Prince Geller carried Ye Chui in his arms, escorted by a squad of black-armoured guards, and left King’s Avenue for the Random Name Magic Guild.
The onlookers on the street watched his departing figure and burst into heated discussion. Some were thrilled that the Star Empire had produced a powerhouse capable of going toe-to-toe with a Phase King Magician. Others quietly worried whether Ye Chui had suffered serious injury. Amid this atmosphere, President Fare of Dragon War Magic Guild and President Sheral of Flower Village Magic Guild both wore faint traces of concern.
After this decisive battle, the title of the empire’s number one guild was now firmly secured by the Random Name Magic Guild.
With such a record, neither Flower Village nor Dragon War could compete any longer. This left them feeling disappointed and harbouring an anger they could not quite voice. The top magic guild of the empire had turned out to be one with such a carelessly chosen name.
Sheral gave a quiet sigh, shook his head, and prepared to leave. The white-haired, white-bearded old man seemed to have accepted reality.
However, the president of Dragon War Magic Guild could not swallow this outcome. Dragon War and Flower Village had contended for over a decade, all for that “number one in the empire” title. Now a youngster from some remote frontier town had suddenly stolen all their limelight. It was genuinely infuriating. He quickened his pace and caught up with Sheral. “Brother Sheral, are we really just going to accept this? That kid is young enough to be your grandson, a mere brat who simply got lucky and received divine favour. I refuse to accept it.”
Sheral knew Fare was trying to incite him into opposing Ye Chui together. He cast Fare a faintly mocking glance. “You claim President Ye Chui defeated a Phase King Magician through luck alone? President Fare, I know what you’re thinking, but this is a world where strength reigns supreme. Ye Chui possesses power we cannot hope to match. His guild is the empire’s finest. I cannot deny that.”
“No, Brother Sheral, you are a half-step Saint Swordsman of the Dark Sword. If you fought Ye Chui, you might not lose. He has just battled a Phase King Magician. He certainly cannot recover in a short time…” Fare hurriedly urged.
Sheral’s cold gaze fixed on Fare, causing the latter’s words to falter instantly.
“Are you suggesting I take advantage of his weakness? Fare, you bring disgrace upon your own guild. I will never do anything so shameless. Do not try to persuade me further. If you feel dissatisfied, feel free to cause trouble yourself.”
With these anger-laden words, Sheral flicked his sleeve and strode away. His figure passed through a patch of shadow on the street, flickered once, and vanished completely.
Fare’s face turned ashen. A moment later he gave a cold snort, glanced in the direction Prince Geller had left, then headed back to his own guild, dark thoughts already forming.
“My own strength is no match for that boy. Among the imperial guilds, probably only Sheral could fight Ye Chui on equal terms, but from the look of it he will never make a move… Then I shall find a way to force him to act.”
“Sheral does not wish to clash with Ye Chui, but his two sons are both hot-tempered fellows, especially the second one…”
As though he had hit upon a splendid idea, a sinister smile crept across Fare’s swarthy face.
…
“Debbie, quick, summon your all-purpose butler. Ye Chui is gravely injured and needs immediate treatment…”
Prince Geller rushed into the Random Name Magic Guild carrying Ye Chui, shouting loudly.
Jacob, Dani, and Silas followed anxiously behind. Although they had long known from Ye Chui that he and Bosli would “stage” the fight, the tragic atmosphere created by that BGM on the street still lingered in their hearts. They genuinely feared Ye Chui might truly have been wounded.
Debbie, Resa, and Green came running from the castle, still wiping nosebleeds. Seeing Ye Chui cradled in Prince Geller’s arms, they paused briefly before hurrying over.
“Ye Chui needs Aphra’s help right now,” Prince Geller said urgently, placing Ye Chui on the open ground in front of them and pressing Debbie. “Hurry. Any delay and he might suffer permanent internal damage…”
Hearing Prince Geller’s words, Debbie lifted her foot and kicked Ye Chui hard in the thigh. “Stop pretending and get up already. You’ve got Little Seven worried sick.”
Ye Chui rolled to his feet with a grunt, rubbed his aching leg, laughed heartily a few times, then noticed Prince Geller’s expression shift from shock to fury, and quickly raised a hand in greeting. “Have you eaten lunch, Your Highness? Care to stay for a bite?”
…
“You lot are outrageous. Making an old man carry him halfway across the city. Absolutely ridiculous. You never even told me this was all an act. I was worried half to death…”
In the castle dining hall, Prince Geller roared in anger. Of course, beneath the anger he was actually rather delighted. He huffed and glared, looked down at the several pieces of blood tofu in his bowl, finally succumbed to temptation, scooped one up with a spoon, popped it into his mouth, chewed, and asked, “What exactly happened in the Beast Garden? Did you and Bosli really kill the Beast God? Hm? What is this red stuff? It tastes a bit strange, but rather good.”
“That’s food made from the Beast God’s blood. Super nourishing,” Debbie explained with a grin from the side, reaching up to wipe her own nosebleed.
“Pfft—”
Shocked, Prince Geller sprayed the mouthful across the table. The Beast God… Beast God’s blood? Turned into food? And you couldn’t wait to eat it?
Jacob hurriedly patted Prince Geller on the back and handed him a glass of water.
Prince Geller took a sip, caught his breath, then noticed Gui Bao glaring at him with angry round eyes. The little girl was truly adorable: fair and tender cheeks, wearing a slightly odd dress patterned with turtle motifs, her hair in rare twin tails. The way she stared at Prince Geller was exactly like a child whose sweets had been stolen by a creepy old man…
Earlier, Prince Geller had noticed two unfamiliar little girls in the castle. Only now did he have the chance to ask, “Who is this child? Why have I never seen her before?” He took another sip of water.
“Oh, she’s the Beast God,” Ye Chui explained casually from the side.
“Pfft—”
Prince Geller sprayed water again and nearly passed out from shock.
“You… you lot…”
Could you please consider this old man’s heart!!!
…
Ye Chui then explained about Gui Bao and Long Bao to Prince Geller. Naturally, he said nothing about the God Tribe; those matters were not for too many ears. He only said that he and Bosli had gravely wounded the Beast God Turtle in the Beast Garden, the Garden collapsed, and at the final moment the Beast God assumed human form and he brought her out.
As for Long Bao, she was a gifted child from the secret realm whom Ye Chui had decided to take under his wing.
After recounting these things, Ye Chui also told Prince Geller his plan to create a new Beast Garden.
Prince Geller’s face lit up with delight. He had originally felt regret: if the Jores family’s Beast Garden was destroyed, the empire’s military strength would suffer. Magical beasts were to an army what modern technology had been to armies in Ye Chui’s previous life.
Hearing that Ye Chui intended to turn the secret realm into a new Beast Garden, he eagerly asked Ye Chui to take him to the castle basement at once.
The basement felt rather eerie. Scrolls, broken armour, and even a human skeleton were piled in the corners; this castle had once belonged to the Skull Walker Magic Guild, so many items related to necromancy remained. Yet compared to those things, the most terrifying feature was the… abstract paintings covering every wall.
Constantine, Jacob’s guardian spirit who lived in the castle, possessed an explosively twisted artistic soul. Ye Chui had strictly forbidden him from painting on the castle’s main walls, so he had unleashed his artistic passion upon the basement instead…
A large empty space had been cleared in the centre. An enormous magic array was inscribed on the floor. When Ye Chui activated it with space magic, a circular portal appeared in the air. Through it one could see the half-cleared ruins of Divine People City in the secret realm, busy Sand People, and even the Sixth Prince who had remained behind.
Prince Geller’s face showed indescribable joy. The Jores family’s Beast Garden produced magical beasts, but not all were exclusively for the Star Empire; the Jores family also traded with other empires. Now, however, only Ye Chui could connect to this secret-realm Beast Garden. Every magical beast within would become part of the Star Empire’s power base.
“Excellent. Truly excellent,” Prince Geller exclaimed, unable to contain himself.
…
After leaving the Random Name Magic Guild, Prince Geller did not return to his own residence. Instead he drove straight to the imperial palace. The new Beast Garden was a state secret; he had to report it personally to the old emperor.
Inside the palace he learned from a palace attendant that the emperor was in the High Tower Hall, so he hurried toward the tower.
While passing through one of the palace buildings, he unexpectedly encountered a gorgeously dressed young lady.
“Seventh Grandfather!” the girl called crisply, stepping into his path.
“Mia, it’s you,” Prince Geller said with a smile once he recognised her.
Mia was a princess, the empire’s Seventh Princess. In the Star Empire, royal daughters had no right of succession, so princesses never appeared in the struggle for the throne. The Seventh Princess was greatly favoured by the old emperor. Prince Geller, who had no children of his own, was also fond of her lively charm. He said, “I have urgent business with your Fourth Great-Uncle. Whatever it is can wait until later.”
“Seventh Grandfather, are you going to see His Majesty about the duel?” The Seventh Princess’s eyes sparkled. “I heard President Ye Chui fought that Phase King Magician. Although he lost in the end, it was only by the narrowest margin. Now everyone in the capital is talking about President Ye Chui’s deeds. Is that true?”
Prince Geller knew Mia had always been fascinated by heroic figures. He chuckled. “Indeed. Heh heh, has our little Mia taken a fancy to President Ye Chui?”
It was only a teasing remark. Mia was eighteen this year. Royal children were usually married off by that age, but Mia’s standards were extremely high, and with the emperor’s doting she had yet to find a suitable match. Prince Geller’s words were merely playful banter.
Yet Mia actually blushed shyly. “Of course not… I have to meet him in person before I decide.”
“…What?” Prince Geller froze. Seeing his royal granddaughter’s flushed face, an image of Debbie’s furious expression flashed through his mind… He could not help shivering. Nobody took something that belonged to Big Sister Debbie and lived peacefully. He hurriedly changed the subject. “Haha, I have important matters to discuss with your Fourth Great-Uncle. We’ll talk later…” With that he rushed off.
Mia did not notice Prince Geller’s momentary panic. She clasped her hands before her chest, murmuring with boundless longing, “I heard that Ye Chui comes from some remote little town and even named his guild something as casual as ‘Random Name’. I used to look down on him, but now he has done something this extraordinary… Only a man like that is worthy of this princess.”
