Chapter 4: 4, Five Years Later

“Prince, your subordinate arrived too late to save you. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

A hard, hearty voice rang out as a middle-aged man appeared beside the man. His face bore the vicissitudes of time, and due to years of constant warfare, his complexion was a healthy, oily yellow; at a glance, he was clearly a man of iron and blood.

Seeing the Prince's current disheveled state, a flash of killing intent appeared in Vice General Hao's eyes.

“Hao Ren, it is no matter.”

The man seemed to sense Vice General Hao's current thoughts. His lips moved slightly, and a magnetic, sexy voice poured out, like wine aged for a hundred years—mellow and elegant.

The hairpins remaining on the ground, still stained with blood, caught his attention. A faint scent of hair still lingered upon them. As his gaze inadvertently swept over the soldiers following Vice General Hao, their eyes seemed to converge on him, their expressions awkward as if they were suppressing something. Even Vice General Hao's expression was not particularly good.

“Your Highness, on your body...” Vice General Hao hesitated to speak. His originally sharp, eagle-like eyes swept over those two words, and a suppressed fury permeated his entire body. Just who would dare to insult the Prince like this?

The man's golden eyes swept over his own chest. The bright red bloodstains had long since dried, and where the scabs had solidified, there were marks deep enough to see the bone. Two characters, written in a bold and flowing hand, were clearly imprinted upon his chest.

*Beast!!*

His dark gold eyes grew misty, and the corners of his mouth curled into a deep arc. Although his handsome face was stained with dust, it did not affect his unruly temperament in the slightest. Gazing at the exquisite hairpin in his hand, should he perhaps find this woman and take responsibility for her?

“Your Highness, shall we go in search of this woman?” Hao Ren asked respectfully, looking at the man's smile that failed to reach the depths of his heart. He could tell that the Prince was very angry right now.

The soldiers were struck with cold sweat by the man's expression and lowered their heads one after another. They had never seen the Prince smile like this; it was clearly enchanting, yet as piercing as winter ice, making it impossible to look directly at him.

“Return to the military camp.” The man's mellow voice rang out again. He tidied his clothes to cover the wound that had already scabbed over with blood, while still tightly gripping the bloodstained hairpin. With this, he did not fear being unable to find the woman. His dark gold eyes were hot and profound, like a bottomless, freezing pool.

The shadows of the trees swayed, the sun was like fire, and everything remained so quiet and peaceful...

Five years later.

Early morning, before the sun had even shown its edge.

With a loud *boom*, an explosion echoed through the deserted mountains, causing even the mountain peak to tremble.

Deep within the mountain peak, where the tree shadows spiraled, lay a hidden, ancient courtyard; the sound had come from there.

“Grandmaster, wake up! My mother failed again! Go quickly and see if she was knocked unconscious by the blast!” A tiny purple figure stood before the tightly closed door, shouting anxiously. Seeing that no one answered from within the room after a long delay, the tender little figure leaped up. Her small legs landed seemingly softly upon the door, only for a *crash* to follow as the originally closed door shattered and flew out, slamming violently against the wall beside the bed.

Perched on the roof beam, Yun Lingzi looked at the now-ruined door and sighed. This month's expenses were going to exceed the budget again. Only now did he realize he had actually become this poor—he had to haggle over the price of a single door.

“Master, get up quickly and go check on Mother!” Xiao Li'er rushed into the now-paralyzed room, her small brows furrowed tightly. Looking at the already collapsed bed, her rosy, tender little face crumpled into a pout. Her Master? Where had he gone?