The Fourth Prince

Mingdu, central district, Red Dust Duke's Estate.

As the roar of a soul guidance formation drew nearer, Jing Hongchen, who had just opened the gates of his estate, froze.

A young man clad in luxurious robes and wearing a helmet rode a fiery red soul guidance motorcycle Jing Hongchen had never seen before and came to a steady stop outside his gate.

"Old geezer, will my motorcycle be safe parked outside your house?"

"Old geezer, why are you the only one who came out? Where's my little sister Meng?"

"Old geezer, why aren't you saying anything? Still, I have to praise you. You actually came out to welcome me when I showed up this time. Don't worry—just for that, I'll definitely treat Mengmeng well in the future!"

Xu Tianming blurted out three sentences in a row without the slightest bit of courtesy in his tone. Jing Hongchen's face merely stiffened, and the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably twice. Then he could only sigh helplessly and force a smile onto his face.

"Your Highness the Fourth Prince, please stop making fun of this old minister. If you have something to say, please say it directly. What brings you to the Red Dust Duke's Estate today?"

As a duke of the Sun Moon Empire and the master of the Hall of Virtue, when had Jing Hongchen ever been so stifled?

But he had no choice. The young man before him had an utterly terrifying background. Jing Hongchen simply could not afford to provoke him.

Xu Tianming was the current fourth prince of the Sun Moon Empire. His maternal uncle was Kong Deming, the chief great worshipper of the Worship Hall and the acknowledged strongest soul engineer on the Douluo Continent, the Silver Moon Douluo.

Beyond his overwhelmingly powerful status, Xu Tianming's cultivation talent was equally astonishing.

A few years ago, during the royal family's awakening ceremony, Jing Hongchen had been fortunate enough to witness it in person. He would never forget what he had seen that day.

Not only had the boy awakened the royal family's inherited Sun and Silver Moon Martial Souls, but both had undergone beneficial martial soul mutations. His innate soul power had even reached an unbelievable level twenty!

If his cultivation talent had merely been exceptional, that would have been one thing.

Yet his attainments in soul tools were also remarkably profound!

A few years ago, Jing Hongchen's grandson Xiao Hongchen had accidentally clashed with Xu Tianming at the Hall of Virtue. They competed in both soul power and soul tool expertise, but Xiao Hongchen suffered a crushing defeat in both areas. His Dao heart was clouded from then on, and it took him more than half a year to emerge from that psychological shadow.

His own grandson had nearly been ruined, so Jing Hongchen should have demanded an explanation. Yet unexpectedly, his granddaughter Meng Hongchen, who had watched the entire incident, developed a favorable impression of Xu Tianming because of it.

From then on, Xu Tianming would visit the Red Dust Duke's Estate from time to time, either taking the initiative to call upon them or accepting Meng Hongchen's invitations.

A young man with such outstanding talent being close to his granddaughter should have been a good thing. Yet Jing Hongchen was wary of Xu Tianming's status as a prince on one hand, while on the other, this brat seemed to have absolutely no understanding of seniority or respect...

Just like right now.

Hearing his question, Xu Tianming immediately raised a brow.

"Old geezer, have you gone senile? What else would I come to your house for? Little Sister Meng's soul power has already reached level 20, hasn't it? Of course I'm taking her out to hunt for a soul ring!"

Jing Hongchen froze again at those words.

Leaving aside how Xu Tianming knew that his granddaughter had only broken through to level 20 last night.

If Jing Hongchen remembered correctly, wasn't this brat only ten years old this year?

Even if the brat had innate soul power at level 20, no matter how absurd his talent was, his current soul power could not possibly have reached level 40, could it?

With soul power below level 40, he dared to take Jing Hongchen's granddaughter, whose soul power had just reached level 20, into the wilderness to hunt soul beasts?

Xu Tianming might dare to say it, but Jing Hongchen hardly dared to hear it.

Still, for the sake of caution, he had to ask one more question.

"Your Highness the Fourth Prince, I thank you on Xiaomeng's behalf for your kind intentions. However, may I ask which royal Worship Hall member will be accompanying you to ensure your safety on this journey?"

Jing Hongchen had barely finished speaking when, before Xu Tianming could respond, his granddaughter's voice suddenly rang out behind him.

"Brother Tianming!"

The sweet voice had barely faded when a figure rushed past Jing Hongchen in a fragrant breeze. She leaped directly into Xu Tianming's arms.

"Brother Tianming, didn't you say you had a surprise for me today? Where is it? Where is it?"

With Jing Hongchen standing right there, Xu Tianming could not be too reckless. After holding her for a short while, he set Meng Hongchen down, moved aside, and pointed at the motorcycle behind him.

"There! This is the surprise I told you about. What do you think? Is it cool? Do you like it?"

Since it was her first time seeing it, coupled with the fact that beauty was in the eye of the beholder, Meng Hongchen could not look away after a single glance. She immediately stepped forward and carefully ran her hand over the beautiful fiery red body.

"Hehe~ As long as it's from Brother Tianming, I like it! But Brother Tianming, what kind of vehicle is this? Its shape does look a bit like a bicycle..."

Xu Tianming did not rush to answer Meng Hongchen's question. Instead, he first put on his helmet, swung himself onto the motorcycle, then handed her the other helmet he had brought.

"Put on the helmet first and sit behind me. I'll tell you about this vehicle while we're on the road."

Meng Hongchen obediently nodded. With Xu Tianming's help, she put on the helmet and climbed onto the seat behind him. After hesitating briefly, she wrapped both arms tightly around Xu Tianming's waist.

Feeling the softness of the girl's body, Xu Tianming started the soul guidance engine with the key and smiled at Jing Hongchen, whose face was dark with anger.

"Old geezer, if there's nothing else, I'll take Little Sister Meng out to hunt for her soul ring. You can rest assured about our safety and wait peacefully at home for us to return!"

After greeting Jing Hongchen, Xu Tianming gave the girl behind him another reminder.

"Hold on tight. We'll be going a little fast, and the wind might be strong. Don't be afraid."

"Mhm! With Brother Tianming here, I'm not afraid~"

Hearing the girl's response, Xu Tianming paid no attention to Jing Hongchen's expression. He twisted the throttle, and with the roar of the soul guidance formation, the fiery red motorcycle vanished from the entrance of the Red Dust Duke's Estate in the blink of an eye.

Jing Hongchen stood still for a moment as he watched the direction in which the two had departed, then sighed helplessly.

"Ah, I don't know whether getting too close to that brat will be a blessing or a curse... Forget it, I'll take things one step at a time. After all, if it's a blessing, it isn't a disaster; if it's a disaster, there's no avoiding it..."

The Red Dust Duke's Estate was situated somewhat far from the center of Mingdu, and there were few people moving about in the surrounding area. Thus, Xu Tianming had a smooth ride out of the city without disturbing anyone.

Only after leaving Mingdu did he finally feel at ease increasing the motorcycle's power. Fortunately, Meng Hongchen behind him had kept her arms tightly wrapped around Xu Tianming's waist. Otherwise, that sudden acceleration might have flung the unprepared girl straight off the vehicle.