Hearts in Sync

His mother had died young, and his father was gravely ill.

In the present-day Sun Moon Empire, Kong Deming was one of Xu Tianming's few remaining blood relatives—and the one who loved him most.

"Don't worry, Uncle. When have you ever seen me suffer a loss after growing up? Since Shrek Academy is begging me to go, I'll make them understand exactly what it means to invite a god in easily but send one away with difficulty!"

Hearing this, Kong Deming smiled helplessly.

"Alright. As long as you know what you're doing, kid."

Seeing that Kong Deming had more or less finished his instructions, Xu Tianran stepped forward and patted Xu Tianming on the shoulder.

"Fourth Brother, since you have made your choice, we will naturally support you. Just as your uncle said, the entire Sun Moon Empire is your backing... But while you train at Shrek Academy, you may accept their goodwill and make friends with those you believe are worth befriending. However, never forget your identity, nor the ultimate goal of our Sun Moon Empire!"

"Don't worry, Second Brother. I know my limits."

Xu Tianran nodded in satisfaction, then looked toward Nana, whose eyes were filled with fear.

The moment Xu Tianran recognized Nana's identity, he had already formed some suspicions. However, circumstances had prevented him from questioning her directly just now.

Now that he had the opportunity, he naturally intended to confirm his suspicions.

"Fourth Brother, do you know this girl's background?"

"I don't, but Meng'er said she is a student of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy."

At those words, a chill immediately surfaced in Xu Tianran's eyes.

"Speak. What was your purpose in infiltrating the prince's residence? Confess honestly and you may live. Otherwise, die!"

At that moment, Xu Tianran's royal bearing was fully unleashed. Young Nana simply could not withstand such pressure, and she immediately confessed every detail of the mission she had received.

After hearing her out, Xu Tianran's face turned livid, his rage no less intense than before.

What a Holy Ghost Cult!

Those rats in the gutter had stretched their claws too far!

It was time to give those rats a proper warning, lest they grow too smug and forget themselves.

Having resolved to put the Holy Ghost Cult in its place, Xu Tianran's expression soon returned to normal.

He gave a cold, insincere smile and beckoned. Two armored guards promptly appeared behind him, dropping to one knee as they awaited his command.

"Drag this wretch who tried to harm my Fourth Brother outside!"

Upon receiving the order, the two guards did not hesitate in the slightest. One on each side, they hauled up Nana, whose entire body had gone limp, and forcibly dragged her toward the entrance of the prince's residence.

There was no doubt that once she was dragged out of the residence, she would surely die for what she had done.

After all, attempting to harm royalty was a capital crime in any nation.

Though Nana was young, she was not stupid.

She only needed to think for a moment to guess what awaited her once she was dragged outside.

Yet her strength was simply too weak. Even if she understood, it only deepened her despair.

Before these two unfathomably powerful guards, she could not even speak, much less struggle or resist. She could only use her eyes to convey her terror and regret.

She did not want to die!

Her father and mother were still under the control of those evil soul masters.

She had yet to save them from those evil soul masters.

Save her! Who could save her?

As long as someone could spare her life, she was willing to repay that life-saving grace for the rest of her days.

Nana's gaze swept over one person after another, but they either did not see her pleading eyes at all or remained cold and indifferent.

Risking the wrath of the imperial family merely to save a weak little girl like her was simply not worth it to these people.

Realizing what they were thinking, Nana's despair only grew heavier.

However, just as she was about to be dragged outside the prince's residence, when her heart was on the verge of sinking into utter despair, a voice that none present had expected suddenly rang out at the most inopportune moment.

"Wait!"

Following the voice, Xu Tianming's thoughts briefly stalled.

He had clearly been ready to call out and spare her at the last moment, yet he had not expected Meng Hongchen to beat him to it.

Such a major incident had occurred in Mingdu, so Jing Hongchen had naturally arrived long ago. He had already noticed his granddaughter, but because the situation was inappropriate, he had remained an observer and said nothing.

He had thought today's matter would end hastily like this. Who would have expected that, at the final moment, his own granddaughter would pull something so dramatic?

"You foolish girl! What are you doing? The person the crown prince has named for execution—if you wanted to save her, you should at least have let that boy Xu Tianming speak first! You spoke up so rashly. What if His Highness the Crown Prince misunderstands the Hongchen Family? What if that boy Xu Tianming also wants her dead?"

Hearing her grandfather's voice, Meng Hongchen's body immediately stiffened.

The situation had been urgent just now. She had only wanted to help Nana and had not considered so many issues.

Only after her grandfather's reminder did she look toward her Tianming Brother with pitiful eyes.

Xu Tianming had already intended to spare Nana's life. Now that Meng Hongchen had voluntarily offered him an opening, he naturally would not let it slip away.

He let out a deliberately helpless sigh before looking at Xu Tianran.

"Second Brother, please have your men wait for now."

"No matter. It is a trivial matter."

At Xu Tianran's signal, the two guards immediately stopped. Nana's countdown to death came to a halt as well.

"Meng'er, tell me. Why did you do that?"

"Because... Meng'er feels that Nana doesn't seem like a bad person. The reason she did such a thing today must be because she has some difficulties."

At those words, Xu Tianming silently gave Meng Hongchen a thumbs-up in his heart.

Was this the legendary connection of kindred spirits?

Without even needing his instructions, she had spoken the very words he wanted to say.

He truly had not spoiled her for nothing all these years!

"I'll give you three minutes. Treasure the opportunity Meng'er won for you and explain why you are working for evil soul masters. Do not try to lie. That will only make you die faster."

At that moment, hope reappeared in Nana's eyes.

After giving Meng Hongchen a deeply grateful look, she hurriedly seized the little time she had left and told them all about her hardships and difficulties—how her parents' souls were being controlled by evil soul masters.

After hearing her account, the many powerful figures present could all tell that she was speaking the truth. For a moment, their gazes toward Nana carried varying degrees of pity.

Even battle-hardened experts reacted this way, let alone the young Meng Hongchen.

After hearing Nana's story, Meng Hongchen felt as though her heart had shattered.

"Tianming Brother, can we help her? Nana is really so pitiful..."