Encountering the Crown Prince

Xiao Hongchen tucked the manuscript away, stood up, and cupped his hands.

"Many thanks, Elder Kong."

Kong Deming waved a hand, took another look at Xiao Hongchen, and suddenly said:

"You may call me Grandmaster from now on."

"If it weren't for little Xuan snatching you up as a disciple first," Kong Deming said leisurely, his tone carrying a hint of inexplicable regret, "this old man would have gained another closing-door disciple today."

He glanced at Xuan Ziwen, his gaze meaningful. Xuan Ziwen lowered his head to sip his tea, pretending not to notice.

Xiao Hongchen realized what was happening and cupped his hands again; he had just gained another powerful backer.

"Many thanks, Grandmaster."

"Mm." Kong Deming acknowledged with a satisfied nod before turning his gaze to Xuan Ziwen, his tone shifting to one of unquestionable authority:

"Little Xuan, for your next project, stop working on that direction of allowing ordinary people to use soul tools for the time being."

Xuan Ziwen looked up.

"Drop the task Little Mirror gave you as well, that thing called the All-Terrain Self-Propelled Artillery," Kong Deming said calmly. "Just focus honestly on the research into Humanoid Soul Tools and Battle Armor; that is what is most worth doing right now."

He paused, looking at Xuan Ziwen:

"Any problems with that?"

Xuan Ziwen was stunned for a moment:

"Of... of course not."

Kong Deming produced a badge and tossed it toward Xiao Hongchen.

The badge was small but felt heavy in his hand. A silver moon and a red sun were engraved on the front with such fine detail that it was clearly the work of a master.

"With this, you may freely travel the path between the Imperial Palace and the Worship Hall," Kong Deming said calmly. "If you have good ideas in the future, or encounter something you don't understand, come find me at any time."

He paused, then added:

"No need to notify me in advance; just come directly."

"Many thanks, Grandmaster."

Kong Deming waved his hand and lowered his head again, picking up his carving knife to signal that the matter was closed.

Xiao Hongchen put the badge away, exchanged a glance with Xuan Ziwen, and the two of them exited the Worship Hall together.

"I was wondering why you had such abundant mental energy; so you have a mental-type martial soul?"

Xuan Ziwen looked at Xiao Hongchen, speechless. Recalling the student's various performances over this period, it all made sense now.

"Apologies, Teacher Xuan. Grandfather wouldn't let me tell anyone."

Xiao Hongchen rubbed the back of his head, his expression calm as he shifted the blame cleanly.

"It seems I haven't been assigning you enough tasks."

"No, no, no," Xiao Hongchen immediately waved his hands. "Teacher Xuan, I still need to practice metal purification in the future. It requires a high state of focus, and even a slight distraction leads to errors. You should actually be reducing my workload instead."

"Nice try," Xuan Ziwen shot him a glance. "With the enhancement of a mental-type martial soul, your state is far stronger than an ordinary person's. That excuse won't fool me."

Xiao Hongchen: "..."

"Alright, alright," Xuan Ziwen sighed, his tone softening slightly. "Who doesn't know you're also cultivating dual martial souls? I'm not trying to make things difficult for you, but I still have to give you a reminder."

He stopped walking, turned to look at Xiao Hongchen, and his expression turned serious:

"Walking two paths at once isn't necessarily as strong as walking one path to the end. Your dual martial souls are your advantage, but they are also your burden. Your energy is limited. You're young now so you don't feel it, but the further you go, the more unavoidable this problem will become."

Xiao Hongchen did not refute this; it was true.

"I know," he said, his tone less flippant than usual. "But for me, these two paths were never separate to begin with. The metal path is for offense, the mental path is for control. Battle Armor requires both; rather than two paths, it's more like two legs of the same path."

He paused:

"Without either one, I won't be able to walk steadily."

Xuan Ziwen looked at him, silent for a moment, before finally deciding not to say anything more and resuming his stride:

"That may be so, but don't push yourself too hard."

"Don't worry," Xiao Hongchen followed, the corners of his mouth curling up again. "I'm tough as nails."

Just as they were about to walk out of the Imperial Palace, they ran into a small group of people.

Leading them was a young man in white sitting in a wheelchair, looking no more than twenty-three or twenty-four years old.

His attire was very simple, his eyes were bright and piercing, and he had pale purple hair. While his features weren't particularly handsome, he possessed the majesty of someone in a high position, and his skin was pale to the point of being sickly.

He was followed by a group of servants who looked ordinary, but Xiao Hongchen could faintly sense a very dangerous aura among them.

Xiao Hongchen was completely certain of the wheelchair-bound youth's identity: Xu Tianran.

Could it be such a coincidence?

Xuan Ziwen pulled Xiao Hongchen into a slight bow, and both said in unison:

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Xu Tianran looked at the two with a gentle gaze.

"Researcher Xuan, there is no need for such formalities. You are the Chief Researcher of Mingde Hall, and your work on civilian Soul Tools is something I, on behalf of the Sun Moon populace, must thank you for."

"You are too kind, Your Highness. Seeking welfare for the people is the duty of every researcher in the Empire."

"And who is this young friend beside you?"

Xu Tianran asked, as if he had only just noticed Xiao Hongchen.

"Reporting to Your Highness, this student is Xiao Hongchen, Teacher Xuan's disciple."

Xiao Hongchen remained neither servile nor overbearing.

"So, it is the grandson of the Master of Mingde Hall. No wonder you are such a talent."

Xu Tianran wheeled his chair over to Xiao Hongchen and patted him on the shoulder.

"I heard that you defeated the team captain of this year's Soul Master tournament during the assessments. You are only thirteen, aren't you? Not much older than my younger sister, yet far more capable than her. If she weren't so rebellious, she would be studying at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy right now. If you were there to look after her, I could rest a little easier."

As he spoke, Xu Tianran rubbed his temples, wearing a troubled expression.

"That is not the case, Your Highness. The Ming Capital Soul Engineer Academy is also an excellent school."

Xiao Hongchen had no desire to get entangled with members of the royal family.

"Let us not speak of that. I heard the Master of Mingde Hall recently apprehended a group of Evil Soul Masters at the academy. I had intended to find an opportunity to thank him, but alas, he is a busy man, so I had to let it go. Seeing you today is truly a stroke of luck; please convey my gratitude to him when you return."

"I shall follow your instructions, Your Highness."

Xiao Hongchen remained calm on the surface, though he wanted to roll his eyes inwardly. Who are you putting on an act for? Everyone knows you are in league with the Holy Spirit Cult. Disgusting.

"Then you and Researcher Xuan may return. I shall not take up any more of your research time. However," Xu Tianran paused, "I have high hopes for you. Bring back the championship of the Soul Master tournament for the Empire."

"Hongchen will give his all."

Xiao Hongchen bowed and retreated.

Not until Xu Tianran and his entourage had completely vanished from sight did Xiao Hongchen drop his respectful expression and offer a sneer of disdain.

He hoped this eunuch would not provoke him in the future; otherwise, he might just have to emulate the young Xiang Yu and think, "That man can be replaced."

"Let's go." Xuan Ziwen patted his shoulder and took the lead.

The two left the palace and walked on the road back to Mingde Hall.

"The Crown Prince is very interested in you."

"Indeed."

Xuan Ziwen glanced at him. "You handled yourself well just now."

"That is only because I do not wish to have too much to do with the royal family."

Xiao Hongchen said indifferently.

"Smart," Xuan Ziwen nodded.

"But you must be careful. The Crown Prince is a man who appears gentle and courteous on the surface, but is actually deeply calculating. By specifically mentioning the Evil Soul Masters today and asking you to thank your grandfather on his behalf, he is telling you that the royal family knows every move Mingde Hall makes."

Xiao Hongchen smiled without saying anything further. It seemed Teacher Xuan was not entirely an unworldly researcher after all.

He even suspected this encounter was no coincidence; there must be many of Xu Tianran's eyes and ears within the palace, such that the moment they entered, Xu Tianran knew.

He had always made a habit of assuming the worst of others, especially someone like Xu Tianran, whose true colors he already knew.