Douluo Continent, Star Luo City.
Dai Jinge wandered aimlessly along the bustling streets.
Before he knew it, he had arrived at the gates of the Zhu Family estate of the Netherworld Family.
Dai Jinge sighed.
Just three days ago, Dai Mubai, the Star Luo Empire's third prince-and his third elder brother in name-had fled Star Luo City, his whereabouts unknown.
But Dai Jinge knew exactly where he had gone.
Dai Mubai feared his own elder brother, First Prince Dai Weisi, and wanted to indulge himself during whatever time he had left.
So he had abandoned his fiancée, Zhu Zhuqing, fled to the Heaven Dou Empire, and joined Shrek Academy...
Strictly speaking,
this had nothing to do with him.
Although he was born to a concubine, his mother had died giving birth to him, and he had no maternal family to back him, awakening the White Tiger Martial Soul with innate full soul power still entitled him to the best resources.
But that was precisely the problem...
As someone with the White Tiger Martial Soul, if his future wife came from the Netherworld Family and possessed the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul... then he, too, would eventually have to face First Prince Dai Weisi!
Dai Jinge could not understand it.
What had possessed the current Star Luo Emperor, his biological father in name, to dissolve Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's engagement?
And afterward, he had bound Zhu Zhuqing to Dai Jinge instead, making them betrothed!
Bang, bang, bang!
Dai Jinge sighed again and knocked on the gates of the Hell Spirit Cat clan's Zhu Family estate.
Creak!
As the heavy vermilion gates slowly opened, a young guard appeared.
"Your Highness, Fourth Prince?!"
Realizing that Dai Jinge had knocked, the guard froze, then hurriedly dropped to his knees in greeting.
"I've come to visit your family head."
Dai Jinge clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze calm.
He was young, but years of occupying an exalted position had naturally given him an air of authority.
"Please come in, Your Highness."
The guard immediately invited Dai Jinge into the Zhu estate, then instructed someone else to notify the head of the Zhu Family.
Inside the reception hall,
Dai Jinge sat in the seat of honor, lifted the fragrant tea a maid had just poured, and took a small sip.
Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in black entered the hall, his brows bold and his gaze sharp as a sword.
Beside him was a girl in black, the same age as Dai Jinge.
"Your Highness, forgive me for failing to come out and welcome your distinguished arrival. My apologies, my apologies-"
The middle-aged man cupped his hands in greeting, his expression composed.
The girl in black beside him studied Dai Jinge curiously.
"You're too kind, sir."
Dai Jinge smiled and stepped forward to greet him.
The Star Luo Imperial Family and the Zhu Family had intermarried for generations, leaving their familial relationships tangled beyond belief!
The middle-aged man before him was the head of the Zhu Family-Zhu Tianlie. His elder sister was also... the current empress, and the birth mother of Dai Mubai and Dai Weisi!
The current emperor could count as half a member of the Zhu Family, and Dai Jinge could just barely count as one too. But his ties to them were nowhere near as close as Dai Mubai's and Dai Weisi's, so calling Zhu Tianlie "uncle" would have been a stretch.
Unable to think of another form of address, Dai Jinge simply avoided any familial title and addressed him respectfully instead.
Zhu Tianlie had no patience for beating around the bush. After taking the main seat with the girl in black, he asked directly, "Your Highness, have you come today because of Zhu Zhuqing?"
He glanced at the girl beside him. She was his daughter-Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together. She already knew that her engagement to Dai Mubai had been dissolved, and that her new fiancé was the Dai Jinge standing before her...
Compared with Dai Mubai, Dai Jinge was younger, the same age as her.
Dai Jinge had the finest talent among this generation's four princes of the Star Luo Imperial Family. She had heard his name long ago, but this was their first meeting.
"I just happened to be passing by..."
Dai Jinge met Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.
But just then, a panel visible only to him suddenly appeared.
[Binding template system...] [Template: Feng Yao, God of War from Super Beast Armament] [Ability: Grow stronger through battle!] [Ultimate move: Shining Spirit Art!] [Equipment: White Tiger Power Lock (Douluo version). Increases combat power tenfold when equipped!] [Martial Soul Avatar can transform into a Super Beast] [Name: Dai Jinge] [Martial Soul: White Tiger] [Soul Power Level: 23] [Soul Skills: Instant Teleportation, White Tiger Annihilation Strike]
Zhu Tianlie glanced at Zhu Zhuqing and suddenly said, "Your Highness, why don't I have my youngest daughter show you around the estate?"
Dai Jinge came back to his senses. With a thought, he dismissed the system panel.
It took him only a second to accept everything.
"Please, don't let me keep you."
Zhu Tianlie sighed, rose, and left.
He waved a hand, and all the attendants in the hall withdrew as well.
They left the reception hall to Dai Jinge and Zhu Zhuqing.
"You've suffered so much these past three years."
The first words Dai Jinge spoke were words of concern.
Zhu Zhuqing froze. Endless hurt welled up in her heart, and her eyes immediately reddened.
Ever since she had awakened her Nether Civet Martial Soul, what awaited her had not been anything good, but her elder sister's persecution.
Her parents had simply chosen to turn a blind eye to it.
It seemed she had not heard anyone express concern for her in a very long time...
"I know what happened, too. I never thought Dai Mubai would run away, and I never expected the imperial family to make you my fiancé in his place. I'm sorry..."
Zhu Zhuqing was deeply guilt-stricken, believing she had dragged Dai Jinge into this. If not for her, his exceptional talent could have allowed him to live his own life. Yet now...
They really were a pair of ill-fated lovebirds!
Dai Jinge stepped forward and gently took Zhu Zhuqing's pale, delicate hand. Sincerely, he said, "We can visit each other often from now on and cultivate together. I've heard that if two people capable of using a Martial Soul Fusion Skill cultivate together, they can achieve twice the results with half the effort."
"Whatever the future holds, we'll face it together."
Zhu Zhuqing felt as though something had struck her heart hard.
She pressed her lips together and nodded firmly.
In the three years since awakening her Martial Soul, she had felt as though she no longer had any family, as though she was all alone. But now... it seemed she had family again!
Although this was her first time meeting Dai Jinge, she could feel his sincerity.
Dai Jinge raised a hand and wiped the tears from the corners of Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. His voice was gentle. "You're a little thin. You should eat more from now on, so you'll have the strength you need."
"Okay."
Zhu Zhuqing smiled through her tears.
"Zhu Zhuqing, would you dare leave Star Luo City with me? Let's go somewhere else!"
Dai Jinge's expression suddenly grew serious.
"Where?"
Zhu Zhuqing paused, utterly bewildered.
"I know a place that can help us improve our cultivation."
"Would you be willing to leave here with me?"
Dai Jinge's voice softened, and his gaze grew gentle, warming Zhu Zhuqing's heart.
"Okay."
Zhu Zhuqing met Dai Jinge's gaze, deeply moved.
Compared with her, Dai Jinge was much more decisive.
Although they had only just met, she felt that Dai Jinge was someone she could truly rely on.
The mere fact that Dai Jinge was willing to take her with him made him far more dependable than Dai Mubai in her eyes!
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