The Demon Prince

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xiao Xingyue moved.

He didn't draw his weapon, but took a step forward, causing the bluestone beneath his feet to tremble.

Feng Lie's pupils contracted sharply, somewhat surprised.

too fast!

This step didn't look particularly powerful, but the landing was steady, and the whole person seemed to glide across the ground.

Feng Lie immediately raised his arm to block, and with a muffled thud, he staggered back half a step, feeling a numbness in his arm.

Before he could recover, Xiao Xingyue's second punch landed on his chest!

boom--

The force of the punch came like the roar of a tiger and the cry of a dragon! Feng Lie's heart sank and he quickly retreated, but Xiao Xingyue did not give him a chance to catch his breath. He took a third step and the wind of the punch swept past his ear.

He had just lifted his foot when Xiao Xingyue shifted to his side and delivered a knee strike to his lower back.

Thump, and he fell sideways.

The faces of the veterans nearby changed drastically; they were utterly shocked.

How could this person be so weak as to be unable to go to the battlefield?

That movement, that judgment, that ruthlessness in close combat—it's clear he's a trained fighter!

When Feng Lie fell, the back of his head almost hit the ground. He braced himself with his hands and tried to get up.

But Xiao Xingyue had already arrived, pressing down on his shoulder with one foot and grabbing the back of his neck with the other, pressing him down.

Feng Lie felt dizzy and his forehead was about to hit the bluestone. He felt a chill in his heart. If he hit it, he would either faint or break his neck.

But in the next instant, Xiao Xingyue flipped his wrist, reducing the force by 70%.

Feng Lie was pulled half an inch to the side, his head scraping against the ground with a dull thud.

He wasn't crippled, but his face was sore from rubbing, and his forehead was red.

Xiao Xingyue released his grip and took two steps back. Feng Lie lay on the ground, silent for a long time.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, and Chen Manfu couldn't stop talking.

Zhao Yuanbao's eyes widened like copper bells, and he secretly put down the wooden stick he was holding, preparing to launch a sneak attack on Feng Lie.

Feng Lie slowly sat up, supporting himself on the ground. His lips twitched, and his eyes flickered, completely different from before.

Before, I was unconvinced; now I'm shocked.

He had served in the border army for over twenty years. There were many who could force him to retreat with a single move, but very few who would stop at the last moment to save him.

The petty man fears power but not virtue, while the virtuous man fears virtue but not power. Feng Lie is neither a virtuous man nor a petty man, while Xiao Xingyue possesses both power and virtue, so he has no choice but to fear him.

He swallowed hard: "Thank you... Your Highness for showing mercy."

An old soldier nearby suddenly spoke up: "Young Master, your skills are not like the rumors suggest."

Xiao Xingyue glanced at him: "What are I like according to the rumors?"

The old soldier opened his mouth, and after a long pause, he managed to squeeze out, "He's not even qualified to go to the battlefield."

The words were truly cutting, and Chen Manfu's heart skipped a beat upon hearing them. Just as he was about to speak up to smooth things over, Xiao Xingyue smiled nonchalantly:

"Naive! Don't you think I'm... the Xiao family's last trump card?"

The veterans were all taken aback.

What is the Xiao family's last trump card?

Feng Lie's eyes widened slightly. "No wonder you're the most talented of the nine sons of the Xiao family... Hahaha! I knew it! How could Prince Xiao not have left the Xiao family a way out!"

"Yes!" an old soldier nodded in agreement. "General Qin wouldn't hand us over to some real weakling!"

Xiao Xingyue thought he had slapped them enough and it was time to give them a treat so that they would work for him in the future.

"You are all retired soldiers and deserve better treatment."

Elsewhere, I don't care, but at the Prince's Mansion in Zhenguo, the food is better than anywhere else, the lodging is better than anywhere else, and the monthly salary is higher than anywhere else.

Everyone was stunned and hadn't reacted yet when Xiao Xingyue added:

"Therefore, starting today, your salary will be doubled, and it will be increased again every year."

After these words were spoken, the courtyard fell silent.

Feng Lie's eyes reddened first. Most of these veterans didn't have a good place to go after they retired.

Some people have broken their legs and can't even find work.

Some people have chronic injuries, and with their meager monthly pay, they can't even afford to eat.

They were willing to come to the Prince's Mansion because Qin Zhenyue no longer needed them, and the border no longer accepted them. They didn't have many choices at all. Their arrogance just now was nothing more than the last stubbornness of their tough bones.

I never expected that this prince would treat them so well!

Feng Lie slowly straightened up and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Xiao Xingyue: "Your Highness, I was rude just now!"

He said, his voice hoarse, "If the Crown Prince truly treats us like this, then our lives will belong to him from now on!"

The group of veterans behind them also clasped their hands in a fist salute, their voices suddenly booming:

"It's the Crown Prince!"

"It's the Crown Prince!"

"Yuanbao, take them downstairs and settle them in." Xiao Xingyue dismissed them.

Chen Manfu said with a bitter face, "Young Master, although this has suppressed them, but... if you raise the salary so high, where will we get the money to pay them?"

Not to be nosy, but since the old prince left, we haven't had any acquaintances on the border. His Majesty... cut off the Xiao family's salary a long time ago.

Now that we have an extra hundred mouths to feed, if we continue to support them, we probably won't last more than a few months, let alone if we need to hire more people later..."

Xiao Xingyue glanced at Chen Manfu: "No money? Go sell yourself."

Chen Manfu felt a tightness in his rear. "Why don't we let Yuanbao go? Yuanbao is fair-skinned and delicate, and the rich women in the capital like that."

Xiao Xingyue was speechless. "I'm asking you to go to Zhenxi Prefecture and bring back every single detail of what happened today. Also, ask Qin Zhenyue how he trains his subordinates."

Chen Manfu didn't quite understand: "Why...why is this?"

Xiao Xingyue laughed: "To extort money from him!"

……

At this time, inside Zhenxi Prefecture.

Qin Zhenyue was standing at the edge of the training ground, instructing Li Shunhua on martial arts.

Li Shunhua continued to unleash her moves, but Qin Zhenyue's brows furrowed deeper with each passing moment: "Stop!"

Li Shunhua immediately stopped: "Grandpa, I can continue."

Qin Zhenyue glanced at her: "Your skills have weakened considerably compared to before. Have you been slacking off lately?"

Li Shunhua pursed her lips and said softly, "I will work even harder."

She said this, but she was nervous inside. Her skill level was indeed weaker than it had been a few days ago.

Because she transferred the power of the Holy Dragon Technique to Xiao Xingyue.

She initially thought that giving away a little bit wouldn't be a big deal, but now that she's practicing, she realizes she's getting further and further away from breaking through to the third rank.

On the contrary, Xiao Xingyue was terrified whenever she thought about last night.

Xiao Xingyue actually managed to master the first level of the Sacred Dragon Technique by relying on the little bit of it she had given him, and even broke through to the third rank.

Although the Seventh Sister's Great Rejuvenation Pill also helped.

But his martial arts talent is already monstrous.

Seeing that she looked preoccupied, Qin Zhenyue assumed that she was still affected by Xiao Xingyue's matter and reminded her, "Alright, Grandpa will take care of your anger over Xiao Xingyue's matter."

Li Shunhua was taken aback: "Grandpa went to the Prince's Mansion?"

Qin Zhenyue snorted: "I sent a hundred veterans over there. These people are not easy to manage. It's a good opportunity to give Xiao Xingyue a warning and see if he can handle it."

Li Shunhua frowned: "Xiao Xingyue doesn't know how to manage people, let alone how to command troops! Grandfather, won't your men turn the Prince's mansion upside down?"

Qin Zhenyue slammed his wooden spear on the ground: "Making a scene? That's only because Xiao Xingyue is incompetent. Who is his father, Xiao Junlin? He's the head of the Four Great Generals, a prince personally appointed by His Majesty! Even if his son is weak, there should be a limit. If he can't even control such a small group, then he'll have to suffer the consequences himself!"

Li Shunhua pursed her lips.

At this point, Qin Zhenyue couldn't help but recall, "Hmph, Xiao Junlin tricked me back then, this time, it's my revenge!"

Li Shunhua recalled Xiao Xingyue's irritating appearance, and her displeasure resurfaced.

He really took advantage of me yesterday. He kissed me, learned the Holy Dragon Technique, and even got Seventh Sister's Great Rejuvenation Pill for free!

Suffering a little today is not too much to ask!

Li Shunhua was secretly pleased.

Suddenly, someone rushed in from outside: "General, Princess, people from the Prince of Zhenguo's Mansion have arrived."

Li Shunhua raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly, "They came to ask for help?"

She looked at Qin Zhenyue: "Grandpa, if Xiao Xingyue really can't handle it, shouldn't we lend a hand?"

Qin Zhenyue nodded: "Of course, I am a magnanimous man and will not hold a grudge against a petty person."

As soon as he finished speaking, the servant's expression turned strange, and he began to stammer, "No...no, General...they didn't come to ask for help. The people from the Prince's Mansion said that the Crown Prince brought a message saying that you have failed in managing your subordinates and are unworthy of being a General..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Zhenyue's eyes darkened. "What?! You bastard!"

Li Shunhua was also dumbfounded...