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Meanwhile.

The young man did indeed take Su Luoheng to the clinic.

After carefully examining him, the old physician found that he was merely weak from expending too much energy. Given Su Luoheng's physique, he would be perfectly fine after one night's rest.

"Are you sure there's nothing else wrong?"

"Yes. The boy will be fine after a night's rest."

"I told you there was nothing wrong..."

Reassured by the professional, Su Luoheng spread his hands helplessly.

Seeing this, the young man smiled warmly.

He thought the little fellow in front of him was rather interesting.

"Can I leave now?" Su Luoheng yawned sleepily. This night of twists and turns had worn him out, and all he wanted was to get back to the hotel and sleep in a big, comfortable bed.

The young man smiled mysteriously. "Not yet. Wait a little longer."

"Hm?"

Just as Su Luoheng was wondering what he meant, the guard who had left earlier returned, holding out something wrapped in an oil-paper bag with both hands. "Young master, here's what you asked for."

The young man took it from the guard and held it out to Su Luoheng, who stared at it in surprise.

"This is for you, little brother. Open it and take a look."

"..."

Su Luoheng froze for a moment, then took the oil-paper bag and opened it. Inside were ten glistening candied hawthorn skewers.

"Candied hawthorn!"

Luo Heng's eyes lit up at once. He turned to the young man, curious. "How did you know I liked them?"

"I guessed."

The young man smiled brightly and explained, "Earlier, I noticed you couldn't take your eyes off them. I figured you might like them, so I sent someone to buy you some."

"Looks like I guessed right."

"Thank you, big sister~"

As he spoke, Su Luoheng eagerly pulled out a skewer.

Crunch. He took a bite.

The sweet-and-sour flavor filled his mouth, and Su Luoheng couldn't help closing his eyes in bliss as he chewed.

At the same time, when the young man heard him say "big sister," he froze.

A complicated look flashed across his face, then he tilted his chin up with feigned exasperation. "Little brother, take a good look. You should call me big brother, not big sister."

"Ah?!"

Su Luoheng blinked and studied the young man in front of him closely.

With his beautiful face and the faint, delicate fragrance Su Luoheng had noticed in his arms earlier, he hadn't looked carefully at the time and had instinctively assumed the young man was a woman.

But now that he took a closer look, he noticed the difference.

Though the young man's skin was fair, a prominent Adam's apple stood out on his neck.

His features were angular, too.

Who could tell without looking closely?

Su Luoheng felt as if ten thousand wild horses were stampeding through his heart. Even the candied hawthorn in his hand suddenly didn't taste as good.

He was actually a man. He really was a man!

The beautiful big sister from a moment ago had suddenly turned into a man, and Su Luoheng's feelings were complicated.

How could he put it...

What a shame to waste such a beautiful face~

Thinking of this, Su Luoheng couldn't help shaking his head and sighing.

"What's wrong, little brother?"

"N-nothing. I was just surprised by your looks, big sis—big brother."

Su Luoheng gave an awkward smile, then took another skewer from the bag and offered it to him to hide his embarrassment. "Would you like to try one, big brother? Candied hawthorn is really tasty~"

The young man smiled warmly and was about to refuse.

But in the end, he accepted Luo Heng's kind offer and took the skewer.

"By the way, why are you wandering the streets alone at your age? Aren't your parents with you?"

"I came to Ming Capital to go to school. I sneaked out tonight."

"I hope you get what you wish for."

"..."

With the candied hawthorn as an excuse, Su Luoheng chatted with him too.

After talking for a while, the two grew noticeably closer.

When Su Luoheng said he planned to attend the Ming Capital Soul Master Academy, the young man paid it no mind, assuming it was just a child's joke. After all, the schools in the capital of the Sun Moon Empire weren't open to just anyone.

A while later, a servant quietly reported something.

"Young master..."

"I know."

The young man nodded slightly, his expression turning noticeably serious.

He looked down at Su Luoheng and managed a smile. "Little brother, I have some things to take care of. I hope we'll meet again someday."

"Goodbye, big brother."

"Goodbye~"

"..."

After a brief and "friendly" exchange, the young man turned and hurried away with the servant.

"You bastard, touch my hair again and you'll be sorry!" Watching the young man leave, Su Luoheng smoothed his slightly messy hair and angrily bit into the candied hawthorn in his hand.

Just before leaving, that bastard had actually messed with his hair.

If it had been a pretty young lady, he could have put up with it, but no matter what kind of man it was, that was absolutely out of the question!

This was a matter of dignity!

The smug look on his face as he left was just asking for a beating.

If Su Luoheng hadn't been unable to beat him...

No, if it weren't for the candied hawthorn, he'd have shown him what was what!

Could that guy be a pretty boy because he liked men?

Ugh—

Su Luoheng shuddered, breaking out in goosebumps. He didn't dare think about it any further and quickly ate a few candied hawthorn berries to calm himself.

He hurried toward the hotel.

At the same time, elsewhere.

The young man, already seated in a carriage, suddenly sneezed.

"Little Prince?"

"I'm fine, Uncle Chen."

The old man called Uncle Chen let out a sigh of relief. Then, as if remembering something, he smiled. "Little Prince, this old servant noticed you seemed much happier than usual today. Almost as if... you were your old self again."

"Is that so?"

Hearing this, the Little Prince froze for a moment.

Then he remembered something. A flash of blue light passed through his hand, and the candied hawthorn appeared in his palm.

The Little Prince looked at the candied hawthorn and murmured, then asked, "Uncle Chen, is this really that tasty?"

"Everyone's tastes are different. You'll have to try it for yourself," Uncle Chen replied with a smile.

"It certainly looks good."

With the intention of giving it a try, he copied Su Luoheng and bit off a hawthorn berry. It melted in his mouth, its balanced sweet-and-sour taste, with a hint of bitterness and sweetness, lingering in his mouth.

It wasn't bad~

The flavor was much more complex than he had expected.

The Little Prince quickly polished off the rest of the candied hawthorn.

Thinking it over, he realized that things had indeed felt different since he met that child today. But he didn't know why he had suddenly enjoyed chatting so much with a boy he had never met before.

Maybe it was because he had been shut away for so long and hadn't been around other people?

At the thought, he smiled bitterly and thought, Perhaps that really is the reason...

Ever since that incident, he had completely shut his heart away. He had never again truly shown any emotion.

Sun Moon Soul Master Academy [Please Recommend, Invest, and Collect!]

Now that he thought about it, he had spent so long talking with that child that he'd forgotten to ask his name. If they met again... No, forget it. There probably wouldn't be another chance. Meeting once amid a vast sea of people was already rare enough.

How could they possibly meet again by such a coincidence?

After composing himself, the Little Prince's expression returned to normal.

"Uncle Chen, what happened?"

When the conversation turned to business, Uncle Chen put away his smile and grew solemn. "With the Old Prince suddenly gravely ill and confined to bed, and the influence of the factions at court, the Dreadclaw Soul Master Legion has become restless again. I'm afraid you'll have to handle this yourself."

"Those same few again?"

"Yes."

"Damn them!" The Little Prince's veins bulged as he slammed a hand against the table, the fury in his eyes no longer containable. "Father is still alive, and they're already scrambling to pledge their loyalty to a new master?!"

"Alas~"

Uncle Chen shook his head with a quiet sigh, deep worry showing in his eyes.

The Old Prince had been slow to choose sides among the many princes. And as one of the empire's Hand of National Protection, the Dreadclaw Soul Master Legion was a huge prize. Now that the Old Prince had fallen ill, many princes had begun trying to win over its officers, sowing division.

Meanwhile, the Little Prince wasn't strong enough to take over the position. With trouble within and threats without, the situation at the prince's residence was especially dire.

The Little Prince had it hard...

It had been the same before, and it was still the same now.

All the heavy burdens had fallen on his shoulders at once.

After letting off steam,

he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked, "Uncle Chen, does Father know about this?"

"No."

The Little Prince visibly relaxed and said in a low voice, "Uncle Chen, seal off all news for now. Father must not find out until this has been settled."

"This old servant understands."

"Let's go. We're heading to the military camp now. The Dreadclaw Soul Master Legion is still under Father's command. I'd like to see whether they think they can turn the whole world upside down!" The Little Prince's voice was icy, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

"Yes."