouble could they cause?

"Hall Master Jing, can you see who they are?"

Jing Hongchen raised his right hand, and a high-altitude detector shot swiftly into the sky.

The detector looked somewhat like a satellite. A sphere sat in the middle, with rectangular metal plates on either side, covered in Soul Guidance Arrays and attached to the sphere like wings.

Jing Hongchen closed his eyes, apparently observing the situation.

Before long, Xu Lanqing saw Jing Hongchen open his eyes.

"Well?"

"Don't worry. They're from the Imperial Dragon Soul Master Legion. I'd guess they're pursuing the remnants of that force."

Jing Hongchen smiled, his tone relaxed.

"And the one leading them is His Highness's cousin, the Second Prince."

The Second Prince?

Xu Tianyuan?

Xu Lanqing was a little surprised. He knew of the man, but only by reputation; they had never met.

Xu Tianyuan had already joined the army before Xu Lanqing was born, and had never returned to Mingdu since. Xu Lanqing knew only a few details about him.

He hadn't expected their first meeting to happen under these circumstances.

"How long until they arrive?" Xu Lanqing asked.

"About ten minutes," Jing Hongchen estimated.

"Right."

Xu Lanqing turned to Lin Rou. "You can pack up anything you need to take with you. We'll be leaving soon."

Lin Rou nodded, bowed to Xu Lanqing, then took Ju Zi's hand and headed toward their lodgings.

As Ju Zi was led away, she looked back at Xu Lanqing. Her free right hand waved at him a few times, the plump, oversized orange in her small, fair hand.

Now that she was no longer on her guard, she had returned to her previous adorable self.

Still holding a grudge?

Xu Lanqing smiled. He opened his mouth and pretended to take a bite, chewing exaggeratedly.

Ju Zi paused, then Lin Rou pulled her around the corner. But Xu Lanqing thought he saw something orange-red spray through the air.

For some reason, he felt a chill run through him and hurriedly shook his head.

"Whoosh, whoosh—"

The sound of rapid flight rang out again and again. The fully armed Imperial Dragon Soul Master Legion finally came to a stop in front of Xu Lanqing and the others. There were about two hundred of them, and they had clearly spotted Xu Lanqing's group as well.

Their leader was a young man who looked to be in his twenties. He stood tall, and years of fighting had sharpened his chiseled features into something fierce and imposing. His eyes were so keen that no one dared meet his gaze.

He turned to scan the ruined town and quickly grasped the situation. Then he ordered the adjutant beside him:

"Squads One and Two, help the wounded and clear the scene. Squad Three, keep watch. Squad Four, scout the surrounding area for any stragglers!"

"Yes, sir!"

At his command, the soldiers sprang into action without the slightest delay. Only a few personal guards remained by his side.

As expected of the Imperial Dragon Soul Master Legion, one of the Five Great Guardian Hands. It was easy to talk about obeying orders, but few could actually manage it.

Only then did he turn to face Xu Lanqing and the others.

"Hahaha!"

Before he even reached them, his hearty laughter filled the air.

"Hall Master Jing, you're such a busy man. Why aren't you holed up in Mingde Hall doing research? What brings you to this remote, bitterly cold place? And Elder Zheng, when did you start keeping company with Hall Master Jing?"

Xu Tianyuan strode toward them, his aura of slaughter completely reined in. Even his face had lost some of its usual stiffness.

From the way he spoke, he seemed quite familiar with Jing Hongchen.

"I'm here on a mission, of course. It's been a long time, Second Prince. Your cultivation has improved considerably. At this rate, you'll probably break through to Titled Douluo in just a few years."

Jing Hongchen cupped his hands and replied with a genial smile.

"Greetings, Your Highness, Second Prince."

As for Zheng Zhan, he merely greeted him before returning to being invisible.

"I still have a long way to go. I'm nowhere near Hall Master Jing's level."

Xu Tianyuan shook his head, then looked at Xu Lanqing, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"And this is?"

"I'm your younger brother, Xu Lanqing. Greetings, Second Imperial Brother." Xu Lanqing cupped his hands in salute.

Xu Tianyuan stared at Xu Lanqing in surprise, then glanced at Jing Hongchen and Zheng Zhan. Once he was sure, he exclaimed with feeling:

"So you're my Fourth Brother! You look pretty good—there's a bit of my younger self in you. Too bad I didn't know I'd run into you today, or I'd have prepared a gift."

As he spoke, he looked at the town, reduced to ruins. A shadow of sorrow crossed his face, and he sighed.

"I hurried as fast as I could, but I still didn't make it in time. Those innocent people paid the price. Sigh."

He was referring to the town's looting. Anyone would feel distressed at the sight.

Xu Lanqing could hear the sincerity in his voice. At least, he couldn't detect any pretense.

From what Xu Lanqing knew of Xu Tianyuan, the man had no interest in the throne and was deeply affectionate and protective toward his siblings. All he wanted was to fight on the front lines and expand the empire's borders. He was already the deputy commander of the Imperial Dragon Soul Master Legion—a rare military talent.

"Second Imperial Brother, there's no need to blame yourself. What's done is done, and we can't undo it. All we can do is make things right as best we can. As for this blood debt, it must be repaid in the enemy's blood!" Xu Lanqing comforted him.

"Well said! You're right, Fourth Brother!"

Xu Tianyuan boomed his approval and slapped Xu Lanqing on the shoulder with his broad right hand.

Xu Lanqing grimaced. That hurt!

Couldn't he go a little easier? He'd nearly been knocked to pieces.

After chatting with Xu Tianyuan for a while longer, a soldier suddenly ran over and handed him a note.

Xu Tianyuan opened it. His brows furrowed, and his face darkened. Whatever it said, it clearly wasn't good.

He forced a smile and said to Xu Lanqing, "Fourth Brother, military matters come first. I need to get back right away. Next time we meet, I'll be sure to bring you a gift."

Xu Lanqing raised an eyebrow. You're not jinxing yourself, are you?

"The battlefield is dangerous. Be careful, Second Imperial Brother."

"Don't worry. I'm tough. I won't die that easily. Hahaha!"

With that, Xu Tianyuan strode away and quickly gathered his troops. He left more than fifty men behind to handle the aftermath, then headed back toward the border.

Xu Lanqing watched him leave, pondering to himself.

What could be so urgent? Was something wrong at the border? Hadn't they been winning all along?

"Tap, tap~"

Soft footsteps sounded behind him. Xu Lanqing turned around.

Lin Rou and Ju Zi had returned. They had changed into clean clothes and washed up, and had put everything they needed into their Storage Rings.

Xu Lanqing looked at Ju Zi. Her silky hair was damp and clung to her cheeks, making her look like a lotus emerging from the water. Somehow, it made her seem even cuter.

"If you're ready, let's go now. Hall Master Jing, sorry for the trouble."

"Hehe, no trouble at all."

A cicada-wing-thin Flying Soul Tool appeared behind Jing Hongchen, then instantly expanded. A golden film enveloped Xu Lanqing and Lin Rou and her daughter.

Ju Zi's eyes widened as she watched the golden film carry them rapidly into the sky, her curiosity plain to see.

Her delicate, slender index finger stretched out. She bit her lower lip, looking torn between wanting to touch it and being afraid to.

"Go ahead and touch it. Nothing will happen."

Xu Lanqing said with a chuckle.

Jing Hongchen: ...