This was also Zhang Lie's first time seeing the sixth prince. Compared to the other princes, he didn't stand out. Behind him stood members of the Yinlian. The Yinlian were humanoid bugs with silver carapaces. Their four arms were like scythes, and their beady eyes stared around them.
The seventh prince was pale and stick-thin.
Had Heijie Niu lied to Zhang Lie? The seventh prince didn't seem at all a competitor to the other princes—no, he was completely out of his element.
But only when Zhang Lie saw the eighth prince did he understand why Heijie Niu had claimed that the seventh prince had redeeming features, because the eighth prince had absolutely none. He was so weak and frail that he tottered even as he walked, as though he could be blown away by a strong gust of wind.
Two huge eyebags made him look like a panda, and only his presence could make the seventh prince seem like an acceptable candidate. It looked as though he was clear-headed about his prospects of becoming the king of the realm and had long since given in to hedonism.
Zhang Lie became even more curious about the Zijing, who had chosen to sponsor such a useless prince.
Even the ninth prince, who had nothing to his name, would have been a better choice. Anyone could see that the ninth prince was far more excellent a candidate than the eighth in anything but age. contemporary romance
The princes trailed in, one by one. The prince with the smallest retinue was, as expected, the ninth prince. He came with no one but Zhang Lie, who brought White, Whiter, and Red Comet with him.
Zhang Lie noticed quite a few pairs of eyes looking in his direction, and Heijie Niu waved an arm when Zhang Lie glanced his way.
The fourth prince considered, "I heard the ninth prince picked up a mysterious master out of nowhere who managed to kill the Wang bladewielder. What do you think of his strength?"
The one-armed bodyguard replied, "I can't tell."
"You, the top polearm-wielder of the country, can't tell anything?"
The bodyguard shut his eyes and didn't deign the fourth prince's question with a response.
Undeterred, the fourth prince continued, "What do you think of his chances against Jian Mo?"
"They aren't comparable."
"Why?"
"Jian Mo has reached maturity with the Wang clan's techniques, and no ordinary person will be able to block his attacks. I suspect I'm the only one in the capital with the strength to do so."
Zhang Lie had, without doing anything, managed to capture the attention of much of the princes and their retinues—just like a panda in a zoo. Everyone wanted to see what this man who could kill the Wang bladewielder was like.
Who was the Wang bladewielder? The hallmark of the Wang clan, the strongest of his generation—and yet he had been slain by a nameless fellow whom none of them had ever heard of.
The crown prince strode over. "Ninth brother, it's only been a few days, but your mood seems to have improved greatly."
The ninth prince smiled and bowed. "Greetings, eldest brother."
The crown prince looked Zhang Lie up and down. "Is this your master, then? I heard he killed the Wang bladewielder. Are you interested in becoming one of my guards?"
The ninth prince made a face of mock horror. "Eldest brother, I'm right here!"
The crown prince laughed. "Haha! It's just a joke, ninth brother. I have many a guard, but you only have the one master. I could hardly take him from you."
The second prince likewise came over. "I'm very interested in offering you such a position myself. You might be better served by doing so than serving as my ninth brother's subordinate."
The ninth prince bowed. "Second brother, my master isn't my subordinate."
Zhang Lie replied coolly, "I prefer being a master than a guard."
The third prince scrutinized Zhang Lie carefully. "Better than the trash from before, at least."
So too did the eighth prince. "And yet it's uncertain whether or not you'll be able to keep your position."
The sixth prince agreed. "Not everyone can become the master of a prince, even a useless prince."
The crown prince nodded. "Only a sage of the ages would qualify."
"Perhaps not," the eighth prince opined. "After all, he's not Father's get by blood."
The ninth prince bit his lips and refused to speak.
The crown prince frowned. "Eighth brother, you know such words are forbidden within the palace."
The eighth prince seemed unperturbed. "And we're not in the palace, are we? Everyone knows that Father hates this fellow."
Just then, a guard walked out of the golden tent. "His majesty summons the ninth prince for an audience!"
The princes all made way as the ninth prince and Zhang Lie entered the golden tent.
The realm of the king lay atop a massive golden bed, his body seeming half-paralyzed. "You're here, ninth prince."
The ninth prince bowed. Zhang Lie simply cupped his fists. He felt a wave of force wash over him, but he didn't respond.
Beside them, a guard called out stridently, "Kneel in the presence of the king!"
Zhang Lie glared at the guard. "I apologize. I'm suffering from hyperostosis, and I can't kneel down."
"You dare disrespect the crown?" The guard drew his blade.
Before a conflict could arise, the king of the realm spoke. "Enough. I understand that their worlds do not have monarchs. Is that accurate?"
Zhang Lie nodded coldly. That the Jindao, Yinlian, Zijing, and Heijie clans were able to move freely within the capital meant that the king of the realm didn't spurn outsiders.
The king of the realm asked, "What race do you belong to?"
"The human race!"
The king of the realm pondered Zhang Lie's response momentarily. "I've heard of them, but I don't know much."
"Allegedly, the worlds in which they're active are quite a few wormholes away."
"In that case, what do you hope to gain by traveling here?"
"Would you believe me if I said it was an accident?"
"There must be a reason you've stayed."
"I was shocked by the deep potential in your ninth son, and I believe he'll be a peerless king. I was unable to resist the temptation to accept him as my disciple."
"A peerless king? One superior to me?"
"It's only a matter of time."
"Haha, may it be so!"
"It's the truth," Zhang Lie pressed. At least, a fraction of it.
"What can you teach him? Strength and martial ability?"
"I can teach him how to kill the sons you've carefully brought up," Zhang Lie countered snidely.
The guards made to attack him, and even the ninth prince seemed shocked. However, the king of the realm only laughed.
"Very interesting. I'm curious what you'll do. Very well. I leave my youngest son in your care."
1. Yinlian (银镰), lit. silver-scythe.
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