Chapter 202
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Chapter 202: Title
Ao Ming gazed at his younger brother Ao Lan, who sat with his back turned behind the tea table, and called out, “Ao Lan.”
Startled, Ao Lan nearly choked on the grape in his mouth. He scrambled to his feet and spun around. “Second Brother! What is it? I haven’t done anything!”
“…” Ao Ming massaged his temples, exasperation creeping into his voice. “Look at the state of you. What sort of appearance is this?”
Ao Lan hesitantly clasped his hands behind his back and ducked his head, the memory of angering his brother earlier that afternoon still fresh.
Ao Ming rose, approached him, and wiped the grape juice from his lips with a tissue. “I must visit the Mountain and Sea Realm. Stay out of mischief until I return. Understood?”
“The Mountain and Sea Realm?” Ao Lan’s eyes widened. “Why? Is this about Big Brother?”
“Yes.”
“Did something happen to him?” Ao Lan’s voice trembled with urgency. “Has there been news? Let me go with you!”
Ao Ming flicked his brother’s forehead. “There’s been *no* news—that’s why I’m going myself. You’ll stay here and avoid trouble while I’m away.”
“No!” Ao Lan stamped his foot, cheeks puffing. “I’m coming! I can help! I’m worried too!”
“Absolutely not.” Ao Ming’s tone brooked no argument. “Guards will watch you. Big Brother entrusted me with your safety, and I won’t risk unknown dangers.”
“But what if *you’re* in danger?” Ao Lan’s childish features hardened with rare resolve.
“I’ll manage.” Ao Ming ruffled the boy’s hair, softening. “It may not be perilous. The demon lords there favor our brother—I’m merely gathering information.”
He pressed a finger to Ao Lan’s brow, light shimmering beneath his touch. “Protect yourself in my absence. Delegate tasks to others.” The seals dissolved like mist.
“Second Brother…” Ao Lan murmured, suddenly small. “I’ll be careful.”
“Good.” Straightening, Ao Ming pulled out his phone. “Come to my office. Now.”
Knuckles soon rapped at the door.
“Enter.”
A silver-haired youth glided in and bowed. “Your Highness. Third Highness.”
Ao Lan recoiled, clutching Ao Ming’s sleeve. “You’re making *Mo Ci* babysit me? Pick someone else! Anyone!”
Mo Ci stood impassive in his crisp shirt, moonlight tresses cascading down his back.
“Enough,” Ao Ming chided. “He ensures your safety.” Turning to the silver-haired figure, he ordered, “Mo Ci, guard Ao Lan during my absence.”
“As Your Highness commands.”
Mo Ci’s origins were as fluid as his true form—a quicksilver fish from Eastern Sea’s depths. Discovered during Ao Ming’s recent visit, his competence had swiftly elevated him to trusted aide.
Yet between assistant and youngest prince flowed currents of mutual disdain. Whenever duties consumed Ao Ming, Mo Ci became both caretaker and leash—a role Ao Lan detested as much as the moon detests daylight.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, Mo Ci also works part-time as the driver for the Third Prince of the Dragon Race, responsible for school transportation duties.
Ao Lan grumbled, "Second Brother, his cultivation isn’t even as good as mine. If trouble comes, I might have to protect him instead!"
A vein throbbed at Ao Ming’s temple. How could his shameless brother say such things? "Should danger arise, Mo Ci only needs to ensure your escape," he stated firmly.
The dragon race, though few in number, enjoyed heavenly blessings with innate talents. Even without diligent practice, low-tier cultivation barriers posed no obstacle – their instinctual absorption of Spiritual Energy naturally elevated their strength.
Thus Ao Lan, while not completely neglecting his studies, had reached the pinnacle of tier two through casual cultivation. Mo Ci’s mid-tier two cultivation indeed fell short by comparison. Ao Ming’s decision to assign Mo Ci stemmed from valuing his rare spatial ability.
Few spirit cultivators awaken innate talents at tier two, let alone space-related ones. The power to tear through dimensions for teleportation made Mo Ci’s survival skills invaluable.
Though tier two cultivators couldn’t fully shapeshift, maintaining true forms in the human realm proved impractical. Ao Ming had procured an ancestral dragon scale, enabling Mo Ci to craft a human guise undetectable to any below the Dragon Lord’s cultivation level.
"Mo Ci, attend your duties. Prepare to accompany us home tonight."
Little did Ao Lan know what awaited him.
True to his decisive nature, Ao Ming swiftly arranged affairs for their Mountain and Sea Realm journey. With the spirit cultivators’ headquarters now stable, his constant supervision became unnecessary.
In Eastern Sea City’s villa area halfway up the mountain – purchased six months prior for its scenic location – low occupancy belied its transformed state. Months of cultivation enhancements through spiritual plants and defensive formations had multiplied its value far beyond mere real estate.
Ao Ming preferred this tranquil retreat over the Special Bureau’s crowded apartments. While housing costs strained ordinary people, dragon princes scarcely blinked at such expenses. There seemed no reason to occupy bureaucratic housing when private luxury awaited.
On the eve of departure, tension filled the villa’s living room.
Ao Lan clutched his brother’s sleeve dramatically. "Must he stay? I’m perfectly fine alone! What about housekeepers?"
"Mo Ci’s presence reassures me." Ao Ming gestured toward the stairs. "Second room on the right until my return."
"At your command, Your Highness."
"This is tyranny! Why my neighbor of all rooms?"
"Would you prefer him as your roommate?" Ao Ming’s light tone carried steel beneath. "Constant supervision might prove beneficial."
The mischievous prince who’d grown bolder through mingling with human cultivators required monitoring. Ao Ming wouldn’t risk his safety during prolonged absences.
Ao Lan’s face twisted as if swallowing something vile. "Neighbor it is," he conceded, already plotting post-departure freedom. With restored spiritual energy, who would control whom remained to be seen.
Dawn brought farewells over breakfast. Mo Ci efficiently cleared his plate before consulting his watch.
"Your Highness, ten minutes remain."
Ao Lan bit his egg with theatrical disdain, ignoring the reminder.
Weekday obligations called – office duties for Mo Ci, classroom tedium for the prince. Though loath to attend, Ao Lan shuddered at imagined scoldings and potential tail-whippings should he rebel.
Better swallow pride than face draconian consequences.
The black Bentley’s discreet silhouette paused before Lingxiu Elementary School.
"Shall I escort you inside, Your Highness?" The driver’s expression remained neutral.
"Unnecessary." Ao Lan tumbled from the vehicle, backpack bouncing. "Begone!"
His retreating figure mirrored any human child’s schoolbound trudge. Yet Lingxiu’s student body told different tales – scions of wealthy human cultivators, hybrid offspring like Hu Mei’s child, and various non-human young ones filled its halls.
A fluffy-tailed blur intercepted him. "Ao Lan! Wait up!"
The prince turned to find Song Zihang, classmate and perpetual tail-dragger. "Why the display today?"
"Tucking’s exhausting," the squirrel-spirit child pouted, cradling his bushy appendage.
Mixed classes of twenty-odd students accommodated Zhongxia’s unique policy – childlike transformed spirits required supervision, their maturation rates varying by species though generally matching human growth.
"Morning, Squirrel Hang! Little Dragon!" A pigtailed human girl bounded over.
"Xiaoye!" Song Zihang waved.
"I’m centuries your senior!" Ao Lan bristled at the nickname.
Xiaoye merely grinned, her family’s wealth ensuring carefree education among extraordinary peers.
