Originally, it was simply to avoid unnecessary trouble—or rather, Cang Xiaoxi just didn’t want to stir up trouble for himself, so he hadn’t clarified.

But in the little princess’s eyes, it transformed into…

—So cool! So cool! Who *is* he? He doesn’t look old, yet his power clearly surpasses the High Tier. Could he be a prince from some kingdom? A Prince Charming here to rescue a damsel in distress!

In that moment, Cang Xiaoxi’s image was utterly idealized.

It stirred the awakening of the little princess’s innocent maiden heart.

“Um… Brother Xiao Xi, could you… be a prince?” Lia asked, her large, sparkling eyes wide with hopeful anticipation.

“A prince?” Cang Xiaoxi frowned slightly, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Ever seen a prince dressed this shabbily?”

He gave his tattered cloak a light shake.

“Shabby? Really?”

Lia reexamined him.

Though his attire looked rough, its sturdy texture was unmistakable—crafted from high-tier materials. Any single piece would spark a frenzy on the market.

Someone like him could easily pass for a king, let alone a prince.

Add his formidable strength, handsome features, and quiet charm? Pure magnetism.

“I think you look great, Brother Xiao Xi. Not shabby at all,” Lia said honestly, watching his reaction closely.

“Is that so? Thanks,” Cang Xiaoxi replied calmly, unsurprised.

*That’s it?*

Such a flat response deflated the little princess.

*After such a sweet compliment, couldn’t you at least smile?*

Lia pouted resentfully—but reasoned it was just because they were still strangers.

Telling herself she only wanted to understand her savior better, she asked:

“By the way, Brother Xiao Xi… where are you from? You don’t seem like you’re from the Mosiri Kingdom.”

She tilted her head, staring intently at his black hair—the same shade as her own—puzzled.

In the Mosiri Kingdom, black hair symbolized the royal bloodline’s potent Sage heritage. A hallmark. Yet he clearly wasn’t from Mosiri… or how could *she*, the princess, know nothing of him?

“Same rule: state your name before asking for mine.”

Some rules never change.

Cang Xiaoxi’s reply, as usual, left Lia unsatisfied.

If she hadn’t slowly figured out his patterns through their talk, she’d have been utterly furious.

“Ahem. Let me reintroduce myself properly: I am Lia Moxili, First Princess of the Mosiri Kingdom.”

She shot him a *Satisfied now?* look, urging him on.

“Cang Xiaoxi… just an ordinary traveler.”

“A traveler?”

“What? You don’t believe me?” Hearing the doubt in her voice, he glanced down at her.

“Of *course* I don’t!” Lia shot back. “Brother Xiao Xi, with your strength? A mere traveler? Even if not a prince, you must be nobility! And after learning I’m a princess—you’re not even shocked? That attitude screams *not* ordinary!”

Seeing him remain indifferent despite her status, Lia felt a flicker of relief—he wasn’t fawning—but also annoyance at his coldness.

Pouting her cherry lips, she fixed him with a reproachful stare.

“Don’t look at me like that. I really am just a traveler,” Cang Xiaoxi said, turning his head away. Slightly impatient, he still tried to explain.

“Then… your black hair? You can’t be royal kin, right? And your face…” *So much like Brother Shaya…* She swallowed the words. “Never mind. So what’s the truth?”

“…”

Cang Xiaoxi stayed silent—more accurately, he refused to share unnecessary details.

Truth was, he hadn’t even wanted to speak those few lines earlier.

Yet somehow… he’d said too much.

Same with Jikuhir. It seemed Cang Xiaoxi had no defense against questions from younger girls.

With Jikuhir, it was shared hardship and her pure heart. With Lia… maybe that single “Brother” stirred old, tender memories.

To keep his unsettled self from slipping further, he chose silence.

No matter how Lia pressed, he focused solely on moving forward, deliberately ignoring her.

“Hmph! Fine! Don’t talk if you don’t want to! Who’s that sour face for anyway?”

Pouting her plump lips, Lia turned away in a huff.

—*So he saved me and’s kinda handsome? Big deal. Who does he think he is?*

Silence settled between them.

The quiet was exactly what Cang Xiaoxi wanted.

He quickened their pace, hoping to return before Jikuhir threw another little-girl tantrum.

Sharp-tongued as he was, he truly didn’t want to see her upset.

Meanwhile, Lia kept stealing glances at him, already planning his reward upon reaching the kingdom.

She knew—he’d almost certainly drop her at the gate guards and vanish.

Not a guess. A certainty.

To him, she was just an unexpected burden. Delivering her safely was already generous.

Still… his reward *must* be given.

And though he hadn’t said it, Lia’s intuition whispered: Cang Xiaoxi had ties to their royal house.

Otherwise… the black hair? Could he be Father’s secret child? No wonder he resembled Brother Shaya so closely…

Poor Sword Saint Frederick—unknowingly branded by his doting youngest daughter as a father with a hidden past.

Truly… *congratulations*.

Anyway, their journey proceeded smoothly.

Thanks to Cang Xiaoxi’s monstrous magical control, the Mosiri Kingdom’s border soon came into view.

Then—without warning—the clash of battle echoed from ahead.

Reaching the spot, Lia’s eyes widened. She pointed, voice trembling:

“Brother Yujia!”

◇

Near the Mosiri Kingdom’s border.

Minutes earlier, an elite squad led by First Prince Yujia Moxili marched toward the exchange site to rescue Princess Lia.

Nearly every member ranked Mid to High Tier—a glimpse of the kingdom’s formidable strength.

Yet Prince Yujia’s face held not a trace of ease.

“Confirmed? Sadom was spotted nearby?” he asked a soldier while advancing.

“Yes, Your Highness. Scouts reported seeing him alone, lingering here roughly thirty minutes ago.”

“Alone…” Yujia murmured, frowning.

“Problem, Your Highness?”

“No. Just… why linger here alone? His letter said: bring the Imitation Holy Sword deep into the forest to exchange for Lia. Location was set. Why wander? I suspect… another trick.”

“Should… we retreat?” The soldier swallowed nervously.

“No. We cannot.” Yujia’s voice hardened. “I know him. He demanded the exchange before dusk today. Any deviation—he executes the hostage instantly. My mother… Consort Windsor… died that way years ago.”

He recalled it clearly: Sadom used the same scheme to force them to surrender the Imitation Holy Sword.

Proud Frederick refused to comply on time. The moment the deadline passed… Windsor was gone.

“Your Highness…” The soldier’s voice softened with sorrow.

The incident had shocked the nation, turning the kingdom into a laughingstock.

The Empire even sent wreaths to mock Divine Tier Frederick for failing to capture Transcendent Tier Sadom.

Yujia’s jaw tightened.

“Lia… This time, your elder brother *will* protect you. I won’t let you suffer Mother’s fate.”

He clenched a fist like stone. This time, he’d rescue Lia safely—and avenge his mother and younger brother.

They pressed on, vigilant for ambush.

“Yo, Prince Yujia. Still kicking?”

“You! Halt!”

Without warning, as naturally as breath—

Clad in a robe stained crimson with blood, bald, eyes bulging, skin pale and cold like ice—a hellspawn reaper.

Sadom, one of the Bloodnight Cult’s three deputy leaders, materialized before them.

“Sadom…”

Yujia’s teeth gnashed. His grip tightened on his sword. Every muscle coiled, ready to tear the man apart.

But he held back. For Lia’s sake.

“Where is Lia?! Tell me NOW, Sadom!” Yujia roared, barely containing his fury as he raised the Imitation Holy Sword.