The powerful force the world to kneel with worldly authority and empty titles; the Holy Spirit Cult lets you stand

"You said your name was Ju Zi?"

Xu Cheng crouched down and studied the timid little girl.

"Yes..."

The little girl curled up her scrawny body, hugging her legs and burying her forehead against them as she murmured her reply.

She was practically skin and bones.

But then he remembered her martial soul: an orange. Of course she was thin. She was living on the streets, with nothing but oranges to fill her stomach for all three meals. How could she not be?

If her martial soul had been a chicken drumstick, she would never have ended up this skinny.

Xu Cheng mused to himself.

"Where are your parents?"

As he thought, he continued questioning her.

Sensing that Xu Cheng meant her no harm, Ju Zi no longer seemed as frightened as a little rabbit and calmed down considerably.

"My father fought on the front lines and died at the hands of the people of the Star Luo Empire. After the news reached us, my mother and I only had each other. But last month, my mother also..."

At this, tears filled the girl's eyes.

Xu Cheng nodded inwardly.

He could tell that a seed called revenge had already sunk its roots deep into the girl's heart. Fertilized by the passing years, sooner or later it would grow into a towering tree.

That conviction would sustain her as she pressed forward.

"The Star Luo Empire, then. Do you know who the true culprit behind your parents' deaths was?" A smile appeared on Xu Cheng's face.

Hearing this, Nana glanced sideways at him. There was that familiar flavor again.

Cheng the Con Artist was back online...

"The White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao! The troops under his command killed my father! My family used to live in harmony. We were happy together. He destroyed all of it!"

The girl wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her beautiful eyes brimming with hatred.

"Indeed, by ordinary reasoning, the troops under Dai Hao's command killed your father, and your mother died of grief because of it. If I were you, Dai Hao would certainly be my first target for revenge as well. But..."

Xu Cheng looked calmly at the girl.

"Was it really Dai Hao who killed your father?"

The girl froze.

She raised her head, meeting Xu Cheng's gaze with her lively, wide eyes.

Xu Cheng wore a faint smile.

"If you ask me, what killed your parents was war..."

"War?"

The girl's red lips parted slightly, a trace of confusion flashing through her eyes.

Xu Cheng understood.

Clearly, the girl before him was still only a little girl who had just lost both parents, her eyes blinded by hatred. At around eleven years old, her outlook on life had yet to take shape. She was like a piece of uncarved jade...

Good. That makes her even easier to coax.

"To be more precise, it was a war waged by the noble ruling class."

Xu Cheng sighed softly.

"Then let me ask you another question. What is the essence of war?"

"Rule and plunder."

Before the girl could answer, Xu Cheng explained.

"It's a contest between nations. In the end, regardless of who wins or loses, the ones affected are tens of thousands of ordinary people. So-called victory is nothing more than deciding which kingdom gains the final right to rule. If you ask me, rather than saying your father died at Dai Hao's hands, it would be more accurate to say he died at the hands of a war launched under imperial authority to fight over profits..."

"..."

The girl fell silent.

Xu Cheng's words clashed considerably with her previous understanding.

"Do you want revenge?"

Xu Cheng looked at the girl with a warm smile, suddenly posing the question.

"You want revenge against Dai Hao. Nothing I've said is meant to stop you. I only hope you can understand who the true murderer was-the one who killed your parents and took away your happy family..."

"The powerful force the world to kneel with worldly authority and empty titles; the Holy Spirit Cult lets you stand."

"Girl, would you like to join the Holy Spirit Cult?"

"..."

Looking at Xu Cheng's outstretched hand,

Ju Zi felt as though something buried deep in her heart was slowly awakening.

In her heart, the figure of Xu Cheng before her grew ever taller...

Wait, the Holy Spirit Cult!

Ju Zi fell into thought.

Her eyes suddenly lit up.

"By the Holy Spirit Cult, do you mean the civilian organization slandered by nobles as evil soul masters, but which is actually dedicated to overthrowing all noble rule and advocating equality and equal rights?"

Xu Cheng: "..."

Holy shit, word spreads fast!

Then he nodded in gratification.

"I'm willing to join!"

From that moment on, there was light in the girl's eyes.

"Eat a little less at a time. Don't choke."

Inside the restaurant.

Watching Ju Zi wolf down her meal, chewing like a hamster with her mouth stuffed full of food, Nana felt a sense of kinship in their shared plight.

An orphan-wasn't she an orphan too?

She knew the feeling of losing both parents all too well...

"Thank you, big sister."

Ju Zi spoke gratefully.

"I..." Nana opened her mouth.

Come to think of it, although she was tall, she might not actually be older than this girl.

"All right, Ju Zi. What do you plan to do next?"

Xu Cheng picked up the conversation.

"I want to... follow you. Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it." Ju Zi's beautiful eyes were filled with resolve.

All for the rosy promise Xu Cheng had painted.

A prosperous world, people living in peace, no more wars-the radiance of that vision was simply too vast. The first time she heard it, the girl's heart had filled with shock and excitement.

Although her hatred for Dai Hao had not diminished, she now had a greater goal to pursue after dealing with him.

"In that case..."

Xu Cheng smiled. "Then let me introduce myself."

"My name is Xu Cheng. I am the Eleventh Prince of the Sun Moon Empire and the Holy Son of the Holy Spirit Cult."

"Your Highness?!!"

Hearing this, Ju Zi stopped chewing the food in her mouth.

Her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment.

She hastily moved to kneel and pay her respects.

Although the Sun Moon Empire possessed advanced technology and progressive ideas, it was ultimately still under feudal rule. When it came to the imperial family, it was not actually much different from the other three empires.

A smile lingered at the corners of Xu Cheng's mouth.

"I told you, the Holy Spirit Cult lets you stand... You can call me Brother Cheng, or just Cheng."

"..."

The girl's eyes were filled with emotion.

"Your High... Brother Cheng."

"Eat. There's more if it isn't enough."

Xu Cheng said with a soft chuckle.

"Mm!"

"..."

Watching the girl begin to mind her manners, Xu Cheng lightly tapped his fingertips against the tabletop.

Now that he had found her, nurturing her was just as important.

To become a legendary god of war, she would inevitably need the tempering of time.

But should he send her straight to the military and entrust her to Huo Qing, letting her transform more quickly through the baptism of war as she learned and grew in her knowledge of warfare? Or should he take her back to the Sun Moon Empire? After all, what he lacked most right now was talent. Having her serve as his secretary for the time being would also be a good choice...

"Ju Zi, I'll give you two options. First, enter the army to temper yourself, fight bloody battles against the Star Luo Empire, strengthen yourself, and eventually become the commander of an army to avenge your parents."

"Second, come back to Mingdu with me, enroll in the Sun Moon Empire Royal Academy, and stay by my side as my secretary. When the time is right in the future, I'll parachute you straight into a position in the army."

Only after pondering for a long while did Xu Cheng slowly speak.

After some thought, he decided to leave the choice to Ju Zi.

"I choose the second!"

The girl swallowed her mouthful of chicken drumstick and answered without hesitation.

"Being my secretary comes with plenty of troublesome work. Who knows how many years it might take before you become an army commander? Killing Dai Hao would be an even more distant prospect. Are you really sure?"

Xu Cheng stopped tapping his fingertips against the table.

"I'm sure!"

The girl's eyes were filled with resolve.