"You said your name is Juzi?"
Xu Cheng crouched down slightly, studying the timid young girl before him.
"Yes..."
The girl curled up her thin body, hugging her legs with her forehead buried in her knees, speaking in a soft, timid voice.
She was practically skin and bones.
But thinking about her martial soul—Juzi (Mandarin Orange)—it made sense. She had been wandering the streets, surviving on oranges for three meals a day. How could she not be this skinny?
If her martial soul were a chicken leg, she wouldn't have ended up this malnourished.
Xu Cheng thought to himself.
"Where are your parents?"
With that in mind, he continued asking.
Sensing that Xu Cheng meant no harm, Juzi was no longer as frightened as a little rabbit. She seemed calmer now.
"My father joined the war on the front lines and was killed by the Xingluo people. After the news reached us, my mother and I relied on each other to survive. But last month, my mother also..."
At this point, the girl's eyes filled with tears.
Xu Cheng nodded slightly.
He could see it—a seed named "revenge" had been planted deep within the girl's heart. With time and nourishment, it would surely grow into a towering tree.
This conviction would support her as she moved forward.
"The Xingluo Empire, huh? Then do you know who is truly responsible for your parents' deaths?" Xu Cheng asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Nana, who was standing beside him, glanced over.
That familiar tone again.
The Master of Persuasion was online...
"Baihu Duke Dai Hao! It was his army that killed my father! My family was originally peaceful and happy, but he destroyed everything!"
The girl wiped the tears from her eyes, her beautiful eyes filled with hatred.
"Indeed, logically speaking, Dai Hao's army killed your father, and your mother passed away in grief because of it. If I were you, my first target for revenge would also be Dai Hao. But..."
Xu Cheng gazed at the girl with a calm expression.
"Was it really Dai Hao who killed your father?"
The girl was stunned.
She lifted her head, her large, bright eyes meeting Xu Cheng's.
Xu Cheng wore a faint smile.
"If you ask me, the one who killed your parents was war itself."
"War?"
The girl's soft lips parted slightly, a trace of confusion in her eyes.
Xu Cheng understood.
Clearly, the girl before him was just a child who had recently lost her parents and was blinded by hatred. At about eleven years old, her worldview was still taking shape. She was like an uncarved piece of jade...
Perfect. That made her even easier to persuade.
"To be more precise, it was the noble ruling class that started the war."
Xu Cheng sighed lightly.
"Let me ask you this—what is the essence of war?"
"It is control and plunder."
Before the girl could answer, Xu Cheng spoke first.
"This is a game between nations. No matter who wins or loses, the ones affected are the countless commoners. So-called victories are nothing more than one kingdom gaining ruling power over another. If you ask me, saying your father was killed by Dai Hao is not as accurate as saying he was killed by the royal power structure—the wars waged for their own interests."
"..."
The girl fell silent.
Xu Cheng's words conflicted with what she had previously believed.
"Do you want revenge?"
Xu Cheng smiled at the girl and suddenly asked.
"I'm not stopping you from seeking revenge against Dai Hao—I just hope you can understand who the real culprit is, the one who killed your parents and took away your happy family..."
"The nobles use secular power and empty titles to force people to kneel—the Holy Spirit Cult teaches you to stand."
"Girl, do you want to join the Holy Spirit Cult?"
"..."
Looking at Xu Cheng's outstretched hand, something deep inside Juzi seemed to awaken.
Xu Cheng's figure in her mind grew taller and taller...
Wait a minute, the Holy Spirit Cult?!
Juzi fell into deep thought.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
"The Holy Spirit Cult you speak of—is it the one slandered by the nobles as an evil soul master group, but in reality, is a civilian organization dedicated to overthrowing all noble rule and advocating for equality and equal rights?"
Xu Cheng: "..."
Damn, the spread of this ideology is fast!
But then he nodded with satisfaction.
"I'm willing to join!"
From that moment on, light shone in the girl's eyes.
"Eat slower, don't choke."
Inside a restaurant.
Nana watched Juzi, who was wolfing down food like a hungry little hamster with her cheeks stuffed. A sense of shared sorrow rose in her heart.
Orphans. Weren't they all orphans?
That feeling of losing both parents—she was all too familiar with it...
"Thank you, sister."
Juzi said gratefully.
"I..." Nana opened her mouth slightly.
She was tall, sure, but she wasn't even sure if she was older than Juzi.
"Alright, Juzi, what are your plans next?"
Xu Cheng changed the topic.
"I want to... follow you. Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it."
Juzi's beautiful eyes were full of determination.
Because of the future Xu Cheng had painted for her.
A world of prosperity, where the people lived in peace and there was no more war—that vision was so grand that when she first heard it, her heart was filled with awe and excitement.
Although her hatred for Dai Hao had not diminished, after avenging him, she now had an even greater goal.
"In that case..."
Xu Cheng smiled. "Then let me introduce myself properly."
"My name is Xu Cheng, the Eleventh Prince of the Sun Moon Empire and the Holy Son of the Holy Spirit Cult."
"Prince... Your Highness?!"
Juzi was stunned, her mouth full of food coming to a stop.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with shock.
She hurriedly tried to kneel and salute.
Though the Sun Moon Empire was technologically and ideologically advanced, it was still a feudal monarchy. In terms of royal protocol, it wasn't much different from the other three nations.
Xu Cheng smiled.
"I told you, the Holy Spirit Cult teaches you to stand… Just call me Brother Cheng or simply Ah Cheng."
"..."
The girl's eyes were filled with emotion.
"Prince—no, Brother Cheng."
"Eat up. There's more if you need it."
Xu Cheng chuckled.
"Mm!"
Watching the now more composed girl, Xu Cheng tapped his fingertips lightly against the table.
Now that he had found her, her training was crucial.
To become a Warlord, she would have to endure the trials of time.
But should he throw her directly into the military under Huo Qing's care, letting the fires of war shape her quickly while she learned the ways of battle?
Or should he take her back to the Sun Moon Empire? After all, what he lacked most right now was talent. Having her as his secretary for now wasn't a bad option either…
"Juzi, you have two choices.
"One, enter the military, fight against the Xingluo Empire, hone your strength, and one day rise to command an army to avenge your parents.
"Two, return to Mingdu with me, join the Royal Academy of the Sun Moon Empire, and serve as my secretary. When the time is right, I'll place you directly into the military."
After a long silence, Xu Cheng finally spoke.
Juzi didn't hesitate.
"I choose the second option!"
"Being my secretary involves a lot of work. Who knows how many years it will take to become a military leader, let alone kill Dai Hao. Are you sure?"
Xu Cheng's tapping fingers stopped.
"I'm sure!"
Juzi's eyes were firm.